16 A COUNTRY READER. 



trotting fast, till the pace that some horses, 

 especially the American horse, can trot is very 

 swift. American trotting horses have been bred 

 to trot as fast as many horses can gallop. 



Don't forget that the first point to look for in 

 all horses, whether for racing, hunting, driving, 

 or dragging a heavy load, are first and foremost 

 good sound feet and legs. Let these be unsound, 



O O ' 



the horse lame, or with a formation that with 

 work will in time cause it to go lame, and 

 the otherwise l>est horse in the world will be 

 of no use to you, either for working, or for 

 breeding from. 



Then your horse must have a sound wind and 

 perfect eyesight. 



These are the three principal points to look 

 for when you are buying a horse clean, strong 

 legs and feet, keen eyesight, and sound wind. 



The Cart Horse or Shire Horse. 



We now come to the horse that is specially 

 the farmer's horse, and a beautiful creature have 

 the farmers, by wise breeding and care, pro- 

 duced powerful and beautiful outline of form, 

 combined with great strength of body, gentleness 

 of disposition, and a willingness to drag the 

 heaviest load. 



A 17-hand horse (a hand is four inches), 

 dragging along 2| tons of merchandise through 



