18 A COUNTRY READER. 



our cities with ease and brightness, as if he 

 enjoyed the effort, his coat smooth and glossy 

 like satin, his brass harness shining so that you 

 can almost see your face in it, is indeed worthy 

 of admiration. 



Here we have a horse born and bred, not for 

 pleasure, but for stern hard work. 



To carry manure to the fields, to gather our 

 crops, to carry our food, our clothing, our coals 

 from place to place, so that we may all live 

 gentler and happier lives, this is the work this 

 massive, noble, gentle beast is doing for us. 

 Let us always treat him kindly, and think well 

 of him, for he deserves it at our hands. 



The shire or cart horse is not called upon to 

 trot, canter, or gallop ; his usual pace is walking. 

 Therefore he ought to be a fast walker, and 

 he must be so shaped that when he is doing 

 his work he can walk freely and easily. You 

 will very soon use him up if you w T alk him 

 constantly at a pace faster than his form and 

 strength will allow. When ploughing or with a 

 full load behind him, he ought to walk at about 

 2j miles per hour. 



The shire horse ought to have a medium- sized 

 head, should be broad between the eyes, with 

 neck fairly long and well arched. Its shoulders 

 should be deep and strong, chest wide and full, 

 back shortish and straight, ribs round and deep, 



