VI 

 ESSENTIALS OF THE DRAFT HORSE 



WITH the necessity for greater power, horse buyers 

 have placed a premium on weight in advance of 

 all other considerations. During the panic of 

 1893, when the average price of horses was falling 

 nearly 100 per cent., the sales by a leading firm of horse dealers 

 in Chicago showed unmistakably the value of powerful animals. 

 From 11.1 cents per pound for horses weighing 1400 pounds, 

 the average price per pound on all horses sold that year con- 

 stantly increased with added weight to 14.4 cents per pound 

 for 1800-pound animals. While many of these horses were 

 bought for the city trade, the figures signify an awakening to 

 the value of larger power units. 



The essentials of a heavy draft horse, such as will most 

 economically develop power for plowing, are best set forth in 

 some of the score cards in use at the leading agricultural col- 

 leges. In the one given herewith, weight, action, and the 

 conformation of soundness of feet and legs are given their 

 proper emphasis: 



DRAFT HORSE SCORE CARD 



CLASS, GELDING 

 General Characters 



Form Broad, massive, blocky, low-down, compact, and symmetrical. 

 Scale large for the age. 



Quality General refinement of clean-cut and symmetrical features; bone 

 clean, large, and strong; skin and hair fine, tendons clean, sharply defined, 

 and prominent. 



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