HORSES. 123 



only way in which to become familiar with these different 

 breeds is by observing the living animals. 

 Heavy horses : 



1. The Clydesdale, from the valley of the Clyde in Scotland. 



2. The Shire, of the East-central shires of England. 



3. The Suffolk Punch, from the Eastern counties of England. 



4. The Percheron or Norman, of Northern France. 

 Light horses : 



1. The Hackney, of Yorkshire and Eastern England. 



2. The Cleveland Bay, from Yorkshire, England. 



3. The Standard-bred, of the United States, a trotter. 



4. The Thoroughbred, or running horse of England. 



THE LEGS AND FEET. These are of most importance in 

 a horse "no foot, no horse" is true of it as of no other 

 animal. The feet are constantly striking upon hard earth or 

 stone. Why can a horse bear the strain of so much hard 

 pounding upon its feet and legs ? The parts are being con- 

 stantly reformed ; life is repairing them all the time. The dif- 

 ferent parts are put together with what we may call cushions. 

 Then the parts of the hind legs are not joined in a straight 

 line, and the front legs are not straight as the feet strike the 

 ground. Step from a chair, keeping the leg stepped on 

 perfectly stiff. Notice how the jar goes straight up through 

 the knee to the body. When we jump we bend the knees. 



SHOEING THE HORSE. But the shape of the legs and the 

 bending of the knees do not save the hoof from all wear and 

 tear. If the shank and foot of a dead horse can be got, it 

 will be an interesting study to take it apart and see the 

 arrangement of the different parts. The wall of the hoof is 

 what we see as the foot stands on the ground. It consists of 

 toe, quarters, and heel. The wall turns in at the heel, forming 

 the bars. Within the bars is the frog. Of what use is the 

 frog ? Should it be much cut down in shoeing ? The varnish 



