94 THE HORSE, ASS, AND MULE 



The head should be lean, not out of proportion with the body, 

 have plenty of breadth between the eyes, which should be reason- 

 ably prominent and bright. The nose and muzzle should be broad 

 yet not coarse, with nostrils of ample size for easy breathing. 

 Nicely matched lips and strong cheeks and lower jaws help to 

 make a strong head with character. The head should be crowned 

 with fine ears of medium size gracefully placed and carried. 



The neck of the draft horse is strong and muscular, supporting 

 the head cleanly and gracefully, and being joined smoothly and 

 deeply at the body. Some arch to the neck is . desirable ; this 

 should appear in a very small degree with mares and geldings, 

 yet enough to suggest power. 



The shoulders should not be as long and sloping as with a 

 light driver, but more upright, being well set into the back, a 

 happy medium between the straight and sloping shoulder giving 

 the best power and movement for the draft horse. Too straight 

 a shoulder promotes excessive concussion and bone trouble of 

 the limbs and feet. Smoothness of shoulder is essential, for 

 roughness and prominence will be sure to involve soreness and 

 trouble from fit of collar. 



The chest should be full and deep, indicating large capacity 

 of the vital organs. Narrowness behind the shoulders is quite 

 common, and indicates defective constitution. Too much thick- 

 ness of chest, an unusual occurrence, may cause a swaying 

 movement in action. 



The arm must be large and muscular, and placed so as to bring 

 the legs in proper position under the body, not standing out at 

 the corners. 



The fore arm should be comparatively long, broadly and 

 strongly muscled in its upper part, and gradually taper to the 

 knee. A powerful fore arm on the draft horse is highly impor- 

 tant and its value is not likely to be overestimated. 



The knee must be broad, as viewed from the front, be well 

 carried back, and be amply supported from below. This part 

 should be neat and cleanly jointed. 



The cannon bone is round, but has tendons extending down 

 its back edge, more or less separated from the bone. As viewed 

 from one side, the cannon and its attachment should be deep, 



