66 JUDGING FARM ANIMALS 



height of his chin, stands against the shoulder, and esti- 

 mates the difference in inches between the elevation of the 

 withers and his chin, and so secures the desired informa- 

 tion. The height of the draft horse may be said to range 

 from 16 to 18 hands. The most desirable height will be 

 within 16 or 17 hands. This height should be the result 

 of depth of body, rather than length of leg. The height at 

 the withers should be at least equal to that at the croup, 

 though some authorities contend that from a draft point 

 of view the latter should not be so high as the former. 



The weight of the draft horse ranges upward from 1,600 

 pounds, with 2,000 the weight desirable with the ideal 

 animal of this type in good condition. Yet a horse that 

 weighs 1,700 or 1,800 pounds is of large size, and may rep- 

 resent a very beautiful draft horse. Draft horses are also 

 divided into sub-classes, dependent on weight, a light draft 

 weighing 1,600 to 1JOQ pounds, medium draft 1,700 to 1,850, 

 and heavy draft from 1,850 pounds up. The condition of 

 the horse largely affects the weight, and by feeding one 

 may easily increase the weight two or three hundred pounds. 

 Consequently, we may consider that weight is usually re- 

 lated to height, the lighter weighing horses showing lower 

 scale of elevation. One would hardly expect to find a ton 

 horse standing as low as 16 hands. We should rather look 

 for such a horse to carry his great weight at an elevation 

 consistent with good form. Weight is a most important 

 feature of the draft type. When a heavy draft horse 

 moves his center of gravity forward, beyond his base of 

 support or footing, he brings his great weight up against 

 the collar with such power that the load is moved forward. 

 In hauling a heavy load, he would be unable to keep his 

 foothold and move forward, were it not for his body weight 

 which gives him the necessary purchase to overcome the 

 weight of his load. On a smooth roadway the horse of 

 heaviest weight furnishes the maximum of power, for here 

 conditions favor the least friction and effort. On a rough, 

 uneven surface, a lighter, more active horse may accom- 



