THE TYPES AND CLASSES OF HORSES 71 



undesirable temperamental features. The disposition 

 should be good. Draft horses, as a rule, are of gentle dis- 

 position and not so prone to develop vicious habits as the 

 light harness horse. 



The head of the draft horse is large, and in length is in 

 proportion to the length of body as I:2y 2 . Comparatively 

 speaking, the draft horse head is larger than that on the 

 smaller class animal. The head should be lean with little 

 superfluous flesh, and in proper proportion to the size of the 

 body. A fleshy head indicates a soft body. However, 

 there is not the bony prominence of head one sees on the 

 racing horse. Well developed muscles about the jaws, how- 

 ever, are regarded as a sign of strong constitution. The 

 lower jaw should be well angled, allowing ample room for 

 the larynx which lies between the separated bones of the 

 jaw. The front of the head or face varies considerably in 

 outline. Some horses have a straight profile, others a con- 

 cave or dished face, and still others a convex or Roman 

 face. Generally speaking the straight face is preferable, 

 the nasal passages thus being unobstructed, and the contour 

 generally most pleasing, though the Roman face is rather 

 common among draft horses, the Suffolk being noted for 

 this feature. 



The muzzle of the draft horse should show a good 

 quality in thin rather than heavy lips, which should come 

 together evenly without one lip materially extending over 

 the other. The muzzle should be wide, square at the corners, 

 and deep enough to permit of easy feeding. A narrow, 

 small, pinched mouth is characteristic of a poor feeder. The 

 nostrils should be large, yet not dilated, unless following 

 marked exertion. The nostril is naturally somewhat oval 

 and apparently partially closed by a fold of skin on its 

 upper side. A large orifice naturally presupposes connec- 

 tion with well developed nasal tubes and strong breathing 

 capacity. 



The eyes of the horse should be oval rather than round, 

 prominent, reasonably large, set wide apart and have thin, 



