THE TYPES AND CLASSES OF HORSES 



8'J 



dose, the horse is ''knocked kneed"; if too widely 

 separated he is "bow legged" or "bow kneed"; if the 

 toes turn out he is "toe wide" or "base narrow," or 

 "splay footed/', and if the toes 

 turn in he is "toe narrow," or 

 "base wide," or "pigeon-toed." 

 A crooked leg is evidence of weak- 

 ness or defective gait. A splay 

 footed horse interferes, and a pigeon- 

 toed one "paddles" or "wings." 

 The terms calf-kneed and knee- 

 sprung have already been explained 

 (page 78). These various deficien- 

 cies of leg position are easily noticed, 

 and should not be ignored by the 

 judge. It must be remembered, 

 however, that the walk is the com- 

 mon gait of the draft horse, so that 

 the same importance is not to be at- 

 tached to the position of leg as 

 in the case of the speed horse. There 

 is much less likelihood of interfer- 

 ence from a draft horse, with his 



Fig. 47. "If the toes 

 turn in he is toe narrow, 

 or base wide, or pigeon- 

 toed." 



slow movement, than from a trotter, 



even admitting the undesirability of 



the position of leg in either case. This the judge must 



take into consideration. 



The body of the draft horse is a very important factor 

 for we must largely look to this portion of the whole for 

 the great weight desired. Therefore as he views the draft 

 horse the judge must be impressed in suitable degree with 

 his massive size as expressed in the body, otherwise the 

 animal lacks in draft character. This massiveness is es- 

 sential for the necessary weight to be thrown forward in 

 the collar when work is to be done. 



The withers of the draft horse should be well defined 

 and muscular. As has already been explained, the withers 



