106 JUDGING FARM ANIMALS 



suits in undesirable fatigue of the muscles, tendons 

 and ligaments. Slowness of gait and forging are also 

 often associated with this attitude. If his legs extend be- 

 hind as though stretching, he is said to have a "camped" 

 or "stretched" position. This attitude gives a long base 

 of support with which is associated a tendency to slip back- 

 ward, bringing too much strain on the front limbs. Horses 

 that naturally camp also tend to weakness of back and slow 

 action. Grooms often stand their horses when on exhibi- 

 tion so that the front feet are on a slightly higher level 

 than the hind ones, which are stretched back to such an 

 extent as to detract from graceful and natural pose. One 

 is not far wrong in stating that when the legs come directly 

 down at each corner of the body without undue placement 

 of the feet away from these points, the legs are not far out 

 of correct position. Judges note with some care the posi- 

 tion assumed by the hind legs, discriminating especially 

 against bow-leggedness and cocked ankles. .Any extreme 

 position when at rest suggests inferior action when in mo- 

 tion, and the judge is justified in thus reasoning. 



The action of the draft horse has a practical application 

 related to hauling heavy loads and going through neces- 

 sarily slow evolutions. Large frame and great weight will 

 not admit of hasty action on the part of the draft horse. 



The walk of the drafter is of prime importance because 

 it is at this gait that most of his work is done. Therefore, 

 the walk should include three essential features, straight- 

 ness, power, and elasticity. When led directly away from 

 the judge, the horse should continue in a straight line, his 

 body inclining neither to right nor left, and the carriage of 

 each pair of legs on the same side of the body in much the 

 same vertical plane. Draft horses tend to "paddle" more 

 or less, throwing the feet outward when in action. This is 

 usually due to the horse being pigeon-toed, but may be 

 caused by improper shoeing, or condition of hoof. ' ' Wing- 

 ing" is an extreme degree of paddling. Heavy horses also 

 tend to cross their feet when in action, a movement known 



