BREEDS OF DRAFT HORSES 129 



1,800 to 2,200 pounds or more, and the mares 1,700 to 1,900 

 pounds. A height of 17 hands is acceptable. A large head, 

 with a tendency to Roman nose, great scale and massive 

 body are features of a superior Shire. The shoulders and 

 pasterns tend to undesirable straightness ; the bone is fre- 

 quently heavy; and the feet large and inclined to be flat. 

 Formerly the Shire was regarded as coarse, heavy and 

 slow in movement, and lacking in good action. In recent 

 years English breeders have done much to improve them, 

 and the criticisms of slow movement and coarseness are 

 not as generally true to-day as they once were. 



The Suffolk horse is a breed that originated long ago in 

 Suffolk county, on the east coast of England. Few horses 

 of this breed are found in America. The color is chestnut, 

 varying from light to dark. The size is medium, stallions 

 commonly weighing 1,800 to 1,900 pounds, and standing 

 16 to 17 hands high. It is characterized by a distinctly 

 Roman face ; crested neck ; a very wide, deep-ribbed, com- 

 pact body ; and short, clean legs. The round, full form of 

 body gave this horse in its native home the name of Suffolk 

 Punch, a term not so commonly used to-day. The hocks 

 have been somewhat criticized as lacking in depth, and the 

 feet have also been faulted for being too small and shelly. 

 In their native Suffolk, one sees fine specimens of this breed, 

 where they are regarded as very superior draft horses for 

 farm work. 



