CHAPTER XXXI 
HORSES 
Kinps oF Horses 
Horses may be classified as light horses and draft horses. 
Under the first class are included the breeds that are best 
adapted for driving purposes and other uses requiring quick 
action but not great power, while the second class comprises 
the breeds of large and heavy horses suited for drawing heavy 
loads, but having slower movement. All race horses belong 
to the first type, while the horses used for heavy team work in 
cities belong to the second type. On the ordinary farm there 
are both kinds of work for horses— the work where fair 
speed is important, and heavy work where power is the chief 
requirement. No one horse can excel in both of these re- 
spects; a horse cannot be heavy as well as light, and have 
short legs as well as long ones. Consequently we have no 
breed that is eminently satisfactory for all general farm work. 
The advent of the automobile has greatly diminished the need 
for good roadsters, and fairly heavy horses now come nearer 
to meeting all requirements than they did before. 
‘Draft horses, as already implied, are heavy animals with a 
broad, massive body, and short, muscular legs and neck. The 
leading breeds are the Percheron (pronounced Persh’ron), 
Clydesdale, Shire, and Belgian. The Percherons are the 
most popular farm horses, being quite active for a draft horse, 
and also gentle, intelligent, and strong. 
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