HEAVY DRAUGHT HORSES. 101 



In estimating the height's quoted above, it is intended that 

 they should be viewed as a guide only. Considerations of 

 proportionate make and shape, and robustness of constitution, 

 are primarily implied, and it goes without saying that these are 

 necessary factors in the suitability of an Army horse of 

 whatever class. 



Chaptee II. 



HEAVY DKAUGHT HOESES. 



In remarking on the merits and demerits of the different 

 breeds of Heavy Draught horses employed during the war, 

 it is necessary to bear in mind that these animals have a 

 greater value in civil life ( commerce and agriculture ) than 

 for military use, and therefore it is wrong to judge them 

 entirely from a military standpoint. They are also so 

 surrounded with pride of country, competition of production, 

 fancy, fashion, preference, prejudice even to controversy, and 

 ill-luck during the war, that comparative .consideration is not 

 altogether an easy one. Moreover, in France the latter 

 difficulty was increased by the fact that so many animals 

 were of crossed breeds, or so untrue to type, or so altered in 

 form by the vicissitudes of campaign, that a differentiation of 

 breed was in a large measure impossible. However, their 

 value as a whole was highly appreciated by competent 

 impartial judges in France, for on demobilisation and sale of 

 surplus animals demand was so great that very high prices 

 were realised. I call to mind one sale of fifty-two Heavy 

 Draught Horses where the' average price realised was 

 Frs. 3,166, two English Shire Horses brought Frs. 5,150 

 and Frs. 5,000 respectively, though American Percheron 

 cross-strains — notably Percheron and Clydesdale crosses — 

 ran them pretty close. I may mention also that representatives 

 of Land Reconstruction sent by the French Ministry of 

 Agriculture to interview me and to show me types of mares 

 which they desired to purchase for agriculturists in devastated 

 areas, chose as the best type a big Shire, a tolerably good 

 specimen of that breed. 



