HEAVY DRAUGHT HORSES. 105 



under favourable housing, the heavy Shire did well. With the 

 'absence of these conditions, more or less, he is not so suitable 

 in forward areas, and at times of supreme effort when extra 

 care is lacking, he becomes a candidate for evacuation and the 

 Veterinary Hospital. 



The smaller Shire on the other hand gave a good account of 

 himself at the Eront, most certainly in Eoyal Army Service 

 Corps units, and even in units of Heavy Artillery, provided he 

 was of the right sturdy type, and seasoned. 



I have written more about the Shire than perhaps occasion 

 requires, but having been brought up with him as it were, I may 

 be excused in justly singing his praises. I close with remem- 

 brance of a little mare, the grand-daughter of a pure-bred Shire 

 mare (a prize winner at Agricultural Shows) by two thorough- 

 bred crosses (the last being by "The Mate," winner of the Two 

 Thousand Guineas) who was a good little hunter, a great stayer, 

 and who took a gallant part in the Belief of Kimberly, suffering 

 death at the hands of the enemy. 



Clydesdale Horse. 



From an active service point of view, the same demerits of 

 proneness to Respiratory Disease on movement from an accus- 

 tomed habitat, heavy feathering of the legs, and liability to 

 "grease " and other diseases of the skin of the legs, exist in the 

 Clydesdale as in the Shire ; but he has the merit of being smaller 

 and more active, and it was shown in France that provided 

 he was of a short-legged, stout, sturdy build, his record, even in 

 the Forward Areas, was generally satisfactory. It is of course 

 entirely, a matter of suitable placing. 



In no breed, hpwever, does type appear to be so variable. 

 Many indifferent animals were sent the British Expeditionary 

 Force, France. A large number were long-legged, flat sided^ 

 and light in the middle — absolutely useless animals for the 

 heavy draught purposes of War. It was difficult to recognise 

 many of them as Clydesdales. Indeed it was quite evident that 

 if it is desired to maintain a place of supreme excellence, this 

 very useful breed of horse requires considerable grading up in 

 its breeding. 



