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JUDGING DRAFT HORSES 



short back, which is characteristic of a typical draft animal. 

 The back should be short, broad, and deeply muscled. The 

 loin should be broad, level, heavily muscled, and should be 

 indicative of a close, short coupling. The ribs should be well 

 arched, closely placed, and the chest should be deep and 

 broad on the floor. The flank should be full and low. 

 The hindquarters should be broad, deep, the croup level, 

 well muscled, and the thighs deep and compact. The bone 



Fig. 30. — Characteristics of a good draft gelding, illustrating the draft type. 



should be large, square, fine and dense, and the forearm 

 and gaskin heavily muscled. As a whole, the draft animal 

 should be broad, deep, compact, and massive in appearance 

 throughout. 



Quality. — Quality in the draft animal signifies the same 

 condition as applied to the light horse or other classes of 

 live stock. However, in the light horse there is usually 

 a more significant indication of quality in the hair, skin, and 

 bone. While quality is just as essential in the draft horse 

 it is usually not present to the same degree. The principal 



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