128 JUDGING DRAFT HORSES 



rather popular, although a rather unimportant, feature of 

 the breed. 



The action of the Suffolk ranks well, although there is 

 a slight tendency to twist the hocks when moving. This 

 has been largely overcome, however, through careful breed- 

 ing. The temperament and disposition of the breed is 

 exceedingly well developed. Specimens of the breed are 

 easy to keep, and considering their weight, are capable of 

 doing heavy and continuous work. They are docile, quiet, 

 and well managed under a variety of conditions. The chief 

 objections to the breed are lack of weight, light bone, and 

 their rather soft, shelly feet. The breed has not been 

 imported to any extent and consequently is not widely 

 distributed in this country. Wherever used, however, they 

 have become quite popular for general work on the farm. 

 Wallace describes the Suffolk Punch as follows : 



"The SufFolk Punch is named from its native county, 

 and from its compact and rounded form, its thick-set body, 

 and short, hard, clean legs and fairly short pasterns, free from 

 coarse hairs. The color is chestnut. White legs or a bald 

 face are very objectionable. It is said that the color was 

 derived through a cross with imported Norwegian horses, 

 brought, like some of the progenitors of the trotting Hackneys, 

 by the early Norse invaders. The form and action of certain 

 of the Norfolk hackneys of the day leave no reasonable 

 grounds for doubting that; however, the Norfolk trotter and 

 Suffolk Punch may now differ in size, style, and general 

 appearance, they must have been intimately connected 

 with one another at some period." 



Class Characteristics. — The recognized classes involved 

 in the draft group or type, as exemplified in the market 

 and show classes, include drafters, loggers, and chunks. 



Drafter.i — Draft horses are representative of the ideal 

 which characterize the market and show ring. Such animals 

 should be broad, deep, massive, and possess ample bone and 

 muscle development with quality and refinement. They 

 should stand from 15-3 to 17-2 hands high and weigh not 

 under 1600 pounds. Drafters are worked in various ways 



' See illustration, p. 114. 



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