98 BREEDS OF HORSES 



the short thick muscles so much sought for in the draft 

 horse, this horse has long, strong tendons. The legs are 

 quite long; the muscles refined; the pasterns long and 

 strong, and the bones and feet of the best quality. The 

 horse is strong in the quarters, with strong tendons and 

 joints in the rear limbs. The blood vessels show very 

 prominently, which is considered an index of good 

 breeding. In action, the one ideal is that of speed, for 

 which style is sacrificed. The Thoroughbred should travel 

 close to the ground, 'and waste no energy in fancy steps. 

 This horse has had so much to do with attracting the at- 

 tention of man toward the improvement of live stock that 

 its study is quite important, even though it does not re- 

 ceive much attention from the practical breeder. 



At the present time this breed is very useful in crossing 

 with common horses to impart quahty. The American 

 Trotter, Hackney, and Coach breeds all owe much of their 

 quahty and refinement to the infusions of Thoroughbred 

 blood they have received in their development. 



PONIES 



Practically every country in the world where horses are 

 found has developed its own type of ponies. The sparse 

 feed and severe climatic conditions under which they are 

 produced tend to give the pony its small size, which alone 

 distinguishes it from the horse. In the British Isles the 

 height of the pony is given as 14 hands, but the American 

 standard is 14 hands, i inch. The height of the polo pony 

 is 14 hands, 2 inches, or about the height of the Arabian 

 horse. 



Ponies are useful for riding, for drawing light vehicles, and 



