HEIGHT AND WEIGHT 209 



just back of the heel. The horse should be led on to a hard 

 floor and so stood that all four feet are under the body in 

 normal position when the measurement is made. A draft 

 horse should be at least 16 hands high. The desirable 

 height is 1 6i to 17 hands. Horses above that height are 

 somewhat difficult to care for, and are hard to match. 



Weight. — The score card allows four points for the 

 weight of the draft horse. If all the horses competing are 

 above 1500 pounds in weight this allowance is sufl&cient, 

 but weight is the factor that determines whether or not a 

 horse belongs in the draft class. Without weight, the ani- 

 mal lacks the power to start heavy loads with ease. The 

 point is well illustrated in the case of the railway locomo- 

 tive, which is dependent to a great extent upon its weight, 

 giving it power to grip the rails. 



The market price of the draft horse depends largely 

 upon its weight. Statistics show that a price of $25.00 is 

 received for every hundred pounds of weight above 1400 

 pounds. Men often take advantage of the difference in 

 price between light and heavy horses, and buy thin horses 

 possessing good quality and large frame on the market, 

 feed them until they have increased in weight from 100 to 

 300 pounds, return them to the market, and make a good 

 profit on the increased price offered for the increase in 

 weight and the improved appearance and condition of the 

 horses. There is always a strong demand for heavy horses, 

 but there is a limited demand for extremely heavy horses, 

 because they are hard to match and must either be worked 

 alone or as middle horses in three-horse teams. 



Form. — The form of the draft horse should be such that 

 the greatest weight is compacted into the least space, and 

 the center of gravity thus brought close to the ground. 



T. AND L. ANIMAL HUSB. 14 



