12 THE BREEDS OF LIVE-STOCK 
attractive action. The modern Percheron approaches 
more’ closely the essentials of a draft horse to meet modern 
markets, but the old type had some qualities, such as 
style, endurance and activity, which were difficult to 
retain in a shorter and stouter built horse of more 
weight. ; 
The present-day Percheron’s excellencies are to be seen 
in the active temperament, intelligent head, deep body, 
wide muscular croup.and clean-cut legs of ‘the typical 
representative. The joints are usually clean and hard, 
and the legs invariably show an abundance of quality 
that guarantees durability; but frequently the set of the 
legs and, particularly, the shape of the hind-quarters, 
is at fault. A croup too sloping, with deficiency in muscle 
below, cannot give the greatest pulling power, especially 
when associated, as it often is, with legs that are improp- 
erly set, being either too straight, sickle-hocked or other- 
wise cramped in the hind-quarters. The Percheron is 
rarely deficient in quality and activity, and when the 
weight is sufficient to meet the demands of the modern. 
draft-horse market, a draft horse of unusual excellencies 
isthe result. The action of the Percheron is almost always 
quick enough for a draft horse, and the feet are generally 
picked up with snap at the walk; but these should not 
be allowed to overshadow desirable mechanical action, 
which is straight and distance-covering, although less 
showy and attractive. 
In size, the Percheron ranges from fifteen and one- 
fourth to sixteen and one-half hands, and from 1500 to 
over 2000 pounds in weight. There are a number of 
medium size, although the largest take rank with the 
largest of any of the draft breeds. In France there is a 
type smaller in size than the medium. These are popu- 
