The Breeds of Horses 25 
31. Clydesdale compared with the Percheron. — While the 
two breeds are of approximately the same size, the former possesses 
certain distinctive features, on which loyal Scotchmen lay great 
emphasis. The most important of these features are the color 
markings, the hairy legs, and the action. The coloring is usually 
bay or brown and the characteristic markings are a white blaze 
on the face and one or more white feet. From the back of the legs 
below the knees and hocks grows an abundance of long hair called 
the feather. The Clydesdale breeders have always given special 
attention to the action, with the result that it is not surpassed 
by any other draft breed. In general, the Scotch horse is more 
upstanding than the French horse, the legs are longer, and the 
body longer and lighter, particularly in the region of the flanks. 
The face or nose is often slightly Roman (Fig. 10). 
32. The Shire draft horse. — During its past history, this 
breed has been known in England as the Great Horse, War Horse, 
Cart Horse, Old English Black Horse, Giant Lincolnshire, Strong 
Horse, and Shire. The breed was developed in the lowlands of 
England, particularly ,in Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire. In 
early times, heavy, active horses were in great demand for war 
purposes, and this led to large importations of the heavy Black 
Horse of Normandy and the Flanders. One of the early improvers 
of the breed was Robert Bakewell, who introduced horses from 
Holland. The history of the Shire shows a slow but persistent 
development of an improved type through a long period of time. 
33. Shire compared with the Percheron. — In general appear- 
ance, the Shire resembles the Clydesdale, particularly in the color 
markings and the feather of the legs. In conformation, however, 
the Shire more closely resembles the Percheron, the form being 
massive and low-set, the back broad, the ribs well sprung and of 
good length, particularly the rear ones, thus giving a deep body. 
The Shire is perhaps more powerfully built than the Percheron, 
but lacks the action of both the Scotch and the French horses. 
This is due, in part at least, to the rather straight shoulders, the 
