196 



MANAGEMENT AND BREEDING OF HORSES 



best horses that some authorities go so far as to say that 

 a white foot and sock are essential in the pure Clydes- 

 dale, although there seems to be well-supported objec- 

 tion to both white feet and legs in southern climates 

 where the white surface is liable to burn and blister in 

 the sun so that the parts become swollen and painful, 

 particularly when the horses have access to water in 

 which they can wet the white places. 



FIG. 105.— CLYDESDALE STALLION "PRIDE OF DRUMLANDRIG" 



The backs of the cannons support a growth of long 

 hair known as the "feather." In horses of best quality 

 the hair springs from the edge of the cannon and is fine, 

 silky and long. The statement is often made that a 

 proper feather protects the coronet and back part of the 

 pastern from filth and mud, and, consequently, is a pre- 

 ventive of scratches. At any rate, the feather when 

 fine indicates that the other tissues, such as the bone, 



