HORSES 125 



produce him. Besides tiie mule is considered to be a better 

 work animal than the horse. It is not built so much for looks 

 as foj work. It does not have so much of a covering of fat 

 and is not so smooth or well rounded. It is made more for 

 business. 



The mule is not so subject to disease, sickness and injury. 

 It will withstand rough treatment better than the horse. It 

 also seems to know how to keep itself in better condition, in 

 its eating and drinking. 



The mule, again, is better able to withstand hot weather 

 than is the horse, which is a big advantage because much of 

 the hard work of the farm comes during the hot part of the 

 season. This factor is not of such importance in the north 

 but is of great importance in all southern countries. 



BREEDS OF HEAVY HORSES 



There are different breeds of horses in most of the different 

 types. 



Grades. — Perhaps the most common of all horses is the 

 grade horse. Grade horses, sired by good pure-bred stallions 

 out of sound mares, with the desirable characteristics out- 

 lined above, are as good for work on the farm as are pure- 

 bred horses. The main thing in the farm work horse is to get 

 size, weight, quality and conformation. If one is able finan- 

 cially to have pure breds, so much the better. He may be able 

 to sell the offspring from these at an advanced price. But 

 even with pure breds it is important that they be selected for 

 size, weight, quality and conformation. Of course, grade 

 mares should always be bred to good stallions, and, preferably, 

 to good sound pure-bred stallions. 



Percheron. — The Percheron breed of horses originated in 

 France and is one of the most popular breeds in the United 

 States at the present time. This breed presents all the 

 colors, but blacks and greys are in the majority. 



The Percheron is a draft horse of good size, quahty and 

 general conformation. It has good action both in walking 

 and in trotting. They are likely to be weak in the croup and 

 cannons. The rear end of the croup is too low and the upper 



