CHAPTER VII 



THE HEAVY HARNESS HORSE TYPE 



The heavy harness horse is often referred to as the coach, or 

 carriage, horse. This type is intended for the special purpose of 

 drawing heavier kinds of carriages and coaches. This horse is 

 also of value in light, active work, where a heavier type than the 

 American trotter is desired. The size and conformation generally 

 found in the coach breeds are associated with this type. The 

 American trotter of the larger size may, however, furnish the 

 essentials needed in a high-class heavy harness horse. 



The general appearance of a heavy harness horse in good 

 condition shows smooth, graceful body lines. The height should 

 be about i6 hands and the weight from iioo to 1250 pounds 

 for geldings or mares. Stallions will usually range from 1250 to 

 1550 pounds, according to breed. In quality the heavy harness 

 horse should be superior, showing the best of feet, bone, and hair. 

 Action, high and strong at both knee and hock, is important, 

 while graceful carriage is equally essential. In general appearance 

 the best type of heavy harness horse shows a long arching neck, 

 round full body, long level croup, high carriage of tail, and what 

 is known as a "trappy" gait. 



The head of the heavy harness horse should be lean, graceful, 

 broad of forehead, rather prominent and bright of eye, deep of 

 cheek and wide and strong in lower jaw, the muzzle fine and 

 nostrils full and open, the ears refined, being neither large nor 

 small, carried close and erect and turning in slighdy at the tips. 

 The head should show quality in its leanness, intelligence in the 

 broad, full forehead, and animation in brightness of eye and car- 

 riage of ear and head. A smooth, neat attachment of head to 

 neck is essential, a fullness at the throat and about the windpipe 

 being objectionable. 



The neck of the heavy harness horse in its ideal development 



appears somewhat long, is gracefully arched, and shows a smooth, 



64 

 Digitized by Microsoft® 



