164 



THE HORSE, ASS, AND MULE 



In 1893 Professor Robert Wallace, the Scotch authority, 

 stated that "at one time they were flat-footed and liable to 

 become lame if worked regularly on the hard road or on stone 

 pavements, but the care bestowed upon breeding has in recent 

 years eliminated this defect among animals of the first rank." 

 As seen by the author, the feet tend to be somewhat small and 

 lacking in fullness at the top of the hoof. The quality and action 

 of the Suffolk rank well. The breed cannot be classed as coarse, 

 while in action it stands next to the Clydesdale among draft 



horses. Wallace states 

 that they twist their 

 legs and feet when 

 moving, but this does 

 not apply to-day as 

 much as it may have 

 formerly. The height 

 ranges from 16 to 17 

 hands, though 16 to 

 i6i is more common. 

 In fact, this breed 

 should be short of leg 

 and close to the 

 ground, though the 

 Suffolks the author 

 has seen in this coun- 

 try have shown con- 

 siderable height and weight. The weight should not run high, 

 1800 to 1900 pounds being ample. Greater weights than this 

 are attained, but they are not typical ; for example, Galbraith 

 gives 1800 to 2200 pounds, but this brings him up to a horse 

 of large size among the draft breeds, a thing never claimed by 

 Suffolk breeders. The Suffolk should not be as large as Clydes- 

 dale or Shire and is not bred for the heavy draft work of the 

 city, but for farm purposes, where less weight is required. This 

 is generally conceded by advocates of the breed. 



The color of the Suffolk horse is one of its most characteristic 

 features, always being chestnut and varying only from light to 

 dark. The statement has been made that in an investigation of 



Fig. 63. An American-bred Suffolk mare. From 

 photograph, by courtesy of F. S. Peer 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



