The Washington times., 1904-07-10
Few Americans Know
What They Want When
a Horse Is Needed.
How to Find the Points
of Any Type of Arll-
NAL Desired.

nllar with their habits for a lie time
have little or no practical knowledge,
that can be put to practical use. There
are lots of them that manage to look
wise when horses are mentioned--but
that is about all for them
They don't know actually what points
2 horse should show that is TO be used
Tor any particular purpose. IL they are
cooking for a coach or carriage horse
they will probably make a purchase Of
something that would answer very we'll
for roadster. and IL they want a road
ster they viii pick up a saddle horse.
This sort of wild ignorance Is nuts for
the dealer, but 1t is painful to man
who loves and understands horses and
Dies not like to see them pu- ID the
wrong use.
1T is hurtful, too. to the breeder. Ig-
norance has caused the farmer breeder
to neglect essentials and the result has
been the production of animals that did
not fall within the recognized limits Of
any Of the classes. They were just non
deseripts-good enough horses in their
way, but of no special type. Taey could
never command fancy prices, and in
most cases not even good prices. On
the other hand there has always been
steady demand for the standard types
and for these good prices can always be
obtained.
There are four types Of horses that
are in general use-the heavy draft
horse, the coach or carriage horse. the
roadster. and the saddle horse Each
type is distinct, possessing special char
aeteristics that add to its adaptability
TO the uses to which the horse is TO be
put.
An expert on the subject has prepared
list of the attributes each Of the four
types mentioned should possess. It is
as follows:
The Draft Horse.
Head-Coarseness of the head must
be guarded against; ears should be
somewhat short. pointed, and not too
wide apart at base; forehead broad and
rather fat with a straight nasal bone;
eye bright. full. and mild, with no ap-
peaTance Of a film TO interfere with the
vision (the natural shape OF the eye is
elliptcal-a spherical form indicates
blindness or impaired vision); nostrils
large and pink in color; muscle OF the
cheek well developed; lips firm, and
mouth Of medium size.
Neck-Medium length, deep at Juno
ton Of body, continuous with the withers
without any line Of demarcation; crest
well arched. broad. and strong, but not
so heavy as 10 turn to either side.
Whole neck should be well muscled and
surmounted by a good. heavy name.
Withers-In a line with the neck
rather broad, well defined. and strongly
muscled
Shoulders - Medium slope. Extreme
slope Of shoulder is conducive 10 good
action. but it is Objectionable from q
draft standpoint; on the other hand. a
very upright shoulder is associated with
a long back and stubby pasterns, con-
ductve TO poor action. as the direct con-
cussion Il very liable TO cause sidebone
The muscles covering the blades should
be wen developed.
Chest-Deep and comparatively broad,
giving plenty OF volume ana lung room
which indicates stamina: legs must not
be set on the outside, but well under
BODY When the legs are very wide
apart the horse usually has a rolling
action.
Arm - Bone forming arm short and
sloping so as TO bring the legs well IN
der the body; also well muscled.
Elbow-Strong and muscular, turning
neither in nor cut. but fitting closely to
the -s>est
Forearm-Large and very heavily mus
cle6. This Is a very important point
and one in which a great many horses
are very deficient.
Knee-Well developed. broad from side
10 side and deep from before backwards.
straight from side view, neither bend
ing forward, called knee sprung; nor
backward, called calf knee. 1t is very
important that the knee be well sun
ported. as there should not be the slight
est tendency 70 cut away beneath the
knee-a very common defect IN many
otherwise good horses.
Knee to fetlock-That portion between
the knee and the fetl0ck, called the can.
ron bone. broad and nat and free from
meatiness; tendons vide. hard, promi-
nent. and must not lie tied in beneath
the knee. In the case OF the Ciydesdale
and the Shire there should be a firing,
OF fine. straight, silky hair starting from
behind the knee and running 10 the let
lock This hair Is commonly called
feather" and should Dot be found OF
the front OF the leg. Ia the Percheror
and the Belgian not 50 much hair +.
found
Fetlock-Fetlock joint wide and vel
defined so as 70 give space Tor the proper
attachment Of the tendons that pass this
Joint.
Front pasterns-Mediuln length, srong
and fairly sIoping. TIE slope Of tbs
pastern has much 70 de- with the dura
bility OF the horses feat and a marked
influence on his action. A short, upright
pastern causes direct conclusion. which
is very hard on the horse: il on pave
ment he viii soon throv out sidebones
On the other hand. 8. draft horse may
baVe too much length nd slope Of pas
tern. so much that he will be weak IN
his pasterns.
Front feet-Good szn, rather round
with strong wall. not fat: heels wide
and neither too shalioI nor too deep
horn dense. and not Inclined 10 she'll.
Tess or britdeIess; frog well developed
tees turning neither IN Tor out. but per.
fectly straight
BOdy-rhe typical draft horse stands