The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1905-03-11
Draft Animals.

| by successful breeders of draft animals
reveals the fact that these men aim to
have horses in their possession which
the other fellow desires TO own.
There are those, however, who breed
in sort of haphazard way, paying
but little attention to market require
ments.
The most important requirement OF
the market horse Is ''seryiceable''
soundness; that is, he must have no
chronic disease that will unfit him for
work of a general nature. He must
be sound In wind and limb, able TO do
reasonable amount of work without
undue fatigue or premature break
downs. The majority of the horses
that go to the city are compelled to
do their work on hard, unyielding
payements, pulling heavy loads or de-
veloping speed that is an even greater
strain on the feet aud legs. The
average period of usefulness Of a sound
horse on city streets Is not more than
five years, and it is plainly evident
that this time will be materially de-
creased il he begins this work In an
unsound condition. Broken wind,
side bones, spawned hooks (bonc, bog
and blood,) and all the other various
ills that horse is heir to should be
carefully guarded against, as they
greatly diminish his value.
The next requirement, then, is a
conformation that will enable an ami
NAL to do hard work with minimum
OF wear, and give him the longest pos
siblc period OF soundness. Special
emphasis should be placed on the foot,
which should be of medium size, with
hard and dense horn, plenty Of height
to the heels and plenty OF room be-
tween them, a large elastic frog, and
nicely followed sole, or in short, a
sound, durable foot. The pasterns
should slope of the shoulder.
These conditionsiwith fiat fully devel-
oped muscles, strong, clean cut, we'll
developed joints, strongly support
ed knees and hooks, clean cut tendOns
standing well out from the legs, and
dense bone of sufficient quantity TO
to sustain the weight Of the horse will
give limb well calculated to stand
the wear and tear Of the city pave
ment.
Joining the fore and hind quarters
we must look for deep, fairly wide,
and compact middle piece, with am
pie room for chest organs with no
pinching in at the waist. Too much
width should be avoided as the action
of the fore legs is almost sure to be
bad with such conformation.
A short back is generally sought, es-
pecially one which shows the least pos
sible amount of space between the last
RIBS and hip, giving a ''close coupled
horse. Is is almost as essential as a
sound foot. A long, loose-ribbed,
oren-j ointed, wasp-waisted animal is
especially to be avoided. Such a con-
formation indicates lack Of strength
and forecasts an early breakdown.
The shoulders should be deep, smooth,
and well shaped, and hind quarters
deeply muscled, wide and well round
ed. The tail should be set high and
smartly carried. Prominent shoulder
points, hips and buttochs are obiec-
| tionable.
The neck should be clearly outlined
of moderate length, and well muscled,
with good crest, The head should
be clean cut and OF moderate length,
with a small ear, much fulness and
breadth of forehead, large, clear
full, intelligent eye, and wide open
nostril, showing good lung power and
consequent stamina. The mouth
should be of good size, with sound
teeth, and firm hips of medium thick.
ness. Over all these must be an
abundance of muscle laid on smoothly
and nicely rounded
Quality is highly essential and the
mistake of growing size without 1t
will be found expensive. A close con.
nection between quality and stamina
is very clearly recognized by horse,
men. Horses differ in mental power
as do men. There are sensible horses
and some not SO sensible. A fool of a
horse should not be given long TO stay
as he is a detrment to our com,
munity. A. T.. CRAIG,