A. The draft type has short legs, short neck, large round body, and ranges in weight from 1400 pounds to 2000 pounds.

Varieties:—

  1. Percheron: generally about 1700 pounds in weight, 16 hands (64 inches) high, gray or black, blocky body, steep rump, clean legs, and quick action.
  2. Shire: generally about 1800 pounds in weight, 17 hands high, bay or brown, white marked feet and face, hairy legs and feet, and slow action.
  3. Belgian: generally about 1800 pounds in weight, 16 hands high, chestnut or roan in color, compact body, short, steep rump, and small feet.

B. The coach or carriage type has legs and neck of medium length, a body full-chested but not blocky, and a weight varying from 1150 pounds to 1400 pounds.

Varieties:—

  1. Hackney: generally of full, broad, powerful body, short legs and back, high action and high carriage of neck and head, bay or chestnut in color, 15 hands high, and 1400 pounds in weight.
  2. Coach: generally lighter than the Hackney, with longer legs and long stride; height, 16 hands; weight, 1300 pounds.
  3. Cleveland bay: averaging 16½ hands in height, 1350 pounds in weight, high, broad hips, strong action, and bay color.

C. The roadster type is long and lean of limb and body, and averages about 1100 pounds in weight.

Varieties:—

  1. Thoroughbred: of small head, long neck, level back, of variable color, 14½–16½ hands high, about 1000 pounds in weight.
  2. American saddle: an American production; not a distinct breed, but a roadster of high quality.
  3. American trotter: a superior type of good speed. The off forefoot and the nigh hind foot act together, the nigh fore and the off hind feet together, giving a two-beat gait.
  4. Pacer: similar to the trotter, but using both off feet and both nigh feet together, giving a swinging gait.

The horse is very similar to man in its physical and mental character, being subject to the same ailments and treatment and having the same impulses of affection, hatred, fear, jealousy, obedience, willfulness, memory, and perhaps reason. It is of all animals most careful in its eating and drinking; because its stomach is small, the food should not be bulky but concentrated, grain forming a goodly portion of the ration.