shows the least possible amount of space between the last ribs and the hips, giving a "close coupled" horse. This is almost as essential as a sound foot. A long, loose-ribbed, open-jointed, wasp-waisted animal is especially to be avoided. Such a conformation indicates lack of strength and forecasts an early breakdown. The shoulders should be deep and smooth, and hind quarters deeply muscled, wide, and well rounded. A sloping rump is always unsightly and detracts both from the use and value of the horse, for it stands to reason that such a conformation can not furnish the same amount of muscle that a nicely rounded one can. The tail should be set high and smartly carried.. Prominent shoulder points, hips, and buttocks are objectionable. The neck should be clearly outlined, of moderate length, and well muscled, with a good crest. The head should be clean-cut and of moderate length, with a rather small ear, much breadth and fullness of forehead, a large, clear, full, intelligent eye, and a wide-open nostril, showing good lung power and consequent stamina. The mouth should be of good size, with sound teeth, and firm lips of medium thickness.

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 it will be found expensive. A close connection between quality and stamina is very clearly recognized by horsemen.

HORSES FOR DRAFT.

Any horse the purpose of which is to draw large loads, whether at the walk or trot, may be spoken of as a "horse for draft." Common usage has fixed the term "draft" on horses of specified weight and size, but there are other classes on the market whose conformation is what has come to be known as the "draft form," but which differ from the drafter in the matter of size and weight and the manner of performing their work. The drafter proper works always at a walk, while other classes of horses of draft type do their work mainly at the trot. As we go along, the close relationship between the different classes of this group should be noticed, for it is one of the most interesting and instructive features of the market.

THE DRAFT HORSE.

Size and weight. The weight that will characterize a horse as a drafter will be that above which he can not work at the trot without waste of effort and horseflesh and below which he can work more economically by hauling smaller loads at increased speed. This weight is pretty generally conceded to be 1,600 pounds in fair flesh. The height of a drafter will vary from 15.3 hands for the smaller sorts to 17.2 hands for horses of great weights.

The importance of weight in a drafter must not be overlooked. His purpose is solely that of heavy work, pulling great loads at the walk, and to fulfill this requirement most perfectly the first essential is weight, with, of course, proportional size. Without weight the immense loads that are to be hauled over our city streets could not be moved, and careful observation of the average prices has shown that, other things being equal, draft horseflesh is worth about $25 for every additional hundred pounds it can show over 1,600 pounds. It is also essential that as much as possible of this weight be bone and muscle. Though many buyers unquestionably demand fat, and the truth is that a horse can not sell for a creditable price unless fat, the effective value of a horse as a worker should not be lost sight of.

Conformation.-His conformation should enable the animal to make his weight as effective as possible, and, at the same time, assure a reasonably long period of usefulness. For this purpose, he must have a rather short, heavy neck and a shoulder sloping enough to take the collar well, but not so straight as to cause a "post leg" and bring about premature unsoundness. The back should be short, well muscled, and strongly coupled to the hind quarters, which should be nicely rounded, smooth, and plentifully supplied with muscle. Particular attention should be paid to the hock. The legs must be moderately short and have a supply of bone sufficient to support the weight and work of the animal, and, of course, must be sound. A short leg, with low-set knees and hocks, is one that will stand wear and tear and usually goes with a strong, closely coupled body. Head and neck should be proportionate to the size of the horse. The whole appearance should be massive.

Action.-The action of the drafter is confined almost exclusively to the walk. For this reason the walk is of vital importance. Rapidity of step and length of stride enable him to cover considerable ground in the least possible time. Straightness, smoothness, regularity, and lack of friction enable him to do this with the least possible wear and injury to himself. The trot should possess all the merits of the walk.

Demand.-Horses of this description are in strong demand for use in city streets of America and Europe. The great packing houses, brewing companies, wholesale houses, and heavy dray and transfer companies buy this class of horse, differing slightly in weight, according to the purpose to which it is to be put or the desires of the purchaser.

The rougher, plainer drafters are used for the coarser work of the cities, where the style of a team is of no particular importance to it→ owner. The lumber trade takes such a horse, often buying animals that are blemished or even unsound.

The horse used for the American city trade is also in strong demand for the export trade to England and the Continent.

'Craig. Judging Live Stock, p. 34.

THE LONDON VANNER.

The horse known in England as a van horse is very largely purchased on the American markets. He is simply a good, "toppy American drafter, such as has already been described, weighing from 1,600 to 1,800 pounds, and standing from 16 to 16.2 hands, with a strong, compact body on short, strong legs, with sound, healthy feet. He is used to draw heavy drays, vans, etc.

THE SCOTCH, OR GLASGOW, VANNER.

This horse is about the same as the English as to weight, though he may be lighter, and is more upstanding-that is, on longer legs. His work is the same as that of other classes of horses intended for moderately heavy city work.

The horse that the Englishmen term a "cart horse" is extremely rare on the American market, and, when found, not always of the best quality. He should stand 16.2 to 17.2 hands, and weigh 2,000 pounds and upward.

THE EXPRESS HORSE.

After the drafter, the remaining classes of the draft type are distinguished by the fact that their work is done almost exclusively at the trot. The first of these is the expresser. This is one of the best and highest classes on the market so far as individual excellence is concerned, and horses that fill the requirements are always in demand at strong prices. An expresser is the best finished of all of the minor draft classes.

Size and weight. The size and weight vary somewhat, as a matter of course, but, as a general rule, an expresser stands from 15.2 to 16 hands, and weighs from 1,250 to 1,500 pounds, or even more, the weight varying with the kind of work, wagon, etc., to which a horse is to be put. In some cases a team hitched to an express wagon will be seen showing all the characteristics of the true drafter, but, as a rule, these horses are for heavy dray work, and are not looked upon as representative expressers.

Conformation.-The most pronounced type of expresser is a rather upstanding horse with strong, closely coupled body, considerable width of chest and hips, sound, clean limbs, and particularly sound, healthy feet. Special stress is placed on the health, quality, and conformation of the foot. Excepting the class following (the bussers) no class of draft type has to undergo the same amount of strain on the feet as the expresser. Hauling a loaded wagon at the trot soon tells on any but the best organs of locomotion.

When an expresser is said to be upstanding the inference should not be that he is what could be denominated "leggy." This extreme is to be absolutely avoided, and as between the two, a horse with short legs is much preferable. Buyers demand a sensible.