DRAFT HORSE ACTION

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1533, 18 July 1901, Page 56

DRAFT HORSE ACTION

Action is no longer regarded as unneces. gary in tne draugnt horse. Tne lmporcOi tne *. pc-Ct> Uotu vO be recogniSNU in connection witn ad Uie noise breeus except tne araagne, but wny tins she uiu have been so has not been very clearly explained. a. horse that carries iumseii well, no matter of which breed, i 3 always capivating in a show ring, ana in most cases, all things being equal, will gener. ally be found to be a good one. What ia true of the riding and light harness horse is equally true of the draught; and so far as they are concerned, action may be diviued into two classes, and, indeed, has always been so in Scotland, the first of these being what may "be called “lateral action/" or the action of the horse when viewed standing away ironi him on either side. The general coniormation of a colt, will, as a iuit, oe a iu one s movement before he lnts tne hoox, as we know to expect snort steps in front irom horses with p.oppy shoulaers and a crutchy, shallow pastern and hoof, xiehind if he is short from the loin to the croup, he will act in the same fashion, and at once confess himself a very useless "horse for either waggon or plough. jl ue,± Lt ±ere are horses with the shoulder and forearm all right, and acting together "freely and well, the effect, however, being completely neutralised with a weak loin, and short, crooked hind legs. This horse, divided against itself. cannot stand much hard work. A horse that moves correctly i 3 the one that has‘a deep shoulder, well set for his collar, with the outlines of his harness indicating a oiope oi freeuom ior his forearm, whicn, with muscle, sends tne knees well to tne front m grand swinging lasnion, ana unngs his body well over ms noois. with poweriui loin and quarter, and lengthy and muscular thighs rising from

will swing along with a regular pendulumlike movement; and never seem to care tor tire luuu . 1 — 1 -*■ the himl movement, a word must be said as to 'tne length of the pastern. tor heavy road work it should, be of moderate leiigtu, out exceptionally strong; n long and we'ak, as is the fashion in show rings, it will sink till the letlock heel almost touches “the ground, thu s losing all the seua-Oil. povvex ol e^C moment the latter is most wanted. The second class of action is -straight action, botll iron! aliU iac., uiiu is ring by the competing animals being sent up and down at a walk and trot. The horse must come on straight "with both hoofs carried and planted even, or, at least, very little in. Of course, there are very many horses wnicn walk with both toes in a little; but it these have great wide chests, this will scarely be against them. Their powerful spread keeps them right, more particularly when short-leg-ged, biocky, and firm every way. Olos© carried hocus. ai~ k-.- i —•• “ * u nors ~ 63 required for working on the farm, so as not to trample the new ploughed ground. Hocks which are jigged outward every time the nind hoof it- firm on tne ground, are poor hor.es i~i‘ ...i o-.e road 3, as the movement gets vo se wit a age, and they get worn cut oe’ere t:.-.ir tm e. Oiose, straight action, with the knees and hocks* well flexed on a sound, well-built draught horse, tells well throughout the animal's whole career, so that when aged he moves as well fore and aft as the clay he first entered the collar.