FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 305, 3 February 1910, Page 7

FARM AND DAIRY.

HOW TO TELL A GOOD HORSE. * Canadian fanners are advised in a recent Government Bulletin what to iooL for in a good horse. Here are some of the points:— If a hoivc is short ribbed lie is light in his middle, and is nearly always a poor feeder. He has not the stomach "to contain succulent food to serve him from one meal to another. A light-centred horse iseldom weighs and weight in a draught if it comes from bone, sinew, and muscle, goes a long way to .h . -.nine his commercial value. Vv hen a horse is v -d coupled together on top, and has ;i. short back, he must •lui\e the length below from the point of the shoulder to the back of the thigh. When .=0 built he will stand the strain of drawing heavy loads much better than if lie has a long, loose ba'.'k. The front feet and hocks are the parts of either a draught or a driving horse j that come directly in contact with the | hard work, and unless they are sound ! and good a horse's usefulness will be [ very much impaired and his commercial I value much lessened.

Before purchasing a stallion, get the groom to lead him away from you. | Wtar.d square behind him, and see that | Sie picks up his feet and places them, toot striking the ground first with the toe and then bringing down the heel. The feet should be large and waxy in 'appearance. The sole of the hoof should be concave, the frog spongy, plump, and elastic, because it acts a,s" a buffer to prevent the concussion from acting too ■severely on the foot, postern, and fetlock. ; See that both sire and dam have sound^feet, free from flatness, nrUjtleness, and are not contracted. There (should be no "gumminess" about the hocks of the draught horse, as it indicates' coarseness. They should be large, Mat, and firm, and should be wide, especially from a side view. A stallion whose feet are contracted s.nd brittle, and whose hocks are puffy land fleshy-looking, should be avoided, ■as such hocks are generally associated, with a coarseness throughout his' whole conformation and a general lack of quality.