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Rural School Leaflet 



it difficult to keep them presentable; some tear their 1 blankets, which are 

 more or less expensive to replace; some acquire the habit of lying down 

 cow fashion, which often results in shoe boils that are considered an 

 unsoundness; .still others acquire the habit of gorging grain, thus endanger- 

 ing their health. If the horse is to reach his maximum efficiency, all such 



habits must be avoided 

 or ovcrconie. 



VII. SCORE CARD FOR 

 THE HORSE 



The score card enu- 

 merates the various 

 parts of the horse and 

 attaches a relative 

 value to each. There 

 are so many points 

 to be considercxi in 

 examining a horse that 

 a person who has not 

 had much experience 

 is likely to omit some 

 of them if he does not 

 have a list. Because 

 of the niimber of 

 points to be consid- 

 ered, the score card is 

 rather long; but by 

 giving each point a 

 place and a value, a 

 person is enabled to 

 gain the desired infor- 

 mation much more 

 accuratel}-, and even 

 more quickly, than if the minor points are omitted or tlirown in with the 

 more important ones. A card on which the points are thus mixed leads 

 to confusion. 



For convenience, and in order to aid in a clearer understanding, the 

 card is divided into five parts: general appearance, which has to do with 

 general make-up and is often the only part considered when the inex- 

 perienced person selects a horse; the head and the neck; the fore quarters; 

 the body; and the hind quarters. Each of these parts and the points 

 under them should be carefully noted, first collectively and then separately, 

 fpr in 130 other way can one be sure of hi& choice, 



The horse at work 



