SIXTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART VII. 529 



POINTS OF THE LIGHT HORSE. 



On general principles most of the requirements mentioned in describ- 

 ing the points of the draft horse equally are applicable here, but refine- 

 ment of character throughout the frame, excellence of quality, high spirit, 

 nerve, stamina, endurance, grace, action and intelligence must be of a 

 higher order. According to its special purpose the light horse must have 

 the specialty highly developed and be perfectly equipped in every way for 

 the performance of its work. "Blood" shows even more prominently in 

 light horses than in the more phlegmatic drafter and should be evidenced 

 by style, nobility, grace, beauty of every curve and outline, dignity and 

 refinement. The skin should be thin, pliable, glossy showing veins and 

 tendons plainly, while the hair should be silky, free from coarseness and 

 fine, long and flowing in mane and tail. The body and limbs should show 

 every requirement of strength and endurace, lack all impedimets to speed 

 and free action and give the impression of trained athletic capacities. 



Head. — A clean, "breedy" looking head, free from surplus flesh and 

 fat, wide between the eyes, straight, neither Roman-nosed or dished, fine 

 in skin, showing veins and muscles distinctly; neat, firm, refined In 

 muzzle, having large, flexible nostrils, lined with pink membranes; lips, 

 thin and firmly controlled; jaw bones wide apart and clean; eyes, full, 

 clear, fearless yet mild, bright, sound; ears, fine-cut, pointed, alert, free 

 from coarse hairs, erect, and of proper proportion, characterize the ariso 

 cratic trotter, thoroughbred and "gentleman's horse." Departures from 

 any of these requisites detract from beauty, breed, character or utility. 



Neck. — While the draft horse's neck is somewhat short and heavy 

 from wealth of powerful muscle that of the light horse should be long, 

 graceful, covered with long, thin, refined muscles, prettily blended into 

 the head at the throat-latch, free from pronounced glands about the 

 throat, arched, camparatively thin, not "ewe-necked," not notched down- 

 ward in front of the withers, but smoothly molding into that part and the 

 shoulders. A large, prominent windpipe, together with wide, flexible 

 nostrils indicates lung capacity and necessarily endurance. A smaU 

 windpipe and dilated, rigid or over distended nostrils may indicate defec- 

 tive respiratory organs. 



Chest. — In connection with what has been said about nostrils and 

 windpipe the shape and size of the chest may next be most properly 

 considered. While great width of chest is less common and not so 

 necessary in the light horse, as compared with the draft horse, it is 

 imperative that there should be great depth and capacity for fully util- 

 ized lungs and heart. Great speed would be prevented by too much 

 spring of rib under the shoulders of light horses but the girth should be 

 large and the sternum (breast bone) well let down. 



Shoulders. — While we have set down the correct type of shoulder for 

 the draft horse as "moderately sloping" the light horse on the con- 

 trary should have long, oblique shoulders to give him great leverage and 

 strong control over his legs for fast, free long striding gait at the walfe, 

 trot or run. Such a shoulder is also necessary to the safe saddler that 

 must not stumble and must be springj- and elastic in his action for 



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