382 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



it used to be some years ago. Horse show promoters became wearied of 

 seeing their premiums for action carried off by acrobatic montrosities, and it 

 caused them to modify the wording of their prize lists and call for all-around 

 goers with 25 per cent for conformation. 



The horse that winds his legs about, straddles, points, rolls, spreads be- 

 hind, waddles or drags his hind legs, is no longer in favor with the good 

 judge, no matter how excessive his action. 



QUALITY IN HORSES. 



F. C. Grenside, V. S., New York County^ New York, in Breeders' Gazette. 



There is no subject upon which there seems to be more diversity of opin- 

 ion amongst horsemen than as to what constitutes ' 'quality" in a horse. 



It is a term in very common use, but if you ask a number of horsemen 

 what they mean by it you are sure to get a variety of answers. One will say 

 it means breeding; another, conformation; another, finish; another, "class"; 

 another, symmetry, individuality or perhaps a combination of some or all of 

 these attributes. Some say that quality is recognizable but indefinable and 

 unexplainable. 



The term ''quality" is an abstract one, indicating a special attribute in 

 an individual, just as being well bred, well conformed and possessing finish 

 are attributes of some individuals. When one says that a horse has 

 ' 'quality" one means that he has a special attribute which may or may not 

 be combined with any or all of the others mentioned. Of course there are 

 varying degrees of "quality" so that the term can only be used in a com- 

 parative sense. In the light classes of horses it is very often used synony- 

 mously with breeding. Certainly the more warm blooded a horse is the 

 higher the degree of quality he is apt to possess, but one may take two 

 well bred thoroughbreds and find one showing evidence of the possession of 

 a higher degree of quality than the other so that breeding and quality do 

 not mean the same. Neither does quality signify the possession of symmetry, 

 good conformation, finish or ''class." A horse may be very defective in 

 any or all of these respects and still possess a high degree of ''quality.'* 

 He may be fiddle-headed, lop-eared, ewe-necked, sway-backed, flat-sided, 

 slack-loined and cow-hocked and yet show much ' 'quality." 



Much confusion is caused by using the term "quality", synonymously 

 with "class." Horses are spoken of as of high class, medium class and so 

 on, indicating the degree of excellence which they possess for the purpose 

 for which they are best suited. Two individuals can betaken as an example 

 showing equal ' 'quality", but one of them, on account of better conforma- 

 tion, more style and action, may be worth twice as much as the other, con- 

 sequently he is a higher-class individual, although the two are equal in 

 "quality", so that "quality" and ' 'class" do not mean the same. 



If, then, ''quality" does not mean breeding or conformation or sym- 

 metry or finish or ' 'class" or a combination of any or all of these, what does 

 it mean? It is an easier matter to explain what constitutes "quality" than 

 it is to give a concise and at the same time comprehensive definition of what 



