348 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



high action as essential, but does not carry it to the point where speed 

 is sacrificed. This latter idea carried out will develop the long, reachy 

 action that tends to increase speed; it will develop the class of horse that 

 will closely approach the true trotter and it will at the same time be less 

 wearing on the horse. The former will branch off in an entirely different 

 direction, with the coach horse as its ultimate end, if much speed is 

 also present, will entail a severe strain on the horse. In other words, 

 as between action and speed in a roadster at the trot, some will place more 

 importance on action, while others will seek to develop speed, and will 

 buy accordingly. As a roadster, strictly speaking, is a horse whose pur- 

 pose is to draw a light rig on the road at a fairly high rate of speed for a 

 considerable length of time, the latter idea is technically more nearly 

 correct. All-around and not extreme action is desired. It must be prompt, 

 straight, and frictionless, whether at the trot, the pace, or the walk. 



Demand. — Roadsters are in demand for city use or country use, and 

 for any purpose where a horse is wanted for fast driving to a light road 

 wagon or run-about. 



THE STANDABD-BBED HOBSE. 



Size and weight. — The standard-bred trotter or pacer is the horse of 

 the foregoing class more highly specialized and always eligible to registry 

 in the trotting register. 



Conformation. — This shows the extreme of speed production, and is 

 the result of years of breeding for the sole purpose of increased speed. It 

 is the roadster type carried to the farthest known limit. A better descrip- 

 tion of the type was never made than the one comparing the conforma- 

 tion to that of the greyhound. 



Action^ — The sole purpose of action in the Standard-bred horse is for 

 the development of the greatest speed with the least possible expenditure 

 of energy. The most important essentials are straightness, smoothness, 

 and reach. 



Demand. — Eligible trotters and pacers are in demand for racing pur- 

 poses, both amateur and professional, and for the breeding stud. 



COACHEBS. 



The connection between the coach horse and the roadster is ex- 

 tremely close, the difference between the two groups being chiefly those 

 of conformation and action. 



COACH HOBSES. 



Size and weight. — A typical coach horse stands 15.2 to 16 hands and 

 weighs from 1,100 to 1,250 pounds. 



Conformation. — A coacher is considerably heavier, smoother and more 

 compact than a roadster. The conditions of his work, of course, require 

 soundness as an absolute essential. His legs are clean-cut and well mus- 

 cled, with sloping pasterns and shoulders; the back short, closely coupled 

 to the hind quarters, and smoothly muscled. The hind quarters are well 

 packed with muscle, smooth, and rounded, not straight and angular as in 



