350 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



COBS. 



Size and weight. — A typical cob stands about 15.1 hands and weighs 

 from 1,000 to 1,050 pounds. 



Conformation. — If anything, the cob is more compact and smoother 

 than a coacher, and on somewhat shorter legs. He shows the highest 

 possible amount of style and should be a horse of much beauty. "He is 

 a nice, flashy, trappy-going little coach horse." 



Action. — In action a cob has the highest development of any of the 

 coachers, and has, especially, that sharp, snappy quality that horsemen 

 call "trappy." 



Demand. — Cobs supply the same class of trade as the full-sized coach- 

 ers, and are used for the lighter grades of work to which a coacher may 

 be put. 



SADDLEBS. 

 THE SADDLE HORSE. 



Size and weight. — A saddler will vary considerably in the characteris- 

 tics of size and weight, depending on the character of the work for which 

 he is intended and the amount of weight he is to carry. As a general rule. 

 a range of from 15.1 to 15.3 in height and from 1,000 to 1,150 pounds in 

 weight will describe this pretty accurately. 



A horse of 15.1 hands in height and 1,000 pounds weight makes what 

 is called a "ladies' saddler"; or if a walk, trot and tenter horse, a "ladies* 

 hack"; but for heavier riders the larger animals naturally are required, 

 some men needing a horse standing over 16 hands and weighing 1,200 

 pounds or even more. 



Conformation. — A typical saddler does not differ in form in any 

 marked degree from other light horses. Many good saddlers come direct 

 from harness stock. The principal requirements that are to a certain ex- 

 tent peculiar to this class are: (1) Sloping pasterns and shoulders; a 

 straight pastern and shoulder is an added objectionable feature in a sad- 

 dle horse, for it is almost certain to make a hard rider. (2) Moderately 

 high and narrow withers, for the same reason; the height of the withers 

 above the hind quarters should not be exaggerated — not more than an 

 inch. The extensior of the shoulder into the back and the shortness and 

 compactness of coupling are extremely important. 



The saddler shows, perhaps, more style than any other class of horses. 

 He should have a high degree of quality, showing in each detail a ribbon- 

 like smoothness from end to end. Shoulder should be smooth and even, 

 the hind quarters will rounded and smooth. Rotundity of body is i 

 marked feature. He is usually somewhat upstanding, and should have a 

 high-set, smartly carried head and tail. An ideal saddler will naturally 

 have a head that shows an unusual disposition and high intelligence, for 

 the intimate relation between a horse and his rider demands thinking 

 ability on both sides. 



Action. — Two styles of a saddle action are demanded — the walk, trot, 

 and canter action, and the gaits of the American Saddle Horse Breeders' 



