118 



THE BEEEDS OF LIVE-STOCK 



There is such diversity of opinion, even among authori- 

 ties, as to the relative merits of the Thoroughbred and the 

 American Saddle horse for saddle work, and the Thorough- 

 bred and the part-bred horse as hunters, that the fairest 

 way to treat them would be to review the evidence on 

 both sides. By his opponents the Thoroughbred is ob- 

 jected to as a saddle horse because of his disproportionate 



height at the withers 

 and croup, his un- 

 symmetrical appear- 

 ance from the saddle, 

 his low " daisy cut- 

 ting " way of going, 

 which they assert is 

 conducive to stum- 

 bling, and his erratic, 

 nervous tempera- 

 ment, which renders 

 himuntractable under 

 restraint. Opposed 

 to these objection- 

 able features are the 

 spirit, the indomitable courage, speed, stamina and 

 natural gallop which are possessed by no other horse 

 in the same degree. Level-headed Thoroughbreds that 

 fold their knees a little and do not drag their hocks 

 are being strongly supported in the saddle division of 

 eastern shows. For riding to hounds the Thoroughbred 

 is said by some to be ill-adapted because of his temper- 

 ament, which makes him fretful at checks and difficult to 

 control with the field in full cry. Furthermore, the aver- 

 age Thoroughbred is not up to the weight imposed by 

 many riders who care to indulge in this sport. On the 



FIG. 18. Thoroughbred saddle mare. 



