184 A STUDY OF FARM ANIMALS 



horse. In order to cause no confusion, a score card for car- 

 riage horses is given on page 185. There will be no difficulty 

 in most communities in rinding horses of this type which 

 may be used for score-card practice. This score card is the 

 style commonly in use, containing a blank column in which 

 the student as judge may write his own score, with another 

 column in which the score of the instructor may be written 

 for comparison. 



The height of the carriage horse may vary, but 16 hands 

 is a good standard, with 1,100 to 1,200 pounds for weight. 



The general appearance of the carriage horse can best 

 be studied by standing at some distance, such as fifteen or 

 twenty feet away, and making an inspection which will take 

 in the entire form, the quality, and disposition. One should 

 not be too close to the animal for this first examination. 

 At a distance one also gets an impression of character, as 

 shown by the head and neck, that can not be so easily 

 noticed otherwise. 



The head of the carriage horse is an important indica- 

 tor of intelligence, disposition, and quality. The head, 

 therefore, should be trim and neat, with refined, well-set 

 ears, and carried in a proud, animated manner. Coarseness 

 of head is very objectionable in this type of horse. 



The neck of the carriage horse should tend to be fairly 

 long and muscular, carried high and free, with much ease of 

 movement. A thin, ewe neck, one that is depressed on 

 top is not uncommon with the lighter type of carriage 

 horse, and is regarded as a weakness. 



The fore quarters of the carriage horse should show a 

 smooth, well laid-in, yet muscular shoulder. While great 

 strength is not essential, a wide, strong, muscular arm, and 

 long, wide-topped forearm are favored. What is called a clean, 

 smooth cannon bone is a very important feature. Cleanness 

 and lightness of limb are much valued by buyers of this class 

 of horses. Strength and quality go with legs of this kind. 



