56 HOW TO JUDGE A HORSE. 



stretching itself tight over the extremities, and the 

 thin, soft hair of the mane and tail. Spongy 

 and flabby forms, and an exuberant and heavy 

 growth of hair are signs of the common breeds, 

 which horse dealers try to cover defects by 

 shearhing the fetlocks and throat, by pulling the 

 mane and tail, by clipping, etc. 



Another custom, having also some justification, is 

 that of lifting the tail. An energetic horse dislikes 

 all experimenting about his body, and, therefore, a 

 strong resistance from the horse against the lifting 

 of his tail may be conclusive of the power of the back. 



For the judging of the chief proportions we will 

 be materially assisted by some lines. (See Fig. 14, 

 Skeleton of the Horse.) 



(1) Draw a horizontal line through the withers 

 over the highest point of the croup ; 



(2) A line from the upper part of the elbow to the 

 lower part of the stifle ; 



(3) Drop a line from the shoulder point to the 

 ground, and extend the same upward to line 1 ; 



(4) Drop a line from the point of the ischium 

 bone and extend upward to line 1. 



Line 1 serves to judge whether fore and hind hand 

 are equal in height ; line 3 shows whether the fore 

 legs, and line 4 shows whether the hind legs are cor- 

 rectly placed under the body. 



