432 



TYPES AND MARKET CLASSES OF LIVE STOCK 



meaning of this term. If a hunter's legs are of this descrip- 

 tion, there is little fear that they will fill up after a heavy day's 

 work. Associated with cleanness must be considerable sub- 

 stance. The fetlocks must be capable of full flexion. The 

 ideal pastern is one with a moderate degree of slope, broad in 

 front, deep from front to back, and well rounded at the sides. 

 It should be covered with thin skin. Pasterns that are too 

 long, too oblique, or light in the bone, are of bad conformation; 

 and short, upright pasterns are extremely objectionable for 

 very evident reasons. 





Fig. 140. A Hunt Team and Pack of Fox Hounds. 



Feet. The feet must be concave on their lower surface, 

 proportionate in size, of good shape, well open at the heels, 

 neither contracted nor cracked. 



Color. In selecting a hunter, color seldom plays any part, 

 and in the hunting field are horses of almost every color. Bay, 

 brown, light or dark chestnut, and gray are the principal colors, 

 more especially bay and brown, with either white or black points. 



Disposition. This is of great importance in order to insure 

 the safety of other horses, the hounds, and the rider. Some 

 hunters are tremendous pullers, in fact, defy all attempts to 

 hold them. There is great difference in temperament and dis- 



