HORSES AND MULES 35 1 



crest, and should be well muscled. The shoulders should be long and 

 sloping, in order to give breaking surface for the collar and to lessen 

 the concussion of hard streets. Good muscular development of arm 

 and forearm is essential. The withers should be of medium height. 

 A back with a close coupling and with a long, heavy-muscled croup is 

 a conformation representing the greatest strength. Long, well-sprung 

 ribs with a deep and well-filled rear flank make room for a well- 

 developed digestive apparatus and strong vital organs. Muscular 

 development of the hind quarters is essential. The draft horse should 

 stand squarely on its legs. The legs should be clean, with bone of 

 good size and with strong joints. The pastern should be sloping, and 

 the hocks should be large and of regular shape. 



Constitution is indicated by a deep, broad chest, together with a 

 well-sprung rib, a deep body, bright eyes, and great energy. 



The action of draft horses is important. The stride at the walk 

 and trot should be long, straight, and regular. Correct conformation 

 gives elasticity to the walk and the trot in all horses. Reasonable 

 grace and style of carriage are demanded. 



The score card is made on the basis of one hundred points. In 

 scoring animals the points of description, conformation, or quality 

 should be stated. The parts which do not conform to the description 

 on the score card cannot be given a perfect score. 



2. Judging light horses. Style, action, and speed are factors of great 

 importance in determining the value of light horses. They should show 

 medium width and depth of body, and the width should be carried 

 evenly from front to rear. The top line should be strong and short, 

 while the underline should be long and straight. Quality is indicated 

 in the light horse, as in the draft horse, by a fine coat of hair, and by 

 cleanly marked features and joints. Since most of the light horse's 

 work is done at the trot, this gait is important. At both the walk and 

 the trot, the light horse's stride should be long, straight, and regular, 

 showing style and ease of movement. It is not essential that the 

 light horse should have particularly heavy bones. 



The head should be symmetrical. The eye should be bright and 

 the ear erect ; the neck long, well arched, with a clean throatlatch ; 

 the shoulders long and sloping, with withers of good height. The 

 back should be strong and the croup well muscled and not drooping ; 

 the tail should be set high and carried in a median line well out 

 from the body. Both fore and hind flanks should show medium 



