26 SCIENTIFIC HORSESHOEING. 



Ideal Horss. — The ideal type of horse is the blending to- 

 gether of a great many, and this may account for the divergence 

 of opinion- respecting it, for it is only ideal in the minds of 

 some ; each see in part and contribute their observation, and the 

 ideal type becomes evolved; and it is in knowing this type that 

 the skill of the judge is displayed. 



Light Horses. — It is by patient labor that great v^'orks are 

 accomplished, and this applies with much force and truth to the 

 American method of breeding and training young horses to-day. 

 The trotting horse is distinctively America's national horse and 

 par excellence the light roadster of the world, and has been 

 evolved from the thoroughbred and draft horse in a period of 

 less than one hundred years, until now he stands the product of 

 the highest and most perfect development of grace, speed, and 

 nervous animal force. The light horses of America may be said 

 to be included mostly under three heads — the roadster, carriage, 

 and cob; and basing this division on the sphere in which each 

 of the types act, we find the trotter the pure bred prototype of 

 the roadster, the coach breeds of Europe bearing the same rela- 

 tion to the carriage horse of every-day occupation, and the hack- 

 ney the progenitor of the cob. 



The qualities that have the highest value in the roadster are 

 speed, stamina, and style; speed at the trotting gait, and the 

 talent of making a pleasing display. Such a horse must have 

 a free and easy way of going, with a spirited and graceful move- 

 ment. The typical roadster has a well-balanced stride and a 

 bigh-headed straight movement that wastes no eftbrt or time. 

 He is not a light horse, nor a heavy one, but has the deep chest, 

 round barrel and long-drawn quarters, chiseled limbs, tense mus- 

 cles, dense clean bone, lean tendons, and refined appearance ob- 

 servable among the best turf campaigners. 



The prominent peculiarities of the carriage horse may be 

 grouped as style, size, and substance. The sphere of the car- 



