26 SCIENTIFIC HOKSESHOEIXG. 



Ideal Horse. — The ideal type of horse is the l)lendiiiij: to- 

 o^ether of a ii^reat iiiaiiv, and this inav ai-couiit fof the diverii'euee 

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

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

 ideal type becomes evolved; and it is in kno\vin<j,- this type that 

 the skill of the judge is displayed. 



Light Horses. — It is by patient labor that great works are 

 acconi])lished, and this a}>plies with much force and truth to the 

 Anu'i'ican method of breeding and training young horses to-day. 

 The trotting horse is distinctively America's national horse and 

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

 evolved iVoin the thoroughbred and di'aft horse in a period of 

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

 the highest and most ]>erfect development of grace, speed, and 

 nervous animal force. The light horses of America maybe said 

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

 and cob; and basing this division on tlie 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-1)alanced stride and a 

 high-headed straight movement that wastes no efibrt or time. 

 lie 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- 



