42 DOMESTIC ANIMALS, DAIRYING, ETC. 



Coach horses is a short, staggy neck turned upside 'down, a flab rib, 

 a long back and a goose rump. 



Action. Action in the Coach horse is one of the most essen- 

 tial qualities of this class. An individual with good conformation 

 will be a comparatively cheap horse if he is very deficient in style 

 and action ; in fact, it may bar him from 'being classed as a Coach 

 horse He must be a high stepper and quick in his movements, 

 flexing his hocks well under his body, folding his front legs well 

 at the knees and carrying them high toward his chin. He may bo 

 said to be a little more stately in his action than Cobs and Park 

 horses. In comparison with the action of the trotting horse for 

 speed, he should be snorter in his stride, lifting his knees higher 

 in front of his -body, and not dragging his hocks behind. The de- 

 mand is for trotters only, pacers being not accepted in this class. 



SADDLE HORSES. 



The requirements for Saddle horses are sureness of foot, ease 

 of carriage to the rider, good manners, and ease of control. To 

 possess these requirements they must have an oblique shoulder with 

 a moderately long sloping pastern, a short back, and a trifle more 

 height at the withers than on the hips. The head should be neat, 

 clean cut, and attractive, set on a moderately long neck. The fore- 

 head should be broad and there should be good width between the 

 jaw-bones. The length of neck is important as a long neck is 

 usually more supple and renders the mouth more flexible, which is 

 necessary for ease of handling and smoothness of carriage. A horse 

 that is a lugger cannot possess the good qualities he otherwise 

 would. The croup should 'be long, muscular, and not drooping, 

 with neatly set tail. His limbs should be strong and clean, and 

 his action quick and graceful. This class is composed of Five 

 Gaited Saddlers, Three Gaited Saddlers, Hunters, Cavalry horses 

 and Polo ponies. 



FIVE GAITED SADDLE HORSES. 



Five Gaited Saddle horses, sometimes spoken of as gaited 

 Saddle horses or American Saddle horses, are distinctly an American 

 product. A recognized type has been brought about by skillful selec- 

 tion and breeding for more than half a century. The principal re- 

 quirements are that they possess at least five of the recognized distinct 

 gaits under the saddle, viz., walk, single-foot, or rack, running-walk 

 or fox-trot, trot, and canter. 



Conformation, Height, and Weight. The Five Gaited Saddler 

 should stand from 15 to 16 hands high and weigh from 900 to 1200 

 pounds, the most desirable height being 15-2 to 15-3 hands and 

 weight around 1,050 to 1,150 pounds. He should be of a kind dis- 

 position, have a good mouth, possess courage and ambition, and 

 the conformation of a weight carrier. His head should be fine, 

 clean cut, and foreedy looking, his neck long, arched, and set on an 

 oblique shoulder with muscles extending well into the back, the 

 withers high and well finished. An oblique shoulder is imperative 

 or he will not be able to go the required gaits with ease to himself 

 and rider. In order to carry weight well he should possess a strong 



