234 THE HORSE 



greatly varying conditions, it follows that they should 

 have widely different characteristics if they perform the 

 different kinds of service satisfactorily. The horse 

 should, therefore, not only be good but also be suited 

 to the service he is called upon to perform. He should 

 be trustworthy, that is, free from vicious habits. 

 Utility is not all, however; beauty in the horse counts 

 for much. Many horses are kept neither for laborious 

 work nor for fast driving. The family horse is the 

 most conspicuous type of this class. A large number 

 of horses besides the true family horse are not called on 

 for either laborious work or for rapid driving. Beauty 

 or symmetry of form in all this class counts for more 

 than either superior strength or speed if they be trust- 

 worthy. But what is beauty ! On a true roadster a 

 neck with straight or concave top line would be appro- 

 priate, and, because appropriate, beautiful; but such a 

 shaped neck on a draft -horse would not only offend 

 the eye but be incongruous. Beauty, then, may, be of 

 two kinds that which is beautiful because appropriate, 

 and that which exhibits the blending of forms or lines 

 or colors so harmoniously that the thought of abstract 

 beauty is emphasized above the idea of mere utility. 

 So the horse may be valued for the highest beauty 

 consistent with greatest usefulness, or for attrac- 

 tiveness in form, color and action. Fortunately, 

 beautiful, useful and appropriate qualities may be com- 

 bined to a large degree in a single animal; because, 

 where all parts of the horse are symmetrical and 

 adjusted to serve in the best manner the purposes for 

 which the horse is maintained, many lines of beauty 



