COLOR OF HORSES 235 



will necessarily be present. A good draft-horse may be 

 beautiful, though not so beautiful as a Kentucky 

 saddle-horse. 



Advancing civilization demands not only a useful, 

 but a beautiful horse, and the breeder is wise who now 

 pays much attention to the quality of beauty, even if 

 the horses he is raising are designed to do laborious 

 work. The color of the hair and its texture, as well as 

 symmetry and temper (for a horse may have a "beauti- 

 ful " temper) , may add to or detract from the beauty of 

 the animal and its value and selling price, whether 

 draft -horse or roadster. All that has been said is to 

 emphasize the need of producing in the future not only 

 better, but more beautiful horses. 



The colors of horses may be either beautiful or strik- 

 ing. The calico, or piebald horses, when seen on the 

 street or under a circus tent, certainly attract attention; 

 but persons of good taste usually select horses of solid 

 colors. Only in rare cases are unusual colors preferred, 

 and then for the purpose of advertising or attracting 

 business, or for the delectation of children. Bright 

 bay. seal -brown and dark chestnut are the colors pre- 

 ferred, because they are not only beautiful but usually 

 do not fade in hot weather. Horses of these colors are 

 more easily kept presentable than light -colored ones, 

 and in old age their coats do not become unsightly, 

 that is stained, "flea-bitten" or rusty. Black horses 

 seldom retain the full brilliancy of their coat; when 

 exposed to the sun, the black often changes to a dirty, 

 unsightly brown. It is believed that darkish skin, hair 

 and hoofs have the power to resist some of the skin, 



