GENERAL EXAMINATION 17 



satisfactory. The feet must be thrown forward without any 

 dishing on either side and the hocks must pass each other 

 close and in Hue with the forward movement. It is easy to 

 understand that while this method of movement is the most 

 showy and stylish, it is not serviceable action for a road horse. 

 The front legs soon succumb to the heavy concussion they 

 would be called upon to stand under hard driving. But 

 this action is .sought only in the horse that is used for short 

 drives about the city where style is paramount to speed and 

 stamina. While it is recognized that the high stepper should 

 have as many as possible of the other qualities of excellence 

 in addition to high action, yet all others are considered of 

 minor value among horses of this class. "All-around action 

 only to be considered " is the current phra.se in the prize lists 

 that provide classes for competition among the high steppers, 

 which means a combination of shoulder, knee and hock 

 action. 



21. The Carriage Horse — Manners When in Motion. A 

 connoisseur of hor.ses will see much more than the legs of a 

 carriage horse when moving. As such a horse moves before 

 an appropriate vehicle with the latitude of a light hand 

 assisting him there are flashes of gracefulness from every 

 motion. With this there is a quality of mind that gives 

 buoyancy to the step and accounts in no small degree for the 

 uplifted carriage of the head. It is expressive of a happy 

 temperament that gives gracefulness to every poise and 

 smooth flow to ever)' movement. Even such a minor organ 

 as an ear plays its part, the eye, too, shows the fire from 

 within and challenges the critic for its meed of praise in 

 measuring the step and alertness in giving it security. Scan 

 the lines of the neck, and notice their tenseness and yet the 

 unusual elasticity it shows when occasion offers for the move- 

 ment of greater gracefulness. The shoulder plays with free- 

 dom and the smooth turned loin and quarter seems tiie only 



