50 JUDGING HORSES 



83. Hereditary Diseases. In these classes it is of impor- 

 tance to have in mind the diseases that are known as heredi- 

 tary. This term does not imply that the disease is directly 

 transmitted but that a horse having them transmits to his 

 get a decided tendency to contract them. The newly bom 

 foal never shows them, but from its parents it inherits the 

 defects of conformation that predisposes it towards these 

 diseases. The Royal Commission composed of the leading 

 veterinarians of England have decided that the following 

 diseases in horses are hereditary: Roaring, whistling, side- 

 bone, ringbone, navicular disease, curb, bone spavin, bog 

 spavin, thoroughpin, grease, shivering and cataract. 



84. The Mare Classes. In addition to the lighter head, 

 neck and fore quarter which is the proper type of the sex, 

 the mare should specially d?ffer from the stallion in the 

 roominess of the barrel. The ribs should be deeper and the 

 body less compact and with much more length of loin than 

 in the case of the stallion. 



85. Colts and Fillies. This is probably the hardest class 

 for the judge to satisfy himself in rendering decisions. This 

 class cannot be judged without considering the possibilities 

 of the future which comes' only from experience. It is the 

 growthy colt or filly with ideal limbs and rather lanky body 

 that is likely to prove the superior animal when mature; 

 while the compact, smooth bodied colt or filly that is not 

 constructed on correct mechanical principles is likely to 

 develop into a disappointment. 



V. ESTIMATING THE AGE OF HORSES BY THEIR TEETH. 



It is necessary to know the indications of age as they 

 appear in the teeth that no animal may be unfairly classed 

 with those that are younger. The indications become in a 

 degree satisfactory to those who have proven them many 

 times by personal observation and experience in noting the 



