loins, calf-knees, cow hocks and a rat tail ; 

 and yet if his coat is short and silk}-, if his 

 head thous^h large is bony and well-cut. if 

 his ears thous^^h long- are well-shaped, if his 

 lei^s are flat and clean, and if his hoofs are 

 of fine, close texture, then the horse has 

 quality. Horses of the Shire and Clyde 

 breeds often look coarse at first sight on ac- 

 count of their Roman noses and hairy legs, 

 but in the best specimens of these breeds 

 the long hair about the fetlocks is fine and 

 silky, and their heads, though not hand- 

 so!iie. are clean-cut. 



Quality is thus described by Professor 

 Rufus C. Obrecht of the University of 

 Illinois : "Quality in a horse is of prime 

 importance. This term when applied to 

 horses has reference to their bones, skin. 



hair, and muscles. Its presence is shown 

 Ijy clean-cut features of the head ; firm, 

 clean bone; tendons well defined; close fit- 

 ting, glove-like skin; hair fine and silky; 

 an abundance of finish and absence of 

 coarseness, but not necessarily small bone. 

 When slightly exerted the skin will show 

 clearly an intricate net work of veins. 

 Coarse hair is usually associated with a 

 coarse skin and a soft spongy bone which 

 is weak and subject to disease. With qual- 

 ity the muscles stand out prominently and 

 are clearly defined, which aids in giving a 

 horse finish. Quality is a strong indication 

 of the extent of a horse's endurance. These 

 two characteristics are closely associated, 

 and a horse lacking in quality is compara- 

 tively a cheap animal." 



(DistiibuU-a by the Mass. S. P. C. A.) 



To THEE, MY MASTER, I offer my prayer : Feed me, water and care for me, and, when the 

 day's -work is done, provide me with shelter, a clean dry bed and a stall wide enough for me to lie 

 down in comfort. 



Always be kind to me. Talk to me. Your voice often means as much to me as the reins. 

 Pet me sometimes, that I may serve you the more gladly and learn to love you. Do not jerk the 

 reins, and do not whip me when going up hill. Never strike, beat or kick me when I do not under- 

 stand what you want, but give me a chance to understand you. Watch me, and if I fail to do your 

 bidding, see if something is not wrong with my harness or feet. 



Do not check me so that I cannot have the free use of my head. If you insist that I wear 

 blinders, so that I cannot see behind me as it was intended I should, I pray you be careful that the 

 blinders stand well out from my -eyes. 



Do not overload me, or hitch me where water will drip on me. Keep me well shod. Examine 

 my teeth -when I do not eat, I may have an ulcerated tooth, and that, you know, is very painful. Do 

 not tie my head in an unnatural position, or take away my best defense against flies and mosquitoes 

 by cutting off my tail. 



I cannot tell you when I am thirsty, so give me clean cool water often. Save me, by all means 

 in your power, from that fatal disease — the glanders. I cannot tell you in words when I am sick, so 

 watch me, that by signs you may know my condition. Give me all possible shelter from the hot sun, 

 and put a blanket on me, not when I am working, but when I am standing in the cold. Never put a 

 frosty bit in my mouth; first warm it by holding it a moment in your hands. 



I try to carry you and your burdens without a murmur, and wait patiently for you long hours 

 of the day or night. Without the power to choose my shoes or path, I sometimes fall on the hard 

 pavements which I have often prayed might not be of wood but of such a nature as to give me a safe 

 and sure footing. Remember that I must be ready at any moment to lose my life in your service. 



And finally, O MY MASTER, when my useful strength is gone, do not turn me out to starve 

 or freeze, or sell me to some cruel owner, to be slowly tortured and starved to death ; but do Thou, 

 My Master, take my life in the kindest way, and your God will reward you here and hereafter. You 

 will not consider me irreverent if I ask this in the name of Ilim who was born in a Stable. — Amen. 



