178 JUDGING LIGHT HORSES 



The female should likewise possess the qualities indicative 

 of strongly 'endowed maternal functions. The head and 

 neck should be lighter and more feminine in appearance than 

 in the male. The shoulders should be lighter and more 

 harmoniously developed with the other body regions. As 

 with all breeding animals, the body and hindquarters should 

 be more strongly developed than the head, neck, and 

 forehand. In the stallion this is exhibited in the heavier, 

 coarser head, larger, thicker neck, heavier crest, shoulders, 

 and chest. In contradistinction, the mare is less prominent 

 in the development through this region and comparatively 

 more so in the body and hindquarters. On the whole, the 

 stallion should be more compact or close knit, this depend- 

 ing on the type, the mare having a more open conforma- 

 tion, which is a natural phenomenon in all well-developed 

 breeding females. 



Temperament. The temperament of individual animals 

 varies greatly. However, it is necessary that breeding 

 animals have a uniform, active temperament characteristic 

 of the various types to which they belong. Horses, espe- 

 cially, should have an even, uniform temperament and a 

 lively, docile disposition. Usually the high-strung, easily 

 excited animal is lacking in nerve force or capacity. This is 

 detrimental to a breeding animal, as it not only detracts 

 from the value of the individual but such characteristics 

 are usually transmitted to the offspring in a like or greater 

 degree. 



Compared with the light horse, the draft horse is naturally 

 somewhat more lymphatic in temperament. A light horse, 

 which performs its work at a light vehicle, is supposed to 

 show more life, or spirit, than the heavier type of animal. 

 The temperament of any animal should be keen and active, 

 yet it should not be unduly emphasized at the expense of 

 the usefulness or purpose for which an animal is bred. The 

 draft horse should show all desirable temperamental charac- 

 teristics, yet in a modified degree as compared with the light 

 horse. The draft animal which exhibits the same traits as 

 a Standardbred or Thoroughbred would not be considered as 

 thoroughly conforming to draft-horse characteristics. There 



