10 



I'. I I I MIX tS7, 1 . S. DI-I'AKTMKNT OF AGRICULTURE. 



comparative judging is practiced it is especially important that the 



teacher know the animals and their relative merits well. 



If students have had no experience in judging horses it will be well 

 to use the first judging period in learning how to approach the ani- 

 mal, in checking up what they have learned about naming the parts, 

 and in going over the card with the instructor. If the class has been 

 studying light horses the first period may be spent in comparing a 

 draft animal with a light-harness horse. 



Fig. 5. — Student feeling legs of a horse to determine quality. 



flow to examine a horse. — The horse should be led out to a well- 

 lighted place where there is plenty of room for the students to walk 

 all around it at some distance. In judging horses the eye is the chief 

 factor in determining values, the hand being used merely to assist the 

 eye. (Fig. 5.) Students will need to use their hands at first, espe- 

 cially in determining qualit}'' as relating to the coat and in detecting 

 unsoundness. After some experience the eye will reveal much that 

 required the use of the hand at first. The value of accurate first im- 

 pressions should be emphasized. If the student has an ideal draft 



