JUDGING HORSES IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS. 11 



horse in mind he will be impressed ;it once as to whether the animal 

 before him conforms to that type or not. His first impression will 

 determine largely his judgment as to the score given under general 

 appearance. Whether the student judges the action of the horse 

 before making a detailed examination will depend upon the score 

 card used. In some cards action is included under general appear- 

 ance. 



Using the score card. — After the students have become familiar 

 with the card and the method of approaching the animal they may 

 make individual scores. Each student should work independently. 

 Conversation and comparison of scores should be avoided while the 

 work is being done. The teacher should use his judgment in deter- 

 mining whether his time may be spent better in aiding the students 

 or in scoring the animal as a basis for checking upon their results. 

 One of the chief purposes in using a score card is to train the student 

 in observation, so no details should be overlooked. The card will give 

 the score for perfection in the various parts. The student will enter 

 a score which represents the amount which he judges the animal to be 

 deficient. The sum of these deficient amounts subtracted from 100 

 gives the score of the animal. As a rule no defect should result in a 

 cut to exceed half of the total number of points allowed for the part 

 under consideration. A cut should not be made for less than one- 

 fourth of a point. 



The following is a more detailed consideration of the scoring of 

 the animal: 



DRAFT HORSES. 



GENERAL APPEARANCE. 



Height, — The height of a horse is measured in hands (a hand is 

 four inches), the measurement being made from the top of the 

 withers to the ground. (Fig. 6.) The ideal draft horse should be 

 Over 16 hands and under 17-J hands in height. It is desirable that 

 the students acquire accuracy in estimating the height as well as the 

 weight of a horse. At first a hand stick, or hippometer, a measuring 

 staff marked off in hands, will be found useful. 



Weight. — Draft horses may be divided into three classes according 

 to weight. Light draft, 1,500 to 1,600 pounds; medium draft, 1,600 

 to 1,800 pounds; and heavy draft, 1,800 pounds and over. The 

 importance of weight should be emphasized. Other qualities being- 

 equal, the heavier horse can draw the heavier load. Not only will 

 the extra weight be brought against the load, but it will also give 

 the heavy horse a firmer footing by increasing the friction between 

 the shoe and the hard pavement. Students should make individual 

 estimates of the weight of the horse, and the teacher should have 



