FUNDAMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS 97 



Nervous Development. — The bones and muscles of an animal 

 represent the foundation machinery by which work is per- 

 formed when properly connected or correlated with the 

 nervous organization. From the brain, which is the centre 

 of the nervous system, there is a direct connection with all 

 parts of the body which act in accordance with the degree 

 of nerve stimulation. The stimulation which comes from 

 the nervous system without proper coordination with the 

 bones and muscles, or vice versa, would be of very little 

 value. There is a direct relationship between the nerves 

 and muscles which stimulate work, speed, or action in its 

 various phases which is dependent upon the type of animal 

 under consideration. 



Animals with a sluggish temperament are simply lacking 

 in nerve tone and consequently do not perform their work 

 with the persistence or satisfaction of animals more highly 

 developed in this respect. A horse with a nervous tempera- 

 ment usually has greater intelligence, greater nerve force, 

 and, therefore, more persistence or endurance in performing 

 work. An irritable, erratic animal is the result of imperfect 

 nerve control. This condition should be differentiated 

 sharply from the nervous-tempered animal which signifies 

 a more highly developed nervous organization, susceptible of 

 perfect control. . These three conditions of nervous develop- 

 ment or nerve force are exceedingly important in judging 

 horses and mules and should be given special consideration. 



Action. — Action in the horse, termed by Gay, "way of 

 going," is one of the chief fundamentals of the organized 

 structure. The degree of development or perfection is 

 directly dependent on the nature of the machine. This is in- 

 fluenced first, by the breeding, second, by the type, and third, 

 by the individual. It may be otherwise affected by training 

 or education and mechanical appliances. The latter two, 

 however, are of chief interest to light horse breeders where 

 show, speed or pleasure are involved. From a broad utility 

 standpoint the breeding, type, and individuality of the animal 

 are of fundamental importance. Education and mechanical 

 appliances which influence action are of deep significance 

 in certain types and classes of horses. They involve the 

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