176 JUDGING LIGHT HORSES 



bone. These two factors should be closely associated, as the 

 future and continuous usefulness of the breeding animal are 

 of primary importance. Quality and constitution or vigor 

 should, therefore, be given special attention. 



Quality. — The significance of quality and its influence 

 on the individual is only a mere part of its manifestation as 

 compared to its relation to the breeding animal. This is 

 especially true in the horse where enduring qualities in a 

 large measure determine the value in its special field of work 

 and reproduction. The horse, above all animals is expected 

 to show, along with other necessary attributes, an extreme 

 degree of quality and general refinement. The degree of 

 manifestation of necessity varies, depending upon the type 

 of the animal and its specialized use. However, in the horse, 

 quality above all considerations should be plainly in evidence. 

 The work of the horse is based on some form of locomotion. 

 No matter what the particular phase of use may be, quality 

 is necessary, with other attributes, to endow the animal 

 with the maximum amount of durability. While the attain- 

 ment of this particular attribute should not overshadow 

 either scale or substance, it must stand out boldly, yet be 

 properly associated with the other elements of the mechanism. 

 A thick, meaty, spongy-boned horse is not only objectionable 

 in the individual, but the transmission of such characteristics 

 to the ofPspring is doubly so. An animal so characterized 

 can neither be a satisfactory breeder nor supply stock suitable 

 for breeding, market, or show ring demands. 



Conformation. — The conformation in the male and female 

 vary to a noticeable degree. While on the whole the general 

 form is just the same, there are certain characteristics which 

 endow the male and female, respectively, with masculine and 

 feminine attributes upon which the reproduction of highly 

 developed individuals depend. The stallion should be bold 

 and fearless in appearance, strong in the crest and through 

 the shoulders and chest, yet not to the extent of rendering 

 the individual unsymmetrical from any viewpoint. It 

 should be characterized with all attainments significant of 

 prepotency signifying the regular transmission of individually 

 possessed qualities to the offspring. 



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