CHAPTER IX. 

 JUDGING JACKS, JENNETS, AND MULES. 



JACKS AND JENNETS. 



Structure. — The general structure of the domestic ass is 

 very much like the horse, although there are some features 

 quite different. The essential differences are the lack of 

 symmetry, quality, and finish. Otherwise, with a few 

 exceptions, the qualifications are the same and the method 

 of judging is identical. The head of the ass is usually large 

 and often not well proportioned with the other parts of the 

 body. The ears are large, long, and somewhat coarse. The 

 neck is medium in length, deep, and does not usually possess 

 a crest. 



The body is moderately compact, deep, and reasonably 

 smooth in outline. The ass, as a whole, does not possess 

 the massiveness of the draft type of horse. Comparing it 

 with the horse, it is narrower and lighter in the body, and 

 especially lacking in the hindquarters, which are inclined 

 to be short and not well muscled. The hair is longer than in 

 the horse, somewhat coarser, and the mane and tail possess 

 an unusually scanty supply. 



The legs usually show strong bone, but the joints are 

 quite frequently large and coarse. The feet are smaller 

 and narrower than in the horse, both the legs and feet 

 being less subject to unsoundness than in the latter animal. 

 There are no callosities on the hindlegs of the ass. The age 

 is determined in the same manner as in the horse. 



General Appearance. — In general appearance, the ass does 

 not possess the pleasing lines, the rotundity or symmetry 

 of form or the massiveness of the horse. These are char- 

 acteristics which are deeply fixed, however, and therefore 

 (182) 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



