184 JUDGING JACKS, JENNETS, AND MULES 



Careless treatment usually develops a very objectionable 

 condition in form, appearance, and the prevailing jack 

 sores. 



Color. — The several breeds of jacks have characteristic 

 colors, the same as in the distinct breeds of horses. The 

 jacks most in demand, however, are those possessing black 

 or dark brown bodies with white or light points. Gray 

 jacks are not desirable either for jennet or mule breeding. 

 The darker colors, because of their more stable qualities 

 under all conditions of crossing and market adaptability, 

 are in much greater demand than any other. Broken colors, 

 stars, or white stockings are rare in jacks, jennets, and mules. 



Style and Action. — ^While these qualities are not usually 

 considered important requisites in judging and selecting 

 jacks and jennets, they are deserving of consideration, since 

 the hereditary tendencies vitally affect the mule, which is 

 the standard market animal obtained from crossing the jack 

 and the mare. Considered from this standpoint these char- 

 acteristics should be given the same consideration as in 

 judging the horse. The standard of excellence should be 

 clearly in mind, and judgment passed the same as in the 

 horse, except that the degree of attainment of stjde and 

 action will not be as noticeable. 



Nervous Development. — The horse and the ass represent 

 the extreme in nervous development. The comparison is 

 largely identical with the one used in describing the differ- 

 ence in the temperament of beef and dairy animals. The 

 horse is naturally high spirited, although the degree differs 

 materially, depending on the type or breed in question. 

 Compared with the more nervous temperament of the horse, 

 that of the ass would be classed as lymphatic. In actual 

 use both the ass and the mule are very docile, being less 

 subject to extremes in temperament than the horse. 



Sex Characteristics.— The principal differences to be ob- 

 served in judging the jack and jennet are in the sex char- 

 acteristics. The jack should have greater scale and should 

 be thoroughly masculine in appearance. The jack should 

 have a well-developed body, thus indicating strength, vitality, 

 and other evidences of strong reproductive power. The jennet 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



