20 JUDGING FARM ANIMALS 



Under "Points Scored" it will be seen that there are 

 seven features of the animal to be considered, viz.: con- 

 stitution, size, head, body, legs, mane and tail, and feet. 

 Each of these features as found in the perfect animal is 

 given numerical value which the stockman refers to as 

 "points." The number 10 under the column "Perfect 

 Score" is the number of points credit given a pony of 

 perfect constitution. If the pony does not seem as 

 healthy or as vigorous as might be expected, or if the eyes 

 are lacking in brightness, then the animal cannot be given 

 full credit in this particular. Hence one should give such 

 a score as in his judgment would measure the constitution 

 of the pony being judged. Perhaps seven points would 

 fairly represent this, and so this figure should be placed in 

 the column headed "Score of Animal," opposite the ten 

 points for perfection. Thus one goes through the scale of 

 points, carefully comparing the animal under consideration 

 with the standard, giving a numerical measure of value to 

 each part, in systematic order, and placing each figure in 

 the column headed "Score of Animal." If in scoring a 

 pony, one came to the conclusion that each part was per- 

 fect, and could not be improved, then he should give the 

 full score in each case. This animal would then be credi- 

 ted with one hundred points, and be rated as perfect. But 

 we have no perfect ponies. The live stock critic can always 

 find some points for improvement. The ears may be a 

 trifle long, the back not quite level enough, or the feet too 

 flat. Thus the judge finds his reasons for less points than 

 100. After scoring, the column of figures which the judge 

 has made is added and placed in the line marked "total," 

 for comparison with the perfect total. A total of 90 would 

 be a high score, for very few animals measure up to such a 

 standard of excellence if given a careful, seasoned judg- 

 ment. 



The value of the score card lesson largely lies in teach- 

 ing the beginner the location of the various parts and how 

 to study them by a logical, well established system. Those 



