PART II— THE HORSE. 



CHAPTER III. 



MAN AND THE HORSE. 



The relationship of man to the horse has long been very 

 intimate. The horse, since time immemorial, has occupied 

 a favorite place in the esteem of man. For centuries he 

 was the main source of transportation, both in peace and 

 war. With the development of agriculture and the tilling 

 of the soil, the horse entered into a new field of usefulness. 

 In recent days the advent of the automobile and motor 

 truck seem to indicate a retirement of this animal to a 

 certain extent from the streets of our towns and cities. 

 Yet in spite of changed conditions, there is not likely to 

 be any material diminution in the necessity for the horse 

 as a vital factor in the conduct of farm operations. His 

 service in many ways is indispensable. Even in town it 

 will be impossible for many to make use of other form of 

 power in transporting loads. In a variety of ways man 

 will continue to rely upon, the horse, both for pleasure and 

 profit. If this animal is to be criticised as lacking in 

 efficiency, is it not highly important that those engaged 

 in the production and selection of the horse understand 

 his structure, purpose and adaptability? Such a com- 

 prehension must be based on a knowledge of the relation- 

 ship of internal to external structure, and of form to func- 

 tion. A knowledge of this relationship of form to func- 

 tion, coupled with reasonably good judgment, will materi- 

 ally assist one in measuring the personality and compara- 

 tive value of the horse under most conditions of examina- 

 tion. If "knowledge of the horse is an art," to quote 



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