2o6 JUDGING HORSES 



denly started forward or backward, the trouble can be 

 detected; 



Defective Eyes or Other Organs. — The horse should be 

 examined for blindness, and to see that the eyes are of the 

 same color. In examining for defective sight, care should 

 be taken not to get the hands too close to the eye, as breezes 

 from the waving of the hands, or the touching of long hairs 

 that are found about the eyes may cause the horse to close 

 its eyes, even f«^h the animal may have good sight. 

 A sound eye an^pife translucent. A bhnd eye is opaque. 

 One should niwce if the horse hears well. If the ears 

 appear too alert or move too much, defective ears should be 

 suspected. 



The horse's mouth should be examined for poor teeth. 

 The upper row of incisors should strike the lower row. 

 The horse may be parrot-mouthed, in which case the upper 

 jaw protrudes beyond the lower one ; or it may be undershot, 

 in which case the lower jaw extends beyond the upper. 



JUDGING DRAFT HORSES 



The draft horse is used to draw heavy loads at a slow 

 rate of speed, and is so built that the greatest strength 

 may be obtained without regard to speed. The bones and 

 muscles of the horse are short and strong. The whole 

 build of the animal is such that the load is brought as nearly 

 as possible to the power. 



Age. — The age of the horse is usually indicated by its 

 teeth. The horse's teeth are classed as incisors or 

 cutting teeth, canine or tearing teeth, and cheek teeth 

 which are made up of premolars and molars. There are 

 12 incisors, 6 on both the upper and the lower jaw; 

 12 to 14 premolars, either 3 or 4 each side in the upper and 



