162 LIVE-STOCK JUDGING 



is very characteristic ; being essentially a galloper, his walk 

 and trot are not as good as that gait at which he excels. 

 He walks indifferently and trots with a low, pointing stride 

 in front and a dragging of hocks. At the gallop, how- 

 ever, it seems as though his whole makeup were designed 

 with that end in view, each part acting coordinately with 

 the others to make a perfect gallop. 



The ranginess of the speed form is sometimes overdone in 

 the Thoroughbred, rendering him weedy (too long-legged 

 and light-bodied). There is also a tendency, in some in- 

 dividuals, to be too fine in bone and too small, especially 

 when measured up to the present standard. Quite 

 commonly they are too " hot " in temperament and 

 erratic in disposition. 



Judges of Thoroughbreds usually distinguish between 

 the race horse and the hunter and saddle horse, especially 

 when they are concerned as sires. 



177. The American Saddle Horse. — This is a Thorough- 

 bred derivative, rendered especially adaptable to the pur- 

 pose for which bred by the ambling instinct contributed by 

 the " native " mares with which the foundation Thorough- 

 breds were mated. Since their foundation. Saddle horses 

 have been selected to a model, as well as a performance, 

 standard. They may be distinguished by the following 

 characters (Fig. 81) ; an upstanding horse of most symmet- 

 rical and beautifully molded form, a well-proportioned, 

 blood-like head, the features of which are most clearly de- 

 fined, an intelligent countenance, and an exceptionally 

 long, shapely and supple neck, on which the head is set 

 in a lofty, graceful manner. The two ends are the most 

 characteristic parts of the Saddle-bred horse, the long, level 

 croup and unusually high set and proudly carried tail 

 balancing the lofty carriage of head, in compliance with 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



