]\IANAGEMENT AND PREEDING OF HOKSKS 



as temperament, conformation and soundness. Perfect 

 score, four points. 



Among light horses, there is no single feature held in 

 higher estimation than that of desirable action. Each 

 class of light horses has an action peculiar to itself, that 

 of the high-stepping coach horse dififering materially from 

 the trotter, while that of the saddle horse is unlike either. 

 While desirable action varies according to the object 



sought, the light horse 

 should possess as much 

 as may be displayed 

 and used to advantage. 

 As with the draft horse, 

 good action indicates 

 many other qualities. 

 The walk, in addition 

 to being regular, straight 

 and frictionless, should 

 be fast. This is a point 

 often neglected, and 

 many otherwise good- 

 acting horses are pro- 

 vokingly slow walkers. 

 Action at the trot varies 

 according to the class. 

 In the trotter the stride should be long and not too high ; 

 whereas in the coacher a rather high, bold knee-and-hock 

 action is the most sought. In all classes the movement 

 should be straight and regular as viewed from the front, 

 rear and either side. Perfect score, ten points. 



Attitude. — This term refers to the position and direc- 

 tion of the horse's legs while standing. The legs should 

 be viewed from the front, behind and either side, and 

 should be formed so as to meet the following require- 

 ments : The foreleg, when viewed from the front, should 

 be formed so that a plumb line dropped from the point 

 of the shoulder would divide equally the knee, the cannon 



Fig. 9. — Good Action 



