2 CONFORMATION OF THE HORSE, 



and, in this way, the observer will learn to appre- 

 ciate between parts that are of good conformation 

 and those which are indifferent, or even bad. In 

 other words, an ounce of practical instruction will 

 be equal to a pound of theoretical teaching. At 

 the various agricultural and other horse shows, it 

 is customary for such societies to select judges who 

 have become famous as breeders of particular 

 varieties ; and at many local shows one sometimes 

 sees a judge officiating who knows very little more 

 about the animals than the animals do about 

 him. The veterinarian, owing to his superior 

 knowledge of the anatomical conformation, and 

 in virtue of his special training in other ways, 

 should constitute the most reliable judge of horses. 

 No amount of experience in the breeding of animals 

 will enable a man to grasp his subject in the same 

 easy manner in which it comes to the veterinarian. 

 His constant association with horses enables him, 

 at a glance, to detect faults which would escape the 

 notice of an ordinary observer. For convenience 

 of study, it is usual to divide the external 

 anatomy into different regions, and, following the 

 usual course, the writer will first of all describe 

 the head. 



