1 86 



THE HORSE, ASS, AND MULE 



sons of the latter did much to establish the breed. Briefly stated, 

 the modern American jack stands about iS|- hands high, is deep 

 and roomy of body, comparatively short of leg, and shows plenty 

 of bone and substance. ''A sixteen-hands jack should approxi- 

 mate 30 inches in depth of chest, 34 inches in length of foreleg, 

 and should weigh 1000 to 1150 pounds." Anderson and Hooper 

 state that it is customary to refer first to the head and ears of 



Fig, 72. Andrew Jr. 217, first-prize two-year-old American jack. From 

 photograph by the author 



the jack because of their importance. The face line should be 

 straight or slightly Roman ; the ears about 3 3 inches from tip to 

 tip as spread level, and carried alert under natural conditions ; 

 the poll narrow ; the jaw strong and heavily muscled ; and the 

 neck full and free from any tendency to a ewe-neck conformation. 

 The hind quarters should be long, level, and wide. The natural 

 tendency is to be droopy and short of croup, rough in the hips, 

 light of thigh, and crooked in the hocks — defects that should be 

 guarded against. The American jack manifests considerable style, 

 carries the head well, and shows plenty of vigor and nervous force. 



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