JUDGING HORSES IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS. 11 
horse in mind he will be impressed at once as to whether the animal 
before him conforms to that type or not. His first impression will 
determine largely his judgment as to the score given under general 
appearance. Whether the student judges the action of the horse 
before making a detailed examination will depend upon the score 
card used. In some cards action is included under general appear- 
ance. 
Using the score card. — After the students have become familiar 
with the card and the method of approaching the animal they may 
make individual scores. Each student should work independently. 
Conversation and comparison of scores should be avoided while the 
work is being done. The teacher should use his judgment in deter- 
mining whether his time may be spent better in aiding the students 
or in scoring the animal as a basis for checking upon their results. 
One of the chief purposes in using a score card is to train the student 
in observation, so no details should be overlooked. The card will give 
the score for perfection in the various parts. The student will enter 
a score which represents the amount which he judges the animal to be 
deficient. The sum of these deficient amounts subtracted from 100 
gives the score of the animal. As a rule no defect should result in a 
cut to exceed half of the total number of points allowed for the part 
under consideration. A cut should not be made for less than one- 
fourth of a point. 
The following is a more detailed consideration of the scoring of 
the animal: 
DRAFT HORSES. 
GENEEAL APPEARANCE. 
Height, — The height of a horse is measured in hands (a hand is 
four inches), the measurement being made from the top of the 
withers to the ground. (Fig. 6.) The ideal draft horse should be 
over 16 hands and under 17§ hands in height. It is desirable that 
the students acquire accuracy in estimating the height as well as the 
weight of a horse. At first a hand stick, or hippometer, a measuring 
staff marked off in hands, will be found useful. 
Weight. — Draft horses may be divided into three classes according 
to weight. Light draft, 1,500 to 1,600 pounds; medium draft. 1,600 
to 1,800 pounds; and heavy draft, 1,800 pounds and over. The 
importance of weight should be emphasized. Other qualities being 
equal, the heavier horse can draw the heavier load. Not only will 
the extra weight be brought against the load, but it will also give 
the heavy horse a firmer footing by increasing the friction between 
the shoe and the hard pavement. Students should make individual 
estimates of the weight of the horse, and the teacher should have 
