2 BULLETIN" 487, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
It is not likely that all members of any class will develop into 
experts in horse judging. Only a comparative few may have the 
inherited talents, which with years of training will rank them as 
masters in the prize ring. It is not the aim of the high-school course 
to develop specialists. It should strive, however, to give such in- 
struction as will create a greater interest in the subject and such 
training as may be applied with profit in buying and selling horses 
for the farm. 
Common method of training. — Boys who have an inborn love for 
and interest in horses take notice of each horse they see, intuitively 
making comparisons and estimates of values. Such bo} T s are fortu- 
nate indeed if they have the privilege of associating with men who 
know horses well, and the opportunity of attending fairs and visit- 
ing other places where good individuals may be seen. Careful obser- 
vation with large numbers has resulted in remarkable ability on the 
part of some of these enthusiasts, which has been of great value in 
making comparisons in the show ring and in estimating values at 
sales. School work in judging will not take the place of general ob- 
servation and constant practice, but should supplement it and inspire 
it in the case of those who may lack interest. 
Classroom instruction v. practice. — Although stock judging is 
essentially an art to be learned by practice, under supervision, it is 
based upon scientific principles which should be given careful study. 
A discussion of the principles underlying the judging of draft horses 
should be taken up in the classroom before practical judging begins. 
The ideals of to-day are the types of to-morrow, hence the importance 
of establishing in the minds of future judges sound ideals based upon 
scientific principles. A discussion of principles and points arising in 
practice may be profitable in the presence of the animal judged, but 
as a matter of convenience such discussion is often deferred until the 
next classroom meeting. 
Use of illustrative material. — The teacher should keep in mind 
that the student learns largely through what he sees. In establishing 
ideals of animal types nothing has value equal to living specimens 
which approach perfection. Inasmuch as horses which approach 
ideal types are not common nor convenient to keep before the 
students, the teacher should make use of an abundance of illustrative 
material. Pictures of prize winners appear from time to time in all 
good live-stock journals. (Fig. 1.) If files are not kept of these 
papers the good pictures should be clipped and mounted upon cards 
for classroom use. A projection lantern with an opaque attachment 
will be found invaluable in this work. 1 
1 Lantern slides illustrating types and breeds of horses, including the illustrations of 
this bulletin, may be obtained from the office of Agricultural Instruction of the States 
Relations Service. Charts and stencils for use on blackboards may be made by tracing 
the outline of a diagram thrown on paper by a lantern. 
