6 BULLETIN 1423, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
Table 1. — Standard of excellence for reindeer 
Points considered Standard 
I. Weight and size, according to age (15 per cent) 15 
II. Breed-type and color (10 per cent) : 
Representative type dark brown in summer, lighter in winter 10 
III. Form, deep, broad throughout (50 per cent) : 
(a) Head and neck (10 per cent) — 
1. Masculinity in male and femininity in female 2 
2. Antlers flattened and triangular, curving upward and for- 
ward 1 
3. Muzzle wide ; nostrils large, wide, and open 2 
4. Eyes clear and bright, indicative of quiet temperament and 
docile disposition 1 
5. Face short ; jaws strong 1 
6. Forehead broad 1 
7. Ears small, well covered with hair 1 
8. Neck short, full, blending smoothly into shoulder 1 
(&) Fore quarters (10 per cent) — 
1. Shoulders smooth, thickly fleshed, compact 3 
2. Brisket wide and full, trim 2 
3. Legs wide apart, straight, medium short ; dewclaws large ; 
toes spreading ; hoofs large 5 
(c) Body (15 per cent) — 
1. Chest full, deep, wide, large girth 5 
2. Ribs long and well arched, smoothly covered 3 
3. Back and loin broad, straight, deeply covered 5 
4. Flank full, underline straight 2 
(d) Hind quarters (15 per cent) — 
1. Hips and rump full, broad, and smooth 5 
2. Thighs deep, full, muscular 5 
3. Legs strong, dense, smooth boned ; hoofs large ; toes well 
spread 5 
IV. Quality (15 per cent) : 
1. Pelage heavy, fine texture 5 
2. Hide pliable, medium thickness 5 
3. Bone dense, smooth, strong , 5 
V. Condition (10 per cent) : 
Suflicient natural flesh to indicate vigor 10 
Total 100 
flesh and strength. Under the crude handling now practiced the ani- 
mals are neither trained nor cared for properly and the usual pro- 
cedure is to drive them until they show signs of exhaustion and then 
to turn them loose and take fresh ones. 
TYPE OF ANIMAL 
In selecting reindeer to be broken to harness, attention must first 
be paid to type. An animal showing a docile nature, as indicated 
by a wide muzzle and clear, bright eyes, large, wide, and open nos- 
trils, and a broad forehead, is the type that may be easily trained 
and will make the best sled reindeer. 
BREAKING 
The Lapps state that with a few tame animals to lead they can 
sufficiently break a string of 10 or 15 reindeer in two or three days to 
make a trip with each animal pulling 100 pounds on a sled. But 
great care and patience must be taken in the process not to frighten 
or injure the animals. With gentle handling, they learn quickly 
