The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1867-09-06
judging Horses at Fairs.

A correspondent of the Cunadd Farmer
lays down the following thorough pro-
gramme for the judging of horses at the
Fairs
"Let every horse come on the ground
thoroughly covered. Let the judges be Sc
lected from distance, and by all means,
select horsemen and no others. Let there
be three or FIVE judges, strangers to the
horse, and to the owner if possible. Let
to each judge be handed little blank book,
in which to enter the number Of the card
on the horse, devoting a page or two, if
required, to each number. Let each judge
so alone to horse and first examine the
nigh fore leg and hoof most carefully if it
be perfect in every respect, let note to
that effect be recorded in his book if any
defect be observed, let it be scrupuiously
noted. Then let the judge proceed to ex-
anime in order the nigh hind leg, then the
off fore leg. If all are perfect, with good
shaped feet, sound, not fat nor shaky, of
proportionate size, not contracted nor brit
tie, and altogether presenting the promise
of being sufficiently strong to stand our
hard stoue or plank roads, then let the note
to that effect be entered; but if blemished,
let corresponding record be made in the
book. After all the judges have thus sep
arately completed the examination of the
legs and hoofs Of the various horses, let
them step together and compare notes. If
a majority have found any number very de-
fcient in legs or feet, it would be quite
unnecessary to take off the horses cover
for further inspection. 1t matters little
how perfect the animal may be otherwise
with blemished legs and unsound hoofs,
the animal should be discarded for breed
ing purposes. But if they find themselves
in agreement on any of the number, the
legs and feet being all perfect, then proceed
to remove the hood, each judge examin-
ing for himself alone, and entering in his
book the good points and the Objectionable
ones.
After the examination of heads and
necks then again let the judges compare
notes. and it may be certainly concluded
that the horses having perfect feet, legs,
head and neck, are the animals which will
be entitled to the prizes Next let the
judges order the animals to be entirely un-
dressed, and they will soon find themselves
able to agree on their general appearance
They would not be influenced in favor of
any horse Oh account Of the large amount
of flesh he may carry. Too much is more
Objectionable than not enough.
. The only thing that now remains to
complete the decision is to see the animals
move; and it will readily be perceived
that the horses with sound feet and legs,
small, well formed head, full sparkling eye,
extended nostril, fox-like ear, and grace
full wc.lset on neck, are the premium ami
mails, for these good qualities are never &C
c99mpaanied by an ill-shape1 body, unless
the defect has been caused by some injury
Of an external nature. In this way the
judges will have no difficulty in awarding
the prizes to the most perfect animals
They can all be associated together in com
ing to their last decision on the graceful and
easy movements of the animals This
point Is very easily decided by judges Of
horses. | have frequently seen gentlemen
Of character and responsibility acting as
judges at our fairs, who could not have told
you whether the coffin joint was in the
head, neck back, or foot, or at the extreme
end of the animals tail; neither could
they have told you whether the curb came
on the ear or on the hoof. Those gentle
men were not to blame; the fault rested
with those that selected them. A man may
own and use horses tor lifetime, and yet
be very bad judge of the same. On the
same principle, farmer is not always.
coed judge of wheat, although he raises it.
Ii 1t be askcd-then who is? l answer,
the miller, who grinds it, and spends his
whole time in handling and examining 1t
he can tell you all about it. The farmer
may form pretty correct opinion, bat the
miller can hardly be mistaken. On the
same principle the judge of a horse should
know all his points and where to look tor
them; and such men you can only hnd
among the horse dealers, the horse breed
crs and the horse fanciers.