The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-06-10
A GOOD DRIVING HORSE,
Some of the Distinctive Points That
Are Peculiar to Ideal
Roadsters.
Practical knowledge Much More
Useful in Selecting an Ami
NAL Than Theory.
Physical Conformation Discussed-Trot
ters Distinguished From Runnars-Im-
sss@a Messenger ana Lady Thorn.

AS to the points by which to determine
the ideal roadster, it is one thing to define
them, and quite another to find the animal
that conforms to the requirements, says G.
A.. hcCully in Harpe,'s Weekly. 1t is
amusing to note the frequent attempts of
writer's on the subject to define what Mr..
Murray calls "the perfect horse,' and one
cannot help comparing their efforts at on
llghtenment with those of the excellent
people who supply the world with The
Honsekeeper's Guide, The Complete Letter.
Writer and The Book of Etiquette. The
man who possesses an Unborn love of the
horse will seldom fail to know when
he finds one that will serve his purpose.
and an ounce Of practical knowledge is
better than a ton of advice and theory.
Thsre may be physical defects which re-
qulre an expert to discover, 30 it is always
advisable to call in professionals k ill, which
can be- had readily. IL is NO uncommon
thing for the best veterinary surgeons to
disagree us to an ailment or blemish. Not
long ago a wealthy road rider purchased Il
trotter with a fast record, and the animal
was lame when it reached his stable. He
consulted a surgeon with a high reputation,
and he pronounced the trouble to be a
SPAWN. Another. with un extensive prac-
Sice, confirmed this opinion; but subse-
quent developments proved that they were
quite in error, and the trotter was cured by
q simple treatment that had nothing to do
with tho joint where the SPAWN forms.
Without going into such minute details
as to how long the horses head should be,
what the shane of the oars and how far
apart, or as to the width between the eyes,
the shortness # the body and at what an
gle the tail should depend from the hips.
there are one or two qualities which may
be referred to as specially desirable. For
instance. the greatest flight of speed ia of
little value if the trotter nnnot sustain it
for at least n mile. Lack of lung power is
a certain indication that the horse will soon
get distressed If urged to his limit, and this
IL determined by the simple law which holds
that in ordor to have good lungs there must
be room for them.
The oblique shoulder and the broad chest
are natures proofs that there is lung CA.
pacity. SO that, given Il healthy windpipe
and a clear passage from the nostrils to ad-
nut the air, the horse Ia pretty sure to go
the distance" Muscles may get weak md
joints %stitien, but that is largely a question
of condition, for which the owner alone il
responsible, but no amount of nourishment
and exercise will atone for tho abnonoo of
an ample breathing apparatus.
AZ to physical conformation, about
which so much has been said and written,
there are a myriad of exceptions to every
rule. Ii "A colt with ~trotting ancestry has a
pronounced rake, or descent from hin to
withers, he should learn to so fast, but
there have been such that could not make a
milo Ia four minutes. Tho failure was not
due TO this popularity. however,
ana any youngstos with this
downward slope of the body is