The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1891-11-19


potlinned, the ideal standard ............. q
CoAr Glossy. fine and short.... ..,.,..... !
9uhSfHNeH -..-.''' ''-'''''''''+. ''''..-'''''''
SYMMETRY -................ ....... ,.....-. o. 4
ACrIuH Easy, elastic. pure, straight and even d
STYLE Position Of horse when standing, and
carriage when in motion =...-...,........- 4
Total o structufe........ ...- loo
While the work was going on a running
comment was kept up by the speaker ILL.,
ustratDg each part by the different types
of horses before him. Inc time has
come said he, when the horse must be
measured with special reference to its ht-
ness for certain lines OF work. 1t IL use
less to think of reaching success by breed
ing a general utility animal, The day
has passed for general purpose stock
whether on -four or two legs to answer
the full demands.
The standards aimed at, must be high
er than this, because the State and county
is flooded with this class of stock. In
measuring a horse let the first thought he
to determine special fitness. This intro
duces the whole question of conforms
ton, and to tx the different types ia of
the highest Importance. Forgetting the
animal, look to each part indicated and
beyond definition it Is no less real to the
individual This the secret of judging by
parts. The weaker, as well ms stronger
portions are more accurately measured
than Is possible by glancing over the
whole. Believing that it is necessary to
| fix the dividing line between draft and
driving conformation, the score card be
comes absolutely necessary.
On the one hand we have the broad
| straight shoulder, just fitted for collar
work, the stong forearm and leg the short
| er, stronger pastern, the round rib and
body, the shorter haunch and necessarily
shorter hip bone. All these are indicative
of strength and also of slower motion.
They belong to the cart and plow. On
the other hand we see the more nervous
organism, the fiat, oblique shoulder, the
withers extending well back to the saddle,
insuring more acute angle and there
fore more extending action. We find
also the broad, fiat, flnty bone
and longer springy pas.ern, the angle
from the hoot to the ankle joint being
forty five degrees, the barrel is deeper in
the girth, shaped like an egg the point at
the top, the coupling extending well for
ward over the line of the hips allowing
for the muscular attachments to give
added strength over the kidneys. The
quarters are longer and again we lind the
more acute angle of the haunch and hip
bones, throwing the sthe well forward,
permitting freer fold and longer stride
Here in both cases Is the propelliug
power, the forward parts only sustaining
the body, and though each are strong In
these parts there is peculiar fitness for
ONE one line of work Here we read the
story, of the wonderful adaptability of all
natures subjects to some peculiar line. As
The demand for speed has increased this
re al juslment In accordance with mans
desires, is manifest everywhere.
The great error of to-day is In attempt
ing to breed for both types, and the re-
suit is the thousands of colts growing
which can never yield profit to their
owners. They are neutral in type and
therefore neutral In value. Go through
the streets and we will find the sloping
shoulder, with the round barrel and draft
hip, or the finer form of the driver in
barrel and quarter and the straight
shoulder, both preventing action and at
the same time extreme service In the team.
For this reason In breeding seek to inten-
sify the desirable traits In the parent
stock. Let the variations be wider be-
tween the team horse and the driver. It's
dollars we are after and everything must
be made to yield return. Our animals
are largely what we make them and to
breed either class successfully there
must be love, born of enthusiasm, for the
work. Instinctively as well as uncon-
sciously we stamp our ideals on our ami
mails. If these are vague and unsettled
the stock will be without special merit.
t., hos 4 ln arI
an educator to lead men to fixedness of
purpose in breeding and thus to the pro-
duction of superior product. The mar
ket is calling for the highest type Of hors-
es, 10 l-2 " l6 hands, solid color bay,
brown or black, up headed. built to go,
with good sound limbs, short barrels,
strong quarters, and abundance of cour-
age. Such stock comes only from posi-
tive ancestors. If your fancy ia for
something slower then seek another mar
ket, full as exacting, with another type,
as large or larger, as positive 10 good
qualities, but built upon another model,
and earnestly seek to fix the leading char
acteristics desired. Breed for the best.
Fix your ideals not at 2.l0 or 2 20 but on
a complete horse of size, substance, In
telligence and good disposition. Reach
ing after these essentials there is sure to
come Improvement and with this SUGGEST.
The score cards and animals were used
to illustrate each point and the object les
son proved one Of interest.
A chart WAS shown giving the bony
structure of horse and designed especi-
ally to illustrate the importance Of q
study Of the conformation of the individ-
usl with reference to Its place and worth.
Four horses, one owned by Asa Parker,
one BY Warren Holbrook, and two by
Charles Fairbrother, were brought in to
the Rink where the lecture was given and
these were discussed BY the speaker q be
described the several parts.
The afternoon and evening sessions
ware hald in q. a. r. hail ct which Q
quartst composed Of Nessrs Smiley and
6taStsvant, a1d Mn. Emery and 4rs.
HaWes furnlshod veey acceptable music.
Hoa. B. v. Ellis of Enbdsa pesaidsd.