The Farmer. Judging Agricultural Horses.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1976, 7 March 1885, Page 2 (Supplement)

The Farmer. Judging Agricultural Horses.

In The Aqriadtuial Gazette, Mr. W. C. Spooner, M. X C. Y. S , tho well-known writer on veterinary and agricultural subjects, thus describes his method of judging agricultural hoipos: — lam rot at all surprised that no ono hitherto has responded to the question that you have thrown out as a bait, that is, as to " How I judge" CiiTt-horsps. To most, judges it would be easier to pass judgment over a number of animals, and lo do it with accuracy, than to say how it was done. There is a tact and a knowledge, which experience teaches, that make tho eyo sensitive to the combination of certain exeellenceH and the detection of certain faults, ■which ia easier understood than described. If, however, tho experience as judt-'e during a spare of 30 to 40 years, exercised over cT-.ry dit-tiict in England, in the ihov/t of the " li ml" and other a^citiee, may be suppo ail to fme Homo knowledge of the matter, too following critique may be accepted for wha(, it is worth. Jn the rally days of the Royal Agricultural Society, tho wise and experienced men who fonndtd it and fhst ruled its councils were •trongiv uopiessod with the necessity, and in then Imn impressed it on their judge*, that the pace of cait hoii^a required to tie improved — that more activity was needed, and lens bair about the !<.,;«. No.v it seems that the fashion has Htb in an oppo°ite direction, particularly in tnc latter qualification ; for not only is an abundance of hair required up to the knees, but half-way up to tho elbows a.? well. That the a c hairy legs conduce to n'llfh nnd grease, and grcaMj increase the loftd which the hoiye has to can;/ about, particularly when loaded with m.ul, cannot be denied ; and tlvy ought, I think, to be regarded ati a fault that may be forgiven or condoned, but by no means re garded as an excellence that ou^ht to be encour^ed. When all agricultural hor?e3 showed aszainfct each other in the same clat-s, their comparatively clean legs helped to bring Suffdk hor"fB lo the fore; but since then, greatly to the advantage of their ownen, they have stood on their own meiits. When a •eparate class was made for dray horses, a yery useful purpose was effected, as many of the hairy legs and enormous weights were rele gated to this cla«s, and yerred aUo the useful purposa of impiovin^ the me of igricultural horses by the sought for alliance with small and useful mares. Some persons are disposed to ask, "Why not do as the Jersey pecplo do — judge by points? The anawci ii near at lmrid, Became it in to ■low. It partakes too much of the retail eharactei, and hs,s & tendency to outweigh general excellence in favour of minor points. At the pnnio time it may ba very useful in estimating two rival animals where the competition is very close. I remember well a ease in point. It is some jeara since I acted as judge of Cait-hoises at the Bo>al, with one fellow judff only which, however, is always a bad pla'-i, although always favoured by the Bath and W. E. Society, well, there were champion prizes offered (a capital plan) in addition to the ordinary prizes. Tiu two judges differed in opinion. The competition was Very strong, but each had a favourite. " What shall we do?" I exclaimed. "Shall we call in an umpire from another class ? " " Not if wec&n belp it,' I replied. " Let us have them out again. I will find fault with your champion, you with mine." " Agreed," exclaimed my fellow-judge ; "you begin." "Well, l find so and so " — mentioning a certain deficiency acknowledged by ray friend. "Now," 1 said, "you fine* a single L.uli with my horse if you can." " I cannot," replied my fellow-judge, after further examinations ; and so the matter was settled ; and for many years since, although I have seen horses with certain points better (as, for instance, in Honest Tom and British Wonder), I have never seen so many good points in one animal.