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 Urbana-Champaign 
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Agricultural Experiment Station 
 
 BULLETIN No. 122 
 
 MARKET CLASSES AND GRADES OF 
 HORSES AND MULES 
 
 BY RUFUS C. OBRECHT 
 
 URBANA, ILLINOIS, JANUARY, 1908 
 
SUMMARY OF BULLETIN No. 122. 
 
 1. To form an intelligent estimate on the value of horses or mules, one 
 should have a thorough understanding of the market requirements together with 
 a correct understanding of the market classes and grades. 
 
 2. The principal factors that determine the market value of horses or 
 mules are : Soundness, conformation, quality, condition, action, age, color, edu- 
 cation, and general appearance. 
 
 3. Horses or mules of a general type are grouped into classes, for conveni- 
 ence and a definite understanding ; and in most instances the names of the classes 
 are suggestive of the use to which they are put. The classes of horses are di- 
 vided into sub-classes which embody those of a similar type but slightly different 
 in size, weight, action, or. the use to which they are put. Mules are not divided 
 into sub-classes. 
 
 4. The market classes are: Draft horses, chunks, wagon horses, carriage 
 horses, road horses, saddle horses, mining mules, cotton mules, sugar mules, 
 fa-rm mules and draft mules. 
 
 HORSES. DRAFT HORSES are broad, massive, rugged, and compactly built 
 with great weight and strength. They stand from 15-3 to 17-2 hands high and 
 in good flesh weigh from 1600 to 2200 pounds or more. The class is subdivided 
 into light draft, heavy draft, and loggers. 
 
 CHUNKS are short-legged, broad, heavy set horses, the name of the class 
 being indicative of their conformation. The sub-classes are eastern or export, 
 farm, and southern. The class varies in weight from 800 pounds, the lightest 
 of the southern, to 1550 pounds, the heaviest of the eastern. They stand from 
 1 5 to 15-3 hands high. 
 
 WAGON HORSES are those used principally where business 'requires quick 
 delivery. They must have good action, a clean set of limbs, good feet and bone 
 with an abundance of quality, be closely coupled, compactly built and have a deep 
 broad chest indicative of constitution and stamina. In this class are express, de- 
 livery wagon, artillery and fire horses. They stand from 15 to 17-2 hands high 
 and weigh from 1050 for the light weights of artillery horses to 1700 pounds for 
 heavy fire horses. 
 
 CARRIAGE HORSES, sometimes spoken of as "heavy harness horses," are full 
 made, round bodied and smoothly turned with an unusual amount of quality and 
 must possess to a marked degree high action, with a fair amount of speed. They 
 should have a long well arched neck, small neat head, a short well muscled back, 
 long level croup, and well developed thighs and quarters. The class is comprised 
 of coach, cob, park, and cab horses. They range in height from 14-1 to 16-1 
 hands and weigh from 900 to 1250 pounds. 
 
 ROAD HORSES are more lithe in build and angular in form than those of the 
 carriage class. They are sometimes spoken of as drivers or "light harness horses" 
 and are usually driven to light-weight vehicles. A considerable speed is desired 
 of some of the individuals of this class which is composed of runabout and road- 
 sters. They range in height from 14-3 to 16 hands and weigh from 900 to 
 1150 pounds. 
 
 SADDLE HORSES. In this class are grouped those horses that perform their 
 work under the saddle, the requirements for which are sureness of foot, ease of 
 carriage to the rider, good manners, and ease of control. In order to be sure 
 of foot they must have an oblique shoulder, high thin withers and a properly 
 set pastern with an abundance of energy. The above qualities together with a 
 
short strong back will give strength for carrying weight and also an easy gait. 
 The minimum height is 14 hands for a polo pony and the maximum 16-1 hands 
 for hunters. The weight varies from 850 to 1250 pounds. Grouped in this class 
 are five gaited saddlers, three gaited saddlers, hunters, cavalry horses, and polo 
 ponies. 
 
 MULES. MINING MULES are those purchased with which to operate mines. 
 They are heavy boned, rugged, compactly built individuals, with lafge feet and 
 strong constitution. They range in height from 12 to 16 hands and weigh from 
 600 to 1350 pounds. 
 
 COTTON MULES are lighter boned than miners and not so compactly built. 
 They are round bodied, smoothly turned and possess considerable quality. They 
 range in height from 13-2 to 15-2 hands and weigh from 750 to noo pounds. 
 
 SUGAR MULES are those shipped south to use on the sugar farms of Georgia, 
 Louisiana and other southern states. They are taller, larger, and more breedy 
 looking than cotton mules and have heavier bone. They stand from 16 to 17 
 hands and weigh from 1150 to 1300 pounds. 
 
 FARM MULES are those purchased to be used on the farms of the central 
 states. They are somewhat lacking in uniformity of type and many of them 
 are young and somewhat thin in flesh. An average height is from 15-2 to 16 
 hands and weigh from 900 to 1250 pounds. 
 
 DRAFT MULES are large heavy boned, heavy set mules that possess quality 
 and ruggedness. They are used in cities for heavy teaming and by contractors 
 for all kinds of heavy work, such as railroad grading, etc. They range in height 
 from 16 to 17-2 hands and weigh from 1200 to 1600 pounds and upwards. 
 
 5. The grades distinguish the good from the poor animals within the classes 
 and sub-classes. The grades are choice, good, medium, common and inferior. 
 
 An animal to grade as "choice" must be sound and approach the ideal type, 
 possess quality and finish, have good style and action and be in good condition. 
 A "good" animal should possess the essential qualities of his class but need not 
 have the quality, condition and finish necessary to grade as choice. A horse or 
 mule of "medium" grade is likely to be plain in his make-up with a tendency 
 toward coarseness, and somewhat of a lack of symmetry and condition. A lack of 
 style, action or soundness may also cause him to grade as medium. The lowest 
 grade found in many of the classes is "common." Such individuals are wanting 
 in most of the essential qualities that go to make them desirable. An "inferior" 
 animal is of the lowest possible grade. 
 
 6. Owing to the fact that the point where two classes or grades meet and 
 merge into each other is not always distinct, it is sometimes difficult to say just 
 where certain animals that are not clearly typical should be classified. Again, 
 if the demand exceeds the supply it is sometimes, necessary to temporarily draw 
 from a similar class of animals, or the price may advance and in this way equal- 
 ize the demand. If, on account of a meager demand or an excess supply the 
 price should drop, it is sometimes necessary to place some animals of one class 
 in another, i. e., they will be purchased by a different class of trade. 
 
 7. The breed to which a horse belongs has but little influence upon his 
 market value and the classes are not determined by the breeds, but by the indi- 
 viduality and conformation of the horse; however, a judicious use of choice 
 pure-bred sires is best suited for the production of marketable horses. 
 
SUMMARIZED STATEMENT OF MARKET CLASSES WITH LIMITS IN HEIGHT AND 
 WEIGHT. 
 
 CLASSES . 
 
 SUB-CLASSES. 
 
 HEIGHT 
 HANDS. 
 
 WEIGHT 
 POUNDS. 
 
 
 r Light Draft 
 
 15 3 to 16 2 
 
 1600 to 1750 
 
 DRAFT HORSES. 
 
 Heavy Draft 
 
 16 to 17-2 
 
 1750 to 2200 
 
 
 i Loererers. . . 
 
 16-1 to 17-2 
 
 1700 to 2200 
 
 CHUNKS. 
 
 ' Eastern and Export ) 
 Chunks j 
 
 Farm Chunks 
 
 15 to 16 
 15 to 15-3 
 
 1300 to 1550 
 1200 to 1400 
 
 , 
 
 Southern Chunks 
 
 15 to 15-3 
 
 800 to 1250 
 
 
 - Expressers 
 
 15-3 to 16-2 
 
 1350 to 1500 
 
 
 
 Delivery Wagon 
 
 15 to 16 
 
 1100 to 1400 
 
 WAGON HORSES. H 
 
 Artillery Horses 
 
 15 1 to 16 
 
 1050 to 1200 
 
 
 - Fire Horses 
 
 15 to 17-2 
 
 1200 to 1700 
 
 
 ' Coach 
 
 15 1 to 16-1 
 
 1100 to 1250 
 
 
 Cobs 
 
 14-1 to 15-1 
 
 900 to 1150 
 
 CARRIAGE HORSES. < 
 
 Park Horses 
 
 15 to 15-3 
 
 1000 to 1150 
 
 
 ^ Cab 
 
 15-2 to 16-1 
 
 1050 to 1200 
 
 
 
 14 3 to 15 2 
 
 900 to 1050 
 
 ROAD HORSES. 
 
 [ Roadster 
 
 15 to 16 
 
 900 to 1150 
 
 SADDLE HORSES. 
 
 ' Five Gaited Saddler . . . 
 
 Three Gaited ) Light ) 
 Saddler j Heavy ) 
 
 (Light i 
 Hunters < Middle > 
 
 15 to 16 
 14-3 to 16 
 
 15 2 to 16 1 
 
 900 to 1200 
 900 to 1200 
 
 1000 to 1250 
 
 
 ( Heavy ) 
 
 15 to 15-3 
 
 950 to 1100 
 
 
 
 14 to 14-2 
 
 850 to 1000 
 
 MINING MULES 
 
 
 12 to 16 
 
 600 to 1350 
 
 COTTON MULES 
 
 
 13-2 to 15 2 
 
 750 to 1100 
 
 SUGAR MULES 
 
 
 16 to 17 
 
 1150 to 1300 
 
 FARM MULES 
 
 
 15-2 to 16 
 
 900 to 1259 
 
 DRAFT MULES 
 
 
 16 to 17-2 
 
 1200 to 1600 
 
MARKET CLASSES AND GRADES OF 
 HORSES AND MULES 
 
 BY R. C. OBRECHT, ASSISTANT CHIEF IN HORSE HUSBANDRY 
 
 PART I 
 
 MARKET CLASSES AND GRADES OF HORSES 
 
 Introduction 
 
 The establishing of open markets where horses are bought and 
 sold as a commercial commodity at values regulated by demand 
 and supply has exerted a marked influence in stimulating the horse 
 breeding industry in the United States. However, on visiting the 
 large markets where thousands of horses are sold annually, it is ap- 
 parent that the majority of horses which find their way to these 
 markets do not approach the degree of perfection demanded by the 
 intending purchaser. 
 
 The present quality of offerings reaching the market may be 
 accounted for in several ways : First, in most instances the market 
 has been of secondary importance or entirely disregarded by horse 
 breeders while it should receive more consideration as it does with 
 breeders of meat producing animals. Not many of the horses found 
 on the market are bred expressly for the market, but for other pur- 
 poses, such as use on the farm or on the road, and when no longer 
 needed there, the market is sought as a possible place of disposal 
 without regard as to whether or not they are what the trade de- 
 mands. Second, the horse market is quite a recent institution, 
 more so than the market for meat producing animals. The market, 
 in a way, is the place where standards are set, and the present stand- 
 ards for a marketable horse are quite different, in some respects, 
 from those prior to the opening of horse markets. Third, the market 
 classes have not been well understood by the farmers and as a result 
 many of them are groping in the dark, working towards false stand- 
 ards. It is often true that an unscrupulous stallion owner who is look- 
 ing for business, or a country dealer who has an "'ax to grind" is re- 
 sponsible for this condition. Fourth, many breeders resort to a 
 constant mixing of different breeds which often results in produc- 
 ing horses lacking in uniformity and quality. This mixing of 
 
 93 
 
94 BULLETIN No. 122. [January, 
 
 breeds may be due to the fact that certain stallions are more acces- 
 sible than others, or to the lack of definite ideals, or to the lack of 
 definite understanding of the fundamental principles of breeding. 
 
 Importance of Market Classification 
 
 This bulletin is the result of an investigation by the writer, of 
 the Chicago and St. Louis horse markets which are similar to other 
 markets of note. Grateful acknowledgment is here made to com- 
 mission firms, buyers, shippers, exporters, and to the reporters of 
 the agricultural journals, to the officials of the Union Stock Yards, 
 of Chicago, and the National Stock Yards, of East St. Louis, for 
 the opportunties afforded and the courtesies extended. The cuts used 
 herein were made from photographs, the most of which were taken 
 expressly for the purpose, to assist in conveying correct ideas of the 
 different market classes and types of horses. 
 
 This bulletin has been written with the feeling that market 
 classes of horses are not well understood, and with the belief that 
 a clear setting forth of true market standards will do much toward 
 establishing correct ideals on the part of the horse breeder and pro- 
 ducer. A correct understanding of the market classes will enable 
 the farmer to form a better estimate of the value of the horses which 
 he has to sell ; for without this the farmer is at a decided disadvant- 
 age in selling his horses, not knowing their real market value. In 
 this way he may fail to get what his horses are worth or he may lose 
 a sale by asking too much. Again it often happens that he fails 
 to distinguish clearly between his good and his poor marketable ani- 
 mals. As a result the dealer takes the desirable ones at a good profit 
 and leaves the undesirable; thus the inferior horses are left in the 
 country to become the parent stock. 
 
 Few breeders can follow their consignments to market and so be- 
 come familiar with actual market demands. As most of the horses 
 that reach the markets are handled by dealers who make a business 
 of buying in the country and shipping, the breeder may never know 
 how well he has succeeded in producing a marketable horse that 
 will command a high price. It is hoped that this bulletin will em- 
 phasize the importance of the producers' understanding the horse 
 market and cause breeders to make a careful study of the market 
 requirements and demands. It is hoped, too, that it will also assist 
 in bringing about a more uniform and thorough method of report- 
 ing the market by agricultural journals ; and finally, that it will en- 
 courage the reader to familiarize himself with the classes and the 
 
/po5.] MARKET CLASSES AND GRADES OF HORSES. 95 
 
 vernacular of the horse market, thus rendering the reports of more 
 value to him. 
 
 It may be stated at the outset that horses cannot be classified 
 as wood, stone, or any inert matter that has definite dimensions 
 and qualities, but the classifications must be based on their general 
 conformation, height, weight, style, and action. In view of these 
 facts and owing to varying opinions among those who have to do 
 with the horse markets, the limits of classification are somewhat 
 variable. Not all the market classes are well defined and the point 
 where two classes meet and merge into each other is not always 
 distinct, so it is sometimes difficult to say just where the one stops 
 and the other begins. Owing to the conditions governing the de- 
 mand and supply, it may be necessary temporarily to draw from a 
 similar class of animals to fill a pressing demand or, if the supply 
 exceeds the demand, then the price may drop, thus putting the least 
 typical of one class into another. 
 
 Market Requirements 
 
 The factors that determine how well horses sell upon the market 
 are : Soundness, conformation, quality, condition, action, age, color, 
 education, and general appearance. The requirements placed upon 
 the above factors together with minor considerations are discussed 
 below. 
 
 Soundness. To meet the market demand, a horse should be 
 serviceably sound, by which is meant one that is as good as a 
 sound horse so far as sendee is concerned and able to do a reason- 
 able amount of work without undue fatigue or indications of a pre- 
 mature break-down. He may have slight blemishes, but nothing is 
 permitted that is likely to cause lameness or soreness in any way. 
 He must be good in wind and eyes, but may have small splints and 
 puffs, and a little rounding on the curb joint. Broken wind, thick 
 wind, side bones, unsound hocks such as curbs, spavins, and thor- 
 oughpins, large splints, and buck knees are discriminated against. 
 
 Conformation. If a horse is to do hard work with a minimum 
 amount of wear and give the longest possible period of service he 
 must possess a conformation indicative of strength, endurance, and 
 longevity, the indications of which are, good feet, a good consti- 
 tution, good feeding qualities, good bone, and symmetry of confor- 
 mation. For city use too much emphasis can hardly be placed 
 upon the requirement of good feet, for the old adage "No foot, no 
 horse" is still true; but in horses for farm use it is not so important 
 as they rarely break down in the feet. A good constitution denotes 
 
96 BULLETIN No. 122. [January, 
 
 health and endurance which is indicated by a deep, capacious chest 
 giving sufficient room for well developed vital organs. Endurance 
 is also evidenced by the indications of a good feeder, which are a 
 short well muscled back and loins, a deep barrel with no tucking up 
 of the rear flank, and closely coupled (coupling is the distance from 
 the last rib to the hip.) A good bone should have enough weight 
 to correspond with the size of the horse ; it should be of good qual- 
 ity and must not be unduly small at knee or hock. Symmetry of 
 form is necessary for strength, correct proportions, and perfect 
 development. 
 
 In order that there may not be an undue amount of concussion 
 which would produce soreness or disease and render the period of 
 usefulness of the horse short, he should have an oblique shoulder, 
 a rather short cannon, a moderately long pastern set at an angle of 
 about 45 degrees. The hind pastern should be less oblique than 
 the front pastern with no tendency toward a conformation known 
 as "coon footed" (long and very low pasterns.) The foot should 
 be of good size, the horn dense, the heel wide and high, permitting 
 a large healthy frog to serve as a cushion in breaking concussion. 
 Side bones are an unsoundness found most commonly on heavy 
 horses. They are more often found on a horse with a straight 
 shoulder, a short, straight pastern, and a narrow hoof head, as 
 horsemen would say, "a post leg that produces stilted action." Since 
 the forequarters or front limbs of a horse carry the greater part of 
 the horse's weight they are often termed the "weight carriers," and 
 the hind quarters the "propellers." Because of this fact the set 
 of the shoulder, pastern, and foot is of great importance and 
 should possess enough obliquity to give a free, easy movement to 
 the action. The width of the hips should be in keeping with the 
 other parts of the horse, but not prominent. The croup should be 
 long, well muscled and not too drooping. The seriousness of the 
 objection to a drooping croup will depend upon the class, but in any 
 class it is unsightly and detracts from the value of the horse. The 
 tail should be set high, well haired and stylishly carried. The 
 quarters and thighs should be heavily muscled according to the 
 class to which the horse belongs ; the hocks large, strong, and free 
 from puffs or any unsoundness; the cannon short and broad, the 
 tendons and ligaments prominent and well defined. There should 
 be no tying-in of the tendons below the knee or hock, because it 
 gives a light appearance to the bone. The head should be of mod- 
 erate size with clean cut features; large, mild eyes; ears rather 
 small and set not too far apart. The head should be properly set 
 
/po<?.] MARKET CLASSES AND GRADES OF HORSES. 97 
 
 on a neck of moderate length with a rather thin, well developed 
 crest. A large horse with a small head is almost as unsightly as a 
 small horse with a large one. A long-legged, narrow-chested, wasp- 
 waisted, loose-ribbed, long-coupled horse is always to be avoided 
 and is a cheap animal on the market. The different classes possess 
 special requirements of conformation which will be discussed in de- 
 tail elsewhere in this bulletin. 
 
 Quality. Quality in a horse is of prime importance. This term 
 when applied to horses has reference to their bones, skin, hair, and 
 muscles. Its presence is shown by clean cut features of the head; 
 firm, clean bone ; tendons well defined ; close fitting glove-like skin ; 
 hair fine and silky ; an abundance of finish ; and absence of coarse- 
 ness, but not necessarily a small bone. When slightly exerted the 
 skin will show clearly an intricate net work of veins. Coarse hair 
 is usually associated with a coarse skin and a soft spongy bone which 
 is weak and subject to disease. With quality the muscles stand out 
 prominently and are clearly defined which aids in giving a horse 
 finish. Quality is a strong indication of the extent of a horse's en- 
 durance. These two characteristics are closely associated and a 
 horse lacking in quality is comparatively a cheap animal. 
 
 Condition. To be appreciated on the market horses must be 
 in good condition, carrying a thick covering of firm flesh and pos- 
 sessing a good coat of hair which gives them a sleek appearance. 
 Condition is most important in heavy horses such as draft horses, 
 chunks and wagon. Some men are making good profits by buying 
 feeders on the market and shipping them to the country to be put in 
 condition, after which they are reshipped and resold. Whether or not 
 this added flesh increases the animal's real value for utility and 
 longevity is not necessary to consider here; since the market de- 
 mands it, the producer can well afford to supply it. Careful esti- 
 mates on the value of horse flesh made by reliable authorities, put 
 it at 25 cents per pound on heavy horses weighing 1500 pounds and 
 upward. This fact has been verified by an experiment in fatten- 
 ing horses for market conducted at this station. It can readily be 
 seen that the producer cannot afford to let some one else reap this 
 profit. 
 
 Action. The action of a horse is not of equal importance in 
 all classes. There is probably no other one thing that counts for 
 more in bringing high prices in the carriage, road, and saddle 
 classes than action. In the other classes it does not count for so 
 much, but every horse should have good action. He should be a 
 straight line mover, picking his front feet up and carrying them 
 
98 BULLETIN No. 122. [January, 
 
 straight forward, placing them down again without winging out or 
 in, or interfering. The hind feet should follow in the line of the 
 front feet, and work in unison without "interfering," "hitching," 
 "cross-firing," or "forging." The action should be strong, bold and 
 full of energy ; the form and height of action will depend upon the 
 class to which the horse belongs. This subject will be taken up more 
 fully under various classes. 
 
 Age. Horses sell best from five to eight years old, depending 
 upon the class, maturity, and soundness. Heavy horses such as 
 draft and chunks sell best from five to seven years old, but a well 
 matured four-year-old in good condition will find ready sale. Car- 
 riage, saddle, and road horses sell better with a little more age 
 because they do not mature so early and their education is not com- 
 pleted as young as with heavy horses. They are most desired from 
 five to eight years old. 
 
 Color. As a rule the color of horses is not an important re- 
 quirement if they possess individual excellence. Almost any solid 
 color is not objected to on the market unless it is by a purchaser 
 who has a special order to fill. However, more discrimination is 
 made against color in light horses than in heavy horses. The rea- 
 son for this is that the one is for business and utility purposes, while 
 the other is principally for dress and pleasure. There is also more 
 discrimination made in color of animals that grade as choice than 
 there is in those that grade as medium and good. All solid colors 
 except white are in good demand, while a "flea-bitten gray," a 
 "mealy bay" or one that will fade or "wash out" is not desirable. 
 Choice steel gray, dapple gray, and strawberry roan horses of the 
 draft, eastern chunk and wagon horse classes are in strong demand 
 from showmen, packers, brewers, wholesale mercantile houses, and 
 firms who want their teams to attract as much attention as possible 
 and serve as a walking advertisement. The demand is good for 
 bays, browns, blacks, chestnuts, sorrels, and roans; matched pairs 
 sell better than single horses. In the light horses, and especially 
 in the carriage and saddle classes, bays, browns, and chestnuts sell 
 best, but a good pair of well matched blacks or iron grays find ready 
 sale. In the fashionable trade a white horse is not wanted except 
 for hearse purposes and to fill an occasional demand for a cross 
 match coaching team. A more popular hearse horse is coal black 
 with no white markings, and he must also have a long flowing tail. 
 Occasionally they are accepted when slightly marked with white 
 which is less objectionable on the hind feet than in the face or on 
 the front feet. 
 
/po5.] MARKET CLASSES AND GRADES OF HORSES. 99 
 
 Education and Disposition. Every class calls for a horse of 
 good disposition and well educated for his work. If it is a draft 
 horse he should be a free worker and a good puller, free from vice 
 and bad habits. If it is a carriage horse the requirements are the 
 same but he should be much better educated and mannered, and 
 should be indifferent to sights and sounds such as cars, automobiles, 
 etc., which frighten most horses. It is readily apparent that a thor- 
 ough education is much more necessary in some classes of horses 
 than others, for on the crowded city streets where there are often 
 large numbers of pedestrians it is quite necessary and essential that 
 a horse should "keep a level head." The disposition of a branded 
 horse (an indication of a range horse) is quite an important fac- 
 tor; because when he is sold, if he is at all timid and inclined to pull 
 back when a man enters the stall, the buyer has the privilege of re- 
 fusing him and if refused, the horse must be sold again as a "re- 
 ject." 
 
 Sex. Sex is not of great importance in the market; however, 
 geldings sell better than mares for city use, as there is some liabil- 
 ity of mares being in foal, and if not, the recurrence of heat is ob- 
 jectionable; but for farm use and the southern trade, mares are 
 preferred because farmers buy horses with the expectation of 
 breeding them. 
 
 Breed. The breed to which a horse belongs has but little in- 
 fluence upon his market value as long as he has individual excel- 
 lence ; possessing this he will always find ready sale at a good price. 
 Some buyers, however, do discriminate against certain breeds, 
 claiming that they are more subject to ills and lack stamina; but 
 this is likely to be due to individuality more often than to breed. 
 If a horse belongs to the draft or chunk class (Southern chunks ex- 
 cepted) he is the more appreciated by buyers if he shows evidence of 
 a predominance of draft blood. 
 
 General Appearance. The general appearance of horses has 
 much to do with their market value. If able to shape themselves 
 well in harness very plain horses often make a stylish showing and 
 enchance their value materially. They should be spirited and ener- 
 getic, which generally comes from being well fed. They should be 
 well groomed, the hair short and sleek, lying close to the body and 
 possessing a lustre which is indicative of thrift. Clipping of the 
 foretops and limbs should not be practiced as it is an indication 
 of staleness or second-hand horses. The presence of the foretop 
 and feather leaves no doubt as to the freshness from the country. 
 An exporter remarked to the writer that for foreign trade it de- 
 
100 BULLETIN No. 122. [January, 
 
 preciated a horse $25.00 or more, to remove the foretop. The pull- 
 ing of the mane and docking of the tail should not be practiced as 
 this is the business of the dealer who caters to a certain class of 
 trade. The feet should be in good condition, -solid, and of a good 
 length hoof, which is necessary to hold a shoe. It must be perfectly 
 evident that if a dealer retains a horse until he grows good feet be- 
 fore being consigned to the market he must be bought correspond- 
 ingly cheap to recover this loss. 
 
 Market Classes 
 
 A market class is an outgrowth of a demand that exists for 
 horses of a certain well defined, specified type, height, weight, con- 
 formation, and action. If a demand for a certain class should cease 
 to exist then there would no longer be such a market class; or if 
 there should arise a new and sufficient demand for a certain type of 
 horse, then there would be created a new class. The use to which 
 they are put, in a large measure, is responsible for and determines 
 the different market classes. On the Chicago market, which is the 
 largest horse market in the world today, are found six distinct mar- 
 ket classes, and these classes are divided into sub-classes which are 
 again divided into grades. The classes are draft horses, chunks, 
 wagon horses, carriage horses, road horses, and saddle horses. 
 
 The class embodies groups of horses of a general type, while the 
 sub-class is a division of the class and distinguishes horses of a 
 similar type but slightly different in size, weight or use to which 
 they are put. The grades (choice, good, medium, common, and in- 
 ferior) of the various sub-classes refer to quality, conformation, 
 action, and condition, the relative importance of which are not the 
 same in all classes. In draft horses, chunks, and wagon horses, the 
 relative importance of the factors are as in the order named ; qual- 
 ity, conformation, condition, style, and action ; while in the carriage, 
 road, and saddle horse classes quality is followed by action, con- 
 formation, and condition. A horse to grade as "choice" must ap- 
 proach the ideal type of conformation, possess quality and finish 
 to a marked degree, have style and action, be sound and in good 
 condition. A "good" horse should possess the essential qualities of 
 his class but need not have the fineness of finish, quality, style, ac- 
 tion, and condition necessary to grade as choice. A horse of "me- 
 dium" grade is likely to be plain in his make up with a tendency to- 
 ward coarseness and there is evidence of lack of quality, finish, and 
 symmetry. In the case of a light horse it might be his action that 
 
MARKET CLASSES AND GRADES OF HORSES. 
 
 101 
 
 would place him in this grade. "Common" is the lowest grade 
 found in most of the classes. Such a horse is wanting in most of 
 the essentials that go to make him desirable. An "inferior" horse, 
 as the name indicates, is of the lowest grade. 
 
 In order to present the matter of market classes in as clear and 
 intelligible form as possible a classification has been evolved as fol- 
 lows: 
 
 CLASSES 
 
 DRAFT HORSES. 
 
 CHUNKS . 
 
 WAGON HORSES 
 
 SUB-CLASSES 
 
 ( L,ight Draft 
 j Heavy Draft 
 ( Loggers 
 
 f Eastern and Export Chunks 
 
 \ Farm Chunks 
 
 I Southern Chunks j 
 
 I" Express Horses 
 Delivery Wagr-n Horses 
 
 Artillery Horses 
 
 Fire Hordes 
 f Coach Horses 
 
 CARRIAGE HORSES. Cobs 
 
 Park Horses 
 
 ( Cab Horses 
 
 GRADES 
 
 C Choice 
 I Good 
 4 Medium 
 I Common 
 [ Inferior 
 
 {Choice 
 Good 
 Medium 
 Common 
 
 f Choice 
 I Good 
 j Medium 
 j Common 
 [ Inferior 
 
 Choice 
 
 Good 
 
 Medium 
 
 f Choice 
 I Good 
 <} Medium 
 | Common 
 L Inferior 
 
 ( Choice 
 j Good 
 ( Medium 
 
 | Choice 
 j Good 
 
 f Choice 
 I Good 
 j Medium 
 [ Common 
 
 Choice 
 
 Good 
 
 Medium 
 
 \ Choice 
 \ Good 
 
 f Choice 
 | Good 
 i Medium 
 j Common 
 I Inferior 
 
102 
 
 CLASSES 
 ROAD HORSES 
 
 BULLETIN No. 122. 
 
 SUBCLASSES 
 ( Runabout Horses 
 
 ( Roadsters 
 
 r 
 
 Five Gaited Saddle Horses 
 
 [January, 
 
 SADDLE HORSES 
 
 Three Gaited ( U 
 
 Heavy 
 
 Saddle Horse | 
 
 Hunters 
 
 I Light 
 -j Middle 
 ( Heavy 
 
 Cavalry Horses 
 
 Polo Ponies 
 
 FEEDERS 
 
 I 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS 
 
 GRADES 
 
 f Choice 
 I Good 
 1 Medium 
 [ Common 
 
 f Choice 
 J Good 
 j Medium 
 [Common 
 
 f Choice 
 I Good 
 j Medium 
 [Common 
 
 f Choice 
 J Good 
 j Medium 
 [ Common 
 
 Choice 
 
 Good 
 
 Medium 
 
 f Choice 
 j Good 
 j Medium 
 [ Common 
 
 ( Light 
 RANGE HORSES ] 
 
 ( Heavy 
 
 f Colts 
 
 j Ones 
 
 <! Twos 
 
 | Dry Stuff 
 
 [ Mares and Colts 
 
 There exists a close resemblance in conformation between some 
 of the horses of the draft, chunk, and wagon horse classes. While 
 .some of the individuals of the different classes are somewhat sim- 
 ilar yet each class as a whole is quite distinct and the reader should 
 not be misled by a few representatives that are not typical of the 
 class. 
 
1908.] 
 
 MARKET CLASSES AND GRADES OF HORSES. 
 
 103 
 
 PLATE i. A GOOD TYPE OF A LIGHT DRAFT HORSE, BUT PLAIN IN HEAD AND A 
 
 - LITTLE THIN IN FLESH. HEIGHT l6-I HANDS. WEIGHT ABOUT 1750 POUNDS. 
 
 Draft Horses 
 
 Draft horses, whose principle work is to haul heavy loads at the 
 walk are divided into three sub-classes : Heavy Draft, light Draft 
 and Loggers, all of which are much of the same type. The ideal 
 Drafter is a rugged, heavy set, compactly built horse with great 
 weight and strength. Strength and endurance are the principal 
 qualities sought and are best secured by the horse throwing weight 
 into the collar rather than by muscular exertion of the limbs. The 
 Drafter should be a broad massive individual with symmetry of 
 bone and muscle, standing from 15-3 to 17-2 hands high and in 
 good flesh weighing not less than 1600 pounds for the lighter sorts. 
 Since he does his work by throwing weight into the collar the heavier 
 the horse, other things being equal, the more efficient he will be. 
 Along with weight he should possess moderately heavy bone with 
 
104 
 
 BULLETIN No. 122. 
 
 \January, 
 
 quality, indicating sufficient strength and substance to carry his 
 body and not give the appearance of being top heavy. His height 
 should result from depth of body rather than length of leg ; in fact 
 as a rule the medium short legged horses possess more endurance 
 than those with long legs. He should be broad of chest with a large 
 girth and not cut up in the flank. His legs should set well under his 
 body, for if they are otherwise and he is very broad he will likely 
 be inclined to roll, causing laborious action. The back and coupling 
 should be short and the loin broad and well muscled, this region 
 being the connecting link joining the propellers to the weight car- 
 riers. The hips should be rounding and smooth; the croup, long 
 and muscular; the quarters, deep; the thighs, broad; the gaskins 
 and cannons relatively short. The head should be medium in size 
 and neatly set on a neck of good length with crest moderately heavy 
 
 PLATE 2. A CHOICE HEAVY DRAFTER AND AN UNDEFEATED SHOW HORSE. FOR 
 FOUR YEARS A FIRST PRIZE WINNER AT THE INTERNATIONAL LlVE STOCK SHOW 
 AT CHICAGO. NOTE HIS RUGGEDNESS AND GREAT SIZE COMBINED WITH QUALITY 
 AND BEAUTY OF FINISH. A TRIFLE LESS LENGTH OF BACK AND A LITTLE LONGER 
 CROUP WOULD ADD TO HIS APPEARANCE. HEIGHT IJ-2 HANDS. WEIGHT 2390 
 POUNDS. PHOTO BY COURTESY OF BREEDER'S GAZETTE. 
 
MARKET CLASSES AND GRADES OF HORSES. 
 
 105 
 
 and well developed. The ideal conformation of the draft horse will 
 vary somewhat according to the market under consideration. Eu- 
 ropean markets, especially British markets, want a more upstand- 
 ing Draft horse with a longer neck than is demanded by American 
 markets. New York being a great shipping port, demands larger 
 and more upstanding horses than any other city in the United 
 States. This is because of the large wagons used and heavy load- 
 ing for the docks. The large amount of business ,done and the long 
 waits necessary to be made before a place can be had at the docks to 
 unload, have caused merchants to adopt the use of heavy wagons, 
 and it takes a large horse to make an appropriate hitch before them. 
 On the other hand the draying business of Boston being lighter 
 than that of New York, smaller and lighter wagons are used and 
 consequently the demand has been for a low set smaller horse, but 
 this condition is rapidly changing and the demand is now for a 
 larger horse. 
 
 PLATE 3. A CHOICE HEAVY DRAFTER OF THE SHOW RING ORDER. FOR SEVERAL 
 YEARS HE WAS A FIRST PRIZE WINNER AT THE INTERNATIONAL LlVE STOCK 
 SHOW AT CHICAGO. NOTE HIS ABUNDANCE OF QUALITY, SMOOTHNESS OF FIN- 
 ISH, OBLIQUITY OF SHOULDER, AND CORRECTLY SET PASTERN. FOR HARD SERVICE A 
 LITTLE MORE DEPTH OF BODY WOULD BE DESIRABLE. HEIGHT 17 HANDS. WEIGHT 
 2150 POUNDS. 
 
106 
 
 BULLETIN No. 122. 
 
 [January, 
 
 HEAVY DRAFT, LIGHT DRAFT, AND LOGGERS 
 
 Conformation, Height and Weight. Heavy draft horses are 
 the heavier weights of the draft class and stand from 16 to 17-2 
 hands high and weigh from 1750 to 2200 pounds. The light Drafter 
 which is similar in type, but smaller, stands from 15-3 to 16-2 hands 
 high and weighs from 1600 to 1750 pounds. While 15-3 hands is 
 accepted as the minimum height for light Draft horses it should 
 be understood that a 15-3 hand horse is less desirable than one 
 taller and he borders closely on the type known as eastern chunks. 
 Loggers are horses of the draft class that are bought to go to the 
 lumbering woods and used for logging purposes. In most instances 
 this trade demands comparatively cheap horses, and yet wants them 
 large and strong. Because of the prices paid, the trade is usually 
 compelled to take the plainer, rougher horses of the heavy draft 
 class, and some are slightly blemished or unsound, such as "off in 
 wind," "small sidebones," "curbs," "wire marks," etc. Loggers 
 should stand from 16-1 to 17-2 hands high and weigh from 1700 
 to 2200 pounds. See Plates i, 2, 3, 4, and 5. 
 
 PLATE 4. A CHOICE HEAVY DRAFTER BUILT FOR WEAR. NOTE HIS COMPACTNESS 
 
 OF BODY AND SMOOTHNESS OF FINISH. HEIGHT l6-I HANDS. WEIGHT 
 POUNDS. 
 
1908.] 
 
 MARKET CLASSES AND GRADES OF HORSES. 
 
 107 
 
 PLATE 5. A GOOD LOGGER. NOTE HER VERY PLAIN HIND QUARTERS BEING CUT UP 
 
 IN THE FLANK AND SHORT DROOPING CROUP. HEIGHT l6-2 HANDS. WEIGHT 
 I95O POUNDS. 
 
 Action. The walk is the principal gait to be considered with 
 Draft horses since they are not often required to do their work at 
 a faster gait. The action should be straight, smooth, and regular; 
 the stride long and open, full of energy and ambition, making them 
 fast walkers, and enabling them to cover considerable ground in 
 a short time. The trot is important principally as an index to the 
 action and ease of deportment. An awkward horse or one that is 
 not a line mover, or has some defect in his gait usually shows it 
 more readily at the trot than at the walk. 
 
 Demand. Draft horses are used by wholesale mercantile 
 houses, packers, brewers, coal dealers, contractors, lumbermen, 
 and firms having heavy teaming work. They are in demand in all 
 large cities, New York, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, and Buffalo 
 being especially active in the trade. They are wanted for export, 
 but during the past few years prices have been too high in the 
 United States to make exportation profitable, and consequently but 
 few Draft horses have been exported. The supply is much short 
 
108 
 
 BULLETIN No. 122. 
 
 [January, 
 
 of the demand, causing sharp competition and consequently Drafters 
 are bringing- good prices on the open market. 
 
 Chunks 
 
 Usage has fixed the name of this class, which is significant of 
 the conformation of the horse rather than the use to which he is 
 put. However, the prefix given in the sub-class is rather indicative 
 of his use. Chunks are divided into three sub-classes, Eastern or 
 Export, Farm, and Southern. 
 
 EASTERN OR EXPORT CHUNKS 
 
 At one time this class was known as Boston Chunks, but as the 
 trade has widened to other cities and some exported, they are 
 known by the general name of Eastern or Export Chunks. They are 
 most generally used in pairs or three abreast to do the same work 
 as Draft horses ; but may be used in pairs, in a four-in-hand or six- 
 in-hand team. 
 
 PLATE 6. A CHOICE EASTERN CHUNK. HEIGHT 15-2 HANDS. WEIGHT 1530 POUNDS. 
 
1908.} 
 
 MARKET CLASSES AND GRADES OF HORSES. 
 
 109 
 
 Conformation, Height and Weight. The Eastern or Export 
 Chunk is for the most part much the same type of a horse in con- 
 formation as the drafter with the exception of size, he being a little 
 more blocky and compact. He stands from 15 to 16 hands high, 
 usually not over 15-3, and weighs from 1300 to 1550 pounds, de- 
 pending upon size and condition. His neck is often short, a little 
 shorter than that of a Drafter, and his bone a little lighter, though 
 this is not a requisite. See Plates 6 and 7. 
 
 PLATE 7. A CHOICE EASTERN CHUNK. IN SOME MARKETS THIS HORSE MIGHT BE 
 CLASSED AS A LlGHT DRAFT. NOTE HIS SHORTNESS OF LEGS AND COMPACTNESS 
 OF FORM. HEIGHT 15-3. WEIGHT 1550 POUNDS. 
 
 Action. Being required to do their work mostly at the walk 
 their action should be similar to that of a draft horse. The walk 
 should be elastic, quick, balanced, straight, step long, trot regular 
 and high without winging, rolling, interfering, or forging. 
 
 Demand. As the name implies Eastern or Export Chunks are 
 bought for the trade of eastern cities and for export. The demand 
 is strongest during March, April, and May ; but they usually bring 
 good prices through the fall and winter months, from October on. 
 
110 
 
 BULLETIN No. 122. 
 
 [January, 
 
 There is a good demand for those that grade as good and choice, 
 but, as a rule there are enough of this class of horses in the general 
 supply found on the market to meet the demand. 
 
 FARM CHUNKS 
 
 Horses of this type may be found on the market at all seasons 
 of the year, but during the spring months they form an important 
 feature of the trade. They are bought to be used on the farm and 
 are in most urgent need during the season when crops are being 
 planted. They are usually of mixed breeding, draft blood pre- 
 dominating and commonly known among farmers as "all purpose 
 horses." Mares are more generally taken than geldings. 
 
 Conformation, Height and Weight. For this class low down 
 blocky horses are wanted, not so heavy as the eastern Chunks. 
 Farm Chunks are usually lighter in bone and often slightly blem- 
 ished or unsound. Since farmers do not usually care to pay for 
 high priced horses they are often compelled to accept those with 
 slight injuries such as small side bones, curbs, wire marks, etc. In 
 
 PLATE 8. A CHOICE FARM CHUNK OR FARM MARE. A LITTLE LIGHT IN BONE 
 WHICH IS OFTEN CHARACTERISTIC OF THIS CLASS. HEIGHT 15-2^2 HANDS. 
 WEIGHT 1400 POUNDS. 
 
MARKET CLASSES AND GRADES OF HORSES. 
 
 general the typical Farm Chunk should be a moderate sized, all- 
 round good individual, standing from 15 to 15-3 hands high and 
 weighing from 1200 to 1400 pounds. See Plates 8 and 9. 
 
 PLATE 9. A GOOD FARM CHUNK. A LITTLE TOO MUCH LENGTH OF BODY AND NOT 
 
 ENOUGH DEPTH. HEIGHT 15-3 HANDS. WEIGHT I35O POUNDS. 
 
 Action. Being lighter horses than the Eastern Chunks they 
 should be a little quicker and more active on foot. The varied use 
 to which horses are put on the farm requires that they be able to 
 trot readily if necessary. However, since the walk is their most 
 important gait, they should be good walkers and do it with ease 
 and rapidity when drawing a load. 
 
 Demand. Farm Chunks are in strongest demand during the 
 spring months of February, March, and April. During the re- 
 mainder of the year they are slower sale and some of the better 
 grades having heavy bone are sold as Wagon Horses. (See Plate 
 1 6.) The supply being larger than the demand for the lower 
 grades they do not bring as good prices as horses of some other 
 classes. 
 
112 
 
 BULLETIN No. 122. 
 
 SOUTHERN CHUNKS 
 
 [January, 
 
 Southern Chunks or as they are termed in some markets, 
 "Southern horses," or "Southerns" are small horses that are bought 
 by dealers for the southern markets, many of them going to Mem- 
 phis, Tennessee; Jacksonville, Florida; Atlanta, Georgia; Rich- 
 mond and Norfolk, Virginia, and other large southern towns. They 
 are used by southern planters for tilling their lands and for driving 
 and riding. The southern farmer does not cultivate deeply and 
 the soils are light, consequently he does not require very large 
 horses; however, each year the trend of the market is for larger 
 horses for this trade. 
 
 Conformation, Height, and Weight. Southern Chunks are 
 small horses standing from 15 to 15-3 hands high and weighing 
 from 800 to 1250 pounds. They are rather fine of bone, posses- 
 sing an abundance of quality, and are more rangy in conformation 
 
 PLATE 10. A CHOICE SOUTHERN CHUNK OR SOUTHERN. NOTE THE QUALITY AND 
 
 FINISH AND THE ABSENCE OF DRAFT HORSE BLOOD. A LITTLE MORE DEPTH OF 
 FLANK WOULD IMPROVE HER APPEARANCE. HEIGHT I5~2 HANDS. WEIGHT 
 ABOUT II5O POUNDS. 
 
1908.] 
 
 MARKET CLASSES AND GRADES ov HORSES. 
 
 113 
 
 than any of the other Chunks, having more of the light horse blood. 
 The head should be rather small and neat, and the neck long and 
 slender, the ribs well sprung, giving a round barrel, and neatly 
 turned over the hips and croup. Many of them are similar to the 
 cheaper horses used on the light delivery wagons of cities. Buy- 
 ers for the best grades of Southern horses are very particular to 
 get sound, shapely, young horses of the very best quality, and not 
 over six years old. Some horses in the common and inferior grades 
 are slightly blemished or may have a little more age than is de- 
 sired. See Plates 10 and n. 
 
 PLATE n. A GOOD SOUTHERN CHUNK. HEIGHT 15-1 HANDS. WEIGHT 1050 POUNDS. 
 
 Action. Southern Chunks should have all-round good ac- 
 tion. Because of the fact that they possess more of the light horse 
 blood and build than of the draft, they should have better action 
 than either Eastern or Farm Chunks. The form of action in fold- 
 ing of knees and flexing of hocks should be much the same as in 
 Farm Chunks except that there should be more snap and vigor in the 
 movements and less awkwardness. 
 
 Demand. The supply of Southern Chunks being larger than 
 the demand causes them to sell as comparatively cheap horses. As 
 a general rule the demand for southern horses begins in Septem- 
 
114 
 
 BULLETIN No. 122. 
 
 [January, 
 
 her and October and gradually increases until January, February 
 and March, when the demand is greatest. From this time on 
 trade weakens, the summer months being usually dull, and revives 
 again in the autumn. 
 
 Wagon Horses 
 
 Under this general term are grouped horses which are used prin- 
 cipally where business requires quick delivery. Such horses must 
 be closely coupled, compactly built, with plenty of constitution and 
 stamina. They must be good actors, have a good clean set of 
 limbs with plenty of bone and quality, and a good foot that will 
 stand the wear of paved streets. In this class are Express horses, 
 Delivery Wagon horses, Artillery horses, and Fire horses. 
 
 PLATE 12. A CHOICE EXPRESSER. NOTE THE CONFORMATION OF GREAT PHYSICAL 
 ENDURANCE INDICATED BY HIS OBLIQUELY SET SHOULDER, DEPTH AND COMPACT- 
 NESS OF BODY, SHORTNESS OF BACK, CLOSENESS OF COUPLING, UNUSUAL LENGTH 
 OF CROUP, WELL SET PASTERNS AND GOOD SHAPED FEET. HEIGHT l6 HANDS. 
 WEIGHT 1450 POUNDS. 
 
J908.] 
 
 MARKET CLASSES AND GRADES OF HORSES. 
 
 115 
 
 PLATE 13. A CHOICE EXPRESS HORSE, TYPICAL OF THE CLASS AND ALMOST FAULT- 
 LESS IN CONFORMATION. HEIGHT l6 HANDS. WEIGHT 1375 POUNDS. 
 
 EXPRESS HORSKS 
 
 Express horses are used by express companies in the collecting 
 and delivering- of goods to and from railroad stations. Differ- 
 ent express companies use horses of slightly different size and 
 weight, this being determined by the nature and weight of goods 
 handled and territory from which trade is drawn. For instance, 
 if the business of a company is centrally located in a city, and de- 
 pots are not far apart, they use larger horses and load heavier than 
 if the business is done in the outlying parts of a city and the depots 
 a considerable distance apart, in which case lighter horses with 
 more action are wanted. They are used singly or in pairs, and 
 the size of the horse will depend on the weight of the wagon to 
 which he is hitched. The lightest ones are called "money horses," 
 as they are hitched to the lighest wagons to deliver "valuables," 
 this kind of work demanding quick service. 
 
 Conformation, Height, and Weight. The typical Expresser is 
 rather an upstanding, deep bodied, closely coupled horse with good 
 
116 BULLETIN No. 122. [January, 
 
 bone, an abundance of quality, energy, and spirit. He should stand 
 from 15-3 to 1 6-2 hands high and weigh from 1350 to 1500 pounds 
 in good flesh, the average express horse being 16 to 16-1 hands 
 high and weighing around 1400 pounds in working condition. His 
 head should be neat, his neck of good length and crest well devel- 
 oped. His shoulder should be obliquely set, coupled with a short, 
 well muscled back and strong loin. His croup should be broad, 
 rounding and well muscled, his quarters deep and thighs broad. 
 He should not be "goose-rumped" nor cut up in the flank. His 
 "underpining" should be of the very best, his cannons broad and 
 clean, and hoofs of a dense, tough horn of a waxy nature. See 
 Plates 12 and 13. 
 
 Action. The Express horse is required to do his work both 
 at the walk and trot, the latter being the principal gait. He should 
 be quick and active, able always to keep his feet well under him 
 and throw enough weight into the collar to move a heavy load at 
 the walk or a lighter load at the trot. As in the previous classes 
 he should be a straight-line mover with possibly a little more knee 
 and hock action. 
 
 Delivery Wagon horses or as they are often termed "Wagon 
 Horses" are similar to the Expressers, but the class is broader in 
 its scope, including horses of common and inferior grades as well 
 as medium, good, and choice. Generally speaking they are not so 
 large as Expressers and not as high grade animals ; most mercantile 
 firms are not such liberal buyers and consequently they get a 
 cheaper grade of horses. However, this is not always true as some 
 of the large department stores whose deliveries serve as an ad- 
 vertisement will pay more for the very best than express companies, 
 thus getting very choice animals. 
 
 Conformation, Height, and Weight. The conformation re- 
 quirements are practically the same as for Express horses, except 
 they are not quite so large, standing from 15 to 16 hands and 
 weighing from noo to 1400 pounds. See Plates 14 and 15. 
 
 Action. The action requirements are the same as for Express 
 horses in most cases, though some are not so good actors. 
 
 Demand. The demand for Express and Delivery Wagon horses 
 is good at all times of the year, though it is a little stronger prior 
 to the season when parcel-carting is greatest, such as during the 
 Holiday season and spring months. The demand for good to 
 choice Express horses is greater than the supply and as a result 
 
1908.] 
 
 MARKET CLASSES AND GRADES OF HORSES. 
 
 117 
 
 the express companies are obliged to fill some of their orders from 
 the medium grades which do not completely meet their require- 
 ments. The trade calls for a uniform high quality of horses. They 
 are usually of mixed breeding with a predominance of Draft blood. 
 The demand for Delivery Wagon horses, the limits of which are 
 very wide, comes from all kinds of retail and wholesale mercantile 
 houses, such as meat shops, milk houses, grocery houses, dry-goods 
 firms, hardware merchants, etc., for use on light wagons for parcel 
 delivery. Some of the coarser, rougher ones are used on the huck- 
 ster wagons, junk wagons, sand wagons, and by contractors for cel- 
 lar excavating, street cleaning, railroad grading, or almost any 
 kind of rough, heavy work. During the early spring season some 
 -are sold as Farm Chunks. See Plate 16. 
 
 PLATE 14. A CHOICE WAGON HORSE, SUITABLE FOR USE ON FANCY DELIVERY 
 WAGONS. NOTE THE DEPTH AND ROTUNDITY OF BODY, THE SMOOTHNESS AND 
 FINISH OF CONFORMATION. HEIGHT 15-3 HANDS. WEIGHT 1350 POUNDS. 
 
118 
 
 BULLETIN No. 122. 
 
 [January, 
 
 8 
 g 
 5 
 u 
 
 o 
 U 
 
 fc 
 
 O 
 
 8 
 
 HH 
 
 1 
 
MARKET CLASSES AND GRADES OF HORSES. 
 
 119 
 
 PLATE 16. A GOOD ROUGH WAGON HORSE OR FARM CHUNK. IT DEPENDS SOME- 
 WHAT UPON THE SEASON OF THE YEAR HOW SUCH HORSES ARE CLASSED. NOTE 
 THE LACK OF QUALITY AND FINISH. HEIGHT 15-3 HANDS. WEIGHT 1350 
 POUNDS. 
 
 ARTILLERY HORSES 
 
 Artillery horses conform very closely to the better grades of 
 Delivery Wagon horses of the same weight. The following speci- 
 fications, prepared under the direction of the Quartermaster Gen- 
 eral of the United States War Department, clearly set forth the 
 requirements. 
 
 SPECIFICATIONS FOR ARTILLERY HORSES PREPARED UNDER DIRECTION OF THE QUAR- 
 TERMASTER GENERAL 
 
 "The artillery horse must be sound, well bred, of a superior class, and have 
 quality; of a kind disposition, well broken to harness, and gentle under the 
 saddle with easy mouth and gaits, and free and prompt action in the walk, trot, 
 and gallop ; free from vicious habits ; without material blemish or defect, and 
 otherwise conform to the following descriptions: 
 
 A gelding of uniform and hardy color, in good condition ; from 5 to 8 years 
 old; weighing from 1,050 pounds, minimum weight for leaders, to 1,200, maxi- 
 mum weight for wheelers, depending on height, which should be from 15-1 to 16 
 hands. 
 
120 
 
 BULLETIN No. 122. 
 
 [January, 
 
 Head. Small and well set on neck ; with ears small, thin, neat, and erect ; 
 forehead broad and full ; eyes large, prominent and mild, with well developed 
 brow and fine eyelid ; vision perfect in every respect ; muzzle small and fine ; 
 mouth deep ; lips thin and firmly compressed ; nostril large and fine ; and branches 
 of underjaw (adjoining neck) wide apart. 
 
 Neck. Moderately long and tapering toward the head, with crest firm and 
 longer than underside; mane fine and intact. 
 
 Withers. Elevated, not unduly fine, well developed and muscled. 
 
 Shoulders. Long, oblique, well packed with muscle, not too heavy, smooth, 
 rounded, and so formed as properly to support the collar. 
 
 Chest. High, wide, very deep ; plump in front, and full. 
 
 Fore Legs. Vertical, and properly placed ; with elbow large, long, prom- 
 inent, clear of chest, and well placed ; "forearm wide, thick, long, heavily muscled, 
 and vertical. 
 
 Knees. Neatly outlined, large, prominent, wide in front, well situated, and 
 well directed. 
 
 Back. Short, straight, and well muscled. 
 
 Loins. Broad, straight, very short and muscular. 
 
 Barrel. Large, increasing in size toward flanks, with ribs well arched and 
 definitely separated. 
 
 PLATE 17. A CHOICE ARTILLERY HORSE. NOTE THE LONG OBUQUE SHOULDER, THE 
 
 HIGH THIN WITHERS, THE SHORT, STRONG BACK NEATLY JOINED TO A MUSCULAR 
 CROUP. THE WHOLE CONFORMATION SHOWING GREAT MUSCULAR STRENGTH COM- 
 BINED WITH QUALITY AND FINISH. HEIGHT I5~3 HANDS. WEIGHT I20O POUNDS. 
 
1908.] 
 
 MARKET CLASSES AND GRADES OF HORSES. 
 
 121 
 
 Hind Quarters. Wide, thick, very long, full, heavily muscled, rounded ex- 
 ternally, and well directed. 
 
 Tail. Fine and intact; well carried and firm. 
 
 Hocks. Neatly outlined, lean, large, wide from front to rear, and well di- 
 rected. 
 
 Limbs. From knees and hocks downward, vertical, short, wide laterally, 
 with tendons and ligaments standing well out from bone and distinctly defined. 
 
 Pasterns. Strong, medium length, not too oblique, and well directed. 
 
 Feet. Medium size, circular in shape, sound; with horn dark, smooth, and 
 of fine texture; sole moderately concave, and frog well developed, sound, firm, 
 large, elastic, and healthy. 
 
 Each horse will be subject to a rigid inspection, and any animal that does 
 not meet the above requirements should be rejected." 
 
 See Plates 17 and 18. 
 
 PLATE 18. A CHOICE ARTILLERY HORSE. HEIGHT 15-25/2 HANDS. WEIGHT ABOUT 
 1200 POUNDS. 
 
 Demand. The demand for Artillery horses is rather spas- 
 modic, at some times being much greater than at others. Con- 
 tracts are given to the lowest responsible bidder to supply them in 
 large numbers by a specified time. Because of the rigid exam- 
 ination and requirements of official inspectors, many men have lost 
 money in filling contracts. 
 
122 
 
 BULLETIN No. 122. 
 
 [January, 
 
1908.] 
 
 MARKET CLASSES AND GRADES OF HORSES. 
 
 FIRE HORSES 
 
 123 
 
 The Fire horse is more rangy in conformation than the Expres- 
 ser, he being required to throw weight into the collar and often to 
 take long runs. The limits of the class are narrow, there being 
 only two grades, choice and good. The requirements are very 
 rigid as will be seen by the specifications set forth by Mr. Peter F. 
 Quinn, former Superintendent of Horses of the Chicago Fire De- 
 partment : 
 
 "The work required of a horse best suited to fire department services nec- 
 essitates almost human intelligence. Such a horse must not only be well bred, 
 sound in every particular, quick to observe, prompt and willing to respond to 
 every call, but as well, ambitious to discharge his numerous and unusual duties 
 under constantly differing surroundings. 
 
 In selecting, the first requisites are, evidence of tractability, good feet and 
 legs, with bones and hoof of the best texture, a short, strong back and well 
 proportioned fore and hind quarters, well covered with firm elastic muscles. A 
 gelding of uniform and hardy color, in good condition, from five to seven years 
 
 PLATE 20. A CHOICE 16-2 HAND FIRE HORSE SUITABLE FOR A HEAVY ENGINE 
 TRUCK. WEIGHT 1500 POUNDS. 
 
124 
 
 BULLETIN No. 122. 
 
 [January, 
 
 old, and weighing from 1500 to 1700 pounds, for heavy engine companies and 
 heavy hook and ladder trucks. Height, 16 to 17-2 hands. Hose carriage horses, 
 same age; weight from 1200 to 1400 pounds; height, 15 to 16-2 hands." 
 
 See Plates 19 and 20. 
 
 Demand. The demand for Fire horses is very limited, coming 
 from fire companies of cities. There are usually enough horses in 
 the general supply to meet the demand. 
 
 PLATE 21. A CHOICE COACH HORSE SUITABLE FOR A WHEELER IN A FOUR-IN-HAND. 
 NOTE HIS LONG OBLIQUELY SET SHOULDER, SHORT WELL MUSCLED BACK AND 
 LOIN, WELL SPRUNG RIB, LONG NEATLY TURNED CROUP AND WELL MUSCLED 
 THIGHS. HE POSSESSES SMOOTHNESS AND FINISH TO AN UNUSUAL DEGREE, HAS 
 WELL SET PASTERNS AND STANDS WELL ON HIS FEET. HlS NECK IS A TRIFLE 
 HEAVY IN THE THROATLATCH GIVING HIM A SLIGHT STAGGY APPEARANCE. 
 HEIGHT 16 HANDS. WEIGHT ABOUT 1250 POUNDS. 
 
 Carriage Horses 
 
 This class includes Coach, Cob, Park, and Cab horses. As the 
 name "carriage" implies (a vehicle for conveying people) this 
 class of horses is used on the various heavy weight vehicles. In 
 contradistinction to "light harness horses" of the Road class they 
 are often spoken of as "heavy harness horses." They are smoothly 
 
MARKET CLASSES AND GRADES OF HORSES. 125 
 
 turned, full made, up-headed horses with an unusual amount of 
 quality and must possess to a marked degree, high action, with a 
 fair amount of speed. The neck should be long and arched, the 
 head small and clean cut with a neatly set ear. The shoulder should 
 be oblique in order to enable the horse to bring his knees as high 
 as possible. The width of breast should be in keeping with the 
 conformation of the horse, too much width being undesirable as 
 well as too little. The body should be of good depth and length; 
 the length being in a long croup rather than a long back. The 
 back should be short and well muscled, the ribs springing well from 
 the spine, giving a round barrel. The hips should be rounding, 
 the croup well muscled, the tail set high, and the quarters deep. 
 The limbs should be free from blemishes or unsoundness and pos- 
 sessing an abundance of quality with plenty of substance. In ad- 
 dition to being well muscled, the limbs should be well proportioned 
 in length of fore-arm to cannon and joined to oblique pasterns and 
 good feet. 
 
 COACH HORSES 
 
 Typical Coachers are smoothly turned, full made horses, with a 
 little more size and length of neck than other horses of the Car- 
 riage class. The principal requirement is high action combined 
 with beauty of form. The whole outline of the horse should be 
 carried out in easy, graceful curves, pleasing to the eye. 
 
 Conformation, Height, and Weight. Coach horses should 
 stand from 15-1 to 16-1 hands high and weigh from uoo to 1250 
 pounds. The weight is not of such great importance with Coach 
 horses as with Draft and Wagon horses. The essential thing is to 
 get a horse that looks right and proper before the vehicle to which 
 he is hitched; for instance, the most desirable height for a "park 
 drag,'' "body break" or "heavy coach" is 15-3 to 16 hands and 
 weighing around 1150 to 1200 pounds. For a light "brougham" 
 a pair of 15-2 hand horses and weighing noo pounds is more ap- 
 propriate. A hearse requires a horse from 15-3 to 16-1 hands high 
 and weighing 1200 to 1250 pounds. The Coach horse should have a 
 small, neat head, well set on a nicely arched neck, free from staggi- 
 ness. He should have high, thin withers to which are smoothly 
 joined oblique shoulders. The forearm should be well muscled, 
 the cannon of medium length and broad, to which is joined a long 
 sloping pastern with a good foot. The foot should not be so round- 
 ing as the foot of the Draft horse, the heel should be high and wide, 
 giving sufficient room for a large frog. The back should be short, 
 the body deep, round and closely coupled; the loins short and 
 
126 
 
 BULLETIN No. 122. 
 
 [January, 
 
 broad. The hips should be nicely rounded, the croup wide, mus- 
 cular and not drooping; the tail is often docked and set for 
 fashionable trade, but when left long should be carried gracefully. 
 A common fault with many Coach horses is a "short, staggy neck 
 turned upside down," a flab rib, a long back and a "goose rump." 
 Action. Action in the Coach horse is one of the most essential 
 qualities of this class. An individual with good conformation will 
 be a comparatively cheap horse if he is very deficient in style and 
 action ; in fact, it may bar him from being classed as a Coach horse. 
 He must be a "high stepper" and quick in his movements, flexing 
 his hocks well under his body, folding his front legs well at the knees 
 and carrying them high toward his chin. He may be said to be a 
 little more stately in his action than Cobs and Park horses. In com- 
 parison with the action of the trotting horse for speed, -he should 
 be shorter in his stride, lifting his knees higher in front of his body, 
 and not draggi.ig his hocks behind. The demand is for trotters 
 only, pacers being not accepted in this class. See Plates 21, 22, 
 and 23. 
 
 PLATE 22. A CHOICE 15-2 HAND COACH OR BROUGHAM HORSE. NOTE THE COM- 
 PACTNESS AND SMOOTHNESS OF FORM WITH ROTUNDITY OF BODY. WEIGHT 
 ABOUT 1175 POUNDS. 
 
7pO<?.] 
 
 MARKET CLASSES AND GRADES OF HORSES. 
 
 127 
 
12S 
 
 BULLETIN No. 122. 
 
 [January, 
 
 Demand. The demand for Coach horses comes from wealthy 
 men who maintain stables of fine horses and equipages for pleas- 
 ure driving, and at present there is also quite an active demand 
 from exporters, who ship to Mexico and European markets. They 
 are hitched singly, in pairs, unicorn (sometimes called a spike, as 
 one horse is hitched to the end of the pole ahead of a pair), four- 
 in-hand, and six-in-hand to "coaches," "breaks," "park drags," etc. 
 A large percentage of the Coach horses have a predominance of 
 American Trotting horse blood while a few are produced from the 
 imported coach breeds; but since many of the imported so called 
 Coach horses possess the common fault of grossness and coarse- 
 ness, as a class they do not possess the requirements demanded by 
 the American markets. 
 
 COBS 
 
 Cobs are small Coach horses that are driven singly, in pairs, or 
 tandem fashion (one in front of the other), usually by ladies 
 
 PLATE 24. A CHOICE COB. NOTE THE SIMILARITY OF CONFORMATION TO THE PRE- 
 VIOUS CARRIAGE HORSES, EXCEPTING THAT OF SIZE. THE POSITION OF HIS LEGS 
 GIVES HIM A SLIGHTLY AWKWARD POSE. HEIGHT 1 5 HANDS. WEIGHT A110U f 
 IIOO POUNDS. 
 
1908.} MARKET CLASSES AND GRADES OF HORSES. 129 
 
 though they may be used by gentlemen as well. They are small 
 horses of a stocky build with plenty of quality, good length of neck, 
 a neat head, and high action. 
 
 Conformation, Height, and Weight. Cobs stand from 14-1 to 
 15-1 hands high and weigh from 900 to 1150 pounds. Strictly 
 speaking they are an English horse and in England they never 
 consider a horse a cob that stands over 15 hands; however, the 
 American markets accept them 15-1 hands high. A 15-hand Cob 
 should not weigh over 1 100 pounds, but his condition will- have 
 much to do with his weight. They should be in every respect high 
 class horses with an abundance of quality, finish, and style. The 
 strongest demand comes for horses 14-3 to 15 hands high and 
 weighing-from 1000 to noo pounds. See Plate 24. 
 
 Action. The action of the Cob should be much the same as 
 that of the Coach horse or a little higher both before and behind. 
 As horsemen say, "They must be able to get away smart," i. e., they 
 should be quick on their feet and able to move off at a "good clip," 
 carrying their knees high and bringing the hocks well under the 
 body. 
 
 Demand. The demand for Cobs comes from much the same 
 source as for Coach horses. Since they are a little more proper 
 for ladies' driving than a full sized Coacher, they are often spoken 
 of as ladies' Cobs. They are usually hitched to a light brougham, 
 phaeton, or some carriage that is not intended for carrying more 
 than four. Their tails must be docked and set to meet the demand 
 of the city customer, but it would be better to leave this operation 
 to the dealer or buyer. At present there is a good demand from 
 Mexico as well as from cities of the United States. While the de- 
 mand is strong, it is more limited than for Coach horses. 
 
 PARK HORSES 
 
 Park horses possess much of the Coach horse type in that they 
 must be symmetrical with well rounded bodies and an abundance 
 of quality and action. In reality they are the "cream" of the small 
 Coach horses. They are strictly dress horses and as their name in- 
 dicates, one which a lady or gentleman would want to drive in a 
 park, and are hitched singly to a cart or tandem to a gig. A solid 
 color is more desirable than one with white markings as no one 
 except a gentleman that wishes to "cut a swell" would want to 
 drive such a horse, since it is not considered in good taste for a lady 
 to drive a strikingly marked, extremely high acting horse. 
 
 Conformation, Height, and Weight. They must have a neat, 
 clean cut, breedy looking head set on a long, well arched neck and 
 be of exceptionally good quality and finish ; the other requirements 
 being the same as for a Coach horse, They must be well broken 
 
130 
 
 BULLETIN No. 122. 
 
 [January, 
 
 and mannered, and of a desirable color to meet the demand. The 
 limits for height and weight are 15 to 15-3 hands high and from 
 1000 to 1150 pounds, the most desirable height being 15-1 to 15-2 
 hands, and weight from TOGO to noo pounds. 
 
 Action. Park horses must be sensationally high acting both 
 at knees and hocks, for this is a prime essential in order that they 
 be classed as Park horses. (See Plates 25 and 26.) As well 
 as being high, the action should be straight forward and open with- 
 out any winging or interfering. The action should be regular as 
 if the feet were put down in rhythmical order. On account of ex- 
 tremely high action a great amount of speed is seldom secured. 
 
 Demand. The demand for Park horses greatly exceeds the 
 supply as they have never been produced in great enough numbers 
 to equal the demand and probably never will be. Breeders trying 
 to produce them succeed with only a small percentage of the colts 
 reared. 
 
 PLATE 25. A CHOICE PARK HORSE, AND MANY TIMES A BLUE RIBBON WINNER AT 
 
 LEADING SHOWS. AN EXTREMELY HIGH ACTOR. SUCH HORSES ARE SELDOM AS 
 STOCKILY BUILT AS OTHER CARRIAGE HORSES. HEIGHT 15-3 HANDS. WEIGHT 
 ADOUT IIOO POUNDS. 
 
T908.] 
 
 MARKET CLASSES AND GRADES OF HORSES. 
 
 131 
 
 * w 
 
 Q P 
 
 W H 
 
 H O 
 O W 
 < H 
 
 *- 
 
 O 
 
 gH 
 
 2 
 
 En 
 
 3* 
 
 PH Q 
 
 fa 2 
 O & 
 
 tf Ed 
 
 88 
 
 o W 
 " B 
 
132 
 
 BULLETIN No. 122. 
 
 [January, 
 
 CAB HORSES 
 
 Cab horses are used on either two or four wheeled cabs, coupes, 
 and other vehicles for public service in cities. They are much the 
 same type as the Coach horse, and in fact many of them are the 
 discarded and the lower grades of the Coach class. 
 
 Conformation, Height, and Weight. Cab horses stand from 
 15-2 to 1 6- 1 hands high and weigh from 1050 to 1200 pounds. 
 The principal quality sought is symmetry of form combined with 
 endurance. They should possess good feet and bone, strong con- 
 stitution, a deep barrel with good spring of rib and should be 
 closely coupled. Not as much flesh is demanded in the condition 
 of Cab horses as in Coach horses for they fill a cheaper trade, but 
 to satisfy the demand they should be in good condition, 
 
 Action. The action of a Cab horse should be straight, i. e., he 
 should be a straight line mover, but need not be excessively high. 
 In fact, moderate action is all that is desired since a horse with 
 moderate action possesses greater endurance than an extremely 
 high actor. 
 
 I'l Vl- 
 
 L*fc,AIJJ.I\ (j 
 
 STOCKILY BUILT AS 0. 
 ADOUT IIOO POUNDS. 
 
 MEDIUM CAB HORSE, BUT WOULD GRADE GOOD IF HE CARRIED MORE 
 HORSE IS DOING SERVICE IN ONE OF THE LARGF LIVERIES OF CHI- 
 
 TTT 
 
 WEIGHT IIOO POUNDS. 
 
MARKET CLASSES AND GRADES OF HORSES. 
 
 133 
 
134 BULLETIN No. 122. [January, 
 
 Demand. The demand for Cab horses comes from livery 
 and transfer companies and, when prices will permit, from export 
 buyers. Horses of this class are generally of nondescript breeding, 
 excepting the discarded Coachers, and the supply is greater than 
 the demand, making them cheap horses. See Plates 27 and 28. 
 
 Road Horses 
 
 This class embraces the lighter weights of the harness horses 
 which are commonly spoken of as drivers or "light harness horses." 
 They are more lithe in build and angular in form than those of 
 the carriage class. The use to which they are put demands that if 
 called upon to do so, they be able to cover distance in the quickest 
 time possible without undue fatigue. Performance is the princi- 
 pal quality sought, but a good conformation is almost as desirable. 
 This class is composed of the Runabout horses and Roadsters. 
 
 RUNABOUT HORSES 
 
 Runabout horses occupy in intermediate place between typical 
 Roadsters and Carriage Horses. Because of the harness they wear, 
 some authorities might class them as carriage horses, but on ac- 
 count of their action, conformation and the use to which they are 
 put, it seems more proper to class them as Road horses. 
 
 Conformation, Height, and Weight. A Runabout horse is 
 rather a short legged horse, standing from 14-3 to 15-2 hands high 
 and weighing from 900 to 1050 pounds. His head should be neat, 
 ear fine, eye large and mild, neck of good length and neatly cut at 
 the throat latch. The neck should be of medium weight, not quite 
 so heavy as that of the Coach horse and not so light and thin as 
 that of the Roadster. The shoulder should be obliquely set, the with- 
 ers high and thin, the back short, well muscled and closely coupled 
 to the hips by a short broad loin. The barrel should be deep and 
 round, the ribs well sprung and the chest deep; the croup long 
 and the hips nicely rounded. The limbs should be well placed and 
 heavily muscled, the bone broad and clean and pasterns of good 
 length and obliquely set, joined to well shaped feet. The Run- 
 about horse is not quite so stockily built as the Cob, being not 
 so heavy in neck and crest, not so full made and rotund in body 
 and heavy in quarters. See Plates 29 and 30. 
 
 Action. The action of a Runabout horse is more moderate 
 than that of a cob, i. e., he does not need to be as high an actor and 
 should have a little more speed. The action should be bold, fric- 
 tionless and straight, such as is conducive to speed and beauty of 
 form. 
 
IQ08.] 
 
 MARKET CLASSES AND GRADES OF HORSES. 
 
 135 
 
136 
 
 BULLETIN No. 122. 
 
 [January, 
 
 PLATE 30. A . CHOICE 15-1 HAND RUNABOUT HORSE. 
 RATHER AWKWARDLY POSED ON HIS HIND LEGS. 
 
 WEIGHT 1050 POUNDS. 
 
 Demand. The demand for Runabout horses is for single driv- 
 ers and pairs only. They are used largely by business men of cities 
 on runabouts, driving wagons, phaetons, etc. The demand is ac- 
 tive at remunerative prices. They are of more or less mixed breed- 
 ing, the predominating blood being either of the American Trotting 
 horse, American Saddle horse, or Hackney. 
 
 ROADSTERS 
 
 Roadsters should have action and stamina that will enable them 
 to draw light vehicles with ease at a fairly good rate of speed for 
 a considerable distance without undue fatigue. Stamina is gen- 
 erally accompanied by a marked degree of quality and a highly de- 
 veloped nervous system. They are more lithe in build and angular 
 in conformation than horses of the Runabout class. See Plates 
 31, 3^2, and 33 and note the variation of type. 
 
1908.] 
 
 MARKET CLASSES AND GRADES OF HORSES. 
 
 137 
 
 PLATE 31. A CHOICE ROADSTER AND MANY TIMES A CHAMPION. NOTE THE UN- 
 USUAL LENGTH OF BODY AND RANGY CONFORMATION AS COMPARED WITH PLATES 
 
 29 AND 3O. NOTE ALSO THE UNUSUAL LENGTH FROM HIP TO HOCK AND WELL 
 MUSCLED THIGHS AND QUARTERS INDICATING SPEED QUALITIES. HEIGHT IS~3 
 HANDS. WEIGHT 1150 POUNDS. 
 
 Conformation, Height, and Weight. Roadsters stand from 15 
 to 1 6 hands high and weigh from 900 to 1150 pounds. While 16 
 hands is the upper limit for this class a i6-hand Roadster is not 
 nearly so desirable as one that does not stand more than 15-3 hands. 
 Some authorities go so far as to say that a i6-hand horse is no: 
 wanted; however, if the extra height is all that is against him he 
 usually finds a buyer without great difficulty. As in the Carriage 
 class all the requisites for a good horse are desired, but as a matter 
 of fact, the Roadster does not have the symmetry of form and finish 
 of the Carriage horse. The head should be neat and expressive of 
 
138 
 
 BULLETIN No. 122. 
 
 [Jattuary, 
 
 intelligence, the neck thin and of moderate length, the shoulder 
 obliquely set, the barrel round and the back short; however, 
 the shoulders are usually not so oblique, the ribs not so well 
 sprung near, the spine and the back a little longer than that of the 
 Carriage horse. The Roadster also is usually more tucked up in 
 the rear flank, the croup is more drooping and the width not so 
 well carried out, the thighs and quarters are not so deep and well 
 rounded out with muscle. An extremely drooping croup or a 
 "ewe" neck are discriminated against as they are very unsightly. 
 In general a Roadster may be described as having the "grey hound" 
 form, often measuring a little higher on the hips than at the with- 
 ers, and powerfully developed in the propellers or hind quarters. 
 
 Action. Speed combined with grace, ease, and endurance are 
 the principal qualities sought in the action of the Roadster. He 
 should have a long, free, open stride and quick recovery ; should be 
 a straight-line mover and have good knee action but it need not be 
 excessively high. Interfering, forging, cross-firing, and spraddling 
 wide behind, are common faults discriminated against. 
 
 PLATE 32. A CHOICE ROADSTER, "Lou DILLON'' i :$ l /z', REPRESENTING THE EX- 
 TREME SPEED TYPE. HEIGHT i5~i J A HANDS. WEIGHT 810 POUNDS. PHOTO BY 
 
 COURTESY OF OWNER, C. K. G. BlLLINGS. 
 
MARKET CLASSES AND GRADES OF HORSES. 
 
 139 
 
140 BULLETIN No. 122. [January, 
 
 Demand. There is a strong demand for Roadsters from both 
 home and export trade for pleasure driving and sporting purposes. 
 To fill the demand as racing and matinee horses they must be able 
 to trot a mile in 2 130, or pace in 2 125 or less, the more speed they 
 possess the higher price they will bring. The less speedy are often 
 purchased for their utility in being able to make long drives in a 
 short time. There is a stronger demand for trotters than for pacers 
 for road work, but for racing purposes they are about on a par. 
 
 Saddle Horses 
 
 The requirements for Saddle horses are sureness of foot, ease 
 of carriage to the rider, good manners, and ease of control. To 
 possess these requirements they must have an oblique shoulder with 
 a moderately long sloping pastern, a short back, and a trifle more 
 height at the withers than on the hips. The head should be neat, 
 clean cut, and attractive, set on a moderately long neck. The fore- 
 head should be broad and there should be good width between the 
 jaw-bones. The length of neck is important as a long neck is usu- 
 ally more supple and renders the mouth more flexible, which is 
 necessary for ease of handling and smoothness of carriage. A horse 
 that is a "lugger" cannot possess the good qualities he otherwise 
 would. The croup should be long, muscular, and not drooping, 
 with neatly set tail. His limbs should be strong and clean, and his 
 action quick and graceful. This class is composed of Five Gaited 
 Saddlers, Three Gaited Saddlers, Hunters, Cavalry horses and Polo 
 ponies. 
 
 FIVE GAITED SADDLE HORSES 
 
 Five Gaited Saddle horses, sometimes spoken of as "gaited" 
 Saddle horses, or "American Saddle horses" are distinctly an Amer- 
 ican product. A recognized type has been brought about by skillful 
 selection and breeding for more than half a century. The princi- 
 pal requirements are that they possess at least five of the recog- 
 nized distinct gaits under the saddle, viz.., walk, single-foot or 
 rack, running-walk or fox-trot, trot, and canter. 
 
 Conformation, Height, and Weight. The Five Gaited Saddler 
 should stand from 15 to 16 hands high and weigh from 900 to 1200 
 pounds, the most desirable height being 15-2 to 15-3 hands and 
 weight around 1050 to 1150 pounds. He should be of a kind dis- 
 position, have a good mouth, possess courage and ambition, and 
 the conformation of a weight carrier. His head should be fine, 
 clean cut, and breedy looking, his neck long, arched, and set on an 
 
MARKET CLASSES AND GRADES OF HORSES. 
 
 141 
 
 oblique shoulder with muscles extending well into the back, the with- 
 ers high and well finished. An oblique shoulder is imperative or 
 he will not be able to go the required gaits with ease to himself and 
 rider. In order to carry weight well he should possess a strong 
 level, short back and be closely coupled. His legs and quarters 
 should be well muscled, croup not drooping, and he should carry a 
 long flowing tail (sometimes spoken of as a "water spout tail.") 
 See Plate 34. 
 
 Action. The action of a Five Gaited horse should be free, easy 
 and frictionless with no inclination to mix in his gaits. The walk 
 and trot should be bold and vigorous, the stride of good length but 
 not unduly long, and quick to recover. The action need not be 
 
 PLATE 34. A CHOICE FIVE GAITED SADDLER, AND PRONOUNCED BY EXPERT JUDGES 
 AS ALMOST PERFECTION IN TYPE. NOTE HIS LENGTH OF NECK, HEIGHT OF WITH- 
 ERS, SHORTNESS OF BACK, STRENGTH OF LOIN, AND LONG LEVEL CROUP. SUCH A 
 
 CONFORMATION IS WELL SUITED FOR CARRYING WEIGHT. THE PICTURE -SHOWS 
 HIM TO BE A LITTLE TOO STRAIGHT IN THE FRONT PASTERNS. HEIGHT l6 HANDS. 
 WEIGHT ABOUT 1175 POUNDS. PHOTO BY COURTESY OF BIT AND SPUR. 
 
142 BULLETIN No. 122. [January, 
 
 extremely high but he should keep his feet well, under his body at all 
 times so there will be little danger of stumbling or falling in case he 
 should slip. The running-walk is discriminated against by some as 
 it is claimed to be conducive to stumbling. The rack should be 
 regular and rhythmical of the "one, two, three, four" order and 
 should not have side motion in either feet, legs or body which 
 produces roughness when going fast. In cantering the horse should 
 be taught to lead with either leg and go slow or fast according to 
 the pleasure of the rider. 
 
 Demand. The demand for Five Gaited horses is good and 
 comes from pleasure seeking equestrians, cattle men, army officers, 
 and people looking for easy riding horses. They are produced 
 largely by the use of pure bred American Saddle horse stock, 
 especially on the sire's side, most of them being bred in Missouri, 
 Kentucky, Southern Illinois, Indiana, and some in other states. 
 
 THREE GAITED SADDLE HORSES 
 
 The Three Gaited Saddlers are subdivided into two divisions, 
 light and heavy, depending on the weight they are expected to 
 carry. In general type and conformation they are much the same as 
 the Five Gaited horses but are required to go only three gaits, walk, 
 trot, and canter. A good point to be looked for in a Three Gaited 
 horse, or all Saddle horses for that matter, is to get a conformation 
 that will place the rider well back showing as much of the horse in 
 front of him as possible; thus, lightening the weight on the fore 
 hand. The "walk, trot, canter" horse is strictly an English type 
 which has become popular in America in recent years, the reasons 
 for which may be attributed to their use as army remounts (the 
 Three Gaited horse being used in the cavalry), the ease with which 
 they are educated and prepared for the market, and the fact that 
 they are not so likely to become mixed in their gaits by unskilled 
 riders as the Five Gaited horses. 
 
 Conformation, Height, and Weight. The requirements for 
 "walk, trot, canter" horses are about the same as for Five Gaited 
 horses, except that they are a little more compactly built having 
 shorter necks and bodies, and their tails are usually docked and set. 
 The light weight Saddlers are used as mounts for ladies and small 
 men, they being required to carry not over 165 pounds while heavy 
 weight horses are generally used as gentlemen's mounts and must 
 be able to carry 165 pounds and upwards. Three Gaited Saddlers 
 should stand from 14-3 to 16 hands high and weigh from 900 to 
 1200 pounds. The most desirable height being 15-1 to 15-3 hands 
 
1908.] 
 
 MARKET CLASSES AND GRADES OF HORSES. 
 
 143 
 
 and weighing 1050 to 1150 pounds. The heavy weight Saddlers 
 should possess a conformation indicative of strength equal to carry 
 the weight expected of them and in general they are about an inch 
 taller and 50 to 100 pounds heavier than the light weights. See 
 Plates 35 and 36. 
 
 Demand. The "Three gaited" Saddle horses are becoming 
 more popular and the demand from city trade is on the increase. 
 They are used by equestrians who live sedentary lives, and are pre- 
 ferred to the "five gaited" horses for pleasure riding. The educa- 
 tion of the "Three Gaited" horses being simpler than that of the 
 Five Gaited they usually sell for less money. They are produced in 
 the districts where light horses are bred, most of them being of 
 the American Trotting horse, the American Saddle horse, or the 
 thoroughbred blood. 
 
 PLA'TE 35. A CHOICE THREE GAITED SADDLER. AN EXCELLENT TYPE FOR CARRYING 
 
 WEIGHT. NOTE THE LONG OBLIQUE SHOULDERS, THE HIGH WITHERS, SHORT 
 STRONG BACK AND LOIN. ALSO NOTE THE DIFFERENCE IN LENGTH OF BODY AND 
 COMPACTNESS WITH PLATE 34. THIS HORSE IS A LITTLE COARSE AND HEAVY 
 IN THE THROATLACH. HEIGHT ABOUT I5~3- WEIGHT ABOUT 1 125 POUNDS. 
 
 PHOTO BY COURTESY OF THE BREEDER'S GAZETTE. 
 
144 
 
 BULLETIN No. 122. 
 
 [January, 
 
 PLATE 36. A CHOICE THREE GAITED SADDLE HORSE. AN EXCELLENT TYPE BUT A 
 BAD COLOR. HEIGHT 15-3 HANDS. WEIGHT ABOUT 1075 POUNDS. 
 
 HUNTERS 
 
 Hunters are large, strongly built horses and must be able to 
 stand long country rides and be good jumpers. Strictly speaking 
 they are sporting horses, being used by hunting parties to ride af- 
 ter hounds. They must be fearless, being often required to take 
 daring leaps over fences and gullies, for if they should shrink 
 at such a time the rider's life is placed in danger. The ability of a 
 horse to stand a long hard chase without becoming unduly jaded 
 and able to "take" high fences as well as broad ditches adds to his 
 market value. The class is sub-divided -into light, middle, and 
 heavy weights, the divisions being determined by the weight they 
 are expected to carry. 
 
 Conformation, Height, and Weight. A Hunter should have 
 a good strong, short back, an oblique shoulder with high withers, 
 a long croup, be strong in the quarters, and have good flat limbs 
 with plenty of substance. The neck should be of good shape and 
 length with the head well attached and carried high. _He should 
 measure from an inch to an inch and a half higher at the withers 
 
1908.} 
 
 MARKET CLASSES AND GRADES OF HORSES. 
 
 145 
 
 than on the hips. The whole bearing of the horse should be indi- 
 cative of strength and endurance. Symmetry and smoothness of 
 conformation is desirable, but not s,o important as in some of the 
 other divisions of the Saddle horse class. The most desirable 
 height for a Hunter is from 15-2 to 16 hands and weighing from 
 1000 to 1 200 pounds, but the limits in height may vary an inch or 
 more according to the build of the horse. The heavy weight Hunter 
 is usually about an inch taller and weighs from 50 to 100 
 pounds more than the light weight, the middle weight being inter- 
 mediary. The principal qualifications for the class is that they 
 possess a conformation indicative of their ability to carry the weight 
 
 PLATE 37. A CHOICE HEAVY WEIGHT HUNTER. A BLUE RIBBON HORSE AT PHILA- 
 DELPHIA, PA. HORSE SHOW 1903. THE PHOTO SHOWS HIM TO BE A TRIFLE 
 OVER ON THE KNEES WHICH IS OBJECTIONABLE. HEIGHT ABOUT 15-3 HANDS. 
 WEIGHT ABOUT 1175 POUNDS. PHOTO BY COURTESY OF W. HINCKLE SMITH. 
 
146 
 
 BULLETIN No. 122. 
 
 [January, 
 
1908.] 
 
 MARKET CLASSES AND GRADES OF HORSES. 
 
 147 
 
148 BULLETIN No. 122. [January, 
 
 expected of them. " A light weight Hunter is expected to carry not 
 over 165 pounds, a middle weight, 165 to 190 pounds, and a heavy 
 weight 190 pounds or over. See Plates 37, 38, and 39. 
 
 Demand. Hunting is an English sport and has not been 
 largely followed in the United States except in the older and more 
 hilly sections, consequently the home demand for hunters is rather 
 limited, though some are taken for export trade. In the gen- 
 eral supply of horses there are usually enough to fairly satisfy the 
 demand, though the grade is not so good as desired. The Thor- 
 oughbred horse with good size _and strong bone is best suited for 
 the production of hunters, though some are produced from the 
 ranks of the American Saddle Horse or American Trotter. 
 
 CAVALRY HORSES 
 
 American horses have made good records for themselves as 
 faithful and enduring servants in rank and file, not only in the 
 American army but in the British army as well. During the Span- 
 ish-American War remounts of "Uncle Sam's" troups which were 
 sent to the Philippine Islands stood service so well under trying con- 
 ditions that the British Government was attracted to them. When 
 the South African war broke out the English Government executed 
 large orders for American horses to be sent to South Africa as 
 "Troopers." Here they maintained their supremacy and as a result 
 large numbers have been taken to England where they came in com- 
 petition with English horses on their native soil. 
 
 Many of the Cavalry horses selected for export have been 
 range bred and not of the best type and conformation. In com- 
 parison with the Cavalry horses selected by the United States Gov- 
 ernment for army use most of them would grade as common and 
 medium, and a few grade as good. The Quartermaster General of 
 the war department has sent out the following specifications as the 
 requirements for an American Cavalry horse : 
 
 SPECIFICATIONS FOR CAVALRY HORSES, PREPARED UNDER DIRECTION OF THE QUAR- 
 TERMASTER GENERAL 
 
 "The cavalry horse must be sound, well bred, of a superior class, and have 
 quality; gentle and of a kind disposition; thoroughly broken to the saddle, with 
 light and elastic mouth, easy gaits, and free and prompt action at the walk, 
 trot, and gallop ; free from vicious habits, without material blemish or defect ; 
 and otherwise to conform to the following description: 
 
 A gelding of uniform and hardy color, in good condition ; from four to 
 eight years old ; weighing from 950 to 1,100 pounds, depending on height, which 
 should be from 15 to 15-3 hands. 
 
I 9 o8.} 
 
 MARKET CLASSES AND GRADES OF HORSES. 
 
 149 
 
 Head. Small and well set on neck; with ears small, thin, neat and erect; 
 forehead broad and full; eyes large, prominent, and mild, with well developed 
 brow and fine eyelid; vision perfect in every respect; muzzle small and fine; 
 mouth deep ; lips thin and firmly compressed ; nostrils large and fine, and 
 branches of underjaw (adjoining neck) wide apart. 
 
 Neck. Light, moderately long, and tapering toward the head, with crest 
 firm and longer than underside ; mane fine and intact. 
 
 Withers. Elevated, not unduly fine, well developed and muscled. 
 
 Shoulders. Long, oblique, and well muscled. 
 
 Chest. Full, very deep, moderately broad, and plump in front. 
 
 Fore Legs. Vertical, and properly placed ; with elbow large, long, promi- 
 nent, and clear of chest ; forearm large at the elbow, long and heavily muscled. 
 
 Knees. Neatly outlined, large, prominent, wide in front, well situated, and 
 well directed. 
 
 Back, short, straight, and well muscled. 
 
 Loins. Broad, straight, very short, and muscular. 
 
 Barrel. Large, increasing in size toward the flanks, with ribs well arched 
 and definitely separated. 
 
 Hind Quarters. Wide, thick, very long, full, heavily muscled, rounded ex- 
 ternally, and well directed. 
 
 PLATE 40. A CHOICE CAVALRY HORSE, SELECTED FOR SERVICE IN THE UNITED 
 STATES ARMY. AN EXCELLENT TYPE. HEIGHT ABOUT 15-2 HANDS. WEIGHT 
 ABOUT 1 100 POUNDS. 
 
150 
 
 BULLETIN No. 122. 
 
 [January 
 
 Tail. Fine and intact, well carried and firm. 
 
 Hocks. Neatly outlined, lean, large, wide from front to rear, well situated, 
 and well directed. 
 
 Limbs. From knees and hocks downward vertical, short, wide laterally, 
 with tendons and ligaments standing well out from bone and distinctly defined. 
 Pasterns. Strong medium length, not too oblique, and well directed. 
 
 Feet. Medium size, circular in shape, sound ; with horn dark, smooth, and of 
 fine texture; sole moderately concave, and frog well developed, sound, firm, 
 large, elastic, and healthy. 
 
 Each horse will be subjected to a rigid inspection, and any animal that does 
 not meet the above requirements should be rejected." 
 
 Demand. Cavalry remounts for the United States War De- 
 partment are purchased as needed through contract orders, the con- 
 tract being let to the lowest responsible bidder. In filling orders 
 dealers are often obliged to educate many of the recruits to the 
 saddle in order to meet the specified requirements. During the five 
 years 1901 to 1905 there have been purchased 11,496 horses, or an 
 average of 2,299 P er vear - The largest purchase in a single year 
 was in 1901 when 4,179 head were secured. It will be seen from 
 the illustrations, Plates 40, 41 and 42, that the Cavalry horse is a 
 closely built, compact animal with plenty of substance and quality. 
 
 PLATE 41. A CHOICE CAVALRY HORSE. HEIGHT ABOUT 15-2 HANDS. WEIGHT 
 ABOUT iioo POUNDS. 
 
MARKET CLASSES AND GRADES OF HORSES. 
 
 151 
 
152 
 
 BULLETIN No. 122. 
 
 [January, 
 
MARKET CLASSES AND GRADES OF HORSES. 153 
 
 POLO PONIES 
 
 These are the smallest horses of the Saddle horse class for 
 which there is a recognized market. Polo ponies are used in play- 
 ing polo, rendering them essentially a sporting horse. Here again 
 we have adopted an English game for which a special type of 
 horse is required. There are four essentials a Polo pony must pos- 
 sess; first, a specified size; second, weight carrying ability; third, 
 agility; fourth, speed. 
 
 Conformation, Height, and Weight. The rules of the Ameri- 
 can Polo Association limit the height of Polo ponies to 14-2 hands 
 or under, but of late years the rule has often been disregarded. 
 It is not uncommon to find ponies used for this purpose that meas- 
 ure one or two inches taller than the maximum height prescribed. 
 While the larger ponies may have the advantage in weight and 
 speed it is generally conceded by the best players that they are not 
 so quick to stop and start, a very important requisite. The best 
 height, then, is not more than one-half inch from the standard either 
 way and they should weigh from- 850 to 1000 pounds. For strength 
 they should possess a compact conformation with good bone and 
 quality, rather short cannons and well muscled limbs. They must 
 also possess a marked degree of intelligence and be capable of ac- 
 quiring an education or they will be worthless for polo. 
 
 Action. The three gaits necessary are walk, trot and gallop, 
 They must be quick on foot, dexterous at starting, stopping, and 
 turning. While swiftness is a necessity, agility is an essential 
 and must not be under-estimated. See Plate 43. 
 
 Demand. The home demand is not large enough to warrant 
 
 very extensive operations in the production of polo ponies. The 
 
 demand has been largely and fairly satisfactorily supplied from 
 
 >. ponies off the range known as "Range ponies;" they first being 
 
 r thoroughly educated. Many of the best ones are produced from 
 
 * the cross of small Thoroughbred stallions on Range mares. 
 
 Miscellaneous Horses 
 
 Feeders. Feeders are horses thin in flesh purchased to be put 
 in condition and resold. They may belong to any of the above 
 classes but as a matter of fact the practice is more generally fol- 
 lowed with the fitting for sale of draft horses, chunks, and wagon 
 horses. The old adage "a little fat covers a multitude of defects" 
 is still true; the value of flesh when put on thin horses can hardly be 
 appreciated unless one has seen them fleshed and placed again on 
 
154 
 
 BULLETIN No. 122. 
 
 [January, 
 
 the market. Horses to be classed as feeders should be strong, 
 healthy animals with a deep, broad chest, a deep barrel and closely 
 coupled, indicating a capacity to utilize large quantities of feed. 
 The ribs should be well sprung, the back short, the loin broad and 
 strong, the quarters deep, and thighs broad. The shoulders should 
 be long and the distance between the points broad according to the 
 class to "which the horse belongs. The head should be of moderate 
 size which may appear large in thin horses. The bone should 
 possess quality and be of sufficient size so that there may be no ap- 
 pearance of top heaviness in the horse when he is fat. The feet 
 should be sound, large, and of good shape. In order to be good 
 feeders they should have a quiet mild disposition. See Plates 44 
 and 45. 
 
 Range Horses. During certain seasons of the year there may 
 be found on the market horses bred and reared on the range, com- 
 monly known as "Range Horses." They are divided into two gen- 
 eral classes, viz. : Light, and heavy, according to the predominance 
 
 PLATE X 44- A GOOD FEEDER. NOTE PLATE 12, WHICH IS THE SAME HORSE SEVENTY-FIVE 
 DAYS LATER, IN MARKET CONDITION. 
 
1908.} 
 
 MARKET CLASSES AND GRADES OF HORSES. 
 
 155 
 
 PLATE 45. A GOOD FEEDER OR FARM MARE. NOTE PLATE 8, WHICH is THE SAME 
 
 HORSE SEVENTY-FIVE DAYS LATER. 
 
 of light or draft horse blood. For the sale ring each of these 
 classes is divided into car lots as follows : "Colts," meaning wean- 
 lings; "Ones," the yearlings; "Twos," the two-year-olds; "Dry 
 Stuff," the three-year-olds and over, those not sucking colts; 
 and "Mares and Colts," the brood mare with colts at foot. In the 
 auction ring the price is stated per head and the buyer takes the en- 
 tire lot. Most of the Range horses find their way to the country 
 where they are usually broken and when educated may be returned 
 to the market and may fill the demand for some of the commercial 
 classes. See Plates 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, and 55. 
 
 Ponies. Ponies of various grades and breeding are frequently 
 found on the market and are usually bought for the use of children 
 and ladies. The characteristics distinguishing ponies from horses 
 are not easily described, but to the discerning eye the "ear marks" 
 are perfectly evident at a glance. The principal distinguishing feat- 
 ure most generally accepted by authorities is that of height, a pony 
 being 14 hands or under. But there are dwarf horses that do not 
 have pony blood or characteristics that come within these limits. 
 
156 
 
 BULLETIN No. 122. 
 
 [January, 
 
 PLATE 46. A CHOICE RANGE BRED PONY. HEIGHT 13-2 HANDS. WEIGHT 850 POUNDS. 
 
 PLATE 47. A GOOD CHILD'S PONY. HEIGHT 12 HANDS. WEIGHT 685 POUNDS. 
 
MARKET CLASSES AND GRADES OF HORSES. 
 
 157 
 
158 
 
 BULLETIN No. 122. 
 
 [January, 
 
 Other pony characteristics are a deep body with rounding barrel, 
 heavily muscled in thighs and quarters, croup not drooping and width 
 well carried out, all of which the small horse does not usually pos- 
 sess. The neck is usually short and heavy, though this is not a de- 
 sirable quality. Ponies are essentially children's horses and because 
 of this they must be kind and gentle in disposition and with as much 
 spirit as is compatible, for their use. There are no special require- 
 ments for weight, the limits being quite wide. They should be 
 straight line movers and the more knee and hock action they possess 
 the greater they will be appreciated and the higher prices they will 
 bring, other things being equal. See Plates 46, 47, and 48. The 
 Indian pony or "Cayuse" as he is sometimes called, is larger and 
 a descendant from the native Range stock, and is classed on the 
 market as a Range pony. 
 
 Plugs. Plugs are worn out decrepit horses with but little value. 
 They are too familiar a type to need description. See Plate 49. 
 
 Weeds. Weeds are leggy and ill-proportioned horses lacking 
 in the essential qualities, such as constitution and substance ; hence, 
 they have but very little value for breeding or for service of any 
 kind. 
 
 PLATE 49. A PLUG HORSE. 
 
1908.] 
 
 MARKET CLASSES AND GRADES OF HORSES. 
 
 159 
 
160 
 
 BULLETIN No. 122. 
 
 [January, 
 
 P-. 
 
MARKET CLASSES AND GRADES OF HORSES. 
 
 161 
 
 PL. 
 
162 
 
 BULLETIN No. 122. 
 
 [January, 
 
1908.] 
 
 MARKET CLASSES AND GRADES OF HORSES. 
 
 163 
 
 b 
 
 H 
 C/) 
 
 I 
 
 5 
 
 I 
 
 w 
 
 3 
 
 PL, 
 
164 
 
 BULLETIN No. 122. 
 
 [January, 
 
1908.] 
 
 MARKET CLASSES AND GRADES OF MULES. 
 
 165 
 
 PART II 
 
 MARKET CLASSES AND GRADES OF MULES 
 Introduction 
 
 The mule market, though of more recent origin than the horse 
 market, has grown to be a business of great magnitude and import- 
 ance. In some respects the trading in mules differs from the trad- 
 ing in horses while in others it is similar. Mules are not often sold in 
 the market at public auction to the highest bidder but are negotiated 
 for at private sale and are sold singly, in pairs or in any number to 
 suit the wants of the customer. It is not uncommon to see an order 
 executed for several car loads at a time. When large numbers are 
 wanted of a uniform height and weight, of a certain market class, 
 they are most often sold at a stated price per head for the entire lot ; 
 the salesman giving a guarantee as to age, soundness, etc. When 
 the order is for different sizes or for different market classes, then 
 they will most likely be figured individually or in pairs as the case 
 may be. 
 
 PLATE 56. A CHOICE MINING MULE, AND TYPICAL OF THE CLASS. HEIGHT 14-2 HANDS. 
 WEIGHT ABOUT 1100 POUNDS. 
 
166 
 
 BULLETIN No. 122. 
 
 Market Requirements 
 
 [January, 
 
 The market requirements for mules are approximately the same 
 as those for horses. To sell well they must be sound, of a market- 
 able age, be in good flesh, have a sleek coat of hair, possess quality 
 and a conformation indicative of strength and endurance and be of 
 a desirable color. They should also have straight line action and 
 be of a class for which there is an active demand. The require- 
 ments are discussed more in detail below. 
 
 Soundness. Serviceably sound is practically all that is looked 
 for, but any unsightly blemish is objectionable though not in the 
 same degree as with horses. Mules are rarely used for pleasure 
 purposes but almost entirely as beasts of burden. Because of this 
 fact slight blemishes such as do not interfere with their usefulness 
 receive but little consideration and do not materially affect their 
 market value. They must be sound in wind and eyes and must be 
 good workers. The most common unsoundness looked for and 
 
 PLATE 57. A CHOICE MINING MULE. NOTE HIS HEAVY BONE, LARGE FEET AND RUGGED- 
 NESS THROUGHOUT, COMBINED WITH QUALITY, ALL OF WHICH ARE VERY DESIRABLE 
 
 IN THIS CLASS. HEIGHT 15-3 HANDS. WEIGHT ABOUT 1300 POUNDS. 
 
1908.] 
 
 MARKET CLASSES AND GRADES OF MULES. 
 
 167 
 
 discriminated against are large spavins, puffs, side bones, ring- 
 bones, bad eyes, and unsound wind. 
 
 Age. The most saleable age for mules is from four to eight 
 years old, however, there are exceptions in some classes as noted 
 below. 
 
 Condition. The appearance of mules is greatly influenced by 
 their condition and they are much better appreciated if they carry 
 enough flesh to round out their bodies, and possess a sleek glossy 
 coat of hair which is often estimated to be worth ten dollars. The 
 flesh should be put on smoothly, showing no "patchiness or rolls." 
 The estimated value of flesh put on mules is about equal to that put 
 on draft horses which is twenty-five gents per pound with a good 
 grade of horses. A great many mule dealers are making good 
 profits by fattening and conditioning mules for market, hence it is 
 evident that mule owners who allow their mules to go to market in 
 thin flesh are losing a source of profit. Since flesh cannot be put on 
 as cheaply in the city as in the country near the source of supplies, 
 the farmer's profit should be even greater than that of a city 
 dealer. 
 
 PLATE 58. A CHOICE 16-1 HAND MINER OR DRAFT MULE. WEIGHT ABOUT 1350 POUNDS. 
 
BULLETIN No. 122. 
 
 [January, 
 
 23 ~ 
 
 PLATE 59. A MEDIUM "FITTER." THIS MULE is RATHER PLAIN IN HEAD AND LACKS 
 THE RUGGEDNESS DESIRED IN CHOICE ANIMALS OF THIS CLASS, HAVING LIGHT BONE 
 AND RATHER SMALL FEET. ALSO NOTE HIS SHORT, DROOPING CROUP. HEIGHT I2-I 
 HANDS. WEIGHT ABOUT 600 POUNDS. 
 
 Quality. Quality in mules has the same meaning as in horses 
 but is not of equal importance. Evidence of an abundance of 
 quality is desired as an indication of good bone and endurance. 
 
 Conformation. The conformation required in mules will de- 
 pend somewhat upon the market class to which they belong. All 
 mules should have a large chest, a long shoulder, a deep barrel, a 
 straight short back with as much spring of rib as possible, a broad 
 loin, and a long croup which should not be too drooping. The un- 
 derline should be comparatively straight, the rear flank well let 
 down, and the thighs and quarters heavily muscled. The limbs 
 should possess substance with quality, the feet should be large and 
 sound, the hoofs smooth and not contracted at the heel giving room 
 for a large well developed frog; the conformation, muscling and 
 set of legs should be approximately the same as in horses. The 
 head of a mule is a good index of his disposition and temperament ; 
 it should not be too fine, but rather one of good size, yet possessing 
 
1908.] 
 
 MARKET CLASSES AND GRADES OF MULES. 
 
 169 
 
 quality. The forehead should be broad and flat, and the nose 
 slightly Roman which indicates stamina and strength of character. 
 Mules having a broad forehead and a Roman nose with light col- 
 oring running well up toward the bridge are usually considered 
 more reliable and agreeable workers than those not possessing these 
 characteristics. The ears should be long, thin, tapering to the point, 
 and carried erect ; the neck long, with a moderate crest, and should 
 meet the shoulder smoothly giving a suitable place for the set of the 
 collar. The mane should be reached, and tail clipped in the regular 
 manner but with not too short a bush. 
 
 Color. The color of mules is not an important factor, all mules 
 of solid color except white are in good demand. Dapple grays are 
 quite popular in the Draft class but as a general rule, bays, browns 
 and chestnuts are most desirable, while flea-bitten grays are dis- 
 criminated against. 
 
 Action. Action counts for very little in market mules so long 
 as they are not sore in limbs or feet and possess vigor and energy 
 in their movements. They should be straight line movers and those 
 which are not because of badly set legs or feet are not desirable. 
 
 PLATE 60. A GOOD PIT MULE. A BETTER COUPLED MULE, HAVING STRONGER BACK AND 
 LOINS AND LONGER CROUP THAN PLATE 5Q. THIS MULE ALSO LACKS THE RUGGED- 
 NESS OF BONE AND STRENGTH OF NECK DESIRED BY THIS CLASS. HEIGHT 12-2 
 HANDS. WEIGHT ABOUT 650 POUNDS. 
 
170 BULLETIN No. 122. [January, 
 
 Market Classes 
 
 The market classes of mules are determined by the use to which 
 they are put, but in order for a class to exist there must be a de- 
 mand for sufficient numbers of a definite type. In the East St. 
 Louis market, which is the largest mule market in the world, there 
 are five market classes, viz : mining mules, cotton mules, sugar 
 mules, farm mules, and draft mules. As with horses, the class em- 
 bodies groups of mules of a general type, while the grades are di- 
 visions of the class and refer to quality, conformation, condition, 
 and action. 
 
 MARKET CLASSES AND GRADES OF MULES 
 
 CLASSES GRADES 
 
 f Choice 
 I Good 
 MINING MULES '. j Medium 
 
 I Common 
 t Inferior 
 
 f Choice 
 
 I Good 
 COTTON MULES \ Medium 
 
 | Common 
 i. Inferior 
 
 f Choice 
 j Good 
 
 SUGAR MULES \ Medium 
 
 I Common 
 [. Inferior 
 
 f Choice 
 j Good 
 FARM MULES <! Medium 
 
 j Common 
 (^ Inferior 
 
 f Choice 
 j Good 
 DRAFT MULES \ Medium 
 
 Common 
 
 Inferior 
 
 Mining Mules 
 
 Mules purchased with which to operate mines are called Min- 
 ing mules; their principal use being to haul cars of ore or coal to 
 the hoisting shafts. 
 
1908.} 
 
 MARKET CLASSES AND GRADES OF MULES. 
 
 171 
 
 Conformation, Height, and Weight. Mining mules are rug- 
 ged, have deep bodies and short legs, and are compactly built with 
 heavy bone and large feet. They stand from 12 to 16 hands high 
 and weigh from 600 to 1350 pounds. A good weight for a 12 
 hand mining mule is 650 pounds while a 15-2 hand "miner" 
 should weigh from 1125 to 1225 pounds. Those used down in 
 the mines are termed "pit mules," the height of which will be de- 
 termined by the depth of the vein worked. They are most preferred 
 from 5 to 8 years old but a well developed four-year-old or a well 
 preserved ten-year-old is often accepted. Geldings are much pre- 
 ferred to mare mules for this trade. Bad wire marks on feet are 
 severely discriminated against as they are likely to become sore 
 from contact with the sulphur and other chemicals in the mine. 
 See Plates 56, 57, 58, 59, and 60. 
 
 Demand. The demand for Mining mules is strong and quite 
 constant through all seasons of the year and comes from all sec- 
 tions where mines are operated. Since the supply is not equal to the 
 demand, sales are usually made at satisfactory prices. 
 
 A GOOD 14-2 HAND COTTON MULE. NOTE THE SHORT, DROOPING CROUP AND 
 TRIFLE HIGH CUT FLANK, WHICH ARE UNDESIRABLE. WEIGHT Q5O POUNDS. 
 
172 
 
 BULLETIN No. 122. 
 
 Cotton Mules 
 
 [January, 
 
 Small mules that are lighter boned and not so compactly built 
 as "Miners" are classed on the market as "Cotton mules." 
 
 Conformation, Height, and Weight. Cotton mules should have 
 small, neat heads and possess much quality and finish which is also 
 evidenced in their entire conformation; their feet are smaller and 
 bodies lighter in proportion to their height than the "Miners." 
 Cotton mules stand from 13-2 to 15-2 hands high and weigh from 
 750 to 1 100 pounds. They are most desired from 3 to 7 years old, 
 but well preserved mules find ready sale up to 12 years of age. 
 Mare mules sell better than geldings in this class. See Plates 61 
 and 62. 
 
 PLATE 62. A CHOICE COTTON MULE, SOMETIMES SPOKEN OF AS EXTRA CHOICE. NOTE 
 THE QUALITY AND FINISH REQUIRED IN THIS CLASS. HEIGHT 15-1 HANDS. 
 WEIGHT ABOUT 1050 POUNDS. 
 
igo8.} MARKET CLASSES AND GRADES OF MULES. 173 
 
 Demand. The trade for cotton mules begins about the first of 
 September and continues good throughout the fall and winter 
 months, then gradually decreases until after the cotton crop is 
 planted or about April. From this time on the demand is light until 
 the following fall. Cotton mules are used largely by cotton grow- 
 ers to plant, cultivate, and harvest the cotton crop, but a great many 
 never see a cotton field being taken for use on delivery wagons in 
 cities and for other purposes. 
 
 PLATE 63. A GOOD FOUR-YEAR-OLD, 15-2 HAND FARM MULE. NOTE THE SIMILARITY 
 
 OF CONFORMATION TO COTTON MULES. WEIGHT ABOUT IO5O POUNDS. 
 
 Sugar Mules 
 
 Mules purchased to ship south to be used on the sugar farms 
 of Georgia, Louisiana, and other southern states are classed on the 
 market as "Sugar mules." 
 
 Conformation, Height, and Weight. Sugar mules are taller, 
 larger and more breedy looking with quality and finish and have 
 heavier bone than Cotton mules. The feet should be large in pro- 
 portion to the bone, but since the bone is lighter they need not be 
 
174 
 
 BULLETIN No. 122. 
 
 [January, 
 
 so large as the feet of "Miners." They stand from 16 to 17 hands 
 high and weigh from 1150 to 1300 pounds. Mare mules are most 
 desired for this trade and they should be from 3 to 6 years old. 
 See Plates 64 and 65. 
 
 PLATE 64. A CHOICE SUGAR MULE. HEIGHT 16 HANDS. WEIGHT ABOUT 1175 POUNDS. 
 
 Demand. Sugar mules being larger and possessing more qual- 
 ity and finish than Cotton mules sell for a little more money. The 
 trade for Sugar mules begins in August or about a month earlier 
 than that for Cotton mules and usually ends aboj.it February. The 
 season of greatest activity is September, October and November, 
 after which the demand gradually diminishes. 
 
 Farm Mules 
 
 Mules purchased to be taken to the country of the central states 
 for agricultural purposes are known on the market as "Farm 
 mules." They are probably more lacking in uniformity of type 
 than the other classes as farmers usually like to buy animals with a 
 
MARKET CLASSES AND GRADES OF MULES. 
 
 175 
 
 good deal of outcome (i. e., prospect of developing into more val- 
 uable animals.) 
 
 Conformation, Height, and Weight. Farm mules are usually 
 from 15-2 to 1 6 hands high and from 3 to 6 years old, 4 year olds 
 being generally preferred. They are likely to be plain looking and 
 thin in flesh, though possessing good constitution, bone and feet, 
 and the qualities necessary for a good outcome. Many of them are 
 worked for a time, then fattened and returned to the market ; when 
 fat, many make good "Miners," Sugar mules, or Cotton mules. 
 See Plates 63, 66, and 67. 
 
 PLATE 65. A CHOICE SUGAR MULE. NOTE THE QUALITY AND FINISH, COMBINED WITH 
 
 SIZE DESIRED IN THIS CLASS. HEIGHT l6-I HANDS. WEIGHT ABOUT 1200 POUNDS. 
 
 Demand. The demand for this class is not large, the strongest 
 trade occuring during the late winter and spring months. The price 
 farmers are usually willing to pay prevents them from getting the 
 very best animals, consequently the trade is largely for the common 
 and medium grades. 
 
176 
 
 BULLETIN No. 122. 
 
 [January, 
 
 PLATE 66. A CHOICE FARM MULE. HEIGHT 15-3 HANDS. WEIGHT ABOUT 1150 POUNDS. 
 
 DRAFT MULES 
 
 Draft mules are large, heavy boned, heavy set mules with plenty 
 of quality that are purchased by firms and people having heavy 
 teaming work. Many of them are used by contractors doing rail- 
 road grading and consequently are often spoken of as "railroad 
 mules." They are also used quite extensively for heavy teaming 
 in cities in warm climates, they doing the same work as draft horses 
 but being preferred to horses as they are hardier and able to stand 
 the hot sun better and are not subject to as many ills. 
 
 Conformation, Height, and Weight. Draft mules stand from 
 1 6 to 17-2 hands high and weigh from 1200 to 1600 pounds and 
 upwards. As in Draft horses, the principal quality sought is com- 
 bined weight and strength. They should be large and rugged 
 with heavy bone and strong muscles, the feet should be large, the 
 back short and strong, the middle deep and closely coupled, the 
 croup not too drooping, and thighs and quarters heavily muscled. 
 They are most desired from 5 to 8 years old, and but little prefer- 
 ence is shown regarding sex. See Plates 69 and 70. 
 
MARKET CLASSES AND GRADES OF MULES. 
 
 177 
 
 PLATE 67. A GOOD FARM MULE. IF THIS MULE WERE FAT HE WOULD FILL THE REQUIRE- 
 MENTS FOR A MINER. HEIGHT 15-2 HANDS. WEIGHT ABOUT iioo POUNDS. 
 
 PLATE 68. AN INFERIOR PLUG MULE. 
 
178 
 
 BULLETIN No. 122. 
 
 [January, 
 
 PLATE 69. A CHOICE DRAFT MULE. NOTE HIS RUGGEDNESS, BUT THE CUT DOES NOT DO 
 
 HIM JUSTICE AS TO SIZE. HEIGHT 17 HANDS. WEIGHT 1500 POUNDS. 
 
 Demand. The demand for Draft mules is strong and quite 
 constant through all seasons of the year. As their value becomes 
 appreciated the trade is increasing and gradually widening to all 
 parts of the United States. 
 
 PLUGS 
 
 Plugs are worn out, cheap mules that have but little value. They 
 usually are unsound in one or more respects, are very plain and 
 rough in conformation, and may have considerable age. They are 
 altogether too common to need further description. See Plate 68 
 
1908.] 
 
 MARKET CLASSES AND GRADES OF MULES. 
 
 EXPORT MUI.ES 
 
 179 
 
 The export trade in mules has been of considerable importance 
 during the past few years. The principal countries to which large 
 shipments have been made, are South Africa, Philippine Islands, 
 Cuba, and Alaska. The size and type of mules exported is deter- 
 mined by the use to which they are put, and the country to which 
 they are sent. It is then apparent that they lack uniformity of 
 type, since some are used for army service, some for agricultural 
 purposes, some for heavy teaming, and others for use in mines. 
 
 PLATE 70. A CHOICE DRAFT MULE. HEIGHT 18-2 HANDS. WEIGHT 1900 POUNDS. 
 
 NOTE HIS SMOOTHNESS OF FORM, COMBINED WITH QUALITY AND FINISH FOR A MULE 
 OF SUCH UNUSUAL SIZE. MANY GOOD JUDGES HAVE PRONOUNCED HIM UNEQUALED. 
 
180 
 
 BULLETIN No. 122. 
 
 [January, 
 
/po<S.] MARKET CLASSES AND GRADES OF HORSES AND MULES. 181 
 
 GLOSSARY OF SOME HORSE AND MULE MARKET 
 
 TERMS. 
 
 A bull. A horse so windy that he cannot stand much exertion 
 without choking. 
 
 A few Imirs off. A skin blemish not haired over; usually a 
 wire mark which may be either large or small. 
 
 A hole in. Used in speaking of an animal that is believed to be 
 defective in some manner but at present it is not apparent. 
 
 An Indian. A wild or vicious horse difficult to handle in or 
 out of the stall. 
 
 At the halter. See No. 6, auction rules. 
 
 Beefy hocks. Thick meaty hocks lacking in quality. 
 
 Bench legged. See knock kneed. 
 
 Blue eye. An unsound eye with blue appearance. The sight 
 may or may not be entirely gone. 
 
 Bobber or jig back. A horse or mule that wobbles in hind 
 quarters when he moves due to an unsound or weak back in the 
 region of the loin. 
 
 Boggy in hocks. Bog spavins. 
 
 Bow legged. Too wide apart at the knees, the opposite of 
 knock kneed. 
 
 Bowed tendon. An enlarged tendon back of the cannon due 
 to an injury. 
 
 Broken knees. Knees which have had the skin broken from a 
 fall or a bruise and much enlarged. 
 
 Buck kneed.- Knees bent forward when standing. 
 
 Bull pen. An auction ring at any market where "horses are sold. 
 
 Bush. To deduct a part of a stated sale price on account of a 
 blemish or unsoundness not mentioned or not apparent at time of 
 sale, or for other reasons. 
 
 Calf kneed. Knees bent too far back, the opposite of buck 
 kneed. 
 
 Capped hock. The point of the hock back of the web enlarged. 
 Caused by a bruise of the bursa, 
 
 Car bruise. Bruised in car in shipping. If freshly done swell- 
 ing and inflammation will be present. 
 
 Cartilage. Prominent lateral cartilage or incipient side bone. 
 
 Chancy. Purchased at a moderate price because of an uncer- 
 . tainty with prospects for developing into something good. 
 
 Cock ankle. Standing bent forward on the fetlocks, more 
 often on the hind ones. 
 
182 BULLETIN No. 122. [January, 
 
 Coon footed. Long and very low pasterns. 
 
 Coupling. The space or connection between the dorsal vertebrae 
 and the pelvis on top of the back. An animal that has a long 
 coupling is too long in the lumbar vertebrae This is best measured 
 by the distance of last rib from hip. 
 
 Cow hocked. Standing with hocks together and hind toes out. 
 
 Crampy. In hind legs. raising either one or both legs up 
 with a jerk. More apparent when the animal has been standing 
 and is cool. 
 
 In the back. When the head is elevated and the animal is com- 
 pelled to move backward he raises his tail and shows a quivering of 
 the flanks, soreness of the loin and an inclination to drag his feet. 
 
 Cribber. An animal having the vice of biting or setting the 
 teeth against something and "sucking wind." 
 
 Cross firing. Hitting one of the fore feet with the opposite 
 hind foot when traveling. 
 
 Curb. An injury or sprain of the ligament at the back of the 
 hock which usually causes an enlargement. 
 
 Curby hock. The back of the hock is rounding when viewed 
 from the side. 
 
 Cushion. An enlarged bursa occurring just below the hock 
 near the forward edge on the outside of the cannon. A Michi- 
 gan pad. 
 
 Cutting. Interfering. 
 
 Docked. Having the end of the tail cut off. 
 
 Docked and set. By an operation the end of the tail is cut off 
 and the stump is set up. 
 
 Dummy. A horse whose brain is affected, the cause usually 
 being overfeeding and lack of exercise. The symptoms are listless- 
 ness and hesitancy in moving; a vacant stare in the eyes and a 
 proneness to cock the ears and look sideways and upward ; also, the 
 holding of hay and feed in the mouth without any attempt at mas- 
 tication. 
 
 Hive neck. A deficiency of muscling causing a depression at 
 the top of the neck just in front of the withers. 
 
 Falls out of bed. Pulls back on halter rope. 
 
 Feather in eye. A mark across the eyeball not touching the 
 pupil, often caused by an injury. It may or may not impair the 
 sight. 
 
 Filled in hocks. May mean either bog spavins or thorough- 
 pins though most generally the former. 
 
 Fistula. Fistulous withers. An abscess occurring in the region 
 of the withers. 
 
MARKET CLASSES AND GRADES OF HORSES AND MULES. 183 
 
 Forging. Striking the front shoes with the toe of the hind 
 ones. 
 
 Founder. Inflammation of the feet causing lameness. Tech- 
 nically known as laminitis. 
 
 Glass-eye. See wall-eye. 
 
 Goose rump. A short steep croup and narrow ?.t point of the 
 buttock. 
 
 Gristle. An incipient side bone. 
 
 Halter puller. Pulls back on halter rope. 
 
 Hand. 4 inches. Horses are measured at the highest point 
 on the withers in terms of hands. 14-2 would mean 14 hands and 
 2 inches, or 58 inches. 
 
 Heavey. Having the heaves. 
 
 Hipped. Having the point of one hip broken over so that it 
 appears lower than when normal. It does not materially impair 
 usefulness. 
 
 Hitching. Having a shorter stride in one hind leg than the 
 other. 
 
 Hog back. A reached back, the opposite from sway back. 
 
 Hollow back. A sway back. 
 
 Interfering. Striking the fetlock or cannon with the opposite 
 foot as it passes, either in front or behind. 
 
 Jack. A bone spavin. 
 
 Jibber. An unguidable horse, often "green." 
 
 Knee banger. One that interferes, hitting his knees. 
 
 Knee sprung. Over on the knees caused by relaxation of the 
 extensor muscles, sometimes spoken of as buck knees. 
 
 Knock kneed. The front legs bent in . at the knees with feet 
 wide apart. Sometimes called bench legged. 
 
 Legs go. See No. 5, auction rules. 
 
 Light in the timber. Light boned especially in the cannons. 
 
 Little green. Not thoroughly broken. Often means an animal 
 that will not pull. 
 
 Lugger. One that pulls or lugs on the bit. 
 
 Lunker. An exceptionally big heavy boned horse. 
 
 Makes a little noise. A very little windy. 
 
 Michigan pad. A puff or cushion that occurs just below the 
 hock on the outside of the hind cannon near the forward edge. The 
 same as outside cushion. 
 
 Moon blindness. Periodic opthalmia. 
 
 Nicked. An operation severing the cords on one side of the 
 tail to straighten it. 
 
13* BULLETIN No. 122. [January, 
 
 Nigger heeled. Front toes turned out, heels in. 
 
 Old skin or skate. A worn out animal. 
 
 Outside cushion. The same as cushion or Michigan pad. 
 
 Over reach. Reaching farther forward with the hind feet in 
 traveling than where the front ones were picked up. 
 
 Paddle. Winging out with the front feet. 
 
 Parrot mouth. The upper sub-maxillary longer than the lower 
 jaw. 
 
 Periodic opthalmia. Inflammatory affection of the interior of 
 the eye. It usually disappears in a week or ten days and returns 
 again in a few weeks. The cycles are often completed in about a 
 month and because of this fact many people believe the trouble is in 
 some way related to the moon changes, hence the name "moon 
 blindness." 
 
 Pig eye. A small eye set too much in the head and with thick 
 eyelids. It accompanies, in general, animals with a lymphatic tem- 
 perament and with imperfect vision. 
 
 Pigeon toed. Front toes turned in, the opposite of nigger 
 heeled. 
 
 Pink eye. A disease causing a white skum to form over the 
 eye often causing blindness. 
 
 Poll evil. A fistulous condition or abscess on or near the poll. 
 
 Pones. Lumps of fat on a mule's body. 
 
 Posting. Rising and falling in the saddles with each alterna- 
 tive step when the horse is trotting. 
 
 Puffs. Wind galls, bog spavins, or thoroughpins. 
 
 Quarter crack. A vertical crack on the side of the hoof often 
 running to coronet. 
 
 Quitter. A fistulous opening upon the heel or coronary band 
 of the foot. 
 
 Rat tail. A tail with but little hair. 
 
 Rejects. Animals not rilling the guarantee and consequently 
 turned back on the hands of the seller. 
 
 Rickety. The same as bobber or jig back. 
 
 Ringbone. A bony growth on the upper or lower pastern bones 
 and most always causing lameness. 
 
 Ripper. An exceptionally good big animal. 
 
 Roach back. See hog back. 
 
 Roarer. Defective in wind. Very windy. 
 
 Rough behind. Having a bone spavin. 
 
 Rounding hock. Having a curb. 
 
 Sand crack. A vertical crack in the middle of the hoof often 
 running to coronet. 
 
/poS.] MARKET CLASSES AND GRADES OF HORSES AND MULES. 185 
 
 Scalping. When speeding, the horse strikes the front side of 
 the hind coronet, pastern or cannon against the front toe. Also, 
 applied to a trader that buys and sells animals on the market. 
 
 Seam in hoof. A scar in hoof from an injury of some kind, 
 such as cracks, wire marks, calks, etc. 
 
 Seedy toe. A separation of the walls of the toe from the sen- 
 sitive laminae. Very often the end of the toes turns slightly up. 
 
 Serpentine. An animal that extends and withdraws his 
 tongue as a serpent. 
 
 Serviceable sound. See No. 2, auction rules. 
 
 Shoe boil. A bruise at elbow which results in an abscess, 
 caused from the animal lying on his foot in such a way that the 
 heel of the shoe strikes the elbow. 
 
 Sickle hock. Too much .bend in the hock. A conformation 
 predisposed to curbs. 
 
 Side bone. An ossified lateral cartilage occurring on either 
 side at the top of the foot. 
 
 Slab sided. Flat ribbed. 
 
 Smoke his pipe. An animal with lip torn where the bridle bit 
 rests. 
 
 Smoky eye. A clouded eye with whitish appearance. 
 
 Smooth mouth. An aged horse. 
 
 Sound. See No. i, auction rules. 
 
 Speck in eye. A spot on the eye not covering the pupil. It may 
 or may not impair the sight. 
 
 Speedy cutting. Striking the inside of the hind cannon against 
 the front foot as the hind foot is brought forward and passes the 
 front foot on the outside in over-reaching. This only happens 
 in speedy horses. 
 
 Splay footed. Nigger heeled. 
 
 Splint. A bony growth on the cannon bone occurring most 
 often on the front legs and either on the inside or out, but more 
 often on the inside. 
 
 Stands a little careless in front. Knees sprung or buck kneed. 
 
 Stringy. String-halt. A convulsive action in the hind legs 
 flexing either one or both up with a jerk. 
 
 Stump sucker. A cribber. 
 
 Sucker. An animal with some defect which is not always ap- 
 parent. 
 
 Szveeney. Atrophied shoulder muscles causing a depression. 
 
 Thick neck. A neck too thick at the shoulder for a collar to 
 fit well. 
 
 Thoroughpins. Pufrmess occurring in the web of the hock. 
 
136 BULLETIN No. 122. [January, 
 
 Tongue toiler. Permitting the tongue to hang out. 
 
 Trephined. A hole in the jaw bored for removing a molar 
 tooth. 
 
 Trot out short. Sore in front having a short stride. 
 
 Wall-eye. The iris a pearly white color, due to a lack of pig- 
 ment. Sometimes called glass-eye. 
 
 Weaver. Continual swaying back and forth when standing in 
 the stall. 
 
 Wind and work. See No. 3, auction rules. 
 
 Wind galls. Puffs occurring at the upper part of the fetlock 
 joints. 
 
 Windy. One that whistles or roars when exerted. 
 
 Whistler. Defective in wind. See windy. 
 
 Winging. Throwing the front feet out or in when traveling. 
 
 Worker. See No. 4, auction rules. 
 
 AUCTION RULES.* 
 
 (Note. In the auction ring sales are made under certain well 
 understood rules which are published and are announced from the 
 auction stand, recorded and stand as a guarantee. The following 
 are the principal rules which govern sales in the auction ring.) 
 
 1. Sound. Perfectly sound in every way. 
 
 2. Serzriceably sound. Virtually a sound animal, barring slight 
 blemishes which do not interfere with his usefulness in any way. 
 His wind and eyes must be good, but a spot or streak in the eye 
 which does not affect the sight will be considered serviceably sound 
 as long as the pupil of the eye is good. He must not be lame or 
 sore in any way. 
 
 3. Wind and Work. The only guarantee this carries with it 
 is that the animal has good wind and is a good worker. 
 
 4. Work only. He must be a good worker and everything 
 else goes with him. No other guarantee than to work. 
 
 5. Legs go. Everything that is on the animal's legs go with 
 him; nothing is guaranteed except that he must not be lame or 
 crampy. He must, however, be serviceably sound in every other 
 respect. 
 
 6. At the halter. Sold just as he stands without any recom- 
 mendations. He may be lame, vicious, balky, kicker or anything 
 else. The purchaser takes all the risk. The title only is guaranteed. 
 
 , *Exceptions to the above rules may be announced from the auction stand 
 pointing out the defects, in which case they are recorded and go with the horse. 
 
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