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JUDGING MAMMOTH JACKSTOCK From:
Modern Breeds of Livestock, Hilton Briggs Ph.D., 1949 The modern American "Mammoth" jack should be a large, well balanced animal with a conformation approaching that of the draft horse. The best types usually range from 15 to 16 hands and weigh from 1075 to 1200 lbs. Females are slightly smaller. Great extremes in height and weight are sometimes found, but often the larger specimens lack the balance, symmetry and quality of those less extreme in size. Height must not be made up of leg length only or the animal will be out of proportion. Mammoth stock is registered by measurements and those from unregistered parents can be registered if the measurements are correct. The height for jennets is 13.3 hands, girth 58 in. and cannon bone 7 in. For jacks the height is 14 hands, 60 in. heart girth, and 7 1/2 in. cannon bone. These are minimum measurements of course. (These numbers were from 1949) Jacks are not as smoothly turned as horses. However, they should be well balanced and as high in quality as possible without unduly sacrificing size and ruggedness. The topline should be straight and strong. They should be short coupled and smooth over the loin and hips, carrying a long, well muscled croup. The shoulders should be well sloped, chest wide and deep and ribs deep and well sprung to give depth and capacity to the middle. Heavy muscling should be evidenced not only over the top line and croup but also through the chest, forearm and gaskin. The set and quality of the legs is important and should be as nearly correct as possible. The bone and joints should be large, but clean and flat. The feet should be deep, round and large and show considerable evidence of good wearing qualities. Most breeders have favored a black color with white points but the various shades of red are popular in modern jacks. The coat should be fine and glossy. Jack breeders have always been very particular about heads. The head should be well shaped, carried alertly and well balanced. The ears should be long, well set and carried erect. The eye should be large and open and the face straight or with only a slightly "Roman" nose. The animal should have alertness and style in its manner and gaits. Breeders should practice selection to avoid such faults as: sluggishness, flat ribs, long, easy toplines, steep croups, lack of muscling and general roughness through shoulders and hips. They carefully watch legs and feet. Measurements of a good jack: 15.3 hands high; 1300 lbs.; ears from tip to tip horizontally 34 in.; a round face and jaw, 39 in.; around throatlatch 36 in.; around arm 21 in.; around cannon 81/2 in.; around girth 70 in.; length from poll to tail 84 in.; around body at loin 67 in.; around hoof at hairline 16 1/2 in.; around back cannon in rear 8 1/2 in.; above hock 17 1/2 in. Although many judges might prefer not to: inexperienced jack judges can profitable carry a tape measure in the ring for cannon bone measurements and show management should be sure all jacks to be judged as mammoth stock pass the minimum height requirements asked by the Standard Jack and Jennet Registry or show registration papers from that body. JUDGING MINIATURE DONKEYS All of the faults mentioned in the article above are often seen and are reprehensible in the Miniature donkey as in the Mammoth. Leg and body conformation points are almost the same except that the miniature has a short, closely coupled back and rounder quarters. Miniature jacks are not delicate. MINIATURE DONKEYS ARE MINIATURE DRAFT ANIMALS, similar to true Shetland ponies. For their size their bone should be large and sturdy and their bodies full and round. Heads should be short, broad at the forehead and with a straight profile for jacks and straight or slightly dished profile for jennets. A slightly roman nose is not usual and is not the best head shape for a Miniature donkey. Straight legs are very important and are not seen as often as they should be, the judge should take careful account of the legs, ribs and toplines of miniature donkeys. (1981, by Betsy Hutchins) |