72 THE HORSE 



larger, more bony head, not so pretty as that of a mare. 

 Either sex, with a head which by rights ought to grace the 

 other, is apt to be of abnormal temperament. The nostrils 

 when at rest should be long, and resemble a widish slit, 

 and when dilated expand into a large circular orifice. 

 Especially is this the attribute of high-born Eastern horses, 

 and their descendants our race of thoroughbreds ; but it 

 may be looked for in vain amongst cart-horses, and their 

 progeny for several generations after the introduction of 

 thoroughbred blood. There is no more sure sign or hall- 

 mark of caste. 



The neck should be light when viewed sideways, but 

 thick through when observed from the saddle, especially in 

 the muscles just behind the setting on of the head, for on 

 the development of this region largely depends the power of 

 staying. The neck should be strong, too, where it is set into 

 the shoulders, and this will probably correspond with the 

 general muscular development of the body. Though the 

 neck should be light and curved gracefully, when seen from 

 the side, it should not be too small in circumference just 

 behind the head, for unless there is plenty of room for the 

 windpipe the misfortune of roaring may be experienced. 

 There is one form of neck which must especially be avoided, 

 known as " a roarer's neck," since a horse thus built almost 

 invariably contracts that malady sooner or later. In this 

 instance the neck is held on high, and is in most respects a 

 powerful neck, but in the middle the throat is enlarged, and 

 there is a noticeable outward curve, somewhat resembling 

 the shape of a stag's throat. Why this should result in 

 roaring seems to be that the nerve of the larynx is kept 

 constantly stretched, and in time the strain becomes too 

 much for it, causing it to become partially paralysed, when 

 roaring follows. A friend used to admire these necks, and 

 nearly every horse in his well-filled stables was so framed, 

 but probably no man ever had so many horses which 

 became roarers. He gave long prices for them, and con- 

 stantly bewailed his bad fortune, but to the day of his death 

 he would not learn the lesson that his judgment was in fault 

 rather than his luck. 



