94 STATIONARY MOVEMENTS OF THE HORSE. 



and appear to want to go to sleep. They cannot, how- 

 ever, long maintain this position. 



As the suspensory Ugament of the neck can support 

 the weight of the head and neck without giving rise to 

 the sensation of fatigue ; a horse can sleep comfortably 

 on his side and breast-bone, and with his head turned to 

 the opposite side. When a horse is very tired, or even 

 when he feels secure from disturbance, he may sleep entirely 

 on his side, with his cheek resting on the ground. On rare 



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Photo by] [M. H. il. 



Fig. 6i. — Foal getting up off ground. 



occasions, a horse will repose lying down on his breast- 

 bone, with his knees advanced and his heels more or 

 less close to the points of his elbows. This position in 

 shod horses is apt to give rise to " capped elbow," on ac- 

 count of the heels of the shoe of the doubled-up fore leg 

 pressing on the point of the elbow. It is not an easy 

 position for a horse ; because the sharp keel of his breast- 

 bone will be liable to be hurt by contact with the ground. 

 It is, however, the natural sleeping position of horned 

 cattle, which can rest at ease in this manner, because the 

 keel of their breast-bone is broad and flat. 



In getting up, the horse straightens his fore-legs out to 



