212 



THE MUSCLES AND PROPER FORM OF THE IsKCK. 





The splenius constitutes the principal bulk of the neck above, arising from the 

 ligament of the neck all the way 

 down it, and going to the processes 

 of all the bones of the neck, but the 

 first, and tendons running from the 

 upper part of it, to the first bone of 

 the neck, and to a process of the 

 temporal bone of the head. Its ac- 

 tion is sufficiently evident, namely, 

 very powerfully to elevate the head 

 and neck. The principal beauty of 

 the neck depends on this muscle. 

 It was admirably developed in the 

 horse of whose neck the annexed 

 cut gives an accurate delineation. 



If the curve were quite regular 

 from the poll to the withers, we 

 should call it a perfect neck. It is 

 rather a long neck, and we do not 

 like it the less for that. In the carriage-horse, a neck that is not half concealed 

 by the collar is indispensable, so far as appearance goes ; and it is only the horse 

 with a neck of tolerable length that will bear to be reined up, so as to give this 

 part the arched and beautiful appearance which fashion demands. It is no 

 detriment to the riding-horse, and there are few horses of extraordinary speed 

 that have not the neck rather long. The race- horse at the top of his speed not 

 only extends it as far as he can, that the air-passages may be as straight as he 

 can make them, and that he may therefore be able to breathe more freely, but 

 the weight of the head and neck, and the effect increasing with their distance 

 from the trunk, add materially to the rapidity of the animal's motion. It has 

 been said, that a horse with a long neck will bear heavy on the hand ; neither 

 the length of the neck nor even the bulk of the head has any influence in causing 

 this. They are both counterbalanced by the power of the ligament of the neck. 

 The setting on of the head is most of all connected with heavy bearing on the 

 hand, and a short -necked horse will bear heavily, because, from the thickness 

 of the lower part of the neck, consequent on its shortness, the head cannot be 

 rightly placed, nor, generally, the shoulder. 



Connected with the splenius muscle, and partly produced by it, are the 

 thickness and muscularity of the neck, as it springs from the shoulders, in this 

 cut ; the height at which it comes out from them forming nearly a line with 

 the withers ; and the manner in which it tapers as it approaches the head. 

 The neck of a well-formed horse, however fine at the top, should be muscular 

 at the bottom, or the horse will generally be weak and worthless. Necks 

 devoid of this muscularity are called loose necks by horsemen, and are always 

 considered a very serious objection to the animal. If the neck is thin and lean 

 at the upper part, and is otherwise well shaped, the horse will usually carry 

 himself well, and the head will be properly curved for beauty of appearance 

 and ease of riding. When an instance to the contrary occurs, it is to be traced 

 to very improper management, or to the space between the jaws being unna- 

 turally small. 



The splenius muscle, although a main agent in raising the head and neck, 

 may be too large, or covered with too much cellular substance or fat, thug 

 giving an appearance of heaviness or even clumsiness to the neck. This 

 peculiarity of form constitutes the distinction between the perfect horse and the 

 mare, and also the gelding, unless castrated at a very late period. 



