THE NECK. 21 



on the upper part of the shoukler-blade : the 

 division of the neck and shoulder must be dis- 

 tinctly marked ; any extra bone at the upper part 

 of the shoulder-blade, filling up the line of de- 

 marcation between it and the neck, always makes 

 a horse go more or less stiff, and this is particu- 

 larly observable in thick necks ; yet, there must 

 be sufficient muscle below to prevent the neck 

 being a " loose neck." If he has a neck like a 

 deer it is ugly, and does not afford so free a pas- 

 sage to his breath : the deer necks, however, with 

 all the flesh set below, are not so bad as those 

 where the upper surface is thick, and it is all 

 set on above. Ewe necks, if only slightly ewed, 

 and light, and not entering the chest low down, 

 are rather favourable than objectionable for a 

 racer.* The rounder a neck is the better; and 

 if only shallow from mane to under surface, there 

 is no fear then of its being too muscular from side 

 to side. No thick neck is fit for the saddle, 

 and a bull-neck is fit for nothing but a bullock- 

 garree. 



* Darvill, vol. ii. p. 10. I have a great aversion to a high- 

 crested race-horse. 



