u 



CONFOEMATION AND ITS DEFECTS 



horse and the harness-horse, it is not so in the draught-horse, where any 

 extra weiglit at the end of the cervical lever may be turned to good account 

 by being thrown into the collar as a means of traction. 



The disadvantage of excessive length will be somewhat modified when 

 the head is set on a short neck, and aggravated when it is attached to a 

 long, lean one. A head too short, although a fault of proportion, presents 

 some compensating advantages in its lightness and greater mobility. 



COUPLING OF THE HEAD 



Given a well-formed head, the next point of importance is the manner 

 of its adjustment or attachment to the neck. However good it may be in 

 proportion and outline of form, if it is badly hung the general appearance 

 of the animal will be seriously impaired. 



A head should be attached on to the neck and not into it : the anole of 

 the jaw should stand clear away from the throat, which should meet the 



head at a nice curve and not at an 

 acute angle. When the former rela- 

 tions exist, the line of demarcation 

 between the one and tlie other is 

 marked by a well-defined groove 

 extending from below the ear down- 

 ward to the throat, and the carriage 

 and movements of the head in every 

 direction are executed with freedom 

 and enjoy ample range of action. 

 The two 231'iiicipal departures or 

 defects of conformation which occur 

 here consist in (l) too loose and 

 (2) too close coupling. In the former the head is too disconnected from 

 the neck or loosely hung (fig. 37), the groove referred to above is deep 

 and wide, and commonly the neck is long and wanting in strength and 

 muscularity. This defect of conformation is frequently seen in horses 

 light in the middle, long in the leg, of irritable temperament, and wanting 

 in general muscular development and vigour of constitution. Many of such 

 are roarers. In tlie latter the attachment of the head to the neck is close 

 and deep from poll to throat, the intervening groove is superficial, narrow, 

 and ill-defined, and the union of the two parts is close and compact (fig. 38). 

 Such a conformation not only detracts from the beauty of the fore end, 

 but seriously curtails the range and liberty of movement of the head in 



Fig-. 37.— Head loosely Coupled 



