50 



CONFORMATION AND ITS DEFECTS 



some consideration will require to be given to the neck in regard to its 

 length and volume. 



A neck too long or too short not only disturbs the harmonj^ of propor- 

 tion, but impairs to a greater or less extent the mechanical properties of 



the machine. Un- 

 A IW \ due lengtli is not 



infrequently asso- 

 ciated with a slight 

 muscular develop- 

 ment, oivinc to 

 this reoion a gaunt, 

 slender appear- 

 ance. Moreover, 

 it possesses the 

 further fault of 

 imposing on the 

 fore extremities an excess 

 of weight, thereby imped- 

 action and increasing 

 the wear and tear of the 

 imbs. More especially is 

 this the case where the 

 neck is carried in a for- 

 ward direction. To .some 

 extent the disadvantao;e of 

 a long neck is compensated 

 by an erect carriage, which, 

 by disjjlacing the centre of 

 gravity Ijackward, lightens 

 the burden in front, and 

 at the same time gives a 

 ight and easy hold to 

 the rein. While recog- 

 nizing the objectionable 

 features of excess, ample 

 length is nevertheless in- 

 dispensable to speed, action, and brilliant carriage. 



In the race-horse a long neck is especially requisite, for, as we have seen, 

 the range of action of which the shoulder is capable, and the forward move- 

 ment of the fore-limbs, will Ije mainly determined by the length of the 

 muscle {mastoido humei'alis), which, starting above from the l>ack of the 



Fig. 43. — The Mastoirio-humeralis Muscle 



Attachment to head. B, Body of the muscle, c. Attachment to 

 the humerus or upper arm bone 



