THE NECK. 19 



loosely attached to the parts over which it passes. 

 This aiTangement vri]l increase the freedom of breath- 

 ing when the head and neck are stretched out in the 

 gallop, at the same time that the appearance of lightness 

 is presei-ved. When the windpipe keeps free and distinct 

 all the way from the head to the chest, the neck Avill 

 look thin and graceful. 



The length and thickness of the neck may vary a 

 little, according to the purpose for which the horse is in- 

 tended. The racer, the hunter, the roadster, and the 

 hamess-horse, should have the neck a little longer, and 

 considerably lighter than the carter ; but still length 

 and lightness must not in any instance go to too great 

 an extreme, as that would be indicative of constitutional 

 weakness. In all cases the upper edge of the neck 

 must be thin, and it ought to be arched from the seat 

 of the collar forwards, or else the shape should be 

 such, that it can easily be thrown into an arch when 

 the reins are drawn moderately tight. The under 

 edge will be thin and gi-aceful-looking, if the windpipe 

 is sufficiently distinct and detached from the adjacent 

 parts. The centre should be much thicker than either 

 the upper or under edge, and it must increase in thick- 

 ness as it approaches the shoulder. If this is not the 

 case, the horse will most likely be generally defective in 

 muscle. The curv^e of the under edge must bear a pro- 

 portion to the curv^e of the upper — more especially as 

 it approaches towards the head. Nothing can be more 



