434 CHAPTER 60. 



an elegant curve ; whilst its lower surface should be gracefully incurvated 

 as it approaches the jowl, and it should join the chest by an easy flowing 

 line rather above the point of the shoulder. In stallions, however, thick- 

 ness of the neck is to be looked upon as a distinctive sexual mark. 



The Crest should feel firm under the grasp of the hand. 



The Throttle or commencement of the larynx should stand out boldly, 

 and the lower branches of the jaw-bone, adjoining the neck, should be 

 wide apart, so as to give ample room for the respiratory passages. 



If the neck be short and thick, fig. 3#, the horse will be unhandy and 

 awkward in turning. If the neck be thick, and especially if the thickness 

 be continued to its junction with the head (even though the neck be long 

 enough) the horse will carry his nose poked out, and no bit can make him 

 do otherwise. Fig. 36. If the rein be short, and the lower part of the 

 neck be long, and especially if it be also thick at its junction with the 

 head, the horse will probably be a " Star gazer." Fig. 3c. 



Ewe necks are unsightly, and the formation has a tendency to cause 

 the horse to carry his head too high with his nose poked out. Fig. 3<?. 



Nature has made the neck in many pieces as regards its bony structure 

 in order that the horse may be able to turn it easily. A moderately 

 thin neck will assist its pliability. It may however be too thin, deficient 

 in strength or over-pliable. Fig. 3d. Horses with such necks are diffi- 

 cult to control. 



Fig. 3e represents a neck so formed that the animal gets his head into 

 his chest. Horses so made are very unpleasant to ride and difficult to 

 hold if headstrong. 



893. Setting on of the Head. 



The setting on of the head is mainly dependent on the shape of the 

 neck. The head should be naturally set on at that angle at which we all 

 wish 4o have it in riding. If it is set on too straight, the horse will be 

 unpleasant to ride and difficult to control ; whilst if it is set on at too 

 great a bend, the animal will be apt to get his head into his chest. 



Much may be done by good riding to control the position of the head 

 and neck ; but horses badly formed in this particular are apt very soon 

 to lose their breaking, especially in the hands of an indifferent rider. 



(For illustrations see figs. 3, 3#, 3&, 3f, 3*7, 3e. See also remarks in 

 preceding paragraph.) Plates 32 and 33. 



894. The Withers. 



The Withers (A, fig. 4) are formed by the spinous processes of the 

 anterior dorsal vertebra. 1 , which in this region are more fully developed, 

 or in other words rise higher than in other parts of the back. To these 

 processes are attached many of the muscles, ligaments, and tendons 

 which control the motion of the fore-hand. A considerable degree of 

 elevation is necessary ;n order to afford good leverage to the above con- 

 trolling agents. Well-developed withers are also needed to give due 

 length to the shoulder. Horses with somewhat high withers are generally 

 pleasant and safe to ride. Plate 31, lig. 1. 



