NECK — NET 



Neck. — The neck of a well-bred horse should be of good 

 length and thin, if he belongs to one of the lighter varieties, 

 whereas that of a heavy draught horse should be massive and 

 powerful. As regards size, the proportions of the neck should 

 depend to some extent on the sort of head the horse carries, 

 an insignificant-looking head being as much out of propor- 

 tion to a heavy neck, as a heavy headpiece would be upon 

 a slender one. A horse with the proper length of neck can 

 more easily save himself if he stumbles than a short-necked 

 one can, and is, generally speaking, the more active, pleasant 

 ride ; whilst few short-necked animals possess the speed of 

 the longer-necked ones, (See Crest, Ewe Neck, Rein.) 



Neck Strap. — A strap that is worn in the stable round 

 the thin part of the neck instead of a head collar, in the 

 case of horses which have acquired the trick of slipping the 

 latter. A neck strap, too, is recommenr'ed as a possible pre- 

 ventative of crib-biting, but its value is, to say the least of it, 

 very doubtful. If used in place of a head collar a brow-band 

 should be added. (See Broiv-band, Crib-biting.) 



Nervous System. — It must be apparent to all who possess 

 any practical experience of horses that the nervous system 

 of some animals is far more developed than it is in others. 

 Nor can there be any room for doubting that the nervous 

 system exercises a very decided influence upon the action 

 and speed of a horse, the high-spirited, excitable animal 

 being almost invariably a more showy actioned one than 

 the horse of even temperament, which plods along entirely 

 unaffected by its surroundings. This is because the former 

 is by nature the better able to transmit the effects of the 

 spirit which animates them to their muscles, and hence 

 display more life and freedom in their movements. (See 

 Action.) 



Net. — A light cord net, attached to the bridle in such a 

 manner that when the reins are pulled it will tighten over 



