What an Arched Neck Means. 1 1 1 



lish agreeable relations with you. I often notice 

 that he feels unsteady if I give him his head too 

 much. And when tired, he seems to like the en- 

 couragement given by light and lively hands all 

 the more. 



The first thing, then, to do is to get Penelope's 

 neck suppled. This means that the naturally 

 rigid muscles of the neck shall be by proper ex- 

 ercises made so supple as to allow the mare to 

 bring her head to the position where there can 

 be a constant " give and take " between your 

 hands and her mouth. The usual outward sign 

 of such suppleness is an arched neck, though as 

 occasionally an habitual puller will arch his neck 

 naturally, this is not an infallible sign. And some 

 horses, especially thoroughbreds, however good 

 their wind, will roar if you too quickly bring their 

 heads in. This is because the wind-pipe of such 

 horses is compressed too much by arching the 

 neck. Thoroughbreds on the turf are wont to 

 stick their noses out while running, because this 

 affords them the best breathing power at very 

 high speed. This habit becomes hereditary, and 

 among them there are not a few who cannot 

 readily be brought in by the bit. Sometimes, ex- 

 cept as a feat, you can never supple such necks. 

 Oftener, it only needs more time and patience, — 

 in other words a slower process. A limber-necked 

 thoroughbred has, however, the most delightful of 



