EXTERIOR. 49 



human jaw, and the reader will have before him the 

 olden example, too well known and unfortunately 

 differing widely from the handsome heads the models 

 of which Grecian antiquity has preserved for us. 

 Xenophon desired a small head, and all that he extolled 

 appears indicative of a pony, or at least such as ancient 

 sculpture represents, and which was, in all probability, 

 that small, active and vigorous type of the Olympic and 

 Panthenotic races. 



The neck of the horse is of great importance to the 

 appearance of the animal. If the upper border be 

 considered, it will be found long or short, straight, concave 

 or convex. 



The neck unites the trunk to the head, and this latter 

 is invariably the means of executing the displacements 

 of the centre of gravity, the paces, as well as the attitudes 

 of defence. 



A long neck facilitates rapid motion, especially if it is 

 but slightly encumbered and straight. For a beast of 

 burden it is preferable that it should be short and 

 very muscular. 



The neck which is termed reversed has its superior 

 concave border, like the neck of a stag, and lifts the head 

 too high to allow complete control of its movements, 

 sometimes exceeding the horizontal ; the animal does not 

 then perceive the peril, it holds its head high and looks 

 up into the air, the bit strikes against its molars and the 

 animal promptly rears. 



The opposite kind of neck presents a curve of the 

 superior border, which, by its convexity, lowers the head 

 and brings it towards the chest. In this case, called 

 pyramidal, the animal is generally strong. It is frequently 

 met with among the Spanish and Roman horses. The 

 conformation of the animal thus presenting resistive 

 powers, it arches its neck, and the bit becomes useless 

 as a restraint. 



The neck is said to be arched when lightly attached 

 to the head with a slight curve, it is a bold and even con- 

 tinuation of the withers and shoulders. When the curve 

 is rather more accentuated in the anterior part, the neck 

 is designated as swan-like, and brings the head towards 

 the vertical position approved by the old horsemanship. 



