HOW TO KNOW HEVI. 19 



ment ; and this must be of such a character as to cause 

 the nose to project forward, and out of the line of the 

 perpendicular: still the projection must not be too 

 positive, else the horse will be what is called " a star- 

 gazer." Such an animal not only has a vicious appear- 

 ance, but is difficult to manage, and is actually unsafe ; 

 because the bit, which should keep a safe purchase on 

 the lower jaw, will be drawn up into the angles of his 

 mouth, so that the reins have httle or no control over 

 his course, and he can go how and whither he pleases. 



Concerning the length and thickness of the neck I 

 have this to observe; viz., the same neck is not desira- 

 ble in every horse, but should vary somewhat according 

 to the service to which it is to be put. For speed the 

 neck cannot be too light, provided that it allow suffi- 

 cient room for the passage of wind and food. All 

 weight carried here is dead- weight ; that is, weight that 

 does not help propel the horse, and should, consequent- 

 ly, be bred away. The model neck, in this respect, 

 is found in the thorough-bred English racer ; and to this 

 pattern the American breeder should strive to briil^ the 

 neck of the trotting-horse. The Morrill neck, the Ham- 

 bletonian neck, the French or Canadian neck, and, for 

 the most part, the average neck of the American trot- 

 ting stallion, is by far too gross and heavy either for 

 beauty or for speed. But observe at this point, that, 

 while the large neck is disadvantageous for a horse kept 

 for speed, in the case of the harness-horse and carter, 

 thickness of neck at the base, where it enters the shoul- 



