248 THE NECK, SrRIXGS, AND LEVEES. 



auce, as a point of beauty and utility. The front face should not 

 bend down quite enough to be square with the top of the neck, 

 but always quite enough to ensure that the reins will draw the 

 bit on to the horse's lower jaw, and not merely draw his 

 lips U}) to his grinders. Too sudden a bend is not desirable, and 

 too much bend of any kind is supposed to interfere with the 

 utmost breathing power in the racer. Too little bend spoils the 

 mouth, and is most unsightly. For general purposes we would 

 rather have two much than too little. 



THE NECK 



59-i. — Should be small where it joins the head, and more 

 muscular near the shoulder ; should be much more muscular in 

 the draft, than in the saddle horse. As in most other animals 

 too thin a neck indicates want of constitution, but in a saddle 

 horse it is a bad place to carry unnecessary weight. Take care 

 that the wind pipe is large enough. A graceful curve of the neck 

 adds much to the beauty of any horse. 



THE SPRINGS. 



595. — The horse's body is placed on his legs by a system of 

 well arranged springs. Connected with each leg there are six 

 main joints between the back and the hoof, all of which, except 

 the knees, are more or less sloping or angular, so as to form most 

 eflFectual springs, breaking the jar with which his rapid motions 

 would otherwise bring his great weight to the ground. All these 

 joints move in a straight line from fore to aft, so that all the 

 sustaining ligaments require to be strong, and widely placed in 

 that direction. For this reason a strong capable leg is one that 

 is deep from front to back, and the size and quality of the 

 sustaining muscles and sinews, is of far more consequence in 

 estimating, even his standing or merely supporting strength, 

 than the size of his well protected bones. 



THE LEVERS. 



596. — Where weight, material, or lifting power has to be 

 economized, a mechanic will always make his levers light at their 



