94 



STATIONARY MOVEMENTS OF THE HORSE. 



and appear to want to go to sleep. They cannot, how- 

 ever, long maintain this position. 



As the suspensory ligament of the neck can support 

 the weight of the head and neck without giving rise to 

 the sensation of fatigue ; a horse can sleep comfortably 

 on his side and breast-bone, and with his head turned to 

 the opposite side. When a horse is very tired, or even 

 when he feels secure from disturbance, he may sleep entirely 

 on his side, with his cheek resting on the ground. On rare 



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Fig. 6l. — Foal getting up olif ground. 



[M. H. H. 



occasions, a horse will repose lying down on his breast- 

 bone, with his knees advanced and his heels more or 

 less close to the points of his elbows. This position in 

 shod horses is apt to give rise to " capped elbow," on ac- 

 count of the heels of the shoe of the doubled-up fore leg 

 pressing on the point of the elbow. It is not an easy 

 position for a horse ; because the sharp keel of his breast- 

 bone will be liable to be hurt by contact \^-ith the ground. 

 It is, however, the natural sleeping position of horned 

 cattle, which can rest at ease in this manner, because the 

 keel of their breast-bone is broad and flat. 



In getting up, the horse straightens his fore-legs out to 



