14 HACKS AND HUNTERS 



well observed when seated on the animal), but that 

 when seen sidewise the neck should appear light and 

 elegant. Long subsequent experience has shown that 

 he was right, and it will be noticed on the turf that no 

 horse ever stays in long-distance races unless he pos- 

 sesses such conformation." 



It will readily be seen, then, that the formation of 

 the neck, and the way in which it is set on the body, 

 is not merely a matter of looks, but has considerable 

 influence on the strength of the horse and on the ex- 

 tent to which the bit will act on his mouth. A horse 

 with a good neck and a well-set-on head will have a 

 better mouth, be able to flex himself more readily, and 

 be handier than one in whom these points are lacking. 

 Illustration facing page 2 shows a good neck, and a 

 well-set-on and nicely shaped head. 



In all horses that are to be used for saddle work, 

 fairly high and sloping withers are desirable for the 

 freedom of action which they bestow. In England, 

 however, a wither with more muscular development is 

 preferred, since it makes it easier to keep the saddle 

 in place. A horse with either an extremely low fore- 

 hand, or an excessively high and straight, pointed 

 wither, is extremely uncomfortable as a lady's mount. 

 The latter type of wither is apt to get rubbed by the 

 saddle and, owing to its sharpness, is too readily felt 

 by a woman's right leg through the flap of the saddle. 



Excessively low withers usually go with a straight 

 shoulder, but beginners must not confuse the wither 

 with the shoulder, or vice versa. The horse in illus- 

 tration facing page 2 has a wither that is neither too 

 high nor yet too low. 



In a draft or harness horse there is not the same 

 objection to a straight shoulder. In fact, it is the type 



