INSPECTING THE HORSE 



243 



poses, the neck should be a trifle long, but all-embrac- 

 ing where it joins the body. It should be set on the 

 body at an angle of about thirty degrees above the 

 horizontal; or, as the horsemen would say, on the 

 corner, and not on the end of the body. The all- 

 embracing neck, well set on, is not only beautiful but 

 is indicative of strength, vigor and endurance. The 

 above thought should be 

 somewhat modified when the 

 pony and the draft -horse 

 are considered. The word 

 pony usually implies a short, 

 compact, small animal, and 

 of necessity this build re- 

 quires a rather plain, short 

 neck. A good draft -horse 

 may be said to be an en- 

 larged, modified pony. 

 Some of the better breeds of 

 draft -horses show unmistakable signs of having had 

 some admixture (probably mostly through their dams) 

 of the warm blood of the east, which blood has done 

 much to give symmetry of form and courage to 

 many varieties of horses. If the shoulders of the draft- 

 horse be too oblique, as they sometimes are, the collar 

 tends to rise under great pressure, and this may result 

 in seriously obstructing free respiration. 



The hollow or protruding breast, the bend of the 

 back, the length of bottom and top body lines, the 

 length and slope of the hind quarters, the curby leg, 

 the thorough -pin, the length and direction of the legs 



FIG. 58. Hassan. 

 An all-embracing neck. 



