SUPERIOR FACE OF THE BODY. 103 



It is important that the latter should be harmoniously proportioned to 

 the other parts of the body, and only by practice are we enabled to judge 

 of the characters which denote this harmony. Thus, it may be slender 

 or thick, two conformations intimately associated with an excess or a de- 

 ficiency of its length. However, in stallions the neck acquires a develop- 

 ment which must not be considered as a defect. The effect of castra- 

 tion is a diminution of the thickness of this region to a notable^ extent. 



Length. The length of the neck, which is measured from the 

 middle of the anterior border of the shoulder to the anterior extremity 

 of the transverse process of the atlas, is correlative to its volume, which 

 should be neither excessive nor deficient, under penalty of destroying 

 the usefulness of the animal. 



Let us see what happens when the cervical lever is lengthened or 

 shortened on this or on that side of its normal dimensions. Let (Fig. 

 33) mn and OC be the relative directions of the shoulder and the neck ; 



FIG. 33. 



let, on the other hand, OC, OA, and OB represent the lengths of the 

 neck gradually decreasing. 



1st. When the length is proportional, OA, it allows a sufficient 

 extension in the movements of the shoulder and in the displacement 

 of the centre of gravity ; the head is not too heavy on the bit, and the 

 cervical trunk possesses suppleness and a mean power of mobility. 

 If to this quality be added a good direction and a high carriage, we 

 will find the conditions most favorable for all general services. 



