CONFORMATION 169 



rather than a help to the animal. The late Charley Wise, 

 of Eton, the eminent dealer in the " fifties " and " sixties " 

 of the last century, than whom no better judge existed, was 

 wont to point out that the neck was the first place where a 

 horse began to tire ; and he used to insist upon the muscles 

 just behind the poll being very well developed (which can be 

 particularly well observed when seated on the animal), but 

 that when seen sideways the neck should appear light and 

 elegant. Long subsequent experience has shown that he was 

 very right, and it will be noticed on the Turf that no horse 

 ever stays well in long-distance races unless he possesses 

 such a conformation. 



It may be mentioned, however, that independently of the 

 muscles for supporting the head and neck, there is a simple 

 arrangement by which these parts are kept in an easy and 

 natural position when the animal is at rest. A strong and 

 elastic ligament, the ligamentum nuchas, arises from the back 

 of the occipital bone (Plate IV., c) to which it is attached 

 immediately behind the crest. In order to allow full freedom 

 of motion to the head, it passes over the atlas (1) , or first 

 joint of the neck, in the form of a stout round cord, but is 

 strongly adherent to the dentata (2), on which the principal 

 strain from the weight of the head is thrown. It then pro- 

 ceeds backwards, terminating in the withers, the elevated 

 spinous processes of the first dorsal vertebrae, which thus 

 support the weight of the head and neck when in their 

 ordinary position. 



Along the upper part of the neck are two muscles, the 

 splenius and the levator anguli scapulae, and to the develop- 

 ment of these two the appearance and beauty of the crest 

 is chiefly due. The former is a large muscle, especially 

 employed in raising the head. It arises from the entire 

 length of the ligamentum nuchae, and when overloaded with 

 cellular substance or fat is apt to give an appearance of 

 clumsiness to the massive crest and thick neck of an entire 

 horse. The other muscle is a small narrow one, extending 

 above the splenius, along the superior margin of the neck, 

 and after passing behind it, descends to the shoulder, where 

 it is not visible externally. At its origin it is inserted into 



