CONFORMATION OF THE HORSE. s 



purchaser should take particular note of this part. 

 To be typical, the neck should be a proportionate 

 length according to the breed, and its upper border 

 should show a weU-developed crest. But this 

 is influenced by sex, age, and condition. If a horse 

 has been left entire for several years the crest 

 becomes well developed, though this disappears, to 

 a considerable extent, if the animal is subsequently 

 castrated. A saddle horse must not have a 

 thick heavy neck, but the neck should stand well 

 on the shoulders, and have a somewhat lofty 

 carriage, but not so much so, that the head is 

 directed upwards, to constitute the so-called " star 

 gazer." All thorough-bred and trotting horses 

 should have a long neck, with an inchnation to 

 horizontal carriage. In Clydesdales, Shires, Suffolks, 

 and other cart horses, the neck should be thick and 

 deep from the upper to the lower border, but par- 

 ticularly powerful towards its junction with the 

 shoulders, with which it should imperceptibly 

 blend. In the Hackney or roadster, more es- 

 pecially those of pedigree stock, the neck is usually 

 of good conformation, and well carried. When the 

 neck is arched downwards, the animal is spoken of 

 as " crest fallen " or " ewe necked." It has been 

 argued that a horse's neck cannot be too short, 



