WHAT SHAPE SHOULD A HORSE BIE? 117 
pose in the movements of the horse as the balancing pole 
does to the movements of the tight-rope walker. They 
help to balance the horse and 
keep him from falling. The , 
faster the horse the more agile ' 
must be the head and neck. A , 
light head and a long slender 
neck respond to this require- | 
ment. A heavily muscled neck 
is required for great power. 
Under average conditions both the | 
head and neck form an angle of 45 4% 
degrees with the ground; thus the “*~ 
head and neck form a right angle 
with each other. For trotting and 
running, the neck is held up and the 
head extended horizontally; hence 
the over-draw check. For heavy 
draft the head is lowered and held 
more vertically. For the slow gallop 
the neck is arched and the head is 
held more vertically than for run- 
ning. These different positions of 
head and neck are for the purpose 
of changing the center of gravity. 
3. Eyes.—From the stand- 
point of soundness there are 
four weak regions in the horse. 
They are the eyes (blindness), 
the hocks (spavin and curb), 
the region below the front 
knees (splints, side bones and 
navicular disease) and the 
flanks (heaves). The best posi- 
tion for examining the eyes is 
with the head in the stable WYPIGKE NECKS 
doorway facing outward. The arched at top; straight at mid- 
: : dle; ewe neck at bottom. A ewe 
eyes, eyelids, ears, nostrils, neck is objectionable. 
