LECTURES ON HORSES. 
123 
bow neck,” although his neck may be by actual admeasurement 
equally long with that of another horse who carries his neck quite 
straight, yet will the leverage in the two instances be altogether 
different. It will be seen, on a review of the skeleton, that the 
lever, in a well-carried head, does not run in a line parallel with 
the neck, but extends diametrically across the curve of it ; proving 
that the neck, though long, does not in point of fact — so long at 
least as it is well-carried — add any thing to the leverage. 
There are circumstances, however, under which increased length 
with straightness in the neck, however inelegant it may be, appears 
even to be productive of advantage. It seems to me that the prepon- 
derance of the head in the forward direction must have some influ- 
ence in facilitating progression at the time that the horse is flinging 
himself forward in his gallop with all his might ; and in order that 
it may have this effect the more, he projects his head while gallop- 
ping to the utmost, and inclines it to the ground. I know very 
well other ends are answered by this straightening of the neck and 
protrusion and declination of the head, but this nowise militates 
against the e'ffect of the gravity of these parts in that sort of swing- 
ing or leaping action of which the gallop consists. This accounts 
for length in neck being considered desirable in a racer, and for 
his always making the most of it in running, carrying his head in 
that thrust-forward position that his muzzle is the foremost part : 
hence the report that a horse has won his race “ by a nose” be- 
comes literally correct. This demonstration of the utility of a long 
and straight neck reminds us once more that, in regarding the con- 
formation of horses, it is our duty ever to bear in mind of what 
breed or kind they are, and for what purpose they are by nature or 
art intended. In a hackney, nothing is more unpleasant than a 
long neck so straightened that the rider in vain tries to rein the 
head in ; in a race-horse the same appears to be attended, in his 
speed at least, with advantage. 
The most undesirable form of neck of all others is what is called 
the ewe neck. Very often this is a natural deformity, appearing to 
consist in extension of the dip or reversed arc* of the cervical por- 
tion of the spine : oftener, however, I believe, it will be found to 
owe its production to the harsh and fruitless efforts of art “ to get 
the head up or in,” when the neck is of that description that will 
not, naturally, admit of it. Such constrained erect position of the 
neck and head is not only exceeding unsightly, but is irksome to 
the horse, and to his rider as well, who has, by continual workings 
with his bridle-hand, to keep the head in this forced erect posture. 
It is of no use trying by bitting or riding, or any course of manege, 
to alter a natural ewe-neck : no pains or perseverance can ever 
render a horse so formed pleasant to ride. 
* Already described at page 10. 
