File:The Horse - its treatment in health and disease, with a complete guide to breeding, training and management (1905) (14577432620).jpg

Identifier: horseitstreatmen01axej (find matches)
Title: The Horse : its treatment in health and disease, with a complete guide to breeding, training and management
Year: 1905 (1900s)
Authors: Axe, J. Wortley
Subjects: Horses
Publisher: London : Gresham
Contributing Library: Webster Family Library of Veterinary Medicine
Digitizing Sponsor: Tufts University

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asso-ciated with a slightmuscular develop-ment, oivinc tothis reoion a gaunt,slender appear-ance. Moreover,it possesses thefurther fault ofimposing on thefore extremities an excessof weight, thereby imped-action and increasingthe wear and tear of theimbs. More especially isthis the case where theneck is carried in a for-ward direction. To .someextent the disadvantao;e ofa long neck is compensatedby an erect carriage, which,by disjjlacing the centre ofgravity Ijackward, lightensthe burden in front, andat the same time gives aight and easy hold to the rein. While recog-nizing the objectionablefeatures of excess, amplelength is nevertheless in-dispensable to speed, action, and brilliant carriage. In the race-horse a long neck is especially requisite, for, as we have seen,the range of action of which the shoulder is capable, and the forward move-ment of the fore-limbs, will Ije mainly determined by the length of themuscle (mastoido humeialis), which, starting above from the l>ack of the
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Fig. 43.—The Mastoirio-humeralis Muscle Attachment to head. B, Body of the muscle, c. Attachment to the humerus or upper arm bone CARRIAGE 51 head, is regulated by the length of the neck. The neck in some respectsis to the horse what the balancing-pole is to the gymnast, viz. a means ofmaintaining equilibrium of the body in the performance of its varied move-ments. This is strikingly illustrated in the swing of the neck from side toside in the walk, its elevation when the body is raised from the recumbentposture, its rapid alternation from one side to the other in turning to theright or to the left. Ample length gives pliability to the neck, and enablesit to respond quickly in regulating the centre of gravity while the bodypasses from one attitude to another. Moreover, it renders the animaleasy of control, and imparts to the movements steadiness, ease, and grace,—qualities which the riding-horse and the driving-horse should both possessto be worth anything. A short neck, for reason

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