The exterior of the horse . stumble and fall, but for opposite reasons. In this direction of the head the incidence of the extensors isacute and tliat of the flexors obtuse (Fig, 30, A). Here again theneck is incurvated or arched to preserve the normal relation of thearticular surfaces of the occipito-atloid articulation and render at thesame time the insertion of the muscles more perpendicular to the armof their lever (Fig. 30, E). This vertical direction is less objectionablein the saddle-horse than in any other. In horses which present it thesteps are short and the flexion of the knees (kne
The exterior of the horse . stumble and fall, but for opposite reasons. In this direction of the head the incidence of the extensors isacute and tliat of the flexors obtuse (Fig, 30, A). Here again theneck is incurvated or arched to preserve the normal relation of thearticular surfaces of the occipito-atloid articulation and render at thesame time the insertion of the muscles more perpendicular to the armof their lever (Fig. 30, E). This vertical direction is less objectionablein the saddle-horse than in any other. In horses which present it thesteps are short and the flexion of the knees (knee-action) is moremarked. They are more sensitive to the bit, and quite manageableif the conformation be not exaggerated. AVhen excessive, however, it constitutes a serious defect, as whenthe head is oblique from above to below and from before to behind, and itsinferior extremity approaches the sternum. The effect of the backward 92 THE EXTERIOR OF THE HORSE. displacement of the centre of gravity has here reached its highest. Fig. 30. limit ; according to the usual expression, the horse arches his neck to his breast, cannot seethe surrounding obsta-cles, and removes hishead entirely from thecontrol of the hand. In certain subjectsthe branches of the bitare said to touch thepectoral region. Thishas not yet beenproved by our obser-vation. If it be trueit can be remedied bylimiting the excessiveflexion of the headupon the neck bymeans of an over-check,—a system of straps extending from the saddle to each side of thebit and inflected over the poll (Fig. 31). E.—Forms of the Head. At the beginning of the chapter we compared the general form ofthe head to that of a quadrangular pyramid, in order to establish the
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjecthorses, bookyear1892
