The neck of the horse should look graceful. The top of the neck should be longer than the bottom, giving it a slight arch. The large muscle at the top of the neck, where the mane grows, is referred to as the crest. A stallion will have a larger crest to his neck than a gelding or mare. If there is too much fat accumulated in this area or the muscle is overly developed the horse is said to have a "cresty neck." This is very common in ponies and is an indication of being overweight and predisposed to the hoof disease founder. (We will cover founder in depth in a later section.) The base of the neck should tie in smoothly to the large backbone, called the withers. A dip in the neck just before the withers is referred to as an "ewe neck" and is a conformational flaw that will restrict the horse's ability to flex his neck properly and utilize his back and hindquarter muscles.
Correct conformation of the head and neck give the horse grace, balance and suppleness. It allows him to accurately see and hear the world around him. It supports efficient breathing and food consumption. And it is indeed beautiful!
