What is wrong with ewe?

I was watching the Preakness with my husband last week and as Mucho Macho Man paraded by he said "What is wrong with that horse?".

He was referring to the horse's "ewe neck".   This occurs when a horses is poorly muscled over the top-line and has a noticeable dip in the neck just before the withers.  It tends to make the neck look skinny and a bit odd.

Ewe Neck

Average Neck

It is not just a cosmetic problem, however.  These horses hold their heads high which can make the horse difficult to control while riding.  The bit does not contact the mouth correctly and can leave the rider with minimal steering and "brakes".

This condition is typically seen in young horses (Mucho Macho Man) and undernourished horses where muscles are underdeveloped.  The good news is that is can be corrected with proper conditioning and exercise.