160 



THE HORSE 



Nature's arrangements, if it can be helped, especially with 

 regard to such delicate parts of the machinery as the spinal 

 cord and the nervous system ; and to amputate the tail very 

 short is certainly nearly approaching a possible peril. 



The chief feature in each dorsal vertebra is the spinous 

 process, or projection, along its upper surface, especially in 

 the region of the shoulders, where is produced the eleva- 

 tion known as the withers. These are of considerable 

 importance, as they afford a large surface for the attach- 

 ment of the great ligament which supports the head and 

 neck. There is no advantage, however, in their being 

 excessively developed, for then the withers are apt to be 

 thin and " knifey," and so become an indication of weak- 

 ness, which is undesirable. 



To recapitulate the number of each series of vertebrae 

 there are — 



Total 



51 



The ribs are eighteen in number, and are distinguished 

 as the true and the false ribs, the former being attached to 

 the breast-bone at their extremities, and the latter having 

 no immediate connection with it. The true ribs are 

 either seven or eight, for the number sometimes varies, 

 and to provide for the necessary elasticity the attachment 

 to the breast-bone is composed of cartilage. All the 

 ribs are jointed above to the transverse processes of the 

 vertebrae. Though the individual false ribs have no direct 

 connection with the breast-bone, they are united together 

 by cartilages, and this cartilaginous union eventually 

 terminates in the sternum, so that the whole of the ribs 

 are able to act in unison when expanding and contract- 

 ing. The sternum itself consists of six bones in the 

 young horse, which gradually become united into a single 

 piece. 



