86 THE HORSE. 
connected with it. Secondly, to afford room for the heart and lungs to 
perform their functions in its “ chest,” without interfering with the play of 
the shoulders ; and, thirdly, to lodge an efficient apparatus of nutrition. 
The first of these divisions comprehends THE BACK, LOINS, AND CROUP ; 
the second is THE CHEST ; and the third may be considered under the head 
of THE BACK-RIBS, FLANK, AND BELLY. 
Tue Back, Loins, AND Croup of the race-horse, as indeed of all horses 
but those used exclusively for draught, are generally described as neces- 
sarily moulded more or less in the form of an arch. Every architect is 
aware that this formation is best adapted to carry weight. A straight- 
backed greyhound is by some experienced coursers, preferred to one which 
has a slight arch in that part ; but in this animal there is no weight to be 
carried beyond that of his own carcase, and, therefore, even granting the 
superiority in him of a straight loin (which I do not), there is no analogy 
between the two animals. Nor do I believe altogether in the received 
theory which attaches importance to the arched loin, because of its greater 
capacity for bearing weight from its mechanical form. Practically 1 con- 
cede, as an admitted fact, that a horse with this construction of frame 
will carry weight better than one which has a hollow loin; but, on ex- 
amining the skeleton of each, it will be seen that in neither are the 
bodies of the vertebre in this part of the spine arranged so as to form 
an arch, or if there is one, it has its concavity, not its convexity 
upwards, which certainly will not conduce to its weight-bearing powers. 
The fact really is, that in the arched loin the spinous processes are 
unusually long, and are raised into a crest like the high withers. By 
this development of bone an extra space is afforded, for both the lodg- 
ment and attachment of muscles, and herein is the secret of the extra 
power. Between the pelvis and the bodies of the vertebrae a true arch 
is formed, and according to the slope or fall of the quarters will it be 
useful in carrying wéight; but this is quite irrespective of the loin, 
which may be arched or flat in conjunction with either formation. It 
is, however, most common to find an arched loin united with an inclined 
pelvis, and when the two are found together, the horse possessing this 
formation may be considered so far as “up to weight.” Sometimes 
we see the pelvis inclined, but the tail set on high, and the loin hollow, 
and then we may surely predicate that there will be a want of power in 
these parts, and that the seven stone of Lord Redesdale will be quite suf- 
ficient for the animal to carry. With this objectionable shape, there is a 
hollow on each side of the croup, which is very characteristic of the defect, 
and which is carefully eschewed by the experienced horseman. If the 
spine between the two supports afforded by the fore and hind extremities 
were really an arch, length would but little affect it, for we know that an 
arch of ninety feet span, is no stronger than one of a hundred feet, if both 
are properly constructed ; but being nearly a straight line, with its com 
ponent parts kept in their proper places, by a series of levers and pullies, 
length tells most unfavourably ; and “a short back, with plenty of length 
below” is the height of the horseman’s ambition to possess. Mr. Percivall 
has fallen into a strange error in estimating the advantages of a long back, 
as may be readily seen on an examination of the following passage :— 
“ Regarding the dorsal portion of the spine, with its superimposed burthen, 
as a pole or lever, supported in front by the fore limbs, and behind by the 
back limbs, after the manner of-a barrel of beer, or a sedan between its 
bearers ; it is manifest, that the greater its length, the greater must be the 
leverage, and consequent reduction of the weight of the burthen. On 
