52 



CONFORMATION AND ITS DEFECTS 



THE WITHERS 



As we have elsewhere indicated, the withers comprise that more or less 



elevated portion of the sjjine situ- 

 ated between the back and the neck, 

 and supported on either side by the 

 upper extremity of the shoulders. 

 In form, extent, and character they 

 are liable to considerable variation, 

 according to the age, sex, and t)'pe 

 of the animal. In early life this 

 region is but slightly marked, but 

 it becomes more and more con- 

 spicuous as the animal advances 

 towards maturity, and the bony 

 framew( irk is developed. It is more 

 prominent in the male than in the 

 female, and more sharply outlined 

 in the gelding than the stallion. 



The character of the withei's, 

 although somewhat variable in the 

 members of each class, is very 

 much influenced by breed. In the 

 thoroughbred they are marked by 

 considerable elevation and refine- 

 ment, while in the commoner breeds 

 they are more or less low, fleshy, and 

 thick. Between the two extremes 

 there are numerous intermediate 

 forms. AVhen the withers are 

 high, and thin from side to side, 

 they are spoken of as being "fine" 

 or shc(r2:>. When they are low 

 and thick, they are described as 

 coarse. 



Height of the Withers.— The 

 heio'ht of this rciiion is determined 

 for the most part by the length of 

 the dorsal spines, and their pro- 

 minence above the level of the 



Fig. 44. — Section through the Chest, showing suspension 

 of the Trunk between the Fore-limbs 



A, Vertebral spine. B, B, Scapular cartilages. C,C, Sus- 

 pending muscles. D, Scapula or blade-bone. E, Humerus 

 or upper arm. F, Radius or lower arm. G, Carpus or 

 knee. H, Large metacarpal bone or canon, i, Os suff raginis 

 or long pastem. J, Os coronse or coronet bone. K, Os 

 pedis or foot bone. L, Rib. 



