POINTS AND EXTERNAL REGIONS OF THE HORSE 



In horses that are weU bred, various bony prominences are 

 plainly indicated beneath the skin, less obvious in coarse bred 

 animals. 



There are twenty-four molar teeth, twelve incisor or 

 nipping teeth, and in horses, four tushes are present. 



The mucous membrane lining the nose is a bright pink 

 colour, and immediately within each nostril there is a circular 

 opening, the latter being the outlet of the bony lachrymal 

 canal. Normally it is down here that the (tears) moisture 

 from the eyes makes its exit. 



The Neck. — This extends from the withers to the poll, 

 and angle of the jaw. 



It has an upper and lower border, the former bearing the 

 mane, and the latter in addition to skin, muscles, etc., has the 

 windpipe, gullet, jugular vein, and carotid artery running along 

 its course. 



On either side of it there is a groove, the jugular furrows. 

 The depth of these furrows varies with the condition of the 

 animal. In emaciated subjects the grooves are deep. The 

 upper border, i.e., that bearing the mane, is called the crest. 



Perfection in this region is best observed in entire horses, 

 and in horses that have been cut late in life, yet this diminishes 

 after castration. 



The Withers. — This forms the highest point along the 

 back, and it is here that one measures the height of a horse 

 when the animal is standing on level ground. The withers are 



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