THE BACK. 



95 



higher than the top of the rump ; in the racer and 

 carter, no higher at all. The back should be nearly 

 level on the saddle-seat, and then rise gradually over 

 the kidneys. The ribs, by all means, must stand 

 straight out from the back-bone all along. This is a 

 much stronger and better fonn than the herring-rib, 

 which makes a horse naiTow and thin along the back. 

 Some horses dip so much at the saddle-seat, that they 

 have the appearance of a high shoulder ; whereas, in 

 reality, the shoulder may be low when compared with 

 the top of the rump. The back-bone and ribs, behind 

 the shoulder, should be considerably lower than the 

 top of the withers, but the sweep should be gradual. 

 A sudden and gTcat dip at this locality is certainly a 

 defect, as it encroaches on the space allotted to the 

 lungs, and also permits the saddle to get forward on 

 the top of the shoulder-blades. The two points of 

 importance are, immediately behind the shoulders, and 

 over the Iddneys. The horse which is remarkably hol- 

 low in the first and weak in the second, is decidedly 

 faulty. 



The strength of the back, at the kidneys, will de- 

 pend upon its gentle elevation, and also on the length 

 of the transverse processes of the bones of the spine. 

 The longer these processes are, the broader will the 

 back appear at this part. If these projections on the 

 bones of the spine are long and large, there will be 

 plenty of room for the attachment of muscles and li- 



