THE SKELETON. 9 



ground first again, and support the body ; quickly, 

 follow the fore legs, and then the hind legs begin 

 anew their forward throwing activity. The gallop 

 is discernible to the ear by two or three beats. 



If we consider the different parts participating in 

 the movements of the horse, we find that there are 

 the neck, the back, the hind legs, and the fore legs. 



The column of the vertebrce extends from the head 

 to the tail. The part from the withers to the highest 

 point of the croup is destined to carry the whole 

 rump, and its power is augmented partly by elonga- 

 tions of the vertebrae in an upward direction, partly 

 by the ribs fastened to the vertebrae on both sides 

 and forming an arch-like vault under the spinal 

 column. 



The spinal column consists of a uniform number of 

 vertebrae (See Skeleton Fig. 14) ; the closer they 

 stand together the shorter the column will be, 

 and accordingly more able to carry weight. 

 The otherwise horizontal line of the spinal 

 column sinks downward at its forward termi- 

 nation to connect with the vertebrae of the neck, 

 forming the so-called curve of the tuithers, and the 

 more pronounced this curve the greater the carrying 

 power. This carrying power is also dependent upon 

 the relative positions of the two end points, or in 

 other words upon the distance between the withers, 



