LIGAMENTS. 373 



giving it a decided appearance of breadth from before back- 

 ward. 



I have now given a somewhat imperfect glance at a few of 

 the most important muscles of the horse, and endeavored 

 to make what I have said intelligible to all. But this task 

 has been very difficult, from the fact that the names of the 

 muscles are all Latin, there being no English or common 

 names for them. It is to be hoped, however, that enough has 

 been said to show to the farmer and breeder that good muscles 

 are indispensable to great strength, quick action, or endurance; 

 that, however beautiful the horse maybe, if he is not furnished 

 with full, solid, well-formed, and properly placed muscles, he 

 is not a desirable animal. The great indication of good mus- 

 cles is, that they show through the skin in full, round ridges, 

 or elevations, their edges being marked by creases. But mus- 

 cles must act with advantage; hence, look well to the joints 

 and bones that they are perfect. 



LIGAMENTS. 



Ix the horse there are many ligaments, or straps, bands, and 

 rings of ligaments, which serve to hold the joints in place, and 

 form loops for the tendons of muscles passing oA^er the 

 joints. They are tough, dense substances, and give prodigious 

 strength to the joints. There are a few ligaments which de- 

 serve especial notice: ^ 



Tlie ligament of the neck, (ligamentum colli), sometimes called 

 the pack-wax, is a large, round ligament, which arises at the 

 upper and back part of the head, and passes back, touching 

 the second bone of the neck, by leaving the others far below 

 it, until it reaches the long spines of the back-bones which 

 rise up to form the withers, to which it is attached. It may 



