THE WITHERS. 16? 



'engtii as are the transverse or side processes of the bones of the loins; 

 They are flattened and terminated by rough, blunted extremities. The 

 elevated riilge wliicli tiiey form is called ihe withers. It will be seen in the 

 cuts (pp. 63 and 103), that the spine of the first bone of the back has but 

 little elevation, and is sliarp and upright. The second is longer, and inclined 

 backward ; the third and fourth increase in length, and the fifth is the long- 

 est ; they then gradually sliorten until the twelfth or thirteenth, which 

 becomes level with tiie bones of the loins. 



High withers have been always, in the mind of the judge of the horse, 

 associated witligood action, and generally with speed. The reason is plain 

 enough ; they afford larger surface for the attachment of the muscles of 

 the back ; and in proportion to the elevation of the withers, these muscles 

 act with greater advantage. The rising of the fore parts of the horse, even 

 in the trot, and more especially in the gallop, depends not merely on the 

 action of the muscles of the legs and shoulders, but on tliose of the loins, 

 inserted into the spinous processes of these bones of the back, and acting with 

 greater power in proportion as these processes, constituting the withers, are 

 lengthened. The arm of the lever to which the power is applied will be 

 lon-ger; and we well know that in proportion to the length of this arm will 

 be the ease with which the weight is raised. Therefore good and high 

 action will depend much on elevated withers. 



It is not difficult to understand how speed will likewise be promoted by 

 the same conformation. The power of tiie horse is in his hinder quarters. 

 In them lies the main-spring of the frame, and the fore-quarters are only 

 elevated and thrown forward to receive the weight forced on them by the 

 action of the hinder quarters. In proportion, however, as the fore-quarters 

 are elevated, wiil they be thrown farther forward, or, in other words, will 

 the stride of the horse be lengthened : they are elevated and thrown forward 

 in proportion to the elevation of the withers, and therefore in this point of 

 view the form of the withers is very much connected with speed. Yet 

 many racers have the forehand low. The unrivalled Eclipse (see p. 47) 

 was a remarkable instance of this ; but the ample and finely proportioned 

 quarters, and the muscularity of the thigh and fore-arm, rendered the aid 

 to be derived from the withers perfectly unnecessary. The heavy draught- 

 horse does not require elevated withers. His utility depends on the power 

 of depressing his fore-quarters, and throwing their weight fully into the 

 collar; but for common work in the hackney, in the farmer's horse, and in 

 the hunter, well-formed withers will be an essential advantage, as con- 

 tributing to good and safe action, and likewise to speed. 



MUSCLES OF THE BACK. 



The most important muscles which belong to this part of the frame can 

 be very imperfectly delineated in any cut ; we have endeavoured, however, 

 to give as complete a view of them, and of all the superficial muscles of the 

 frame, as we could. They are principally those which e.xtend from the con- 

 tinuation of the ligament of the neck, along the whole of the back and 

 loins; and likewise from the last cervical bone; the superjida/is and trans- 

 versalis costarum, or superficial and transverse muscles of the ribs, going 

 from this ligament to the upper part of the ribs, to elevate them, and so 

 assist in the expansion of the chest ; also, the large mass of muscle, the hn- 

 gissimus dorsi, or the longest muscle of the back, from the spinous and 

 transverse processes of the vertebroe to the ribs, and by which all th<' 

 motions of the spine, and back, and loins, of which we have spoken, aro 

 principully produced; by which tiie fore-quarters are raised upon the hi'id, 



