'JO CYCLOPEDIA OF LIVE STOCK AND COMPLETE STOCK DOCTOR. 



It is an important and powerful muscle and is used in raising and bring- 

 ing forward the upper bone of the thigh. It has been not inaptly called 

 the kicking muscle, and is shown at m, on pages 69 and 76 and 77. 

 The glutceus exfernus, I, is a slender muscle attached to the kicking mus- 

 cle and has a siiiiilMi- orii^in and function. It may be calknl the assistant 

 kickinir muscle. 



CUT ij.— KEAl: SIDE VIEW OF THE MUSCULAU COVERING 



The Three Headed Muscle. — When the horse is in motion a conspic- 

 uous muscle of the hind-ciuarter is the three headed muscle of the thigh 

 {triceps femoris) , shown at n. This is really three muscles in one, each 

 having a common origin and united together. It comes from several of 

 the bones of the spine, including some at the root of the tail, and from 

 various parts of the haunch bone. It curves downwards and forwards, 

 dividing into three heads. These are inserted broadly into the upper 

 part of the lower bone of the thigh behind the knee {stifle joint). Its 

 action straightens the leg, and it has great power in carrying the animal 

 forward, for while the glutei muscles bend the leg before it takes the 

 spring, the triceps, acting in opposition, forces the leg straight and lifts 

 the body forward. The hinder margin of this muscle may be seen in all 

 horses, parallel to the outline of the buttock, but it i« prominent in racing 



