THE POINTS OF THE HORSE, ETC. 2$ 



The back is a rather indefinite term, by which is sometimes meant the The back, 

 whole length of the trunk from the withers to the croup, and sometimes 

 that limited region on which a hunting saddle rests. This latter is the 

 part now alluded to, viz., from behind the withers to the front of the loins 

 on each side of the spine. On this comparatively small space the whole, 

 or practically the whole, of the saddle load rests, for the withers in front 

 and the loins behind cannot sustain pressure without injury. 



The typical back for all military horses is a short, strong one, level 

 from the dip behind the withers or rising very slightly towards the loins ; 

 a long back is, other things being equal, a weak one, and may often be 

 found in conjunction with shallow back ribs and weak loins, a conformation 

 ill-suited for the rigorous conditions of war. Short, muscular, strong 

 backs, on the other hand, are usually found associated with the good, well 

 ribbed up bodies and powerful loins, which denote strength. 



When the slope of the withers into the back is deeper than usual, the 

 horse is said to be " dipped " in the back ; a " hollow" back is an exaggera- 

 tion of this condition carried up to the loins, and a " roach " back is the 

 opposite formation, viz., an upward curve of back and loin. When the 

 animal is as round as an apple and in good hard fettle, it will be seen, 

 particularly after work, that the muscles on each side of the centre line of 

 the spine stand up so prominently that there is a slight ditch down the 

 middle of the back, but when from want of flesh the central spines of the 

 back bone are the more prominent, they form a sharp ridge or " razor " 

 back. The " razor " back may, of course, be due only to want of muscle 

 which judicious rest, food, and work will produce, but if it is a natural 

 conformation it is a very bad fault and found in conjunction with flat sides, 

 narrow loins and weak quarters. 



All horses, especially those which constantly carry heavy weights, 

 tend of course to become more hollow in the back with advancing 

 age, and when the condition is extreme it may be not only a weak- 

 ness, but a source of considerable inconvenience in saddle fitting ; while 

 the roach back may give similar trouble, though it is in itself a strong 

 formation. 



The lorn. — Extending from the end of the back as far back as is level The loin, 

 with the point of the hip is tha " Lorn." 



The function of the loin muscles is to raise the weight of the body and 

 its load on the hind-quarters so that the forehand can stride away. They 

 should therefore be muscular. Short, broad, fleshy loins are what are 

 required in all classes of horses, and long, narrow, weak ones (" slack 

 loins ") are to be avoided. 



The body comprises the chest, belly and flank (the two flatter being The body. 



