i6o 



ANIMAL MANAGEMENT. 



Length of 

 processes 

 of spine 

 cause high 

 and low • 

 withers. 



Long 

 backs. 



Shape 

 of backs 

 classified. 



Short 

 backs. 



High 

 withers. 



Low 

 withers. 



spine is situated, it is evident that the curve of the spine is represented by 

 the bony processes previously described. When these are short, the back 

 tends towards flatness, as in the donkey, when they are long, the withers 

 are high and the ridge of the back prominent. These processes also 

 determine the slope of the withers, long processes mean high withers, 

 low processes mean thick low withers. The slope of back enormously 

 influences the production of injury, and nowhere is this better seen than 

 in the case of the withers. No horse with high lean withers should find 

 its way into the Service for sad(lle purposes, and the opposite extreme of 

 low thick withers is nearly, though not quite, so objectionable. 



Long backs are a source of weakness, and as a rule they are poorly 

 developed, while their length is in itself a weakness ; such backs are 

 frequently associated with long narrow loins, one of the greatest faults a 

 troop horse can possess. The loins can hardly be too short and can 

 never be too wide. 



Backs vary so much in shape as any other part of the body ; if 

 careful measurements are made it is surprising how few have the same 

 shape and size of back, yet a broad classification of backs may be made ; 

 here, for instance, is a table in which the extremes are shown : — 

 High withers. Low withers. 



Short backs. Long backs. 



Hollow backs. Roach backs. 



Wide backs. Narrow backs. 



And between these extremes any degree may be met. 



A short back is a sign of strength, it is associated with a short wide 

 loin, and provided the back is long enough for the saddle, the broad 

 general statement may be made that it cannot be too short. 



A long back is a weak back, it is associated with long weak loins and 

 flat ribs, and its muscles are usually poorly developed. 



High withers are generally associated with good action and front, but 

 when excessively high it is not uncommon to find the back hollow, and 

 such a one is unfit to carry weight under military conditions. High 

 withers are always lean, narrow, and razor like ; the horse that possesses 

 them is always in danger of injury, for, as we have previously mentioned, 

 the ridge of the back, which includes the withers, is perfectly incapable 

 of sustaining pressure. 



Low withers may be associated with low, clumsy action ; when 

 the withers are very low there is a compensation present in their width, 

 they are always very wide. A wide wither is nearly as troublesome as a 

 high one, not for the reason that it gets pressed upon, but owing to the 

 fact that it is liable to be pinched. 



