THE HAUNCH — THE THIGH 279 



CHAPTER XIII. 

 THE HIND LEGS. 



THE HAUNCH. 



The haunch (see O, p. 68, and the cut, p. 256,) is composed of three bones. The 

 first is the ilium, principally concerned in the formation of the haunch. Its extended 

 branches behind the flanks are prominent in every horse. When they are more than 

 usually wide, the animal is said to be ragged-hipped. A branch runs up to the spine 

 at the commencement of the sacral vertebrae (E), and here the haunch-bones are firmly 

 united with the bones of the spine. The ischium, or hip-bone, is behind and below 

 the ilium. Its tuberosities or prominences are seen under the tail (cut, p. 68). The 

 pubis unites with the two former below and behind. 



From the loins to the setting-on of the tail a line should be carried on almost 

 straight, or rounded only in a slight degree. Thus the haunch-bones will be most 

 oblique, and will produce a corresponding obliquity, or slanting direction, in the thigh- 

 bone — a direction in which, as stated when the fore legs were described, the muscles 

 act with most advantage. This direction of the haunch is characteristic of the 

 thorough-bred horse ; and by the degree in which it is found, we judge to a considera- 

 ble extent of the breeding of the animal. If the bones at D and E, p. 68, take a 

 somewhat arched form, as they do in the cart-horse, it is evident that the haunch- 

 bone O would be more upright. The thigh-bone P would likewise be so. The stifle 

 Q would not be so far under the body, and the power of the horse would be considera- 

 bly impaired. The oblique direction of the haunch and thigh-bones, produced by the 

 straightness of the line of the spine, does not, as is commonly supposed, aflTord 

 increased surface for the attachment of muscles, but places the muscles in a direction 

 to act with great advantage. It is in the advantageous direction, quite as much as in 

 the bulk of the muscle, that the strength of the horse consists. 



It will be seen, from the different cuts, that the angles formed by the fore and hind 

 extremities have different directions. One points forward, and the other backward. 

 The action of the fore legs thus least interferes with the chest, and that of the hind 

 legs with the belly. 



Width of haunch is a point of great consequence, for it evidently affords more room 

 for the attachment of muscles ; and even though it should be so wide as to subject 

 the horse to the charge of being ragged-hipped, and may somewhat offend the eye, it 

 will not often be any detriment to action. If the loins are broad and the horse well 

 ribbed home, the protuberances of the ilium can scarcely be too far apart. Many a 

 ragged-hipped horse has possessed both fleetness and strength, while but few that 

 were narrow across the haunch could boast of the latter quality. 



The opening in the centre of these bones, which constitutes the passage throuo-h 

 which the young animal is expelled from the mother, is large in the mare, and in 

 every quadruped, because there cannot, on account of tlie form of the animal, be any 

 danger of abortion from the weight of the fcetus pressing on the part. 



The only portion of these bones exposed to injury or fracture are the tuberosities or 

 prominences of the haunch. A fall or blow may chip off or disunite a portion of them, 

 and, if so, there are no means of forcibly bringing the disunited parts together again, 

 nnd retaining them in their natural position. The power of nature, however, will 

 gradually unite them, but that union M'ill be attended by deformity and lameness. A 

 charge, or very strong adhesive plaster, across the haunch may be useful, as helping, 

 in some slight degree, to support the parts, and hold them together. 



THE THIGH. 



In the lower and fore part of the hip-bones is a deep cavity or cup for the reception 

 of the head of the thigh-bone.* Although in the movement of the hind legs there 



* This, althouffh the true thigh-bone, is so concealed by thick muscles that its situation and 

 shape are not visible to the eye. It is therefore frequently overlooked by horsemen, who call 

 ihe next bone, extending from the stifle to the hock, the thigh. 



