240 THE TRUNK. 



If we look at the skeleton (Fig. i8), we shall readily see 

 that the fact of the withers rising, as they do, above the 

 line of the back, greatly assists the action of the elastic liga- 

 ment that supports the head and neck, and of the muscles 

 which extend these parts. It also increases the power 

 of the muscle which extends the back and loins. Besides, 

 it tends to give length to the muscle which is attached 

 to the withers and which helps to draw the shoulder for- 

 ward, and by affording increased space for the top of the 

 shoulder-blade, it favours length of this important bone. 

 The farther back the withers extend, the more do they, by 

 giving a broad surface for attachment, indicate large 

 development of the muscle which extends the back and 

 loins, and the more room do they afford for the backward 

 slope of the shoulder-blade. Hence, withers which are 

 high and which extend far back, are generally associated 

 with a good carriage of the head and neck ; free movement 

 of the shoulders ; long and sloping shoulder-blades ; and 

 strength in the back and loins. Such a conformation is 

 desirable in every kind of horse, and especially in the race- 

 horse, hunter, and steeplechaser. Low withers, on the con- 

 trary, are usually accompanied by heavy, short and upright 

 shoulders. Lecoq observes that " in the mule, and es- 

 pecially in the ass, the withers are always low ; a con- 

 formation which is in accordance with the small develop- 

 ment of the paces of these animals." Dealers and others, 

 when " showing off " a horse which has high withers, 

 not unfrequently endeavour to direct attention to this 

 fact, as a proof of the length and obliquity of the shoulders. 

 I need hardly point out, even to inexperienced horse- 

 men, that any particular part should be judged, if possible, 

 on its own merits, and not by those of another part, however 

 much excellence in the latter may indicate its possession 

 by the former. 



The Height of the withers is, strictly speaking, that of 

 the spines of the vertebrae of the part and the soft tissues 

 which cover their summits. Their apparent height is the 



