THE WITHERS. 167 



as are the transverse or side processes of the bones of the loins. They are 

 flattened and terminated by rough, bhmted extremities. Tiie elevated 

 ridge which they form is called the withe.rs. It will be seen in the cuts 

 (pp. 63 and 163), that the spine of the first bone of the back has but little 

 elevation, and is sharp and upright. The second is longer and inclined back- 

 ward ; the third and fourth increase in length, and the fifth is the longest; — 

 they then gradually shorten until the twelfth or thirteenth, which becomes 

 level with the bones of the loins. 



High withers have been always, in the mind of the judge of the horse, 

 associated with good action, and generally with speed. The reason is 

 plain enough : — they afford larger surface for the attachment of the muscles 

 of the back ; and in proportion to the elevation of the withers, these muscles 

 act with greater advantage. The rising of the fore parts of the horse, even 

 in the trot, and more especially in the gallop, depends not merely on the 

 action of the muscles of the legs and shoulders, but on those of the loins, 

 inserted into the spinous processes of these bones of the back, and acting 

 with greater power in proportion as these processes, constituting the withers, 

 are lengthened. The arm of the lever to which the power is applied will 

 be longer; and we well know that in proportion to the length of this arm 

 will be the ease with which a weight is raised. Therefore good and high 

 action will depend much on elevated withers. 



li is not difficult to understand how speed will likewise be promoted by 

 the same conformation. The power of the horse is in his hinder quarters. 

 In them lies the main spring of the frame, and the fore quarters are only 

 elevated and thrown forward to receive the weight forced on them by the 

 action of the hinder quarters. In proportion, however, as the fore-quarters 

 are elevated, will they be thrown farther forward, or, in other words, will 

 the stride of the horse be lengthened : they are elevated and thrown forward 

 in proportion to the elevation of the withers, and therefore in this point of 

 view the form of the withers is very much connected with speed. Yet 

 many racers have the forehand low. The unrivalled Eclipse (see p. 47) 

 was a remarkable instance of this ; but the ample and finely proportioned 

 quarters, and the muscularity of the thigh and fore-arm, rendered the aid 

 to be derived from the withers perfectly unnecessary. The heavy draught 

 horse does not require elevated withers. His utility depends on the power 

 of depressing his fore- quarters, and throwing their weight fully into the 

 collar ; but for common work in the hackney, in the farmer's horse, and 

 in the hunter, well-formed withers will be an essential advantage, as con- 

 tributing to good and safe action, and likev/ise to speed. 



MUSCLES OF THE BACK. 



The most important muscles which belong to this part of the frame 

 can be very imperfectly delineated in any cut; we have endeavoured, how- 

 ever, to give as complete a view of them, and of all the superficial muscles 

 of the frame, as we could. They are principally those which extend from 

 the continuation of the hgament of the neck, along the whole of the back 

 and loins ; and likewise from the last cervical bone ; — the superficialis anU 

 iransversalis costarmn, or superficial and transverse muscles of the ribs, 

 going from this ligament to the upper part of the ribs, to elevate them, and 

 so assist in the expansion of the chest; also the large mass of muscle, the 

 longissimus dorsi, or longest muscle of the back, from the spinous and 

 transverse processes of the vertebrae to the ribs, and by which all the motions 

 of the spine, and back, and loins, of which we have spoken, are principally 

 produced ; by which the fore quarters are raised upon the hind, or the 



