328 THE HORSE. 



vertebi-cTB or bones of the back (see d, page 163), and the five lumbar ver- 

 tebrae, or bones of the loins (/ p. 163). The continuation of the spine 

 consists of the sacrum or five bones, h, p. 163, which, although separate in 

 the colt, are in the full grown horse united into one mass. The bones of the 

 ilium, the upper and side portion of the haunch, articulate strongly with 

 the sacrum, forming a bony union rather than a joint. The spinal mar- 

 row, and the blood-vessels generally, here begin to diminish, and nume- 

 rous branches of nerves are given out, which, joined by some from the ver- 

 tebrae of the loins, form the nerves of the hind legs. 



The bones of the tail, f, page 163, are a continuation of those of the 

 sacrum. They are fifteen in number, gradually diminishing in size, and 

 losing altogether the character of the spinal vertebrae. Prolongations of 

 the spinal marrow run through the whole of them, and likewise arterial 

 vessels, being a continuation of those which supply the sacrum. A great 

 deal of attention is paid by those who are acquainted with the horse to 

 this continuation of the sacral and tail bones. From the loins to the set- 

 ting on of the tail, the line should ^be nearly straight, or inclining only a 

 little way downward. There is not a surer test of the breed of the horse, 

 than this straight line from the loins to the tail ; nor, as we have shown, 

 when speaking of the muscles of the quarters, is there any circumstance 

 so much connected with the mechanical advantage with which these mus- 

 cles act. 



The tail was given to the horse to perfect the beauty of his form ; to 

 assist in directing his course when he has not the guiding hand of man ; 

 and more particularly to enable him to defend himself from the insects by 

 which in every climate he is annoyed. 



There are three sets of muscles belonging to the tail, one raising it (cr, 

 page 260), another depressing it (6, page 260), and a third set giving it a 

 side motion in every direction when acting singly, or very powerfully 

 lowering it when acting together. It would seem that the depressor and 

 lateral muscles are much more powerful than the erector muscles, and 

 that when the horse is undisturbed, the tail is bent down close on the but- 

 tocks ; but when he is excited, and particularly when he is at speed, 

 the erector muscles are called into action, the tail is elevated, and there is 

 given to him an appearance of energy and spirit, which adds mate- 

 rially to his beauty. To perpetuate this character of fire, the operation of 

 nicking was contrived. The depressor muscles, and part of the lateral 

 ones are cut through ; and the erector muscles are left without any anta- 

 gonists, and keep the tail in a position more or less erect, according to the 

 whim of the operator, or the depth to which the incisions into the muscles 

 have been carried. 



The operation is thus performed. The side line is put on the horse, 

 or some deem it more prudent to cast him, and that precaution we 

 should be disposed to recommend. The hair at the end of the tail is se- 

 curely tied together for the purpose of afterwards attaching a weight to it. 

 The operator then grasps the tail in his hand, and lifting it up, feels 

 for the centre of one of the bones (the prominences at the extremities 

 will guide him to this), from two to four inches from the root of the tail, 

 according to the size of the horse. He then with a sharp knife divides 

 the muscles deep from the edge of the tail on one side to the centre, and 

 continuing the incision across the bone of the tail, he makes it as deep 

 on the other side. One continued incision, steadily, yet rapidly made, will 

 accomplish this. If it be a blood horse this will be sufficient. For a 

 hunter, two incisions are usually made, the second being about two inches 

 below the first, and likewise as nearly as possible in the centre of one of 



