958 PRACTICE OF AGRICULTURE. Part III. 



inclined direction of the whole limb backwards, is a sure mark of an unsafe goer, and commonlj', though 

 not invariably, of a slow one also. Tt now and then happens indeed, that horses having defective shoulders 

 prove speedy and good movers, which would appear to contravene these principles ; but it will be found, 

 that, wherever horses iiaving these defects in their fore legs yet prove quick and safe in progression, they 

 invariably have hinder parts of great strength and proportion to make up the deficiency. Indeed, it 

 appears probable, that the hind and fore parts do not bear the same relative proportion in all horses alike ; 

 in blood horses, the withers are not always high, and although their shoulders are commonly deep and 

 oblique, yet the fore limbs are altogether short in proportion to the hinder, in a great number of the 

 fleetest racers : for, as speed appears to be a princii)at end in their formation, and as comparative anatomy 

 furnishes us with abundant proof that all animals destined to make considerable leaps (and the full gallop 

 is nothing more than a succession of leaps) are low before, the end of their formation is really best 

 answered by this arrangement of pans ; it is also more than probable that, although speed in the gallop 

 may be found with a defective forehand, yet, in the slower paces of the canter, trot, and walk, a justly 

 formed shoulder is more immediately requisite. This subject will be still further elucidated when we treat 

 on the mechanical properties of the skeleton. 



6268. The ivit/icrs (e e) are formed by the long transverse processes of the dorsal vertebrje {Jig. 830. y), 

 and as their use is to serve as levers to muscles, so their length characterised by the height of the withers 

 must be of great advantage, and enable such horses to go high above their ground ; for the muscles of the 

 back, acting to greater advantage, elevate the fore parts more forcibly. From this we may also learn that 

 the elevation of the fore parts, or the horse's going above his ground, as elevated action is expressed, is not 

 altogether dependent on the motion of the shoulders, nor on the height to which the animal may be 

 inclined to lift merely his legs ; but likewise, on the extent to which the fore half of the machine is alto- 

 gether elevated by the action of the dorsal and lumbar muscles. When the withers are high, or the fore- 

 hand well up, as it is termed, it is favourable to the celerity and to the safety of the action ; but as these 

 properties are less wanting in the heavy breeds, we find in them a considerable variation of form : in the 

 cart horse, weight of forehand is an essential requisite to his exertions ; for drawing being an effort of the 

 animal to preserve himself from the tendency which his weight gives him to the centre of gravity when 

 he inclines forward, so the more weighty and bulky he is before, and the nearer he approximates this 

 centre, the more advantageously he will apply his powers. It is not here intended to be hinted that nature 

 gave him this form purposely to enable him to draw : this, indeed, would be an argument of necessity; 

 but this form has been judiciously imposed on him by men, by regulation of the sexual intercourse, and 

 by a careful selection of specimens having some of the requisites to propagate from, until at last we have 

 produced the massive weighty animal whose powers astonish as well as benefit us. 



6269. The breast or counter iff) is the part between the point of the arms or shoulders, and which 

 should be moderately wide and extended : when it is otherwise, the horse is seldom durable, or even 

 strong, although he may be .speedy ; neither have the lungs sufficient room for expansion, nor the 

 muscles great extent of attachment; frequently too it accompanies a general flatness of ribs, and want 

 of circular form in the carcase in general ; all which experience has shown to be necessary to the 

 perfection of the machine. The breast may, however, be too wide ; it may also hang over or project 

 beyond the perpendicular of the fore limbs, so as to overweigh the machine : this form, however, though 

 unfavourable to the saddle horse, for the reasons just assigned, is much desired in the heavy draught 

 horse. 



6270. The back. Where the withers end the back commences (g) ; the length should be moderate only, 

 for a long cylinder cannot be so strong as one of less length ; long-backed horses are easy because the 

 action and the reaction are considerable ; but what is gained in elasticity is lost in strength. When the 

 back is too short, the extremities are so much approximated that they frequently overreach each other, 

 and the hind foot strikes that before it, in progression : the back should be nearly straight, it has naturally 

 an inclination in the line of its gravity ; but this exists in very different degrees in different horses. When 

 the incurvation inwards is considerable, such horses are called saddle-backed, and are usually considered 

 weak; but, to keep up the counterpoise, the crest in such horses is generally good; they also ride plea- 

 santly, and commonly carry much apparent carcass ; sometimes indeed too much. When the back is 

 curved upwards, it is called roach-backed ; when considerably so, it is unfavourable to the liberty of action, 

 as well as to the elasticity of motion : in these cases, to counteract the curve outward, the head is also 

 usually carried low. A short-backed horse is in considerable request with many persons, who do not con- 

 sider that when it is too much so there is seldom great speed ; for the hinder extremities cannot be brought 

 sufficiently under the body to propel the mass forwards. 



6271. The loins (h) may be considered as the part which extends from immediately behind the hinder 

 edge of the saddle, when properly placed, to the rump. Anatomically it begins at the sacrum {Jig. 830. z), 

 whose processes being sometimes defective or interrupted, leave an indentation, as though the union 

 between the back and loins were incomplete ; and such horses are said to be badly loined : but although 

 it may in some measure deprive the muscles of some slight attachments, yet the evil is not so considerable 

 as is imagined. The width of the loins is of considerable import to the strength of the animal, as it affords 

 a greater surface for the attachment of the powerful muscles of the back and loins ; and the muscles 

 themselves should be so prominent, as to seem to swallow the back-bone amongst them. When the pro- 

 tuberances of the ilium or haunch bone are very prominent, the horse is said to be ragged hipped ; but it 

 operates to his disadvantage only in appearance, as extent in these parts, being favourable to muscular 

 attachment, is always beneficial 



6272. The croup extends from the loins to the setting on of the tail (w n). It should be long and only 

 slightly rounded, which is another characteristic of the blood or improved breed. In the cart horse, on 

 the contrary, it is seen short and much more considerably rounded ( n). A long croup is in every point 

 of view the most perfect, for it affords a very increased surface for muscular attachment, and although 

 the large buttocks of the cart horse would at first sight convey an idea of great strength and extent, yet, 

 attentively viewed, it will be found that the early rounding of the sacral line, the low setting on of the 

 tail, and the small space which necessarily exists between the hips and buttocks, all tend to lessen the 

 surface of muscular attachment, compared with the broad croup, wide haunches, and deep spread thighs 

 of the blood horse. 



6273. The Jiank (A), is the space contained between the ribs and haunches; when too extensive it in- 

 dicates weakness, because it is the consequence of too long a back ; and such a horse is said not to be well 

 ribbed up. When the transverse processes of the lumbar vertebras are short, as in badly loined horses, 

 this part is hollow. The flank is usually looked to also as indicative of the state of respiration : thas, 

 when it rises and falls quicker than ordinary, unless violent exertion has just been used, it betokens pre- 

 sent fever, or otherwise, chronic disease of the lungs. 



6274. The belly (?). Having taken a tour round the upper parts of the carcase, we will carry the survey 

 downwards and forwards. Anteriorly, the ribs should be wide upwards, and as much deepened below as 

 possible, which affords what is termed great depth in the girth. This form greatly increases the surface 

 of attachment of the motive organs, the muscles, and also allows room for the free expansion of the lungs, 

 and consequently is favourable to the wind. Posteriorly, the ribs should form the body as much as pos- 

 sible into a circular figure, that being of all others the most extended, and affording the best surface for 

 the absorption of nutriment ; thus barrelled horses, as they are termed, are greatly esteemed, and found 

 to be lasting in work and readily brought into condition, and more easily kept so. When the chest is too 

 flat and straight, the belly is also small : hence, neither can the blood absorb its vital principle from the 

 air, nor the lacteals the chyliferous juices from the intestines ; these horses are therefore seldom durable. 

 As less nutriment is taken up by the constitution, so less is eaten, thus also they are seldom good feeders; 



