2o8 MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY 



MUSCLES OF THE OUTSIDE OF THE THIGH. 

 PLATE VII, Fig. i. 



a. The great glutseus muscle, or gluteus niaximus. It 



occupies the anterior, middle, and external parts of 

 the haunch. It arises from the spinous and transverse 

 processes of several of the bones of the loins, from the 

 sacrum, and from the different edges of the ilium, 

 and is inserted into the protuberance of the upper 

 bone of the thigh, behind and a little above the joint 

 that unites the thigh to the haunch-bone. It is this 

 muscle which gives that fullness and roundness to the 

 haunch so much admired. It is one of the chief 

 muscles of progression. 



b. The outer glutseus or buttock-muscle, which can only be 



considered as a fleshy slip attached to the great 

 glutaeus. Its origin is as high as the spine, and it runs 

 along the back part of the thigh in the form of a 

 ridge, and is inserted into the smaller outer pro- 

 minence of the upper bone of the thigh. 



c. This muscle arises high up from the bones of the spine, 



from others at the root of the tail, from the pro- 

 tuberance of the ischium, and from other bones of the 

 pelvis. It is, in fact, a sort of triple muscle, as it has 

 three heads ; it is called the triceps femoris^ or three- 

 headed muscle of the thigh. It is inserted into the 

 upper part of the lower bone of the thigh, and its 

 office is to draw back the thigh when placed under 

 the trunk, and so to throw forward the trunk of the 

 body. 



d. This muscle descends from the sacrum, and from the 



first bones of the tail runs down posterior to the 

 triceps femoris^ and constitutes the hinder border of 

 the haunch. It is inserted into the lower bone of 

 the thigh, and assists in performing the same kind of 

 motion. The whole of these muscles are very much 

 developed in the thoroughbred horse, and hence his 

 strength and speed, which is besides another verjr 

 important point in the horse. To perform their full 

 action, these muscles should be so prominent that the 



