24 NAMES OF EXTERNAL PARTS AND DEFINITIONS. 



that portion of the spinal column to which ribs are attached, 

 and it consequently includes the withers ; but not the loins. 

 The term " back " is, in common parlance, an ill-defined region. 

 Some regard it as consisting of the whole of the upper line of 

 the body, from the front of the withers to the root of the tail. 

 Others would exclude from this the croup. Probably, the 

 majority of horsemen would say the back of a horse is in- 

 cluded between the highest point of the croup and the 

 commencement of the withers. For convenience sake I shall 

 adopt the anatomical definition, with the omission of the 

 withers, which have separate functions, and which I shall 

 consider by themselves. I may, therefore, state that the 

 back is bounded in front by the withers ; behind, by the 

 loins ; and on each side, by the ribs. 



Loins (12). — The loins are placed between the back and 

 croup, at front and rear, with the flanks at each side. We 

 may regard the loins as that portion of the spinal column 

 which is devoid of ribs, and which is in front of the highest 

 point {posterior iliac spine, see Fig. 3) of the pelvis. 



Ribs (13). — The ribs are bounded by the shoulders in 

 front, by the flanks behind, by the back above, and by the 

 belly and brisket {sternwii) below. 



Flank (14). — The flank is that part of the side of the 

 horse which is free from bone and which thinly covers 

 the intestines. It is placed between the loins above, the ribs 

 to the front, the thigh and point of the hip to the rear, and 

 the belly below. 



The hollozv of the flank is the upper portion of the flank, 

 which is bounded above by the loins, and below by a line 



