196 THE TRUNK. 



high they are in horses which have very thick withers. Animals 

 that are comparatively high over the croup, appear to have 

 lower withers than those which are high in front, even 

 when we make allowance for any difference that may exist 

 in the length of the spines themselves. The reason for this 

 seems to be that, as elevation of the croup causes the w^eight 

 of the body to be shifted forw^ard, such a conformation tends 

 to depress the body between the shoulder blades, and con- 

 sequently reduces the distance between them and the top of 

 the withers. 



"■Leanness of the Withers''' depends on their apparent 

 height ; the actual thickness of the spines and their cartilages ; 

 the size of the muscles of the part ; and the amount of loose 

 tissue about it. Although we cannot expect leanness of 

 withers in the cart-horse, the presence of whose massive 

 muscles that lie between the trunk and shoulder blades, 

 separates the ends of the latter widely asunder ; still it is 

 a very desirable point in the saddle-horse, as it indicates 

 absence of an excess of connective tissue {see p. 14), light- 

 ness of forehand, and height of the withers themselves. 

 Very thin, high withers are objectionable ; for they are liable 

 to become hurt by a saddle, especially by a side-saddle. We 

 are all aware that when the part is of this shape, it is difficult 

 to keep the "gullet-plate" of the saddle from touching it, 

 however high this iron arch may be ; the reason being, as far 

 as I can see, that such a condition is usually associated, as 

 might be expected, with emaciation of the neighbouring 

 muscles ; among the rest, those which give rise to the pro- 

 minence behind the shoulder blade, and against which the 

 " points " of the tree of the saddle should rest. When the 

 part is thus unduly flat, the saddle is naturally liable to slip 



