THE SPINE AND BACK. 227 



processes, or side projections of the bones — ligaments between the spinous 

 processes or upright projections, and also a continuation of the strong ligament 

 of the neck running along the whole course of the back and loins, lengthening 

 and contracting, as in the neck, with the motions of the animal, and forming a 

 powerful bond of union between the bones. 



By these means the hunter will cany a heavy man without fatigue or 

 strain through a long chase ; and those shocks and jars are avoided which would 

 be annoying to the rider, and injurious and speedily fatal to the horse. 



These provisions, however, although adequate to common or even severe 

 exertion, will not protect the animal from the consequences of brutal usage ; 

 and, therefore, if the horse is much overweighted, or violently exercised, or too 

 suddenly pulled upon his haunches, these ligaments are strained. Inflamma- 

 tion follows. The ligaments become changed to bone, and the joints of the 

 back lose their springiness and ease of motion ; or rather, in point of fact, thev 

 cease to exist. On account of the too hard service required from them, an"d 

 especially before they had gained their full strength, there are few old horses 

 who have not some of the bones of the back or loins anehyloeed — united together 

 by bony matter and not by ligament. When this exists to any considerable 

 extent the horse is not pleasant to ride — he turns with difficulty in his stall — he 

 is unwilling to lie down, and when down to rise again, and he has a singular 

 straddling action. Such horses are said to be broken-backed or chinked in the 

 chine. 



Fracture of the bones of the back rarely occurs, on account of their being so 

 strongly united by ligaments, and defended by muscular substance. If a 

 fracture of these bones does happen, it is during the violent struggles after the 

 horse has been cast for an operation. 



The length of the back is an important consideration. A long-backed horse 

 will be easy in his paces, because the increased distance between the fore and 

 hind legs, which are the supports of the spine, will afford greater room for the 

 play of the joints of the back. A long spring has much more play than a short 

 one and will better obviate concussion. A long-backed horse is likewise 

 formed for speed, for there is room to bring his hinder legs more under 

 him in the act of gallopping, and thus more powerfully propel or drive forward 

 the body : but, on the other hand, a long-backed horse will be comparatively 

 weak in the back, and easily overweighted. A long spring may be easily 

 bent or broken. The weight of the rider, likewise, placed farther from the 

 extremities, will act with mechanical disadvantage upon them, and be more 

 likely to strain them. A short-backed horse may be a good hackney, and able 

 to carry the heaviest weight, and possess great endurance ; but his paces will 

 not be so easy, nor his speed so great, and he may be apt to overreach. 



The comparative advantage of a long or short carcase depends entirely on 

 the use for which the horse is intended. For general purposes the horse with a 

 short carcase is very properly preferred. He will possess health and strength; for 

 horses of this make are proverbially hardy. He will have sufficient easiness of 

 action not to fatigue the rider, and speed for every ordinary purpose. Length 

 of back will always be desirable when there is more than usual substance 

 generally, and particularly when the loins are wide, and the muscles of the 

 loins large and swelling. The two requisites, strength and speed, will then 

 probably be united. 



The back should be depressed a little immediately behind the withers ; and 

 then continue in an almost straight line to the loins. This is the form most 

 consistent with beauty and strength. Some horBes have a very considerable 

 hollow behind the withers. They are said to be saddle-backed. It seems as i( 

 a depression were purposely made for the saddle. Such horses are evidently 



Q2 



