THE SPINE. 149 



The above remarks show the impropriety of tight-gii thing, 

 particularly where it is less necessary, as in the stable, or when 

 the rider is off from the saddle. 



A point of consequence is the length of the carcase and the 

 ribbing home. If the horse has to carry a heavy weight, and 

 has much work to do, he should be well ribbed homCi i. e. 

 there should be but little space between the last rib and the hip- 

 bone. 



If speed, however, is required, there must be room for the full 

 action of the hinder limbs ; and this can only exist where there 

 is sufficient space between the last rib and the hip-bone. 



The thorax, or chest, is formed by the spine f, above (Fig. 

 26) the ribs e, on either side ; and the sternum, or breast-bone, 

 c, beneath. 



THE SPINE AND BACK. 



The spine, or back, consists of a chain of bones from the poU 

 to the extremity of the tail. It is made of twenty-three bones 

 from the neck to the haunch ; eighteen, called dorsal vertebra, 

 composing the back ; and five Iwmhar vertebrce, occupying the 

 loins. The structure and attachments of these are remarkably 

 well calculated for easiness of carriage and strength. The hun- 

 ter will carry a heavy man through a long chase without great 

 fatigue or strain ; but if the horse is over- weighted, or tasked too 

 long, or too suddenly pulled upon his haunches, the ligaments 

 uniting the vertebrse are strained, inflammation follows, and the 

 ligaments become changed to bone. From hard service, and 

 especially from being used too young, very many horses have 

 some of the bones of the back or loins anchylosed — i. e. united 

 by bony matter in the place of the natural ligament. When 

 this exists to any considerable extent, the horse becomes un- 

 pleasant to ride, turns with difficulty in his stall, is indisposed 

 to lie down, or being down, to rise, and has a singular straddling 

 action. 



The length of the back deserves attention. The long-backed 

 horse will be easier in his paces, because the spring is longer ; 

 and he is formed for speed, for there is more room to bring his 

 hinder legs under him. But he will be comparatively weak in 

 the back, and more easily over-weighted. 



For general purposes the horse with a short carcase, also, is to 

 be preferred, as possessing greater health and hardiness. He will 

 have sufficient easiness of action not to fatigue the rider, and speed 



notes a disposition to make flesh, and thus to economize food ; and, for the 

 same reason, in other horses, a rather circular abdomen is approved of — ip 

 fact, one neither too wide nor too flat is the most desirable. 



