laO THE LOINS WITHERS. 



for every ordinary purpose. Length of back will always be de 

 sirable 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 

 horses have a very considerable hollow behind the withers. They 

 ■ire said to be saddle-backed. Such horses are evidently easy 

 goers, but in the same proportion, they are weak and liable to 

 sprain. 



A few horses have the curve outward. They are said to be 

 roach-backed, from the supposed resemblance to the arched back 

 of a roach. This is a very serious defect ; — altogether incompati- 

 ble with beauty, and materially diminishing the usefulness of the 

 animal. It is almost impossible to prevent the saddle from being 

 thrown on the shoulders, or the back from being galled ; — the 

 elasticity of the spine is destroyed ; — the rump is badly set on ; — 

 the hinder legs are too much imder the animal ; — ^he is contin- 

 ually overreaching, and his head is carried awkwardly low. 



THE LOmS. 



The loins are attentively examined by every good horseman 

 They can scarcely be too broad and muscular. The strength of 

 the back, and especially the strength of the hinder extremities, 

 will depend materially on this. The union of the back and loins 

 should be carefully observed, for there is sometimes a depression 

 between them. A. kind of line is drawn across, which shows im- 

 perfection in the construction of the spine, and is regarded as an 

 indication of weakness. 



I THE WITHERS. 



The spinous processes of the vertebrae, above the upper part 

 of the shoulder, form the elevated ridge called the withers. (See 

 Figs. 1 and 26.) 



High withers have be<!n always, in the mind of the judge of 

 the horse, associated with good action, and generally with speed. 

 The reason is plain enough : — ^they afford larger surface for the 

 attachment of the muscles of the back ; and in proportion to the 

 elevation of the withers, these muscles act with greater advan- 

 tage. And as the rising of the fore-parts depends not only upon 

 the muscles of the legs and shoulders, but on certain anps connRnt- 



