238 
MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY. 
MUSCLES OF THE OUTSIDE OF THE THIGH. 
PLATE VII. Fig. 1. 
a . The great glutaeus muscle, or gluteus maximus . It occupies the 
anterior, middle, and external parts of the haunch. It arises 
from the spinous and transverse processes of several of the 
bones of the loins, from the sacrum, and from the different 
edges of the ilium, and is inserted into the protuberance of the 
upper bone of the thigh, behind and a little above the joint 
that unites the thigh to the haunch-bone. It is this muscle 
which gives that fulness and roundness to the haunch so much 
admired. It is one of the chief muscles of progression. 
b. The outer glutaeus, or buttock-muscle, which can only be 
considered as a fleshy slip attached to the great glutaeus. Its 
origin is as high as the spine, and it runs along the back part ol 
the thigh in the form of a ridge, and is inserted into the 
smaller outer prominence of the upper bone of the thigh 
c. This muscle arises high up from the bones of the spine, from 
others at the root of the tail, from the protuberance of the 
ischium, and from other bones of the pelvis. It is, in fact, a 
sort of triple muscle, as it has three heads; it is called the 
triceps femoris , or three-headed muscle of the thigh. It is 
inserted into the upper part of the lower bone of the thigh, 
and its office is to draw back the thigh when placed under the 
irunk, and so to throw forward the trunk of the body. 
d. This muscle descends from the sacrum, and from the first 
bones of the tail runs down posterior to the triceps femoris, 
and constitutes the hinder border of the haunch. It is inserted 
into the lower bone of the thigh, and assists in performing the 
same kind of motion. The whole of these muscles are very 
much developed in the thorough-bred horse, and hence his 
strength and speed, which is besides another very important 
point in the horse. To perform their full action, these muscles 
should be so prominent that the horse, when the observer stand? 
behind him, should be perceptibly wider at the thighs than 
the loins and haunch. 
e. The root of the tail, with its muscles. 
