Illustrating the Anatomy and Muscular System of the Horse - Containing Extracts from Livestock for the Farmer and Stock Owner

By A. H. Baker

This classic guide contains information on the skeleton, organs and muscles of a horse. It is intended to illustrate the main aspects of equine anatomy and serves as a guide for anyone wishing to obtain a general knowledge of the subject. With detailed illustrations and interesting and useful information, this volume is highly recommended for equestrians and other occupied in the care and management of horses. Contents include: “Frame Work”, “The Index Of Value”, “Master The Details Of The Skeleton”, “Division Of The Several Parts”, “Comparative Anatomy Of Man And The Horse”, “Analyzing The Skeleton”, “The Foot”, “The Head And Neck”, “Bones And Muscles Of The Front Limb”, etc. Many vintage books such as this are increasingly scarce and expensive. It is with this in mind that we are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition complete with a specially-commissioned new introduction on the anatomy and breeding of horses.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Read Books Ltd.
• Release date: Apr 4, 2013
• ISBN: 9781447490937

Book preview

ILLUSTRATING THE ANATOMY OF THE HORSE.

I. FRAME WORK THE INDEX OF VALUE.——II. MASTER THE DETAILS OF THE SKELETON.——III. DIVISION OF THE SEVERAL PARTS.——IV. COMPARATIVE ANATOMY OF MAN AND THE HORSE.——V. ANALYZING THE SKELETON.——VI. THE FOOT.——VII. THE HEAD AND NECK.——VIII. BONES AND MUSCLES OF THE FRONT LIMBS.——IX. THE HIND LIMBS.

I. Frame Work the Index of Value.

A close and comprehensive study of the anatomy and physiology of the animals of the farm, is of the first importance to every person who breeds, rears, or buys them, with a view to profit from their sale. In the case of the horse it is especially necessary that this study be carefully made, since, in the perfection of the several parts, constituting solidity and fineness of bone, a firm and complete muscular development, large, healthy lungs, and the highest state of normal activity of the digestive organs, lies the real value of this most useful of the servants of man. The owner or purchaser must also know distinctly what an animal is intended for, and should select him with special reference to the service required, whether it be for special work, for trotting, racing, road-driving, light or heavy draft, or for what is termed general utility. With reference to these several uses the bony structure of the animal is of the first importance, since it is the skeleton upon which all else is built. Without a knowledge of the bones, the situation of the muscles cannot be accurately determined, or their actions, in connection with the several parts, to which they are attached, and especially their action on the limbs be definitely understood.

II. Master the Details of the Skeleton.

Hence we must first master the details of the bony structure. Next the muscles may be studied, and from this we may easily understand the minute but important action of the several parts as a whole. While the ordinary observer will be altogether misled, in estimating the value of an animal from his outward appearance and movements, he who has carefully studied the physical proportions with the eye of a careful anatomist will quickly and accurately understand the true value of the animal from the relation of the several parts one with another. For these habits of accurate observation will readily detect, in the living horse, the true character of the bony structure, and especially of the muscular system, which covers and envelops it. In order to make the bony structure plain to the reader it is here shown by diagrams or object lessons, since this is the most graphic, and at the same time the most accurate, method of presenting information of this kind. To make our object lesson still more easy we give in the engraving, not only the frame-work, but this resting on or shown against a