8-8 ATTITUDES OF THE HORSE. 



carry his head low down. We may see by reference to 

 the figures in Chapter XII., that in all paces, and 

 especially in fast ones, in order to obtain good forward 

 reach, it is requisite that the fore limb should be 

 drawn upwards as well as forwards. The defect, as 

 regards want of safety, in the fore feet not being lifted 

 sufficiently off the ground by the play of the shoulder, 

 may be compensated for by increased knee action, which, 

 however, will have no effect in lengthening the stride ; 

 but will, in causing loss of time in putting down the fore 

 feet, tend to diminish the speed. The use of the curb 

 bit has so often been found to injuriously affect the 

 action of race-horses by, as a rule, making them carry 

 their heads low down, and consequently to gallop 

 " round," that it is very seldom used with these 

 animals. Trainers of match-trotters and match-pacers 

 employ an '' over-draw check-rein " (bearing-rein. Fig. 

 60) to improve the action of horses which do not 

 carry their heads high enough, and which, on that 

 account, have too low action. The bearing-rein is, in 

 many cases, necessary for the attainment of that " ex- 

 travagant " action which is greatly sought for among 

 fashionable carriage horses : a fact which accounts for 

 its retention in the stables of the rich, despite the adverse 

 criticism that is being constantly directed against its 

 use. As a rough guide to the direction of the neck 

 (supposing it to be straight or only slightly bent), when 

 the line of the face is at an angle of about 60° to the 

 ground, I may say that, at ordinary paces, the upper 

 part of the nostril should not be lower, or only slightly 

 so, than the top of the withers. In the fast gallop, the 

 horse will carry his head lower down than this, so as to 

 bring his weight forward, and thus to increase his speed 

 (p. 69). This difference in the carriage of the head will 

 be evident, if we compare Figs. 138 to 146 with Figs. 156 

 to 171. A fairly high carriage of the head, with the face 

 at the angle just mentioned, is a most desirable point 



