KICKING. 



97 



rearing, owing to the great strain thrown on them when 

 the animal assumes an upright position. Curbs, spavins 

 and other enlargements are of frequent occurrence among 

 circus horses which are trained to walk on their hind 

 legs. 



Kicking. — The term " kick " is usually restricted to 

 a blow given by one or both hind legs (Fig. 63). A horse 



Photo hy} 



[J. Deltox, Paris. 



Fig. 63. — Horse Kicking. 



is said to " strike out," when he makes a forward blow 

 with one or both fore legs. We may regard both these 

 movements as kicks. 



A horse can kick in three ways : (i) To the rear with 

 one or both hind legs ; (2) to the front with a hind leg ; 

 and (3) to the front with one or both fore legs. Unlike 

 horned cattle, a horse is unable, without moving the 

 body, to kick to one side, except to a slight extent, 

 owing to the presence of a ligament (j)uhio-jemoral) which 



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