130 EQUINE LOCOMOTION. 



of the rein-back, as would be the same style of movement 

 of the fore legs in paces of forward progression. (2) When 

 a horse in harness tries to push a heavy weight to the 

 rear, or when he " plants " his hind legs on the ground 

 owing to unwillingness to rein-back or to unskilful handling 

 by his rider or driver, he will make his effort or his 

 ^' defence," as the case may be, by throwing the weight on 

 his hind-quarters. In the event of the centre of gravity 

 of the horse (and of the rider) falling to the rear of the base 

 of support (p. 60) formed by his four feet, he will, if in 

 saddle, have to make a hurried and consequently a low 

 step to the rear with one hind foot, which may be followed 

 by the other feet in a more or less disorganised and in- 

 secure manner. If the hind feet fail to come quickly 

 enough to the support of the centre of gravity, a fall will 

 be the inevitable result. Besides the danger of this rein, 

 or rather run, back, the fact of the hind limbs (which are 

 far less suited to bearing weight than the fore ones) being 

 surcharged with weight, will render them liable to become 

 injured, and will make this movement to the rear far more 

 fatiguing to the animal, than if it were executed in the 

 manner first described. It behoves us, therefore, if we 

 wish to rein-back a horse which we are riding, to adopt 

 the safer and less tiring method. With this object in 

 view, when we want to make a horse which we are riding, 

 rein-back, we should keep our hands '' down," so as to 

 allow him, or, if needed, to induce him, to lower his head 

 and put weight on his fore-hand. We should avoid the 

 practice, taught in Enghsh riding schools, of taking an 

 equal pull on both reins ; for, if we do so, we shall adopt 

 the best means to induce the animal to throw his centre 

 of gravity to the rear, and to adopt the second method 

 of the rein-back, which is objectionable in all cases, except 

 in heavy draught. Instead of this " even feeling " on 

 both reins, we may effect our purpose by, for instance, 

 taking a stronger pull on the near rein, so as to bend 

 the horse's head and neck more or less to the left, draw 



