26 SEATS AND SADDLES. 



carried affect the horse's speed ? and, 2dly, How does 

 action affect equilibrium or balance 1 



The way in which these questions present them- 

 selves points directly to their solution ; and, as regards 

 the first, it is to the horse's legs, and the mode in which 

 they are moved, that we must look, just as in the 

 former case we looked to the mode in which they are 

 fixed. There is, however, a great difference observable 

 between the functions of the hind and fore legs when 

 we come to compare action with rest. In the latter, 

 we were justified in looking on both pairs equally as 

 bearers; in the former, the fore legs are still employed 

 chiefly as bearers, and only in a smaller degree as pro- 

 pellers, whereas the hind legs act cMqfly as propellers 

 and in a less degree as bearers. It should follow from 

 this, that we may favour the propelling power of the 

 hind legs by weighting forward within certain limits ; 

 and this we know to be the case the long stride of the 

 race-horse is favoured by the well-known forward seat 

 of the jockey. Well, what are the limits 1 In the 

 case of the jockey it is difficult to draw a "hard and 

 fast" line, because his total weight is inconsiderable, 

 and the distances to be got over are inconsiderable; 

 and this is precisely the reason why heavier riders, 

 especially when they have to do long distances, should 

 not ride forward like the jockey, because they are sure, 

 sooner or later, to use up their horses' fore legs by mak- 

 ing them exclusively bearers : even race -horses will 

 break down under the light weight, and some jocks 

 are unfortunate in this respect. 



And if this be true, it is equally so that placing the 

 weight too near the hind legs must diminish their pro- 

 pelling power, by converting them, in a greater degree, 



