STUMBLING. 5§ 



he will, in all probability, strike it, and stumble ; but, 

 except in very rare cases, he will not fall, for the misad- 

 venture will not be enough to disturb the equilibrium of 

 his body. The rider, if he be not very nervous, may 

 well disregard this fault, unless it belongs to an animal 

 intended for show rather than for use. Many horses 

 which have low and good galloping action trip or " toe " 

 when walking. The other and dangerous kind of stum- 

 bler has generally straight shoulders, infirm fore legs, 

 or cramped action. As he leans his weight too much for- 

 ward, he is very liable to catch the ground with the toe 

 of his advancing fore leg, a fall being the probable result, 

 from the centre of gravity of the body being well beyond 

 the point of support of the fore legs. If, added to the 

 imperfect manner in which the body is balanced, the 

 animal be infirm in front, he will have but a remote 

 chance of recovering himself, in the event of a bad trip. 

 All that the rider can do to prevent such a catastrophe 

 is to ride the horse well up to his bridle, so that he may 

 get his hind legs under him. A properly adjusted curb 

 bit may be substituted for the snaffle. The rider should 

 on no account punish the horse for stumbling, for that 

 would have the effect only of making him start and 

 prance about after the mistake has occurred, but will not 



