USE OF THE SPURS. 153 



the physical from the moral horse, and force 

 these impressions to concentrate in the brain. 

 He will then be a furious madman, whose 

 limbs we have bound to prevent him from 

 carrying his frenzied thoughts into execu 

 tion. 



The best proof we have that the prompt 

 ness of a horse in responding to the effect 

 of the legs and spurs, is not caused by a 

 sensibility of the flanks, but rather by great 

 action joined to bad formation, is that the 

 same action is not so manifest in a well- 

 formed horse, and that the latter bears the 

 spur much better than one whose equili 

 brium and organization are inferior. 



But the spur is not only useful in mode 

 rating the too great energy of horses of much 

 action ; its effect being equally good in com 

 bating that disposition which leads the ani 

 mal to throw his centre of gravity too much 

 forward, or back. I would also use it to 



