THE FRAMEWORK OF THE HORSE. 27 



into bearers : and this may be done in two different 

 ways, one of which, having a very definite object, is 

 good in its way, whilst the other is, to say the least, 

 of very questionable utility under any circumstances. 

 The manege or school rider educates his horse to bear 

 an increased proportion of the weight on its hind legs, 

 these latter being brought forward under the animal 

 with bent hocks ; but his object not being speed — and 

 it is well known that manege-training diminishes 

 speed, for which reason, precisely, English riders scoff 

 at the haute ecole, somewhat unadvisedly perhaps — the 

 manege-rider is perfectly justified in acting as he does 

 in order to attain other objects. It is, moreover, im- 

 portant to remark, that if a horse's hind quarters be not 

 sufficiently strong and pliable to enable them to endure 

 the increased demand for bearing: without annihilatino^ 

 their propelling power, such a horse will be incapable 

 of high training in this sense. "^ 



The English hussar-horse in Plate VII. is precisely 

 in this position, and having poor hind quarters, incap- 

 able of sustaining the weight thrown on them even 

 with perpendicular hocks, much less with his legs bent 

 under him like a school-horse, he is compelled to 

 stretch them out like the props ari.ri in fig. 1, and is 

 therefore, even in the state of rest, more than half-way to 

 the utmost reach of his stride ; for the whole concern 

 must roll over if he attempted, in galloping, to bring 

 up these legs to the hoof-marks of the fore legs. There 

 can be no question, therefore, but that weighting in 

 this manner diminishes speed.* — ' 



Before going on to the second question, one word, 



*Tliere is a justification fortliiskind ofridiugwhentlieforelegs 

 are groggy and the hind ones still good; and this expedient is often 



