34 SEATS AND SADDLES. 



movement is not, as shown in A, continuous, but 

 broken ; there is therefore an interval of time during 

 which the weight of the horse (and rider) is not sup- 

 ported diagonally in the usual manner, but vibrates, as 

 it were, from one fixed basis to a more forward one. 

 The animal is off the ground with all four legs for 

 a moment in rapid trotting, for instance — the conse- 

 quence is, that there must be less stability/; and we 

 know from experience that, when this is carried to a 

 great extent, the horse " over-reaches," as it is called, 

 and comes down ; but, on the other hand, the advantage 

 is gained of getting over the ground more rapidly ; for 

 on comparing C with A, it is evident that more ground 

 has been covered in the former than in the latter with 

 the same number of strides, which are therefore longer. 

 The advantage conferred by throwing the weight for- 

 ward is, therefore, that it tends to increase the speed ; 

 the disadvantages attendant on it are, diminished sta- 

 bility, and the rapid using up of the fore legs, for it is 

 on these alternately that the whole weight pivots, as is 

 w^ere, during the moments of vibration from each fixed 

 basis to the succeeding one, as explained above. 



When a horse steps short — that is to say, does not 

 attain to the track of the fore feet with the hinder ones 

 (D, fig. 2)— the exact contrary of the above takes place; 

 the full lines connecting the diagonal feet overlap each 

 other constantly — the animal covers part of the same 

 ground twice in its successive strides ; these, therefore, 

 are shorter, and it requires a greater number of them to 

 cover a given space. On the other hand, the stability 

 is more perfect, but the hind legs are unduly converted 

 into bearers, and suffer in consequence. That they 

 really are so is shovrn by the fact of the short stepping 



