36 SEATS AND SADDLES. 



We must now remind the reader that we have, up to 

 this point, taken no account of the influence exercised 

 by the overhanging weight of the horse's head and neck 

 on the animal's equihbrium, having proceeded altogether 

 on the supposition of this being analogous to that of 

 the little instrument represented in fig. 1. It has 

 been shown, however, that the centre of motion, — that 

 is to say, the point round which all other parts of the 

 animal move when in action — or, what comes to the 

 same thing, the point where the least motion is felt, 

 — is situated somewhere in a perpendicular fallings' 

 through the fourteenth dorsal vertebra, Plate I. j and 

 it has been intimated that the perpendicular through 

 the centre of gravity of a horse naturally falls through 

 some one or other of the vertebrse from the tenth to 

 the thirteenth, that are situate nearer to the neck. A 

 horse can go with these two centres in the relative 

 position described here. It favours certain special pur- 

 poses — as, for instance, racing, and perhaps riding to 

 hounds, to a certain extent — just as it suits the purpose 

 of the manege-rider to bring the centre of gravity 

 further back towards the loins than the fourteenth ver- 

 tebra ; but for all general purposes it is of the greatest 

 importance that the two perpendiculars passing respec- 

 tively through these two centres should be made to 

 coincide, — and this is the aim and object of all school- 

 riding, except for the haut manege. Above all, it is 

 indispensable for military purposes. 



In fact, in racing, and to a certain extent in hunting, 

 a horse is not required to move otherwise than in 

 nearly straight lines or gentle curves. A jockey that 

 understands the work will ride differently in the latter 

 and the former, and will immediately change his seat 



