72 



HINTS ON HORSES 



Apart from the manner in which a rider 

 distributes his weight, the method of carrying 

 out a journey on horseback may diminish or 

 add to the fatigues of both man and beast. 

 The rider should discover the peculiarities 

 of his steed, e.g. a good-shouldered horse 

 with sound fore legs can go downhill full 

 speed without taking anything much out of 

 himself. A straight-shouldered horse would 

 be greatly jarred and distressed by attempting 

 to do so. On the other hand, the straight- 

 shouldered horse might have the better wind, 

 and might perform the journey at a steady 

 pace uphill and down in exactly the same time 



as the oblique-shouldered horse, who would 

 have to take it easy uphill, and make up for 

 lost ground going downhill. 



Some horses can keep up a steady trot the 

 whole time with little fatigue, others prefer 

 to vary their paces. To do the whole journey 

 at a very slow pace is often much more weari- 

 some to man and beast than to go at best pace 

 all the way. 



To tighten the girths after starting, without 

 dismounting, often makes the saddle sit more 

 comfortably. To slacken the girths after the 

 horse has had a drink, in a similar manner, 

 adds to the wellbeing of the horse (Fig. 43). 



