450 CHAPTER GO. 



When horses grow over-hvrge, they seldom increase in good points in 

 due proportion. Hence so many overgrown horses are of little value. 

 A good big horse with all his jiarts in proportion Avill always beat a good 

 little horse. The very best shape, however, we may remark, will gene- 

 rally be found in small horses and ponies, especially in the latter. 



Action should be true, that is, level and straight, and above all it must 

 be free. If a horse performs his walking pace freely, he generally does 

 his other paces equally so. If he moves cramped or short at a walk, the 

 other paces are usually bad. In a hack or charger a good free indepen- 

 dent walk is indispensable. A horse that stands well, that is, with his 

 limbs in a proper position, will iirohahhj walk well. A naturally bad 

 shuffling walker should be refused. 



The lift of the foot in the walk should be sufficient to clear all ordinary 

 obstacles in the road, and the action should be collected and perfectly 

 within the animal's control. The foot should be well flexed in the air 

 without any great deviation laterally, and the toes should not be much 

 turned either in or out. In a hackney we desire to have a horse with a 

 quick walk rather than with the long pace of the thoroughbred. 



A horse should place his foot firmly and flatly down. Still his action 

 should be so light and nimble, that there should be but little noise from 

 his tread. A clumsy-going horse is at once known by the noise of his 

 tread. The shoe should be fairly worn at all parts. Any vmdue wear at 

 the toe is an indication that the horse may probably be a stumbler. 

 Horses that stick their toes in the ground are easily thrown off their 

 balance, and may come down. On the other hand the knee should not 

 be raised too much, nor should the horse '' wind " his foot when raised. 

 Such action takes off from the speed and security of the walk. 



In trotting, the hind and fore-legs must act truly and correctly and in 

 unity with each other. The hocks should be Avell flexed and brought 

 Avell under the body, the fore-legs should be lifted quickly and lightly, 

 and all the movements must be in harmony. 



High action in Avalking and trotting, though fashionable, is not really 

 good. A horse loses in progression, all that he steps unnecessarily high. 

 For this reason high-stepping horses generally tire soon, and are then apt 

 to stumble. Besides they are uncomfortable to ride, and moreover they 

 knock their legs to pieces, and are likely to suffer from the effects of 

 excessive concussion. It is essential that the action should be liiijh 

 enough tu he perfedlij safe, hut all heyond that the Author thinks an evil. 

 The action should suggest the idea that it commences from the top of tht 

 shoulder. Good action does not consist merely in the flexion of the knee. 



Dealers are great adepts at temporarily improving and developing 

 walking and trotting action ; or if we may be allowed the expression, in 

 2')roducing action artificially. The trick is simple enough. One man 

 with good hands leads the horse Avith a sharp bit in his mouth, whilst 

 another cracks a whip behind him. As the horse attempts to go forward, 

 he is sharply checked by the bit. The result is that his knees go up, 

 because progress is checked, when the impulse is given from behind. 

 After a few lessons the horse begins to step high, and will continue to do 



