202 EQUINE LOCOMOTION 



other being slightly bent at the knee, and in readiness, in case of a false 

 step, to save the horse from a fall. The leading leg is quite straight at the 

 moment of landing, and a bent knee would seem to add greatly to the 

 danger of a fall. (It is to be noted, however, that some of the safest con- 

 veyances the writer has had were a good deal "over" at the knee.) The 

 right hind-foot follows the right fore, and the same thing applies to the 

 limb of the other side. The print of the hind-foot is found to be in advance 

 of the front one, so that the latter must be picked up and out of the way 

 before the descent of the hind. In sticky ground, and for other reasons, 

 such as a heavy rider rolling about in the saddle and supporting himself on 

 the animal's neck, the fore-foot is not extricated in time, and a serious over- 

 reach may result. The forehand is raised after a jump by the straightening 

 out of the limb, and anything that hinders the muscles engaged endangers 

 both the horse and his rider. Severe bits have the effect upon tender- 

 mouthed horses of making them try to land on their hind-feet, and in other 

 ways risk losing their equilibrium. There are still persons to be found who 

 believe that this is the habitual method (landing on the hind-feet), but, as 

 pointed out by Hayes, " the hind-limbs of the horse are altogether unfitted 

 to stand the violent shock which would be transmitted through them if they 

 had to bear the weight of the body on landing. Such poor weight-carriers 

 are they, that a horse disposed to rear has difficulty in walking a few yards 

 on his hind-legs." Circus horses compelled to walk on their hind-legs have 

 commonly large curbs, spavins, and thorough-pins. 



The principal paces have now been alluded to; for further details and 

 description of the artificial paces of the riding-schools, readers are referred 

 to the works of Stanford, Hayes, Marey, Goubaux and Barrier, Le Coq, &c. 



