10 ANGLO-FRENCH HORSEMANSHIP 



country, where a horse has often to jump from a stand, 

 generally over ditches or low fences, strong loins and 

 hocks are a necessity, extra good shoulders a luxury ; 

 whereas in a flying country, where a horse has to jump 

 up into the air, and descend again, good shoulders are 

 in the ease of most horses a necessity, and save many 

 a fall. 



Proportion and large open angles at permanently 

 bent joints are the main points to look for. It is no 

 use having a horse with powerful hind quarters if his 

 forehand is weak, as he will probably overjump himself, 

 and come down on his head at a fence. Similarly if his 

 forehand is too heavy and powerful for his hind 

 quarters, he will not be able to lift himself over his 

 fences ; but given fairly good proportions, providing a 

 horse is not overweighted, is allowed to carry his head 

 where he likes, and balance himself so that his strongest 

 parts do the work in hunting, he will last for years, 

 although his shape and make may not be all one would 

 desire. But it should be borne in mind that nothing 

 compensates for a weak pair of lungs, and in choosing 

 a hunter one should specially notice whether, when 

 galloping, sneezing or coughing, the horse expels the 

 air mth force or not. 



If when trotting you can rise and fall equally com- 

 fortable on either diagonal, and you find yourself 

 strongly thrown up from the saddle, the hind legs are 

 probably all right ; if the horse also canters equally 

 well leading with either fore leg, and turns and twists 

 about easily to either hand, and backs readily, there 

 cannot be much the matter with him. A horse starts 

 a canter with a spring and he naturally takes the weight 

 on the sounder fore leg and hind leg. Consequently, 

 when left to himself he leads with the weaker fore leg. 



