thp: selection of a horse ii 



When jumping he takes off witli his leading fore leg, 

 but lands on the other fore leg, which will be the sounder 

 one : before jumping he brings both his hind feet 

 together, but lands on the previously leading hind leg — 

 the stronger one — in front more under the body and, 

 consequently with more weight on it. A lady's 

 horse should, therefore, have an undeniably strong 

 and sound off hind and near fore leg, as the lady's 

 weight is principally on these legs in the trot. When 

 cantering it is more comfortable if the horse leads with 

 the off fore, in which case his, and his rider's weight, 

 is also principally on the near fore and off hind : though 

 both hind legs come forward together the near hind leg 

 takes the ground first, and the horse balances himself 

 on it, whilst the off hind leg reaches as far forward as 

 it can, carrying the weight with it, and then helps the 

 near hind and near fore leg in the spring forward on 

 to the leading fore leg ; there is then a short period of 

 suspension during which the hind legs come forAvard 

 for the next stride. 



Having seen a horse trot in a straight line, he should 

 be trotted round a circle, to both sides, in order to see 

 if he freely places his weight on each diagonal pair of 

 legs. 



As to manifestations of lameness. If the horse is 

 lame in front, he lowers his head and appears to drop 

 as the sound foot comes to the ground : the contact of 

 that foot with the ground will be longer and the beat 

 stronger than that of the lame leg. If the lameness is 

 behind, the side of the croup over the sound leg will 

 drop more than the side over the lame leg, and the 

 head will nod on the side of the lame member, so as to 

 bring the weight forward as that foot comes to the 

 ground. 



