2 6 HORSE-BACK RIDING. 



ment, but one after the other, as the fore-feet do, 

 and in this movement the right foot is raised and re- 

 placed a httle in advance of the left, but the differ- 

 ence, in this pair at least, is almost insensible ; there- 

 fore we may consider the gallop accomplished in 

 three measures or beats. 



The first is marked by the left fore-foot touching 

 the ground, the second by the right, and the third 

 by the fall of the two hind-feet. This cadence is so 

 clearly perceptible that it may be musically meas- 

 ured. Every one perceives it, and even poets imitate 

 it in the construction of their verses : 



Quadrupedante putrem sonitu quatit ungnla campum. 



It is understood, of course, that if the horse starts 

 from the left fore-foot instead of the right, the same 

 movement takes place, but in inverse order. 



In this gait the rider experiences only agreeable 

 undulation. We speak in general, for there are 

 horses whose gallop is more disagreeable than their 

 trot, owing to certain peculiarities of structure or 

 vices in the training. 



Thus Ave see that the movements communicated 

 by the horse to the rider vary, as we have said al- 

 ready, according to the gait, and also according to 

 the animal and the nature of the soil gone over. 



In walking, the cavalier follows the movement of 

 the horse almost exactly, and retains the same posi- 

 tion, but in trotting it is quite different. When the 



