106 THE HORSE OWNER's 



They are all, however, modifications of the same pace, 

 varying- only in the velocity with which they are carried 

 out. Besides the paces of the horse which are required 

 for his use by man, there are also certain movements very 

 commonly met with, by no means desirable, and others 

 which are taught him for man's extraordinary purposes; 

 the former are called vices, the latter are more or less the 

 rusult of the manage,' or breaking-school. 

 VICES. 

 The vices are — first, stumbling : secondly, cutting and 

 rearing; thirdly, shying; fourthly, kicking; fifthly, plung, 

 ing; sixthly, lying down; seventhly, shouldering; and 

 eighthly, running away. The managed actions are back- 

 ing, passaging, etc. Stumbling is caused by defective mus- 

 cular action in all cases, though there is no doubt that in 

 many horses this defect is aggravated by lameness, either 

 of the feet or legs, or from defective shoeing. Some 

 horses can never be ridden in safety for many miles, al- 

 though they will **sliow out" with very good action ; and 

 this is caused by the muscles which raise and extend the 

 leg, tiring very rapidly ; after which the ground is not 

 cleared by the toe and when it is struck there is not pow- 

 er to recover from the mistake. Many careless and low 

 goers are constantly striking their feet against stones, but 

 having strong exteriors they draw their feet clear of the 

 obstacle, and easily recover themselves ; whilst those 

 which are differently furnished, although they strike with 

 less force, yet they have no power to help themselves, and 

 therefore they fall. The one kind nia}^ be kept on their 

 legs by constant rousing and severity, but the weak ones 

 are never safe. In the stumbling from lameness or sore- 

 ness the most humane course, as well as the safest, is 



