142 THE HORSE 



transferred ten kilogrammes to the hindermost scales. Again, by raising 

 and drawing back -the head, in a similar way to the action of the bearing 

 rein, eight kilogrammes were transferred from the fore to the hind scales, 

 and this should not be forgotten in discussing the merits and demerits of 

 that much-abused instrument of torture. M. Baucher then mounted the 

 mare, when it was found that his weight, which was sixty-four kilogrammes, 

 was placed in the proportion of forty-one kilogrammes on the fore-quarters 

 to twenty-three on the hind. A considerable change was of course pro- 

 duced by leaning backward, and by using the reins in the manner of the 

 bearing rein, the former transferring ten kilogrammes from the fore to the 

 hind-quarters, and the latter act adding eight more. 



EVERY PRACTISED horseman knows that his horse's fore-legs will suffer 

 in proportion to the weight which is thrown on them, while their relief is 

 an additional source of strain to the hind-legs. The spavined, and more 

 especially the curby-hocked horse, relieves these parts by using his fore-legs 

 to carry more than their proper proportion of weight, while the animal 

 affected with any painful disease of the fore-limbs carries almost all the 

 weight of his body on his hind-legs, which are advanced under him in the 

 most peculiar manner. The value of artificially changing the natural 

 carriage of the horse, so as to make his hind-legs come forward and carry 

 more than their own share of weight, is chiefly felt in chargers, hacks, and 

 harness horses, while, on the contrary, it is injurious to the hunter and 

 race-horse, whose hind-quarters bear the greatest strain. 



THE ATTITUDE ASSUMED IN STANDING 



STANDING may be considered under two heads, the first comprising the 

 attitude naturally assumed by the horse when inclined to rest himself, and 

 the second that forced upon him by education, for the sake either of 

 appearances, or to keep him ready to start at a moment's notice, as in the 

 cavalry horse. When standing free or naturally the horse always rests one 

 leg, and that generally a hind one, changing from one to the other as each 

 becomes tired in its turn. In the forced attitude all four are on the ground, 

 and each supports its share of the superincumbent weight. In either case 

 the different joints are kept from bending, by the almost involuntary 

 combined action of the flexor and extensor muscles, which will keep him 

 standing even in sleep, in which respect he differs from the human subject. 

 The oblique position of the pasterns affords a considerable aid, but without 

 the semi-involuntary support afforded by the muscles, the stifle and hock 

 joints behind, and the shoulder and elbow before, would inevitably give 

 way. 



MODE OF PROGRESSION 



IN MOVING FORWARD, whatever the case may be, the hind quarters are 

 the main propellers, and thrust the body forward on the fore-legs, which 

 serve as imperfect segments of wheels, each in its turn making a revolution 

 forwards and backwards through a segment of a circle, like a pendulum. 

 This forward motion is either effected by one hind-leg at a time, as in the 



