24 THE HORSE AS A RIDING MACHINE. 



By shortening the horse's stride by the reins in the 

 manner just described, we not only lighten the fore-hand, but 

 we also give the animal an easily understandable hint to go 

 slower, which hint he will obey all the more readily if he 

 knows from experience that compliance on his part will be 

 rewarded by cessation of the painful pressure of the bit on 

 his mouth. 



Increase of speed implies increased length of pull given by 

 the respective muscles which are concerned in movement ; 

 and decrease of speed, diminution in the length of that pull 

 Hence, at full speed in the gallop or trot, the neck has to be 

 held as straight as possible, so that the muscles of the neck 

 may have the utmost advantage in drawing the fore limbs 

 forward. With decrease of speed, it will be natural for the 

 neck to be more or less bent. I cannot say that the neck is 

 bent proportionately to the diminution in speed ; but all good 

 horsemen know from experience that the best way to preserve 

 the regularity of a horse's gallop, is to keep the reins at a 

 fixed length, after ascertaining that the length in question is 

 correct. 



We see from the foregoing remarks that the position of 

 a horse's head will affect the stability of the equilibrium of 

 his body (pp. 17 to 19). The advantage to be gained as 

 regards speed, by lowering the head, is limited by the fact 

 that when the head is unduly depressed, the direction of 

 the forward pull given by the muscles of the neck to the 

 fore limbs, will oblige the animal in order that his feet may 

 clear the ground in front to bend his knees to an extent 

 which would interfere with his speed ; and would also 

 diminish the forward reach of his fore legs. As these 

 principles do not admit of exact application, we must 

 content ourselves with the general statement that a horse 

 as a rule will carry his head lower at full speed than 

 when going slower. 



