54 HORSES AND HIDING. 



tracks left by a horse in the four diflFerent paces, 

 walk, trot, canter, and gallop ; but it nmst be 

 remembered that there is a great difference between 

 the marks left by one horse and another, even when 

 going at the same pace. 



In order the more readily to distinguish between 

 the hind and fore legs, I have made the fore shoe 

 marks circular, and the hinder triangular. 



While on the subject of riding on a road, or 

 rather of teaching a horse to go properly on a road 

 when ridden, it will be as well to mention a few of 

 the commonest faults indulged in by horses under 

 those circumstances. 



I have already mentioned one of the common 

 faults, namely, not standing still to be mounted, and 

 have shown how to cure it. Now, one of the com- 

 monest faults in nearly all horses — so common as to 

 be almost universal, and an excessively troublesome 

 fault — is one which I have never seen alluded to in 

 any book, or mentioned as a fault. I will call it, 

 in the absence of any other name, ' taking advantage,' 

 as this will give the reader the best idea of what the 

 fault is. It is this : you are riding leisurely along, 

 either at a walk or slow trot, and you have occasion 

 to alter your position on the saddle — to take your 

 pocket-handkerchief out of a coat-tail pocket, for in- 

 stance, to blow your nose, or to look at something on 

 the ground under the horse's track, to adjust your 

 stirrup, &c. The horse immediately begins to trot ; 



