58 HORSES AND RIDING. 



uneven substance. When it arises from the first 

 cause, namely, bad action, the horse is liable to fall ; 

 but he is not very liable to fall when it arises from 

 the second cause, carelessness, unless the horse is 

 careless and has bad shoulders as well, in which 

 case he may easily come down. 



The reason why there is a diflPerence is this : a 

 horse does not fall because he stumbles, but because 

 when he does stumble he is not nimble enough to 

 recover himself, and this arises from his shoulders 

 not being properly placed. 



I once heard a story which illustrates this in a 

 remarkable degree. 



A man bought a horse, and after some time was 

 asked by a friend whether the horse was a safe horse 

 to ride, on which he replied that he could not tell, 

 as the horse had never stumbled with him up to that 

 time. This was repeated as a good joke, but it is 

 strict sense, for a bad-shouldered horse may be so 

 careful that he hardly ever makes a false step ; but 

 he would for all that be as likely as not to come down 

 if he did stumble, owing to his inability to recover 

 himself; while a better shouldered horse might often 

 trip from carelessness and not be in so much danger 

 of falling as the other. 



I should sum up the case of stumbling, therefore, 

 thus : if you Jcnow that your horse has good shoulders 

 he may not fall though he stumbles : but if you are 

 not certain of that, he most probably stumbles be- 



