THE RACK. 219 



not easily described, in which the horse appears 

 to trot with one pair of legs and amble with the 

 other, the gait being so mixed up between an 

 amble and a defective trot as to render it almost 

 a nondescript. When racking, the horse will 

 appear constrained and uncomfortable, and will 

 strongly bear upon the rider's hand ; some ani- 

 mals so much so, as completely to weary the 

 bridle-hand and arm in a ride of only an hour 

 or two. This constant bearing of the horse's 

 head upon the reins soon renders him hard 

 mouthed, and, consequently, not easily and 

 promptly managed. The rack soon wears out 

 a horse, besides spoiling him for other gaits, 

 and so injures his feet and legs that a racker 

 will rarely be suitable for the saddle after his 

 eighth year. It is an acquired step, much dis- 

 liked by the horse, which has always to be 

 forced into it by being urged forward against 

 the restraint of a curb-bit ; and he will, when- 

 ever an opportunity presents, break into a rough 

 trot or canter, so that the rider has to be con- 

 stantly on the watch, and compel him to keep 

 in the rack against his will. And although the 

 motion does not jolt much, the aspect of the 

 horse and rider is not as easy and graceful as in 

 the canter and hand gallop, there being an ap- 

 pearance of unwillingness and restraint that is 



