DEFENSES OF THE HORSE. 293 



to pursue will be to keep him collected and 

 make him move at rather a rapid gait, because, 

 when he is animated, he will lift his feet more 

 briskly and to better advantage. 



A straight-shouldered horse, when carrying a 

 woman, will be apt to stumble, to bear upon the 

 reins, and to move heavily on his fore-feet, and 

 will therefore require an expert horsewoman 

 to keep him moving in good form. 



When the rider hears a metallic clinking 

 sound at each step of her horse, it will be an in- 

 dication that the shoes of his hind-feet are strik- 

 ing against those of his fore-feet ; this is very 

 dangerous, as in the trot, or gallop, he may 

 " overreach " and strike one of his fore-legs with 

 one of his hind-shoes in such a manner as to in- 

 jure himself severely, or he may catch the toe 

 of a hind-shoe in the heel of a fore-shoe so that 

 they will become locked together, when the 

 fore-shoe will have to give way and come off, or 

 a terrific fall will ensue. Some horses overreach 

 on account of their natural conformation, others 

 only when fatigued ; again, some will be free 

 from this defect when fat, but will manifest it 

 when they become lean from overwork, defi- 

 ciency of food, or other cause. Young horses 

 will occasionally move in this manner before 

 they are taught their paces, but as soon as they 



