THE IMPROVED ART OF FARRIERY. 313 



astonishing, even by ordinary horses. The four miles 

 for the Union cup at Preston were run in very little 

 more than seven minutes. 



THE WALK. 



This is the most gentle of all the paces, and would 

 appear, at first view, to be the most easy ; nevertheless, 

 it is a remarkable fact, that not one horse in five hun- 

 dred can walk well, or even walk at all. This may be 

 attributed to various causes, but the principal one un- 

 doubtedly arises from the bad conformation of the 

 animal . 



The first point essential to the performance of a 

 good walk, is, that the animal should naturally be so 

 placed on his legs, when standing still, as to preserve a 

 proper equilibrium in all parts of the body. 



The head and neck, projecting beyond the shoulders 

 and fore-legs, consequently occasion a greater weight 

 mechanically than if they were replaced immediately 

 above them ; and this weight will be either increased or 

 diminshed, according to the forward or backward po- 

 sition of the fore-legs. 



In the first place, therefore, if the shoulders be up- 

 right, the fore-legs generally stand far under the body; 

 hence the point of support is farther removed from 

 the head and neck, and which must consequently in- 

 crease the weight of those parts. 



When the rider is mounted, and sitting on the 

 centre of the horse's back, the fore-legs, if well placed, 

 and in a perpendicular direction, will stand between 

 his body and the horse's head and neck, whereby these 



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