198 Modern Riding and Horse Education 



field, and the high carriage of his head as he trots 

 away. The animal certainly has no weight on his 

 back, but we may note that the free shoulder-action 

 w^e admire accompanies a neck held high and a 

 head if anything extended. 



Perhaps the best illustration of the part played 

 in advancing the forelegs, by the important muscle I 

 have mentioned, is to be observed in the different 

 effect on the action of the horse of the *' over-draw 

 check-rein " (Plate XIX) used in trotting matches, 

 and the English bearing-rein. The first named is 

 designed to bring the head up and the nose out, thus 

 stretching the neck-muscle to its extreme length and 

 giving the quickest and freest shoulder action, which 

 results in increased speed for trotting matches. 

 The English bearing-rein (Plate XX), on the con- 

 trary, arches the horse's neck and brings his nose in, 

 which produces exaggerated knee-action and loss of 

 forward movement, but allows the driver a fuller 

 power of control. 



For pleasant hacks, such as the gaited horses 

 of Kentucky, and for the English park hack, the 

 arched-neck, nose-in profile recommended by 

 Baucher and other Haute Ecole enthusiasts in no 

 way detracts from their usefulness, and they are 



