22 THE HORSE. 



The spectator, who watches the march of a horse, 

 perceives the moment of elevation far better than that 

 of setting down. If the same spectator mounts the 

 horse, he will feel, even without being very impression- 

 able, the setting down of the fore feet. 



By combining these two observations, the horseman 

 will be perfectly capable of fully comprehending the play 

 of the members, if he will march the horse, at a walk 

 and in the sun, either on a road or near a wall, and 

 select a suitable hour when the silhouette of the animal 

 projects a shadow equal to its height. This will 

 perfectly translate to the eye the evolution of the 

 posterior members and -will positively prove the lateness 

 of this foot opposed to the anterior, of which the rider 

 perceives the beat. 



The phrase of the setting down of the fore feet was 

 purposely italicised, when its perceptibility was stated ; 

 thence it must not be concluded that that of the hind 

 feet is also capable of apprehension. The explanation of 

 this is found in the dictum of Baucher, who was never 

 wearied of refuting, as erroneous, the opinion of those 

 who pretended to feel the movement of the posterior 

 extremities at a walking gait and who, according to 

 themselves, could profit thereby so as to cause the horse 

 to start, at will, either on the right or left foot. 



The difficulties of equitation are already sufficiently 

 numerous, even with the exact knowledge of the most 

 natural means, without their augmentation by imprac- 

 ticable notions. 



3. — THE GALLOP. 



I have often heard the objection advanced that every 

 lively and raised gait escapes analysis because too difficult 

 for absolute proof. But I believe the explanation is 

 to be found in the facility for the unchecked reproduction 

 of a defective attitude, long admitted by convention. At 

 all events, an endeavour may always be made to take it 

 into account. 



No gait offers so much liberty to the artist as the 

 gallop ; therefore allusion will only be made to what is 

 necessary for some slight regulation of this vagrancy, and 

 for putting a certain limitation to this disorder. 



