36 THE HORSE. 



members. The first effort raises the croup, the second 

 seeks an appui upon the resistance it desires to fight 

 against. 



This violent, and necessarily very brief, displacement 

 needs assistance from the fore-part of the animal in re- 

 lieving the hind-quarters, which is accomplished by the 

 forward transportation of the centre of gravity. The 

 horse brings its neck near the chest by elongating and 

 lowering the head. It thus burdens the anterior and the 



whole body is supported 

 by the anterior mem- 

 bers, firmly fixed upon 

 the ground and even 

 camped, whilst the back 

 and loins in their eleva- 

 tion, facilitate the pro- 

 jection of the hind legs 

 which give the kick. 

 The two feet come near 

 to one another, in order 

 to attack the object 

 Fig. 20. aimed at with more 



force. 

 I have, likewise, ascertained the proximity of the 

 tracks of the two hoofs upon the portion struck ; the kick 

 is one of the artifices a steed employs to get rid of its 

 rider. 



A horse is impeded from kicking by holding its head 

 up and by overweighting the hind quarters. 



The leap can be made from the set feet, but is 

 generally executed during a gallop. The horse encounters 

 an obstacle of a certain altitude, and without perceptible 

 abatement of the gait, clears it vigorously and pursues its 

 way. What has occurred ? 



A little before arriving at it, the horse has appreciated 

 the act demanded of him — we are here speaking of an 

 energetic animal — its eyes and ears have given as clear 

 indications as could be imparted by verbal utterance ; as 

 has been said when considering the rear, it prepares 

 itself by acting upon the hocks in proportion to the 

 spring required to project its mass both forward and 

 upward over the obstacle. 



