34 WORK. 



does more injury to the frame and legs of a horse, than 

 twenty miles' walk and trot : for this reason, that in 

 the act of walking or trotting the off fore and near hind 

 feet are on the ground at the same moment alternately 

 with the other two, thus dividing the pressure of weight 

 and propulsion on the legs more than even ambling, 

 which is a lateral motion ; while in anything approach- 

 ing to the canter or gallop, the two fore feet and legs 

 have at the same moment to bear the entire weight of 

 man and horse, as well as the jar of the act of propul- 

 sion from behind. 



Ambling is a favourite pace with the Americans, 

 whose horses are trained to it ; also with the Easterns. 

 It is, as before mentioned, a lateral motion, much less 

 injurious to the wear and tear of the legs than either 

 canter or gallop on the hard road, the off fore and hind 

 being on the ground alternately with the near fore and 

 hind legs. 



Though unsightly to an Englishman's eyes, this pace 

 is decidedly the easiest of all to the rider, and may be 

 accelerated from four to six or eight miles an hour with- 

 out the least inconvenience. Some American horses are 

 taught to excel in this pace, so as to beat regular trotters. 



By trotting a horse you do him comparatively little 

 injury on the road ; but observe the animal that has 

 been constantly ridden by ladies (at watering-places and 

 elsewhere), who are so fond of the canter : he stands 

 over, and is decidedly shaky on his legs, although the 

 weight on his back has been generally light. Observe, 

 on the contrary, the bearer of the experienced horse- 

 man ; although the weight he had to carry may have 

 been probably what is called " a welter," his legs are 

 right enough. 



