34 WOEK. 



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 

 without 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 

 inju.ry 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. Ob- 

 serve, on the contrary, the bearer of the experienced 

 horseman ; although the weight he had to carry may 

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

 are right enough. 



The softness of the turf, as fitting it for the indul- 

 gence of a galloj), is indicated by the depth of the 

 horse-tracks ; there is not much impression left on a 

 hard road. 



It should be always borne in mind that " it is the pace 

 that kills,'' and unless the wear and tear of horse-flesh 

 be a matter of no consideration, according as the pace 

 is increased from that of five or six miles per hour, so 



