INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 43 

 As whip'J tops, and bandied balls, 



Tbe learned bold, are animals ; 

 So Horfes tbey affirm to be, 

 Mere engines made by geometry. 



But he will ftill find that the animal ftruclure, 

 its proportions and progreflive powers, are the 

 proper fubjecls of geometrical and mathemati- 

 cal calculation; and that St. Bel and the 

 French writers, have treated on this branch of 

 equeftrian fcience in a very comprehenfive, 

 perfpicuous, and fatisfaclory manner. In this 

 particular they excel, and I know of none of 

 our Englifh writers who has attempted it, ex- 

 cept Oliner ; he appears indeed to have under- 

 ftood the mechanical principles of progeflion 

 in Horfes ; but was obvioufly unprepared to 

 elucidate them in a precife and fcientific way. 

 I would wifh to recommend warmly this part 

 of St. Bel's works, with the valuable plates 

 annexed, to the attention of the fporting reader; 

 he will find great help in thofe rational and 

 well-grounded theories, towards forming juft 

 ideas of the mofl perfect fhape, and mod ad- 

 vantageous mode of progrefhon in thofe Horfes 

 deflined to the courfe. I fhall have occafion 

 to examine St. Bel's fyflem of fhoeing, in its 

 proper place; as alfo mofl of thofe fubjecls 

 which are handled in his writings. As to the 

 numerous attempts hitherto made in the French 

 fchools to cure the glanders, I mult own, I fee 



nothing 



