126 LOSING EQUILIBRIUM. 



declivity (I mean such rises as we meet on ordinary 

 roads), it would make little difference. A horse has 

 as much dread of falling as we have that he should 

 do so : therefore he would avoid or lift his legs over 

 any large and visible obstruction, however near he 

 might go to the ground in his general action : I mean 

 if he met such obstacles as required lofty action to 

 get over. It is only when his action is so very low, 

 or his sluggishness so great, that he does not lift the 

 foot high enough to clear the ordinary inequalities 

 that he meets, that he becomes unsafe : quick action, 

 and putting the foot properly on the ground, are two 

 of the great desiderata in a hack. 



There is one thing that constitutes much greater 

 danger than any bad action as to going too near the 

 ground. This is what I have specified as malforma- 

 tion ; of course I allude to the fore-quarters. I care 

 not, however faultless, high, or grand may be the 

 action of a horse, if his fore-legs are not put on in 

 their proper place he never can be fit to ride. I mean 

 by this, if his legs stand under him, all the high 

 action in the world cannot save such a horse if ridden 

 at the slightest mistake down he must come he 

 is out of the perpendicular, in fact overbalanced. 

 We know of many leaning towers, some inclining 

 more than others ; still they are safe in their present 

 state of declension : but let that declension be in- 

 creased perhaps one foot, down must come the whole 

 fabric. So with the horse: he would go safely 

 enough so long as his present inclination was sus- 

 tained ; but let him make a false step, so as to throw 

 his fore-parts forward, down he must come also. In 

 riding some horses a rider will find they bring the 

 fore-arm on a level with his toe : I do not say, get off 



