THE REIN-BACK. 



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sudden jerk. We may also see from Figs. 184 to i8g, 

 and from Figs. 152 to 154, how it happens that the back- 

 tendons (especially the flexor per for a ns) of the leading 

 fore, during a gallop or canter in " heavy " ground, are 

 far more apt to become sprained than those of the non- 

 leading fore leg ; for, immediately before the period of 

 suspension, they have (on the contraction of their muscles) 

 not only to help in raising the fore-hand by the straight- 

 ening of the fetlock (Fig. 187), but have also to overcome 

 the resistance which the soil offers to the withdrawal of 

 the foot from its surface. 



The "collected" gallop is shown in Figs. 172 to 191. 



In the fast gallop, the horse has seldom more than 

 two feet on the ground, and then only for a ver^^ brief 

 period. In it, suspension is obtained more by " doubhng 

 up " the legs, than by raising the body off the ground. 



A horse galloping at speed often brings the toe of 

 the advanced fore foot slightly in front of the end of the 

 muzzle, even at a "collected" gallop (Fig. 180). 



The Rein-Back. — This movement to the rear may 

 be executed at the walk or trot, and is performed in a 

 reversed, though exactly similar, manner to the " short 

 stepping walk," or short trot to the front. The so-called 

 galop en arricre of the high school is not a canter. It is 

 merely a series of short jumps to the rear. 



I wish to draw my readers' particular attention to 

 the two different methods of backward propulsion adopted 

 by the horse, when he makes this movement to the rear. 

 (i) When he is at liberty, or when he reins back " col- 

 lectedly " with a capable rider in the saddle, he lowers 

 his head so as to put weight on the fore-hand, and pushes 

 himself back by the alternate straightening out of his 

 fore legs ; while the hind legs, being comparatively free 

 of weight, are raised higher and with greater freedom 

 than the front ones. It is evident that this high and 

 light action of the hind [limbs is as conducive to the safety 



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