LANDING OVER A JUMP. 



159 



hind legs, and will then (so they say) be in the best 

 position to " get away " quickly. They quite forget 

 (or perhaps do not know) that the hind limbs of a 

 horse are unfitted to stand the violent shock which 

 would be transmitted through them, if they had to bear 

 the weight of the body on landing. These limbs are 

 such poor weight-bearers, that a horse, as a rule, has 



Phoio iy] 



[The Gresham Stcdio, Adelaide, s. Australia. 

 Fig. 255. — Australian horse jumping. 



great difficulty in walking even a few yards on his hind 

 legs. Almost all circus horses which have to perform 

 this trick, throw out, after a short time, curbs, spavins 

 and thoroughpins of amazing size. What a state the 

 hocks of a hunter or chaser would be in, if he had 

 always to land first on his hind legs ! The fore limbs 

 on the contrary, being attached to the body onl\- by 

 muscles, are singularly well adapted to support shock 

 like that of landing over a fence. Besides, if a horse 

 which, like all other animals, is obliged to " take off " 



