178 HOESE POETEAITUEE. 



as far up as the angles of the lips would permit. Some 

 object to this check on the ground of the pressure on the 

 poll. This is not so great as is imagined ; neither is it 

 heavier than when checked to the same altitude in the 

 ordinary way. The horse not being able to lower his 

 head by curving his neck, he cannot get so much pur- 

 chase, either on the bearing rein, or those that we drive 

 with. This gives the advantage in managing turbulent 

 horses I spoke of before dinner, as we get them in a 

 position where they cannot use their strength. To illus- 

 trate this : grasp me round the body with both arms, and 

 at the instant you apply your whole strength to throw me 

 down, I push up your head with a slight touch of the 

 hand on your chin, and you will fall as if shot. This 

 check was invented, or at least used, to cure the celebrated 

 stallion, from which it derives the name, from throwing 

 his head down when in a break, and when he could not 

 be made to recover his trot with his head in that position. 

 The rapid improvement in this horse's gait, which placed 

 him at the very top of the list as a weight drawer, is 

 ascribed to its use, as well as his going into the hands of 

 the " Field Marshal." This title, applied to Hiram Wood- 

 ruff as a driver of trotters, is hardly right. He should be 

 called the Emperor of the Knights of the Whip and 

 Snaffle, the Field Marshals consisting of those who have 

 a secondary renown. Frequently there is a marked change 

 in the action of horses driven at first in this check, as the 

 weight of the body is differently distributed by the position 

 of the head. I have read an account of a series of experi- 

 ments made by French veterinarians in weighing a horse. 

 The scales were made in two compartments, or rather 

 two platform scales were placed contiguous, so that the 

 hind feet were on one, and the front feet on the other. 

 It was surprising, the difference between the weight of 

 the forehand, when the head was elevated or depressed. 



