572 THE EXTERIOR OF THE HORSE. 





^ya Curnieu^ and of M. Duhousset,^ as well as with the 



results deduced from the instantaneous photographs 

 from Lissa. 

 S The anterior members are the first to arrive on the 



^ ground, almost simultaneously and veri/ close to each 

 \-—Jf% i other (Fig, 265), Avhich is also shown by the trail 



(Fig. 267). If, however, the horse, before leaping, 

 should gallop upon the right, for example, it is the 

 anterior right which touches the ground first, and vice 

 versa. It is less frequent to see him continue the gallop 

 upon the other foot, although this disunion in the first 

 step after completing the leap is sometimes observed. 

 Scarcely has the anterior biped touched the ground, 

 when it is immediately raised by a forcible effort, to 

 allow space for the two hind-feet, which effect their 

 1 i o contact in the same order as their congeners, marking 

 t « 5 their imprints a little in advance and very close to the 

 I I latter (Fig. 267). 



The descent being completed, the animal takes 

 several strides of the gallop, after which he can stop 

 I g or continue his gait. 



Nevertheless, it is not always thus. Either because 

 the impulsion has been too energetic or because the 

 IjH S ^ g fore-limbs are poorly adapted for the reception of the 

 I a I body, from over-exertion, weakness, defective confor- 



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mation, or improper training, a serious fall is some- 

 " times produced. The horse, by virtue of the speed 

 % acquired flexing the knees, executes a complete somer- 

 2 set and dismounts his rider, who is thrown away sev- 

 S eral metres. Nor is it very rare in such a case to see 

 one of the two unable to rise any more. 



If the impulsion by the posterior members has 

 been insufficient, the accidents assume a different char- 

 acter : sometimes the hind-members touch the superior 

 part of the obstacle, which is a frequent cause of falls ; 

 o sometimes the fore-members alone clear it, and the 

 B. animal remains suspended upon the inferior face of 

 ^ the abdomen or the chest, without being able to dis- 

 engage himself. 



' De Curuien, Lemons de science hippique, t. i. p. 166. 

 2 Duhousset, Le cheval, p. 33. 



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