26 SEATS AND SADDLES. 



The way in which these questions present themselves 

 points directly to their solution; and, as regards the 

 first, it is to the horse's legs, and the mode in which 

 they are moved, that we must look, just as in the former 

 case we looked to the mode in which they are fixed. 

 There is, however, a great difference observable between 

 the functions of the hind and fore legs when we come 

 to compare action with rest. In the latter, we were 

 justified in looking on both pairs equally as bearers ; in 

 the former, the fore legs are still employed chiefly as 

 bearers, and only in a smaller degree as propellers, 

 whereas the hind legs act chiefly as propellers and in a 

 less degree as bearers. It should follow from this, that 

 we may favour the propelling power of the hind legs by 

 weighting forward within certain limits ; and this we 

 know to be the case the long stride of the race-horse 

 is favoured by the well-known forward seat of the 

 jockey. Well, what are the limits ? In the case of the 

 jockey it is difficult to draw a "hard and fast" line, 

 because his total weight is inconsiderable, and the 

 distances to be got over are inconsiderable ; and this is 

 precisely the reason why heavier riders, especially when 

 they have to do long distances, should not ride forward 

 like the jockey, because they are sure, sooner or later, 

 to use up their horses' fore legs by making them exclu- 

 sively bearers ; even race-horses will break down under 

 the light weight, and some jocks are unfortunate in this 

 respect. 



And if this be true, it is equally so that placing the 

 weight too near the hind legs must diminish their pro- 

 pelling power, by converting them, in a greater degree, 

 into bearers ; and this may be done in two different 

 ways, one of which, having a very definite object, is 



