34 SEATS AND SADDLES. 



ported diagonally in the usual manner, but vibrates, as 

 it were, from one fixed basis to a more forward one. 

 The animal is off the ground with all four legs for a 

 moment in rapid trotting, for instance the consequence 

 is, that there must be less stability ; and we know 

 from experience that, when this is carried to a great 

 extent, the horse " over-reaches," as it is called, and 

 conies down ; but, on the other hand, the advantage is 

 gained of getting over the ground more rapidly, for on 

 comparing C with A, it is evident that more ground has 

 been covered in the former than in the latter with the 

 same number of strides, which are therefore longer. 

 The advantage conferred by throwing the weight forward 

 is, therefore, that it tends to increase the speed; the 

 disadvantages attendant on it are, diminished stability 

 and the rapid using up of the fore legs, for it is on these 

 alternately that the whole weight pivots, as it were, 

 during the moments of vibration from each fixed basis 

 to the succeeding one, as explained above. 



"When a horse steps short that is to say, does not 

 attain to the track of the fore feet with the hinder ones 

 (D, fig. 2) the exact contrary of the above takes place ; 

 the full lines connecting the diagonal feet overlap each 

 other constantly the animal covers part of the same 

 ground twice in its successive strides; these, therefore, 

 are shorter, and it requires a greater number of them to 

 cover a given space. On the other hand, the stability is 

 more perfect, but the hind legs are unduly converted 

 into bearers, and suffer in consequence. That they 

 really are so is shown by the fact of the short stepping 

 taking place. They cannot act sufficiently as propellers. * 



* Horses that at first naturally overstep will, after a certain 

 amount of work, come to step short ; the fore legs having suffered, 

 they ease them by throwing the weight on the hind ones. 



