THE ANGLE OF TRACTION, ETC. 221 



appear to be more advantageous than one that works at 

 right-angles to the horse's shoulder." This, however, 

 is a one-sided view of the case, as the question is r 

 according to our apprehension, not with what kind of 

 machine can we do the work, taking much or little out 

 of the horse ? but, on the contrary, how can we do the 

 work required, taking the least out of the animal ? We 

 have now perhaps said quite enough about the angle of 

 traction, taken by itself, and proceed to consider 



The Collar. Let us first suppose the collar to fit 

 perfectly, and to lie in such a position with regard to- 

 the shoulder-blade that when we talk of a line being 

 parallel to, or at a given angle with, the one, the same 

 also applies to* the other. Moreover, we may confine 

 our remarks at present to one side of the collar, the 

 other side being acted on by precisely similar forces 

 and in the same directions, by which means a balance 

 is established. We may now go back to p. 48 of Part I., 

 beginning to read at the words, " Supposing, now, the 

 under surface of the saddle," continuing through the 

 whole of p. 49, and ending in page 50 with the words, 

 " a defect that depends on the rider himself." All 

 that is said here of the saddle and the rider's weight 

 applies perfectly to the collar and the pull on the 

 trace, excepting, of course, that in the former case 

 the question is of the effect of gravity, which always 

 acts in one direction, whereas in the latter we have 

 muscular action producing a pull in a direction that 

 may be varied ; otherwise, however, the analogy is 

 complete. For, as in the saddle, injury to the horse's 



* As for instance, when a small horse is put into a gig intended 

 for a big one. Vide Mr. Pickwick's discourse with the cabman, 

 that ended so disastrously for that gentleman. 



