THE GAITS IN PARTICULAR. 575 



behind which is added integrally. It is appreciated from this how 

 violent must be the reaction to the rider and to the horse. If the 

 anterior members of the latter are not constructed strongly and 

 solidly, if their vertical axes and equilibrium are defective and his 

 training incomplete, a fall becomes inevitable. 



The three varieties of leap of which we have spoken are some- 

 times combined on the hunting-field or the race-course. The Irish 

 banquette is only an obstacle similar to the one of which Fig. 261 rep- 

 resents the scheme. Very variable in its disposition, it often has a 

 trench in front of the ascent and a second one behind the descent, 

 which render the leap still more dangerous. 



Conformation of Leapers. The horse which is destined to 

 leap frequently, requires, of necessity, an irreproachable conformation, 

 as well as energy, force, and vigor, in order to be able to withstand 

 the great fatigue that results from this act. 



A light head, long neck, beautiful withers, strong and compact 

 body, powerful loins and croup, wide articulations, regular axes, and 

 equilibrium of the anterior members, as well as energy, are the essen- 

 tial beauties to be desired in him. 



Besides a strong muscular development, adds M. Sanson, 1 the horse 

 must have an intelligence developed and improved by education and 

 training. It is very disadvantageous not to have, in this kind of ser- 

 vice, a horse that possesses the intellectual faculty which is called 

 judgment, and which implies, on his part, close observation, apprecia- 

 tion, and, finally, decision, with which he measures his efforts by the 

 severity of the task imposed upon him. 



Bounding and Bucking. 



The bounding or skipping is effected upon place, with two times, 

 and consists of a complete elevation of the body above the ground by 

 the successive and alternate raising of the anterior and posterior parts 

 of the body. The movements of the posterior quarters, however, are 

 ordinarily not that of kicking. This act can be repeated several times 

 in succession. The horse most often practises it from mere playful- 

 ness in the parade or in the riding-school, but sometimes also for the 

 purpose of dismounting his rider. 



Bucking, or the goat-leap, is almost identical with the pre- 

 ceding. It only differs from the latter in that the animal appears to 



1 A. Sanson, Trait de zootechnie, 2e 6d., 1874, t. i. p. 89. 



