DISTRIBUTION OF WEIGHT. 7-5 



greater weight than that of his own body. The old adages 

 that any horse is able to wear out four sets of limbs, and 

 that a horse is as old as his legs, are unhappily too true. 

 Therefore it behoves the careful horseman, by judicious 

 breaking, to diminish as far as possible the chances of his 

 animals becoming unsound. 



As the preponderance of weight on the forehand increases 

 as the speed; the liability of injury to the fore legs, as 

 compared to that of the hind ones, will vary in the same 

 proportion. Bringing too much of the weight back, 

 especially when jumping (see page 263), is apt to throw an 

 injurious amount of strain on the hind legs. 



In rearing, there is extreme preponderance of weight 

 on the hind legs; in kicking with both hind feet, on the 

 fore ones. The rider can lighten the forehand : (i) by 

 leaning back in the saddle ; (2) by raising the horse's head ; 

 (3) by moderating the speed; and (4) by applying the 

 drawn-back heels or spurs, so as to make the horse bring 

 his hind legs well under him, and at the same time check- 

 ing with the reins any increase of speed. I may remark that 

 when increased action of the fore legs is prevented from 

 being utilised in a forward direction, it is expended in a 

 more or less vertical one, as we may see in the case of 

 fashionable harness horses which are broken on the "hit 

 'em and hold 'em " principle. As the instability of the 

 centre of gravity increases proportionately to the speed 

 (see Points of the Horse) ; the slower the pace, other 

 things being equal, the lighter will be the forehand ; and 

 vice versa. 



The rider can increase the weight on the forehand : (i) by 



