THE HORSE. 175 



rious parade than of real utility ; even allowing, that 

 by this extensive education, all the bodily and mental 

 powers of the animal are elicited and displayed : but 

 it is far otherwise with the petit, or inferior menage, 

 which consists of all that is useful in the other ; tit- 

 ting the horse for the ranks, and for every purpose of 

 military service. This useful part of the system is 

 also applicable to other services ; in how great a de- 

 gree it is beneficially so, will be by and by con- 

 sidered. 



" The practice of the old school necessarily partook 

 of the ignorance and barbarity of the times ; and the 

 most absurd and useless trespasses were made upon 

 the animal feelings. Over and above the gags and 

 tortures of the mouth, the legs of the horse were often 

 confined in trammels ; in which state he was driven 

 on by sharp goads, that he might acquire a crippled 

 and unnatural pace ! Heavy shoes were fixed upon 

 his hinder feet, and even sacks of sand upon his loins, 

 in order to keep down the hinder parts of the horse. 

 To these were added, pasterns of lead and shoes of 

 advantage, which last with their plates, beside the 

 constant torture they occasioned, often crippled the 

 horse for life, by strains in the stifle or lower joints. 

 In the modern English school, all unfair and unna 

 tural methods of subduing; the horse are, or ou^ht to 

 be, totally discarded, and his education to be com- 

 menced and completed by legitimate and uninjurious 

 implements; by wholesome restraint, moderate cor- 

 rection, and rational appeals to his natural docility. 



"The body (according to Adams on Horsemanship), 

 must always be in a situation, not only to preserve 

 the balance, but maintain the seat. The distinction 



