118 THE HACKXEY. 



the body, before the fore-leg quits the ground ; and 

 if he did not do so, there would be no equal sup- 

 port for the body, during the suspension of the 

 fore-leg in the air ; nor could the body be moved 

 forwards, until the hinder-leg had, by quitting its 

 station, taken a new point of support. Seeing, then, 

 that in the walk, as in all other paces, the centre 

 of gravity in the horse is maintained, as well as the 

 body propelled, by the action of the hinder-legs, 

 the greatest attention should be paid to the position 

 and action of them in the hackney, as the best 

 safeguard against his falling. We should observe, 

 then, when he is exhibited to our view, that, in his 

 walk, the hinder foot oversteps the fore foot, at 

 least a shoe's length, which a horse with straight, 

 ill-formed hinder-legs cannot do ; and if such action 

 be accompanied by generally good hind quarters, it 

 is a great indication of safety, as far as one-half of 

 the body of the horse is concerned. But as the 

 false step is made, not with the hinder, but the 

 fore-leg, the chief safeguard against falling is to be 

 found elsewhere, namely, first, in the length of 

 the shoulder, which throws the centre of gravity 

 further back than a short one ; and, secondly, pro- 

 ceeding also from the free use of the shoulder, 

 in the act of setting the fore-foot down on the 

 ground. It is a o^eneral but very mistaken notion, 

 that the safety of a roadster depends upon his lift- 

 in «: his fore-feet hioli from the oround, when he is 

 said to " go well above his ground ;'' whereas it all 

 depends on the manner in which he places them 

 down upon it. Not only are the highest goers 



