2 9 



upon the fact, that the foot is at once set fiat upon the ground, than 

 -upon the most elevated action. If the toe touches the ground first, it may 

 be expected, that the horse will occasionally knuckle over. An unex- 

 pected obstacle will throw the centre of gravity of the animal forward 

 and it will fall. If the toe digs into the ground before the foot is firmly 

 set down, a trifling circumstance may cause a misstep and a fall. A 

 stumbler can be recognized by the fact that the toe of the shoe is worn, 

 while the heels are scarcely used. 



The saddle horse, like the hunter, must possess more or less blood 

 according to the nature of its employment. Three quarter or half bred 

 will make a useful animal for all service. 



