RIDING OR HUNTING HORSE. 11 



reason for this is very plain. If your weight is 

 well off the front legs, and on the powerful 

 quarters, there is less chance of the horse 

 stumbling and falling with you. And remember 

 this, that it is the quarters, hind legs, and 

 hocks that arc the propelling power of the horse, 

 whether in walking, trotting, cantering, or gal- 

 loping. The front legs simply direct the horse 

 and keep him steady. 



When you require a horse for carrying you on 

 his back or for jumping, the quarters and hind 

 legs ought to be sufficiently powerful to enable 

 the horse to do the work expected of him. If 

 you watch a horse jumping, you will see that 

 when he comes near the jump, he will prick his 

 expressive and beautiful ears, which shows that 

 he is thinking hard of how best he can get over, 

 and then when he gets within a few paces of the 

 jump, he raises his front legs first, and by his 

 will gathers himself together, and then by means 

 of his quarters, hind legs, and hocks, he gives 

 the necessary impulse that carries his rider over 

 the hedge, ditch, or gate. 



You will note that the force or power that 

 carries your horse over the jump is due to those 

 quarters and wonderful hocks. Let there be the 

 slightest weakness in one of those hocks, and 

 your horse would not have the strength to clear 

 the jump, but very probably would catch his 



