MOBILIZATIONS MOUNTED 



ground only as the left fore leg rises. Therefore, is 

 the theory of locomotion false which holds that one 

 limb cannot leave the ground until after its mate 

 has made contact. The sophists will reply that 

 locomotion is always a succession of falls. Very- 

 true, but these falls operate successively upon the 

 front legs as each in turn goes forward at the walk, 

 the trot, or the gallop; there is no crossing over of 

 the feet at each step, right to left or left to right. 



Consider the case where the fall is greatest. The 

 leaping horse is entirely out of contact with the 

 ground. It comes to the ground at the end of the 

 leap, with its two front legs extended; and im- 

 mediately after, the hind legs also come down. Is 

 this natural to the anatomy of the animal? Yes! 

 But suppose that the horse finishes the leap with 

 its two front legs in the position demanded by 

 the pirouette or the half passage. What will be the 

 consequence? Answer me, please! 



Returning now to the effects employed to execute 

 the pirouette, the front hand has to be unloaded, and 

 the hind legs, which are the support and pivot, have 

 to be loaded, especially the left hind leg. The rider 

 must, therefore, carry the line of his body backward 

 from the perpendicular, and also bear more heavily 

 on the left haunch. The right fore leg, since it 

 makes the longer step, has to be unloaded by a very 

 slight effect of the right rein. But as this right fore 

 leg is to travel over from right to left, the right rein 

 must bear upon the right side of the neck, the hand 



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