LEADING WITH THE AVRONG LEG. 143 



was taught to use in this way, if the rider does 

 succeed in makinsj him lead with the unwillino; 

 leg, he may find that so far from being repaid 

 for the trouble he has taken, his horse may go 

 extremely unpleasantly in consequence of the 

 change. He may attribute this to the animal not 

 being accustomed to lead with the off leg, so de- 

 termines to persevere till he is so what will he 

 say if he finds him go worse instead of better by 

 practice ; he would very likely say it was " cer- 

 tainly extraordinary." I should not venture to 

 say it was certainly any thing ; but I should say 

 it would not be at all extraordinary if it was 

 found that unsoundness in the near foot caused 

 him to change his mode of going from what he had 

 been taught, and to adopt one more easy to him- 

 self; and that being again forced to go in a way 

 less so, caused him to go more uneasy to the 

 rider. And if such was the case, the more the 

 less efficient foot became distressed by beino- 

 used, the more uneasy the horse would grow in 

 his pace. 



I find this subject will lead me a little further 

 than I meant on the nature of lameness, for in 

 allusion to whether the horse is disposed to lead 

 with the lame, or the sound leg, depends mainly 

 on the nature of the ailment. 



It will be found that in a canter, or gallop, most 

 horses, if left to their choice, will lead with the 



