146 THE STUD. 



other lameness, that renders horizontal pressure 

 painful, the other under the influence of shoulder 

 lameness, or one that renders extension painful ; 

 the first will be constantly found with his lame 

 limb extended towards, or quite under the manger ; 

 the latter will be seen keeping his limb straight 

 under him. This clearly shows, that placing the 

 limb in an advanced position takes from it the 

 pressure, or great part of the pressure, of the 

 weight of the body ; for, if putting the limb 

 forward was the general habit of lame horses, be 

 the lameness or cause of increased pain what it 

 might, the horse with shoulder lameness, and the 

 one with navicular lameness, would act in the 

 same manner as to their mode of standing, and 

 this is not the case. 



If, therefore, in standing still, keeping the lame 

 limb in advance lessens pain by diminution of 

 pressure, keeping it in advance in the gallop will 

 do the same thing in a much greater degree. 



I have gone thus far on this subject in the 

 hope that what I have said will be held to sup- 

 port my statement, that most lame horses wish 

 to lead with the afflicted limb. If my thesis is 

 incorrect, I shall bow with submission to those 

 better informed on the subject. If my opinion 

 is however somewhat near the truth, the reader 

 will not consider that, when I recommended him 

 to find out why a horse takes the wrong leg before 



