174 THE STUD. 



back slow high action is in the horse, even when 

 fresh, for such will cut when faster ones may not. 



Another objection to high-actioned horses in 

 point of safety is this, the longer time that is 

 expended in lifting the leg, the longer, as a 

 matter of course, will be the time before it 

 comes to the ground to relieve the other. Now 

 on the quick succession of relief that is af- 

 forded to each leg and foot mainly depends the 

 safety of the horse's going ; and it is this quick 

 succession of step that renders many horses 

 going near the ground as perfectly safe as they 

 are. Many with tender feet never make a serious 

 blunder; the reason is this, and a very simple 

 one, — their infirmity renders resting long on 

 one foot painful ; consequently, they bring the 

 other quickly to its relief, so if they do make a 

 mistake they do not give themselves time to come 

 down. Knowing this to be the case, I would 

 greatly prefer, in point of safety as to his action, 

 ridino; a fair groer, though he might be, in stable 

 term, " a little dickyish in his feet," than a plod- 

 ding goer, who, to carry on the same term, was 

 " as sound as an acorn." 



The propriety, therefore, of selecting or reject- 

 ing a horse with high or low action may be re- 

 duced to this point. If a horse is wanted for 

 show purposes only, or for sale, buy nothing but 

 what has high and fast action, little matter with 



