78 THE HORSE. 



THE ATTITUDE ASSUMED IN STANDING. 



Standing may be considered under two heads, the first com- 

 prising the attitude naturally assumed by the horse when inclined 

 to rest himself, and the second that forced upon him by education, 

 for the sake either of appearances, or to keep him ready to start at 

 a moment's notice, as in the cavalry horse. When standing free 

 or naturally the horse always rests one leg, and that generally a 

 hind one, changing from one to the other as each becomes tired in 

 its turn. In the forced attitude all four are on the ground, and 

 each supports its share of the superincumbent weight. In either 

 case the difi"erent joints are kept from bending, by the almost in- 

 voluntary combined action of the flexor and extensor muscles, 

 which will keep him standing even in sleep, in which respect he 

 differs from the human subject. The oblique position of the 

 pasterns affords a considerable aid, but without the semi-involun- 

 tary support afforded by the muscles, the stifle and hock joints 

 behind, and the shoulder and elbow before, would inevitably give 

 way. 



MODE OF PROGRESSION. 



In moving forward, whatever the pace may be, the hind 

 quarters are the main propellers, and thrust the body forward on 

 the fore legs, which serve as imperfect segments of wheels, each in 

 its turn making a revolution forwards and backwards through a 

 segment of a circle, like a pendulum. This forward motion is 

 either effected by one hind leg at a time, as in the walk, trot, 

 amble, and rack, or by the two, nearly if not quite synchronously, 

 as in the canter, gallop, and leap. In any case, the hind legs (or 

 leg) must be drawn forwards under the body, or the body thrust 

 backwards upon them, when a contraction of various muscles tends 

 to straighten them, and as they are fixed upon the ground, which 

 acts as a fulcrum, the body must give way, and thus passes forward 

 with a speed and force proportionate to the muscular power exerted. 

 In the various paces this mechanical action is differently effected 

 in detail, but the principle is the same in all those contained in 

 each class to which I have alluded. In the first, the weight is 

 . borne by the hind and fore quarters between them, while propul- 

 sion is effected by one side of the former ) but in the second, it is 

 taken at intervals by the fore and hind limbs, the latter propelling 

 it with great force, and the former serving as props to it when it 

 comes to the ground from the air, and also causing it to rebound 

 for another interval of time. 



THE WALK. 



There are two questions involved in this pace which have led 

 to discussions without end. Firstly^ there is that connected with 

 the order of sequence in which the feet are moved. Secondly^ that 



