THE HORSE ON A JOURNEY 161 



that the collision takes place. Having ascertained this 

 most indispensable fact, we must then endeavour to prevent 

 it, or, at least, palliate its effects. 



People attach a far greater degree of inevitable danger 

 and likelihood to horses coming down from cutting than 

 — objectionable as the failing is — is absolutely the case. 

 When the horse cuts or hits his leg, the pain occasioned by 

 it causes him to wince, falter, and, indeed, I have seen a 

 horse go a step or two after the occurrence, absolutely on 

 three legs ; but the fear of falling is greater than the pain 

 of the hit leg, and he mostly saves himself. This is when 

 he cuts or hits his ankle only. But if he hits just below 

 the inside of the knee, which he never does but in a quick 

 pace, he will then sometimes come down as if shot. This is 

 appropriately called " speedy cutting " — the worst and most 

 dangerous failing among all cutting, and one that is incur- 

 able, for this reason : it proceeds from a particular direction 

 of the offending leg when in action, which not once in a 

 hundred cases can be altered. We have no resource but 

 defending the part hit by a proper boot or legging for this 

 express purpose, a most inconvenient and unsightly thing 

 at best, and, moreover, all but certain to gall and chafe the 

 leg to which it is applied. Put the horse to a description 

 of work where the pace in which he is apt to cut is not 

 required. 



Cutting or hitting the hind legs is, of course, far less 

 objectionable than the same failing as regards the fore ones, 

 not alone from its not subjecting the rider to danger, but 

 the hind parts being lighter than the fore ones, we can take 

 greater liberties with the hind legs as regards shoeing, and 

 can throw them by such means more out of their natural 

 position than we can the fore ones, and still interfere but 

 little with the horse's power, action, or safety. 



Horses are decidedly more apt to cut behind than before 

 when in harness, and vice versa when under the saddle. 

 Much may be done towards preventing cutting by judicious 

 shoeing ; but this is not always to be trusted to. We only 

 prevent by this the sharp edge of the shoe coming in contact 

 with the standing leg, which would otherwise be wounded 

 by it. There are many horses that would still hit if they 

 had no shoes on them. It is the position in which the 

 standing leg is placed by nature, and the direction of the 

 moving or passing leg, that produces the failing. We can- 



11 



