THE PACES OF THE HORSE 173 



speed is completely off the ground ; how this self-evident 

 fact could have been so much discussed is proof of how much 

 more ready to theorise people are than to observe for 

 themselves. In the man's running, a spring is made from 

 one leg ; in a horse's extended trot, from two diagonally 

 taken. The result is the same ; a propulsion of the body 

 forward, and a necessity of bringing up a leg in one 

 instance, or two in the other, to save the fall of the body 

 forward. Thus a series of impulses is kept up, and, by a 

 series of driving bounds, the weight of the body is rapidly 

 driven forward. It is to be observed that the quadruped 

 is here much safer, from his diagonal line of gravity being 

 distributed over the space from fore to hind foot, while in 

 man the centre of gravity lies so forward as to place him 

 at the risk of a fall from the slightest mistake or mischance. 



Fast trotting, except in harness — for which work, by the 

 way, it is the only pace that almost any horse can try either 

 safely or pleasantly — is not so much practised by sports- 

 men or those who ride for mere pleasure ; by this we 

 should be understood to mean the maximum sixteen or 

 seventeen-mile-an-hour proceeding. The race-horse may 

 take two or three fine delicate steps in this pace just pre- 

 viously to his jockey sending him up the preparatory 

 gallop ; and hunters will thus jig-jog along to or through a 

 cover ; but with either of them it is never thought of when 

 business begins. The man of fashion, so proud of and 

 particular in the choice of his thoroughbred hacks, is 

 content with a good walker and easy canterer, adopts high 

 ports and long cheeks to his bridle, gets (if clever and 

 lucky) a good mouth with a light hand, pulls his horse well 

 back on the haunches, and sails along with an idea that the 

 fast trot is a vulgarity confined to East End fanciers and 

 butchers' boys, fast corn-dealers, jobbers, sporting publicans, 

 with a turn for matches and bets, and the like. Yet this 

 is the true, best, and most serviceable pace of the saddle 

 horse. 



With respect to trotting in saddle, this pace is but to 

 attain a secure seat, combined with confidence and firmness. 

 The rider has more control over the motions of his body in 

 this pace than any other ; in this the body is well brought 

 down into the saddle by its own weight, and finds its true 

 equilibrium. When the rider wishes to make his horse trot, 

 let him ease his reins and press the calves of his legs gently; 



