butchers' hacks versus derby nags. 51 



sound) carry them, the next season better. This is 

 easily accounted for. The power of carrying heavy 

 burdens is very much increased by being accustomed 

 to do it ; those parts of the frame, whether belonging 

 to man or quadruped, that are most called upon 

 under ^v^eight, acquire additional strength from prac- 

 tice, as the arm of the smith does by using his sledge- 

 hammer: but, independent of this, the horse learns 

 by experience that style of going which enables him 

 to get along with the most ease to himself. It may 

 appear to some persons a singular assertion on my 

 part, that numbers of horses go (particularly on the 

 road) much safer under a very heavy man than under 

 a light one : it is nevertheless the case, and is easily 

 explained. A horse, to go safely on the road, should 

 step short and quick, for in so doing, supposing him 

 to make a false step, the succeeding leg comes so 

 quickly to his support that he is right again in a mo- 

 ment ; but if he walks with the long lounging stride 

 of the race-horse, and makes a mistake, or treads on 

 a stone, he rolls forward on his head before he can 

 bring the other leg in a place to act as a prop to his 

 body ; independent of which, dwelling so long a time 

 on each leg fatigues both muscles and sinews. Let 

 any person try the truth of this by measuring only 

 half a mile by striding it in yards : he will be more 

 fatigued than by walking four times the distance 

 at moderate short steps. Comparatively speaking, 

 race-horses tire very soon in walking. Set one to walk 

 from London to Edinburgh by the side of a butcher's 

 hack ; why little Cutlets Y\^ould wear him out ; and the 

 chances are the Leger or Derby nag would have 

 been on his nose half a dozen times daring the jour- 

 ney. No horse mth a long stride either in his walk 



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