The I^ra?}iezvork of the Horse. 39 



out like the props x^ x^ in fig. i, and is therefore, even 

 in a state of rest, more tlian half-way to the utmost 

 reach of his stride ; for the whole concern must roll 

 over if he attempted, in galloping, to bring up these legs 

 to the hoof-marks of tlie fore legs. There can be no 

 question, therefore, but that weighting in this manner 

 diminishes speed.* 



Before going on to the second question, one word 

 more about the fore legs, which are, as has been said, 

 essentially bearers ; they are, however, to a certain 

 extent propellers, and must, at all events should, exer- 

 cise a springy lever action, lifting the horse's body so 

 as to enable the propellers to shove it forward. Now, 

 neither the propulsive nor lifting action of the fore legs 

 can be properly exercise-d unless their several compo- 

 nent levers (bones) form certain angles with each other, 

 and enable the hoof to touch the ground lightly, and 

 ready for a renewal of the action. The fore foot should 

 be placed on the ground as one places the palm of his 

 hand on a table ; if the leg come down straight and 

 stiff, end on, like the props x^ x^ of fig. i — which may 

 be as readily caused by a rider sitting too far back on 

 his horse, and being thrown by the action of the hind 

 quarter, with stiffened knees, into a stirrup that is hung 

 far forward in the saddle, as by one that, sitting orig- 

 inally far forward, comes down with a heavy thud 

 directly on the horse's withers — the fore legs must 

 suffer. They are not so constructed as to be thrust 

 against the ground, end on, like a pole, with impunity ; 

 and if either of these forms of riding be carried to an 

 extreme, it prevents these legs from lifting the forehand 

 in proper time or sufficiently ; and the propellers acting 



* There is a justification for this kind of riding when the fore legs 

 are groggy and the hind ones still good ; and this expedient is often 

 adopted, especially by that class of riders who sit far back and still 

 manage to ruin their horses' fore legs, of which more anon. 



