The Framework of the Horse, 47 



with these two centres \\\ the relative position described 

 here. It favors certain special purposes — as, for in- 

 stance, racing, and perhaps riding to hounds, to a cer- 

 tain extent — just as it suits the purpose of the manege 

 rider to bring the centre of gravity farther back toward 

 the loins than the fourteenth vertebra ; but for all gene- 

 ral purposes it is of the greatest importance that the 

 two perpendiculars passing respectively through these 

 two centres should be made to coincide — and this is the 

 aim and object of all school-riding, except for the haul 

 manege. Above all, it is indispensable for military 

 purposes. 



In fact, in racing, and to a certain extent in hunting, 

 a horse is not required to move otherwise than in 

 nearly straight lines or gentle curves. A jockey that 

 understands the work will ride differently in the latter 

 and the former, and will immediately change his seat 

 when he comes "into the straight."* On the contrary, 

 the manege rider requires very short deliberate turns 

 at loiv degrees of speed, and attains his object as above 

 described ; but for general riding it is of great import- 

 ance — for the cavalry, indispensable — to be able to turn 

 in sharp curves at higher degrees of speed. 



Instead of instituting a mathematical and physical 

 inquiry into the advantages of making the centres ol 

 gravity and motion coincide, let us take from every-flay 

 life one or two instances that illustrate the principle 

 very satisfactorily. In a common two-wheeled cart the 

 whole body of the machine turns round on the axle, 

 and the centre of motion lies in a perpendicular falling 

 through the mid-point of this. A carter that under- 

 stands his business always adjusts the load in such a 

 manner that it neither presses too much on the horse's 



*The speed of race-horses is notoriously different on straight and 

 circular courses. The absolutely speedier horse does not always 

 come first to the post on the latter. 



