POSITION OF CENTRE OF GRA VITY. 51 



which has never been determined, nearly corresponds, in the horse, to the 

 intersection of two Hnes — one, vertical, falling behind the xiphoid appendage 

 [cartilage at rearmost point of the breast bone] of the sternum ; the other, 

 horizontal, dividing the middle third from the lower third of the body." 

 Fig. 5, which I have taken from MM. Goubaux and Barrier's work, is drawn 

 in conformity with M. Colin's remarks. The point of intersection of the two 

 dotted lines in this figure, shows the position of the supposed centre of gravity. 

 We may readily see that the less deep is a horse's body, compared to his 

 length of leg — in other words, the more "daylight" he has under him — the 

 higher and more unstable will be his centre of gravity ; and vice versa. Taking 

 the foregoing remarks with those on the effect which instability of equilibrium 

 has on speed {see p. 67), we may conclude that the faster the horse, other 

 things being equal, the greater will be the proportion of weight on his 

 forehand. 



E 2 



