STATIONARY MOVEMENTS OF THE HORSE. 



CHAPTER XI. 



STATIONARY MOVEMENTS OF THE HORSE. 

 Lying Down and Getting Up — Rearing — Kicking — The Piafter. 



Lying Down and Getting Up. — When a horse prepares 

 to he down, he will bring all his feet well under his body, 

 while resting his weight chiefly on his hind feet. After 

 making a few tentative movements with his fore limbs, he 

 will gently lower his forehand until his knees lightly touch 

 the ground. He will then give his body a twist, and will roll 

 over, and rest, partly on his side and partly on his breast 

 bone. M. Colin describes as follows the position of the horse 

 when lying down. If, for instance, he is on his right side, the 

 right fore leg will be under the chest, with its foot facing 

 the inside of the left elbow. The other fore, equally bent, 

 but clear of the body, will have its foot close to its own 

 elbow, and there will be a space of about twelve inches 

 between the two knees. The hind limbs will be bent up 

 under the body, with the feet carried to the front. The near 

 hind, far removed from the side, will have its hock on a line 

 with the hip joint, and the hoof with the point of the hock. 

 The neck will be raised and the head will be inclined to the 

 left side. Sometimes the animal rests his lower jaw on 

 the ground. He may even, at certain moments, support 



