92 



STATIONARY MOVEMENTS OF THE HORSE. 



Kicking. — The term " kick " is usually restricted to a blow- 

 given by one or both hind legs {see Fig. '^Z). A horse is 

 said to "strike out" with one or both fore legs. We may 

 regard both these movements as kicks. 



A horse can kick in three ways: (i) To the rear with 

 one or both hind legs ; (2) to the front with a hind leg ; and 

 (3) to the front with one or both fore legs. Unlike horned 



Fig. 38. — Kicking. 



cattle, a horse is unable, without moving the body, to kick to 

 one side, except to a slight extent, owing to the presence of a 

 ligament which connects the thigh bone to the pelvis, and 

 which greatly restricts the side action of the limb. If a horse, 

 therefore, wants to kick a man who is standing a little away 

 from its side, it will have to turn round to do so. For this 

 reason, if a person wishes to stand in safety by the side of a 

 horse's hind quarters, as for instance when examining its 



