94 STATIONARY MOVEMENTS OF THE HORSE. 



many apparently vicious kicks which miss their marks, are 

 delivered, not with the desire of sending the blow home, 

 but to warn the intruder against nearer approach. 



When a horse kicks out behind, he will put extra weight 

 on his forehand, and, as a rule, will lower his head. When 

 he cow-kicks or strikes out in front, he will raise his head and 

 bring his weight back. 



In almost all cases, just before a horse kicks, he will draw 

 back his ears, and more or less show " the white of his eye." 

 If the suspicious object be behind him, he will bring his head 

 slightly round so as to see it, and will prepare for his attack 

 by bending the fetlock and raising off the ground the 

 heel of the hind leg of that side. I may mention that a 

 horse cannot kick with the hind leg upon which he is resting 

 his weight ; for he has to transfer the weight to its fellow 

 before he brings it into play. My readers will observe that I 

 have used the word " slightly " with reference to the extent 

 the animal turns his head when he gets ready to "lash out ; " 

 for if he brought it round a good deal, he would be obliged to 

 throw more weight on the hind leg of the side to which he is 

 looking than on its fellow, and would consequently have a 

 difficulty in using it. 



The Piaffer. — This is an air de manege, which is simply 

 a passage {see p. 117) without gaining ground. The most 

 brilliant kind of piaffer is when the movement is slow, lofty, 

 in true cadence, and with a well-marked pause when each 

 leg is raised to its highest point. 



