OF HORSEMANSHIP. 133 



much the more improper to leap, as the Pain which he mufl 

 feel when he comes to the Ground, would fhoot quite to his 

 Brain. 



Asa Proof of this, when a Horfe whofe Feet are bad or 

 tender trots upon the Stones, or hard Ground, you will fee 

 him fliut his Eyes, drop his Head at each Step, and fhake 

 his Tail from very Pain. 



The Capriole is the moft violent of the high Airs. To 

 make it perfedl, the Horfe is to raife his Fore-parts and his 

 Hinder to an equal Height ; and when he ftrikes out be- 

 hind, his Croupe fhould be upon a Level with his Withers, 

 In rifing and in coming down his Head and Mouth fhould 

 be quite fteady and firm, and he fhould prefent his Forehead 

 quite ftrait. — When he rifes, his Fore-legs fhould be bent under 

 him a good deal, and equally. When he ftrikes out with 

 his Hind-legs, he ought to do it nervoufly, and with all his 

 Force ; and his two Feet fliould be even, of an equal Fleight^. 

 and their Adion the fame when he ftrikes out :, laftly, the 

 Horfe fhould at every Leap fall a Foot and a half, or the 

 Space of two Feet diftance from the Spot from which he 

 rofe. — I don't affert, that in order to make Caprioles a Horfe 

 muft neceflarily pafs through Curvets and Baioiades ; for 

 there are Horfes who are naturally more light and adive in 

 their Loins than ftrong, and who are brought to leap with more 

 Difficulty, than to the other Airs in which their Strength muft 

 be much more united, and their Difpofition attended to ; but 

 yet it is certain, that if the Horfe is brought to rife by Degrees^, 

 and is work'd in the intermediate Airs, before he undertakes the 



3> CaprioleSy, 



