loo PACES OF THE HORSE. 



I wish to draw my readers' particular attention to the two 

 different methods of backward propulsion adopted by the 

 horse, when he makes this movement to the rear, (i) When 

 he is at liberty, or when he reins back '* collectedly " with a 

 capable rider in the saddle, he lowers his head so as to put 

 weight on the fore hand, and pushes himself back by the 

 alternate straightening out of his fore legs ; while the hind 

 legs, being comparatively free of weight, are raised higher 

 and with greater freedom than the front ones. It is evident 

 that this high and light action of the hind limbs is as conducive 

 to the safety of the rein back, as would be the same style of 

 movement of the fore legs in paces of forward progression. 

 (2) When the horse in harness tries to push a heavy weight 

 to the rear, or when he ''plants " his hind legs on the ground 

 owing to unwillingness to rein back or to unskilful handling 

 by his rider or driver, he will make his effort or his 

 *' defence," as the case may be, by throwing the weight on 

 his hind-quarters. In the event of the centre of gravity of 

 the horse (and of the rider) falling to the rear of the base of 

 support (p. 46) formed by his four feet, he will, if in saddle, 

 have to make a hurried and consequently a low step to the 

 rear with one hind foot, which may be followed by the other 

 feet in a more or less disorganised and insecure manner. 

 If the hind feet fail to come quickly enough to the support of 

 the centre of gravity, a fall will be the inevitable result. Besides 

 the danger of this rein, or rather run, back, the fact of the 

 hind limbs (which are far less suited to bearing weight than 

 the fore ones) being surcharged with weight will render 

 them liable to become injured, and will make this movement 

 to the rear far more fatiguing to the animal than if it were 

 executed in the manner first described. It behoves us, there- 

 fore, if we wish to rein back a horse which we are riding, to 

 adopt the safer and less tiring method. With this object in 

 view, when we wish to make a horse which we are riding, 

 rein back, we should keep our hands ''down," so as to allow 

 him, or, if needed, to induce him, to lower his head and put 

 weight on his fore hand. We should avoid the practice, 



