LECTURES ON HORSES. 
123 
then gathering up his reins, he caused a further addition of 8 kil., 
making a total of 18. When he stood up in his stirrups, the 
fore-hand received an addition of 12 kil. 
These gentlemen, with justice, observe, in concluding this ac- 
count of their interesting experiments, that “ although the differ- 
ences caused by the position of the head and neck of the animal, 
and of his rider, may not, under ordinary circumstances, be of any 
great deal of consequence, yet do they acquire vast importance 
in hard work, such as racing or hunting, the preponderance in- 
creasing enormously along with the fatigue.” 
From these experiments we learn, that although the fore-hand 
at all times has more weight to sustain than the hind, yet, in con- 
sequence of the hind supporting more than its half of the trunk, 
does this additional burthen not amount to what the head and neck 
abstractedly would weigh; and we learn farther the important 
fact, that a weight upon the fore-legs, which, in the ordinary or 
natural position of the head and neck, amounts to 210 kilogrammes , 
becomes, by reining-up, reduced to 200, and that, with the rider 
on the back, a weight forward of 254 kilogrammes could be 
diminished by bringing the head with the bridle-hand into the 
proper ( maneged ) position, to 233, making a difference of 21 
kilogrammes , or nearly 58 lbs. troy. These are results, which 
we, as veterinarians, shall be able to turn to useful account, to the 
equestrian and riding-master they are full of the greatest interest. 
The limbs in the natural standing posture, placed as they are 
in parallels with the line through the centre of gravity, and being 
in themselves respectively so many co-operating centres of gra- 
vity, and bearing each of them its due proportion of the weight 
of the body, can none of them be moved in any material de- 
gree out of the lines of gravity — which we may suppose to run 
through their respective centres —without imposing additional 
weight upon their fellows, by placing themselves in a position 
disadvantageous for supporting the superincumbent load, and con- 
sequently creating some feeling of uneasiness, which would in 
time increase to pain. The first act in progression is the result of 
the stimulus of the will : the brain gives the order through the 
nerves for the body to be moved forward ; one leg moves, the 
other, through impulse, follows : the uneasiness created in the 
frame by the elevation and projecture of one limb generating that 
impulse. No sooner is the centre of gravity of the body disturbed 
by the displacement of one of its supporters, than an effort is made 
to rectify the derangement ; the rectification, however, is hardly 
accomplished before another act of disturbance is commenced : thus, 
by repeated acts of projecture in the fore limbs, and as repeated 
acts of propulsion in the hind, is the animal machine moved for- 
