514 
ON THE INFLUENCE OF EXERCISE 
Over-weighting a horse that has to perform rapid movements 
checks his respiration, while it occasions the double inconvenience 
of causing the saddle to shift easily, by which the back becomes 
liable to injury, and of forcing the animal to occupy more space 
than he ought in the ranks. Is it not ridiculous to behold our hus- 
sars, instead of piling the whole of their kit behind the saddle, 
upon parts which by nature are the strongest, compelled, in com- 
pliance with a stupid regulation, to make a heap of it upon the 
withers, and to overload the horse’s shoulders ; parts which require 
every easement, unless we would expose the rider to inevitable 
falling 1 This is one of the imperfections in our cavalry which has 
existed even from the time of Louis XV, and which the Compte 
de Montfort, field-marshal and inspector of light troops, disclosed in 
speaking of the French cavalry in his excellent Traitt de Cavalrie, 
published in 1786. What he says is this (p. 16) : — “ Cavalry 
horses are wantonly sacrificed, because hardly any regiments, 
hitherto, have understood rightly the advantage of placing their 
kits upon the croups of their horses.” 
Let us now endeavour to establish a mean between burthen and 
speed. According to the researches of M. Gerstner on this subject, 
it follows that, 
200 lbs. of burthen are equivalent to a speed of = feet. 
150 lbs. of ditto to a ditto of = 2 do. 
100 lbs. of ditto to a ditto of = 4 do. 
50 lbs. of ditto to a ditto of = 6 do. 
0 lbs. of ditto to a ditto of = 8 do. 
This is to say, that the mean strength of a horse is as equal to 
maintain 200 lbs. while standing as it is to make an effort of 
speed of the extent of 8 feet, freed from all burthen; whence we 
may deduce the corollary, that the mode of making a calculation 
between weight and speed consists in reckoning an expenditure of 
100 lbs. of strength to effect a movement embracing 4 feet of distance : 
it being unnecessary to add, that the more favourable the circum- 
stances for the employment of such strength, the higher may this 
assumed mean be rated. If we admit that such mean may be 
tripled, both as respects the burthen and the speed, we may con- 
clude that the farming horse is equal to the burthen, without any 
excessive fatigue, of 600 lbs. 
In respect to man, 10 lbs. of burthen is equivalent to 1 foot of 
cleared space ; in the horse, 50 lbs. are equivalent to a distance of 
2 feet, or, if we like, 25 lbs. are equivalent to 1 foot of speed ; i. e. 
to clear 1 foot of space the horse has to make an effort equivalent 
to an expenditure of strength caused by 25 lbs. of burthen. 
