Book Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1837 edition. Excerpt: ...of the hand from its centrical situation, or any other cause, make the croupe go off the line in an opposite direction, the heel must support and direct him. Thus, should the croupe traverse to the right, the right leg must direct; and, to assist, the hand must be carried a little to the right; but this must be done with delicacy, lest we throw the croupe too much to the left. Here the hand and the heel change their functions: the hand compels the action, and the heel directs it. THE TROT. The Trot in general. As to trie Character of the trot, when we urge the horse to proceed faster than he can by moving one leg after the other in the walk, we oblige him to take up two at a time in the trot. Here the off fore foot and the near hind foot give one beat; and the near fore foot and the off hind foot give another; so that there are two legs crosswise off the ground, and two legs on; the beats being sharp and quick in proportion to the degree of animation and extension. The Perfection of the trot consists in its suppleness, giving the horse a free use of his limbs; in its union, distributing his labor more equally, the horse's fore legs having more to sustain than the hind, especially when he is disunited, or on the shoulders; and in its action, which should be true and equal, the liberty of the fore quarters not exceeding the hind, not the hind the fore--the knee being up, the haunches bent, springy and pliant, the step measuring exact distances, and marking a regular time. In the trot, there is a Leading Foot, either right or left, by which the corresponding side is a little more advanced than the other. This leading with either foot is valuable, as, in horses that have not been thus suppled, if chance or fatigue make them change their leg...