32 ZOOPRAXOGRAPHT 



THE TROT. 



The trot is a more or less rapid progressive motion 

 of a quadruped in which the diagonal limbs act nearly 

 simultaneously in being alternately lifted from and 

 placed on the ground, and in which the body of the 

 animal is entirely unsupported twice during each 

 stride. 



Selecting for the purpose of illustration the phases 

 occurring during two steps or one-half of a stride of 

 18 feet in length by a horse trotting at the rate of a 

 mile in two minutes and twelve seconds, we find that at 

 the instant his right fore foot strikes the ground, the left 

 hind foot is a few inches behind the point where it will 

 presently strike. As the feet approach the sjround, 

 the right hind leg is drawn forward with the pastern 

 nearly horizontal, while the left fore leg is flexed un- 

 der the body. After the feet strike the ground and 

 the legs approach a vertical position the pasterns are 

 gradually lowered, and act as springs to break the 

 force of the concussion until they are sometimes bent 

 to a right angle with the legs. 



At this period the fore foot is raised so high as 

 to frequently strike the elbow, while the diagonal 

 hind foot is comparatively but little above the ground, 

 and is about to pass to the front of the left hind. 



The pasterns gradually rise as the legs pass the 

 vertical until the right fore foot has left the ground 

 and the last propelling force is being exercised by the 

 left hind foot; which accomplished, the animal is in 

 mid air. 



The right hind foot continues its onward motion 



