36 ZOOPRAXOGRAPHY 



THE CANTER. 



In the canter we discover the same sequence of foot 

 fallings as in the walk, but not with the same harmoni- 

 ous intervals of time. The gait resembles the gallop 

 in respect to its leaving the horse entirely unsupported 

 for a varying period of time, and in the fact that the 

 spring into the air is always effected from a fore foot, 

 and the landing upon the diagonal hind foot; in other 

 respects it materially differs from that method of pro- 

 gression. 



Assuming that during a stride of the canter a horse 

 springs into the air from a left fore foot, the right 

 hind foot will first reach the ground; the two fore legs 

 will at this time be flexed under the body, the right 

 being the first landed, and for a brief period of time 

 the support will devolve upon the laterals. The right 

 fore foot is rapidly followed by the left hind. During 

 a very slow canter the other fore foot will sometimes 

 be landed in advance of the lifting of its diagonal, and 

 the curious phase presented of all of the feet being in 

 contact with the ground at the same instant. Usually, 

 however, the first hind foot to touch the ground will 

 be lifted, and the support thrown upon the diagonals. 



The left fore is now brought down, and is followed 

 by the lifting of the right fore; when the left laterals 

 assume the duty of support. The left hind is now 

 raised, and with a final thrust of the left fore foot the 

 animal is projected into the air, to land again upon its 

 diagonal, and repeat the same sequence of movements. 



The above phases are selected from a single com- 

 plete stride, in which the landing occurs on the right 



