62 - Eadweard Muyhridge [March 13, 



Line 4 illustrates a stride of 18 feet 3 inclies, and the order of 

 supporting feet are : — 



1. The right fore foot. 



2. The left hind and right fore feet. 



3. The left hind foot. 



4. Without support. 

 6. The left fore foot. 



6. The right hind and left fore feet. 



7. The right hind foot. 



8. Without sui)port. 



It appears somewhat remarkable that until the results of M. 

 Marey's experiments and of those obtained by electro-photography 

 were published, many experienced horsemen were of opinion that 

 during the action of trotting at least one foot of a horse was always 

 in contact with the ground. 



If the entire stride of a trotting horse is divided into two por- 

 tions, representing the comparative distances traversed by the 

 aggregate of the body while the feet are in contact with, and while 

 they are entirely clear of, the ground ; the relative measurements 

 will be found to vary very greatly, they being contingent upon length 

 of limb, weight, speed, and other circumstances. 



Heavily built horses will sometimes merely drag the feet just 

 above the surface, but, in every instance of a trot, the tveight of the 

 body is really unsupported twice during each stride (see stride 2, 

 positions 4 and 4 d). It sometimes happens that a fast trotter, during 

 the two actions of a stride, will have all his feet clear of the ground 

 for a distance exceeding one-half of the length of the entire stride ; 

 this elasticity of movement is however exceptional. 



The action of a fast-trotting horse while drawing a vehicle is 

 very different from his action under the saddle ; in the latter case, 

 the hind legs are kept thrust back for a longer period, and their final 

 forward movement is much more rapid. 



The Amhle. 



Assuming our observation of this movement to commence when, 

 during a stride of about 10 feet, the left hind foot has just struck the 

 ground slightly to the rear of where the right fore foot is resting ; 

 the left fore leg will be well advanced but still flexed, with the toe 

 pointed downwards, and the right hind foot having been the last to 

 leave the ground, will be thrust backwards with the pastern nearly 

 horizontal. 



As the right fore foot leaves the ground, the left fore leg is 

 gradually straightened during its thrust forwards ; the right hind foot 

 in the meantime is gradually advancing, and the horse is supported 

 on the left hind foot alone. 



The left fore foot is now brought to the ground, and the body 

 rests on the left laterals, with the right laterals suspended between 

 them. 



