1882. J on Animals in Motion. 53 



As the left fore leg attains a vertical i^osition, its lateral leaves 

 the ground, and the support of the body devolves on the left fore 

 foot alone, the right fore leg being considerably flexed, with the 

 foot in advance of the left fore leg. 



The right hind foot now strikes the ground, and one half of 

 the stride is accomplished ; these movements are rej)eated with a 

 change of the limbs for the remaining portion of the stride, and the 

 horse is again in the position in which we first observed him. 



We shall see by reference to stride No. 5 the consecutive support- 

 ing feet to be : 



1. The left hind foot. 



2. The left hind and left fore feet — laterals. 



3. The left fore foot. 



4. The left fore and right hind feet — diagonals. 



5. The right hind foot. 



6. The right hind and right fore feet — laterals. 



7. The right fore foot. 



8. The right fore and left hind feet— diagonals. 



The right fore foot being raised, the horse is again in the first 

 position. 



The amble and the walk are the only regular progressive move- 

 ments of the horse wherein the body is never without the support 

 of one or more legs, in all others the weight is entirely off the ground 

 for a longer or shorter period. 



The Bach or Pace. 



The rack differs from the trot in the nearly synchronous action 

 of the laterals instead of the diagonals. 



In some countries the rack is naturally adopted by the horse as 

 one of his gaits, but it is probably caused by the effects of training 

 exercised over many generations of his ancestors. 



The movements already described are regular in their action, and 

 a stride may be divided into two parts, which are essentially similar 

 to each other. 



The Canter 



and the gallop, however, cannot be so divided, and a complete stride 

 in either of those gaits is a combination of several different move- 

 ments. 



The canter is usually regarded as a slow gallop, probably from 

 the facility with which a change from one gait to the other can be 

 effected ; an important difference will, however, be observed. 



Assuming a horse after his propulsion through the air, during a 

 stride of 10 feet, to have just landed on his left hind foot, the right 

 hind foot will be on the point of passing to the front of the left. The 

 left fore leg will be thrust forward and nearly straight, while the 

 right fore leg will be flexed with the foot elevated about 12 inches 

 from the ground, and somewhat behind the vertical of the breast. 



