1 86 THE PACE THAT SAVES 



Paces. Whether the wild horse trots, is not 

 a subject in which the range horse has given 

 me any guidance. In handhng stock he 

 usually goes on grass and prefers to canter. In 

 travel he usually goes on a road, and dis- 

 tinctly prefers to trot. From careful watch- 

 ing I doubt if he likes trotting on grass, as the 

 hoofs are apt to brush and ma}^ stumble 

 against the turf. A canter on road or very 

 hard ground jars him, and is likely to cause 

 injury to feet and legs. 



There are certain artificial gaits most vari- 

 ously named such as the tripple, rack, pace, 

 and side pace adopted I think under compul- 

 sion of lazy horsemen who find them comfort- 

 able. I have known horses using such gaits to 

 lag miserably until I persuaded them that 

 trotting was permitted, after which they 

 cheered up and gained in speed. 



As a slow walk tires both man and horse 

 much more than the trot or canter, it is easy, 

 by riding on the rein and using a little persua- 

 sion, to train an average animal in fast walking. 



On the whole then a steady alternation of trot 

 and walk, making the day's gait about five 

 miles an hour, is the best economy for journeys. 



On marches exceeding fifty-five miles a day 

 the canter, trot and walk become alternate 



