THE CANTER 



143 



walk, trot, amble and rack, or by the two, nearly if not quite synchronously, 

 as in the canter, gallop, and leap. In any case, the hind-legs (or leg) must 

 be drawn forwards under the body, or the body thrust backwards upon 

 them, when a contraction of various muscles tends to straighten them, and 

 as they are fixed upon the ground, which acts as a fulcrum, the body 

 must give way, and thus passes forward with a speed and force propor- 

 tionate to the muscular power exerted. In the various paces this mecha- 

 nical action is differently effected in detail, but the principle is the same 

 in all those contained in each class to which I have alluded. In the first 

 the weight is borne by the hind and fore-quarters between them, while pro- 

 pulsion is effected by one side of the former ; but in the second, it is taken 

 at intervals by the fore and hind limbs, the latter propelling it with great 

 force, and the former serving as props to it when it comes to the ground 

 from the air, and also causing it to re-bound for another interval of time. 



THE CANTER 



The canter is a thoroughly artificial pace, at first extremely tiring to 

 the horse, and generally only to be produced in him by the restraint of a 

 powerful bit, which compels him to throw a great part of his weight on. 

 his haunches. It is very difficult to describe or define this pace, either in 



a pen-and-ink sketch or by the aid of the painter. Indeed it is often 

 quite a matter of opinion to decide whether a horse is cantering or 

 galloping. Many writers, and among them Mr. Blaine, have attempted 

 to draw a distinction, by confining the canter to the pace which is executed 

 without the feet ever leaving the ground altogether; but this definition 

 is not generally admitted and followed, and many a horse whose canter 

 would be readily allowed by all horsemen to be true, may be seen to leave 



