THE CANTER. 129 
arm, there will not be too much turning out of the foot, and the purchaser 
need not be afraid of this defect existing in the horse he is examining. 
Provided the fetlocks and canna-bones are not actually touched or 
“hit” in trotting, the fore-legs cannot be moved too closely together , 
but if they pass very near to one another in a fat dealer’s horse, it may 
be suspected that when he is reduced in flesh to a proper working condi- 
tion, boots will be necessary. A practised eye is required to judge of this 
correctly, and, if there is any doubt, one had better be consulted. In 
London, for park-riding and driving, very high and round action is the 
fashion, and fabulous prices are given for well-shaped animals which can 
“pull their knees” almost up to their noses. Pace is sacrificed ; and 
many of the most highly-prized London trotters are unable to do ten 
miles an hour. A favourable specimen of this kind of trotting action is 
shown in the cab-horse at page 110, im which the shoulders are so well 
formed that although the knee is remarkably well bent and raised, the 
whole limb is well thrust forward, and the action of the hind legs also is 
so propulsive that a faster pace than usual is obtained. 
The Norfolk trotter of the present day has very perfect action, inter- 
mediate between the pointed and flying trot of the American horse, and 
the round high knee-action of the London park-horse. Even he, however, 
is not nearly so pleasant to ride as the thoroughbred, when the latter can 
trot at all; but many of this breed have been so long accustomed to the 
gallop, that their trot is a most imperfect pace. When they do perform 
it properly, it gives a most delightful feel, and no rider for pleasure, if 
money is at his command, should “throw his leg” over any but a 
thoroughbred, or one nearly pure in blood. 
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 exe. 
cuted without the feet ever leaving the ground altogether ; but this defini- 
tion 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 the ground entirely for a certain interval of time, however small 
it may be. ‘There is so great a variety in the modes adopted by different 
horses for performing the canter, that no single description will suffice, 
nor indeed is it easy, as I before observed, to define any one of them. 
Sometimes the carriage is extremely elegant, the hind legs well under the 
body, and all moving like clockwork, with the head bent on the neck, and 
the mouth playing lightly on the bit. When such a pace is performed 
with the right leg leading, the canter is exactly adapted for the female 
seat, in which the right shoulder is of necessity slightly advanced, and it is 
therefore the object of the breaker to obtain it. But it is only in those 
horses which combine a free use of their limbs with fine temper and good 
mouths, that such a pace can be developed, and if any one of these quali- 
ties is deficient it is useless to attempt to teach them. On the other hand, 
the pony or galloway will often canter without throwing any extra weight 
K 
