CHAPTER II. 



THE TRACKS AND MOTION OP THE FEET. 



We have in the horse at motion five moving points, namely, the 

 four feet, which strike the .ground and thereby cause propulsion, and 

 the center of gravity, around which his weight is equally distributed. 

 This latter invisible point lies in a plane bisecting, or cutting into two 

 equal halves, the horse at right angles with or vertical to the ground 

 plane. We think of this center of gravity being somewhere in the 

 forequarter of the horse about midway in the girth region. 



No matter what the action of the legs may be, whether high or 

 low, the motion of the horse is the most perfect and graceful when this 

 center of gravity is freest from up and down or side to side move- 

 ments. It is most pleasing to the eye and most effective in point 

 of speed when this center of gravity keeps in a practically straight 

 line, and the motion of the legs is most economical of force and 

 hence beautiful, when, looked at vertically from behind or in front, 

 they proceed in nearly straight lines, and when even the curves of their 

 action, looked at from the side, are all four of nearly the same mag- 

 nitude and of the least elevation. In other words, the ideal trot should 

 prpceed from straight movements and nearly equal elevations of the 

 four feet. Therefore, when all force of motion is directed forward 

 and shows the least deviation from straight lines we must of necessity 

 have the best results in speed with the least expenditure of energy. 



The lines of motion of the four feet must therefore be parallel 

 to the line described by the center of gravity, and must, moreover, be 

 at equal distances from it on each side. The vertical plane containing 

 the center of gravity will meet or intersect the ground plane midway 

 between the lines described by the feet. This center line I have called 

 the median line and for practical purposes it can be located midway 



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