PREFACE 



Every owner and every trainer of a trotter or pacer, in fact, every 

 one to whom the horse in general is a source of revenue or of pleasure, 

 should make himself familiar with the simple principles of the animal's 

 locomotion, and with the rational system of shoeing, as presented and 

 advocated by the late David Roberge, in his book "The Foot of the 

 Horse." Though given to the public over ten years ago, it is doubtful 

 whether its real worth has been generally appreciated and estimated. 



The late David Roberge of New York seems to have been one of 

 the few intelligent horseshoers who combine the science with the art 

 of their trade. He came to the rescue of the suffering equine world 

 with a logical and simple method. His connections with Robert Bonner 

 gave him the advantage of the views of that great student of the horse's 

 locomotion, to whose persuasion is due the publication of that book. 

 Their experiences and deductions were identical and constitute the 

 most rational views and data on this subject. 



In a personal correspondence with the writer he regretted that iH 

 health had prevented him from supplementing his work with another 

 on the special subject of balancing the gait of the fast trotter and 

 pacer, because he felt the need of just such a treatise. As it is he took 

 up the cause of the horse in general, thereby appealing to every owner 

 who wishes to use the horse to the best possible advantage. All the 

 greater in consequence becomes the merit of his work. 



The writer is grateful to him for valuable suggestions, and has 

 for many years put into practice his system of shoeing. This effort .to 

 prove and to apply his teachings have led to a systematic analysis of 

 gait by means of measurements and by averages and variations, so as 

 to plot the peculiarities of each horse's mode of locomotion. The out- 

 come is a sytsem which, though based on Roberge's investigations, is 

 itself original in conception. It is offered in the hope that it will assist 

 many owners and trainers of our fast trotters and pacers in solving the 



