36 Gait of the American Trotter and Pacer 



action of the four above named trotters. It shows the difference of 

 positions of both these joints as regards distance from the ground. 

 In all cases the hock joint is located higher from the ground than the 

 knee joint, which is a common observation with horses. 



In a later chapter the details of such comparative elevation are 

 fully explained and illustrated. The scope of knee action is here indi- 

 cated by the parallel lines enclosing the curves of hock action. From 

 these plottings it may be seen that Elaine comes first in developed 

 action in front and 'behind ; Edgington should be second for a similar 

 reason, but he shows a somewhat less developed hock action with more 

 forward than backward extension, together with a consequent inter- 

 ference. Occident is a good third, even with his excessive knee action 

 and low hock action, his gait being a sample of the endeavor to remove 

 the fore feet from the interference with the hind feet by means of 

 excessive action in front ; and lastly there is Clay, whose indifferent 

 knee flexion but good hock action seem to cause trouble by speedy-cut- 

 ting, 'for his hind feet are seen to pass the rather sluggish fore feet on 

 the outside. This is a gait that can in no way be recommended, but 

 the animal's conformation is largely at fault for that defective pro- 

 pulsion. 



At the bottom of Fig. 27 I have endeavored to present the 

 average of the movements above referred to, and from this the reader 

 may get an idea of the comparative action in front and behind. These 

 studies, when applied to actual cases, have always indicated that it is 

 easy to increase the knee action or to decrease the hock action. These 

 are the natural tendencies of the movements of these joints. Far more 

 difficult it becomes to equalize the action of the two extremities ; that 

 is, to increase the hock action and to decrease the knee action. As all 

 trainers know, proper extension counts for more than action ; that, is, 

 proportionate reaching forward with the fore and backward with the 

 hind legs is the secret of a regular and fast gait. Much attention has 

 been given to increase the extension of fore and but little to the pro- 

 pelling power of a well placed hind foot as it reaches backward in its 

 last effort to fling the body forward. I shall touch upon this matter 

 later on. 



