38 Gait of the American Trotter and Pacer 



is that of the horse Abe Edgington (Edgerton) to sulky and to saddle, 

 as given in Fig. 28. With the superimposed weight of a rider the 

 action of knee decreases and that of hock increases in elevation. The 

 hock joint by depression of weight is nearly on a level with knee joint 

 and yet its elevation is as high as in the trial to sulky. But the most 

 remarkable change in action is the sudden elevation of hind when 

 leaving the ground, as given in the drawings of trajectories. A few 

 positions of the horse in motion under saddle are also given in Fig. 29, 

 when the sudden elevation of hind feet becomes a fact to the eye, due 

 to the greater backward reach or extension than there was visible in 

 the trial to sulky, and with this backward action disappears the ten- 

 dency to speedy cutting. The trotter clears or trots under the fore 

 with his hind feet. The weight on the back prevents a pointing for- 



7 * j ii a a* 



Abe Ed$in$ton to Saddle - Note backward action and extension 



FJ5.29 



ward of hind and seems to extend fore feet. There is an indication 

 in this effect which points to a similar effect of letting down the head 

 of a horse or of heavy shoes behind or shoes that will favor easy back- 

 ward reach. This will be investigated in later chapters treating on the 

 measurements of the gaits. 



In summing up the points of importance shown in these illustra- 

 tions I beg to have the forbearance of the reader for the imperfec- 

 tions of the drawings. They were prepared with all the care and skill 

 at my command, but since the originals were not quite perfect the 

 faults are not altogether of my own making. In the main and princi- 

 pal features the presentations and plottings are correct ; it is only in 

 the fine outline and execution where they lack perfection. 



The points at issue are all directed to nearly equalize or balance 

 the fore and hind actions. It is a well known fact that fore action 



