Record of the Tracks on the Ground 53 



we shall readily see the curious inequalities of such extensions, even 

 in a horse of an apparently good gait. This proves in part my con- 

 tention that only by an accurate method, such 'as this, can we detect 

 the faults or peculiarities of a gait. 



Adding these four columns and dividing by 20 we have the actual 

 average extension of each leg with reference to its opposite mate,, but 

 this being the difference of two averages these fractions should be 

 divided by 2 to ascertain the actual mean difference between the ex- 

 tensions of legs or feet. Hence off fore precedes near fore by 0.03 

 of a foot or 0.36 in. or 1/3 in. and near hind travels ahead of off hind 

 0.1975 of a foot or 2.37 inches or about 2 1/3 inches. 



It will be noted that the averages of fore added together 

 are 19.23 feet and those of hind are 19.25, which seems to indicate 

 that for those 20 strides at least the hind exceed the fore slightly in 

 extension. The same fact might have been noticed in Fig. 36 ; and it 

 shows that hind legs were, in this stretch, slightly more active than the 

 fore, an observation made in a good many resolute trotters with good 

 hind action. But if we were to measure 100 strides this apparent 

 greater extension of hind would subside at times and thus keep the 

 horse from breaking. For, it should be remembered that the increase 

 of stride is always first made by the hind legs ; and, therefore, this 

 activity of hind in this case must simply be due to increasing speed 

 as she trotted over that piece of ground. 



The general average of all of the four legs is, as indicated at 

 head of table, 9.62 ft., which taken twice will give the general average 

 of stride,, or 19.24 ft., as we computed it in Fig. 36. 



The result of the last table illustrates plainly the original method 

 of David Roberge of reducing the analysis of gait to a series of "point- 

 ing." Here we have pointing at speed, which is still more express- 

 ive than "pointing" at rest. We have, therefore, arrived at the indica- 

 tions of irregularities of gait by means of pointing or extension. These 

 extensions, when unequal, simply show the habit of a gait and further- 

 more indicate the solution of a possible correction. Later on it will 

 be shown that Roberge's simple exposition of pointing will also 

 serve as a suggestion for a remedy. 



