60 Gait of the American Trotter and Pacer 



To make this investigation complete it is necessary to find the 

 actual positions of the tracks on the ground. This manner of placing 

 the feet on the ground or of handling the legs while in motion may be 

 termed lateral extension. We have just considered the extension of 

 the horse as far as its forward and backward motion is concerned. 

 Now we must face the question of the line trot and its variations to- 

 inside and outside. The examination of the impressions on the ground 

 is important and should be studied even if for lack of time or interest 

 no further measurements are taken. For, the manner of position 

 or placing indicates the line or curve of motion in which the particular 

 foot travels. In the even, regular and energetic gait, whether it be the 

 trot or the pace, the tracks on the ground should record a firm and 

 clear, and, therefore, brief and light, contact without slipping or sliding. 

 The foot lands squarely and stays where it is put until ready for the 

 supreme effort of propulsion. Then it leaves the ground as quickly 

 and without slip or slide, the impression showing no special effort or 

 strain. This is really a great characteristic of proper "balance" and 

 the tracks on the ground should be systematically examined so as to 

 enable the intelligent trainer or shoer to judge the shortcomings and 

 requirements of the gait. 



In order to clearly understand the relative positions of such 

 tracks we must have some standard line by which we can judge. It 

 suggested itself to me that a line described on ground by the vertical 

 plane bisecting the animal lengthwise would be that standard line. In 

 other words, if we lengthen down to ground the upright plane contain- 

 ing the center of gravity we shall have a line on both sides of which 

 the tracks should be found at equal distances from it. For practical 

 purposes we may assume this line to run midway between the tracks 

 of the sulky wheels. This line I prefer to call the (( median line;" 

 and it should be drawn by means of a carpenter's or mason's white 

 cord along the straightest part of the trial to be investigated. Find- 

 ing, for instance, the width of sulky wheels to be 4 feet 5 inches, 

 this line should be staked out with surveyor's pins every 6 to 10 feet 

 and put 2 feet 2^/2 inches from the center of either wheel track. 



