122 Gait of the American Trotter and Pacer 



portion and may set the figures at 3 and I. Whether its total is repre- 

 sented by 5 or by 4, there seems to be a mutual exchange of action 

 between the two extremities. If, for instance, in Fig. 88 -we assume 

 A B (5) and A' B' (4) to represent the total action of both extremities, 

 then N or N' will indicate the fixed proportion between the portions 

 of the line it divides as given. While A B is more or less fixed, N is 

 likely to be variable or may be assumed to be so. Whichever way N 

 may move, it establishes the ratio of action by its division of the line 

 A B. IfAN represents the front action, then N B, the remainder, 

 will show the hind action. If the front action is increased, as in 

 second diagram, to A' N' again, the remainder N' B' will indicate the 

 hind action. This is offered only as an illustration of the apparent 



FI6.86 



6 



AN: NB - 3: 2 

 A'N': N'B'=4:l 



counter effect of one action on the other. If, for instance, hind action 

 is supposed to be increased to B' N", the front action will diminish and 

 will be shown as A' N". This is not to be taken literally, but only as 

 an indication of the mutual influence of front and hind action. 



It illustrates my observations regarding the mutual exchange be- 

 tween fore and hind legs of that nearly fixed total action of both ex- 

 tremities. That is to say, the more action in front the less action be- 

 hind, and, vice versa, the more action behind the less action in front. 



Elsewhere the importance of the services of the trained eye and 

 ear have been emphasized ; and in this question of action, which by 

 continual representation fixes itself before the observer, the eye must 

 also be called upon to judge. Again, it is urged that any judgment on 

 the gait should be passed only by some one on the ground while the 

 horse passes by, or, better yet, by some one driving alongside the sub- 



