138 Gait of the American Trotter and Pacer 



of such investigations and will at least show the difficulties encountered 

 in so intricate a problem as balancing. As the subject unfolds itself 

 before our view it will become manifest that there are certain definite 

 rules which cover certain points in all cases, except such where an ab- 

 normal structural fault is beyond remedy for speed or proper action. 

 Were it not true that from these investigations of gaits there were 

 found certain principles whose applications produced certain results 

 in all cases, it would be useless for me to write this book. My object is 

 to generalize, if possible, so that not one particular horse under one 

 particular man and under particular conditions can be improved in gait, 

 but rather that all horses under reasonable conditions and treatment 

 can be made to respond to an application of certain principles so 

 generalized. 



The example of this particular mare is only one in many where 

 similar difficulties were encountered and overcome by such principles. 

 I do not believe that balancing one horse does necessarily carry with it 

 a great secret of knowledge or of training which does not in some way 

 apply to another horse. While the pride of a trainer may be readily 

 understood, his successful treatment of a case should have certain 

 elements of remedies applicable to all similar cases. Time and obser- 

 vation are the great factors in such remedies. The lapping of one shoe- 

 ing over another in the effects brought out is another factor to be 

 counted on. We influence locomotion by the shape of foot and shoe. 

 It responds, and yet when another change is made remnants of the 

 previous shoeing are in evidence. It seems but rational that such 

 changes take place gradually and slowly, owing to the fact that by a 

 change we impress the brain and the tissues of the muscles and induce 

 a gradual transformation. Quick remedies are simply impossibilities. 

 If a trainer or shoer strikes it just right by sheer luck or guess it is not 

 entirely due to that quick change, but to the combination of the last 

 change with the still remaining effects of previous shoeings. With 

 gradual changes and such as are based on a rational diagnosis of the 

 case, the remedy is likely to be not only more sure but also more per- 

 manent. 



