150 Gait of the American Trotter and Pacer 



a change. An instance of this was demonstrated by the shoeing 

 following Fig. 109, namely, that of Fig. in, where, within four days, 

 a trial was made and the results were not as satisfactory as they were 

 ten days after that. 



Let us now return to the effect of toe-weights. The apparently 

 balanced condition of Fig. in, w.hich produced a good and smooth 

 mile, was used for such a possible demonstration of the effect on either 

 fore foot. 



In my remarks on toe-weights it was maintained that while they 

 caused an increased action or folding in front, they were apt to bring 

 about a deficient action behind. Many trotters loaded down with toe- 

 weights in front show a low action but apparently increased forward 

 extension behind. Toe-weights, therefore, never appealed to me as 

 being instrumental in causing a better equilibrium of fore and hind 

 action, so pleasing to the eye, but seemed rather to aggravate matters. 

 The high elevation and somewhat increased extension of fofe does in- 

 fluence the activity of hind legs, but there seems to be not, as we should 

 expect, a higher elevation of action, but rather an increased forward 

 extension. The use of toe-weights, therefore, does not separate fore 

 and hind, but seems to be productive of closer approach, so that the 

 claim that they will make the fore feet keep clear of the hind by greater 

 separation of fore and hind has not been proved, although by the 

 greater folding of fore these are apt to be out of reach of the hind 

 when the latter reach forward. 



For the good name of the trotter as being something better and 

 worthier than a mere racer we cannot sacrifice everything to speed 

 alone. We must have splendid action, well balanced action, evenly dis- 

 tributed action ; in short, action of the vigorous and the useful kind 

 combined. Toe-weights applied continually do not promote such action. 



With the shoeing of Fig. in and the subject driven on outside of 

 the first trial, which was without toe-weights and near the fence, it 

 was noticed that the head was carried straighter. The third trial on 

 outside of second wr*s made under same conditions. The extensions of 

 each trial with toe-weight on alternate fore are given in Fig. 116 and 

 Fig. 117. 



