Experiments and their Verification 183 



this horse had an energetic and rather short gait, which seemed to be 

 disturbed by the increased toe leverage of Fig. 142, as the variations 

 above would indicate. The adjustment of Fig. I43-B suited him much 

 better. These comparisons serve to bring out the observation that a 

 horse can not always be extended much more than is natural for him, 

 nor can his gait be shortened very much ; but in either event the gait 

 may be regulated so as to overcome an increased tendency toward a 

 longer or shorter gait. 



In all these trials nothing was done by means of poles to direct 

 the off hind more to its outside line of motion, so that its direction 

 would correspond with that of the near hind. The position of the off 

 hind foot was no doubt an old habit which not even the increased ex- 

 tension of the off hind would rectify completely. 



In Fig. 144 are given a series of lateral extension with the angles 

 of the feet, which may give the reader an idea as to the extent to which 

 the directions of the feet are amenable to treatment. The positions of 

 the feet of the trial of Fig. 142 are not included, but they are very 

 similar to those of 143-6, showing, however, lesser angles in front and 

 a placing of off hind on the outside of the median line, as in Fig. 

 I43-A on this comparative illustration of Fig. 144. Barring this con- 

 firmed fault, it goes to show that the shoer has more or less control 

 over the directions of the feet. 



A very small alteration in the way of shaping the feet and the 

 shoes will result in a better direction, less interference, or none at all, 

 and in an all round improved gait. 



These five diagrams of Fig. 144 will indicate the possibilities of 

 continued effort to correct the locomotion as regards the angles of the 

 feet, and in consequence also the curves resulting therefrom. For in- 

 stance, the fore feet toed out and knee hitting was the result. Reduc- 

 ing the angles to 4.7 and 5.3 reduces the inward curves, and there 

 can be no interference, or at least very much less. Knee hitting, in 

 this case, ceased altogether. 



What we were discussing, however, was the influence of weight 

 of shoes, and, though it has been shown that extension is increased 



the action of hind legs equalized thereby, the influence of such 



