Gait of the American Trotter and Pacer 



were 54. Great irregularity of gait was expressed by the total varia- 

 tions from average stride: 



Hind- 

 Near. Off. 

 15-55 10.65 



The distance between extremities being rather long 3.88 ft. a 

 further separation by means of toeweights seemed ill-advised. Hence 

 the idea of unequal weight suggested itself. 



During the previous season the horse had received some attention 

 and some success had been achieved by merely shaping the length of 

 hoof and angle differently on hind feet. A higher angle and a shorter 

 toe having generally less extension than a lower angle and a longer 

 toe, the desired result was effected ; but habits of extensions, such as 

 skipping behind, are hard to eradicate, and after a while the horse re- 

 lapsed into his old way of going. It was, therefore, necessary to em- 

 phasize or exaggerate the difference by weight, toe and angle all at'the 

 same time. I did not from the start consider this case amenable to 

 treatment, but to prove the effect of weight with a resultant improved 

 gait this plan was followed out. Fig. 149 will illustrate this shoeing, 

 and the consequent extensions. There is apparently a conflicting testi- 

 mony in the treatment of the fore feet as compared with the fore of 

 Fig. 147, the extension of the latter being greater with the foot of 

 longer toe and greater angle, in other words, with the longer foot or 

 the off fore; while in this case (Fig. 149) the apparently shorter foot 

 takes the lead. The latter effect is generally found to prevail, and this 

 horse being sound in front, while the previous subject was unsound in 

 the near fore through a swelled tendon, seems to prove the rule by the 

 greater extension of the off fore. 



The idea of having the hind toes longer than the front toes was 

 erroneous, and especially with a horse that inclined to knuckle over. 

 This horse always had had longer hind toes and hence the suggestion 

 at the time. The main remedy for knuckling over seems to be an 

 easy roll-over at the toe ; that is, a roll in shoe from heel to toe, but 

 with a slightly beveled heel to check the rapidity of the break-over 



