218 Gait of the American Trotter and Pacer 



fore foot ; and though subsequently in Fig. 142 (one month later) the 

 final greater extension of the near fore and off hind, as effected there 

 by angles and toe-lengths, was somewhat excessive, it was more in 

 line with the requisite extensions for the turns of the track. It proved 

 to produce a good regular trot. 



Again referring to Figs. 145 and 146, we notice the extension of 

 the off hind foot with the squared toe, and compared with the exten- 

 sions of the previous shoeing of that gelding this squared toe checked 

 the excessive previous extension which showed the remarkably faulty 

 difference of 10.92 inches the distance the off hind was carried ahead 

 of near hind. This facilitated the movements of the near fore, which 

 leg had a bad tendon. Checking the extension and increasing the 

 elevation of the off hind by the squared toe and greater angle checks 

 the near fore in a measure and the near hind of that gelding being 

 also affected in the hock, we have the strange phenomenon of exces- 

 sive extensions on the off side. Such a twist, one might say, to the 

 movements of the legs cannot at any time augur any good, and it is 

 wise to either discontinue training or devise more effective and yet 

 safe means to bring the extensions into harmony and let at least the 

 distance between the correlated feet be approximately the same. 



Reference is here made to a series of previous illustrations under 

 Figs. 96, 99, 106, 109, in and 113, in which the off hind carries a 

 shoe with longer heels. In both 96 and 99 the hind shoes remained 

 the same, the shoeing of 96 following in reality that of 99. As the 

 hind shoes were made and fitted by another shoer the accuracy of 

 data given can not quite be depended on. On the other hand, the 

 tendency at previous trials was a greater or excessive extension of the 

 opposite or near hind leg, so that this habit may have remained for 

 some time after. Such a remnant of previous conditions always pre- 

 sents a disturbing element in subsequent shoeings. At any rate, the 

 longer heels on off hind did not materially increase the extension of 

 that leg, but in the subsequent shoeings, as illustrated in the remain- 

 ing figures above alluded to, there appears a more decided influence 

 of these long heels on the off hind shoe, namely, they increase, as a 

 rule, the extension. Besides, the application of the so-called Memphis 



