222 Gait of the American Trotter and Pacer 



while the weight on hind was correctly placed. Therefore, in the trial 

 of B, the longer off hind foot and its longer heels overcame the weight 

 and lower angle of the near hind foot; while in C it did not succeed 

 in doing so because of the longer near fore, which is checked by greater 

 length of toe and greater angle as compared with off fore. This 

 check causes a further reduction of the distance between fore and hind 

 feet from 4.13 ft. to 3.90 ft. I may here remark that such a check to 

 near fore is at all times dangerous and productive of injuries because, 

 as before mentioned, the greater extension is naturally with the near 

 fore on account of taking the turns. 



Again, in C the off fore, though lifted and helped by greater 

 length of near fore, does not extend as much on that account because 

 of its greater weight in shoe. The effect is therefore greater in ele- 

 vation, but the lower angle should give it a chance to extend. All 

 these combinations, though somewhat counteracting each other, can 

 be said to have brought about the action and extension of the off fore. 



In A the angles of hind are practically the same, the swelled heels 

 of near hind making up for lesser angle of the foot proper. With 

 full toe of shoe the extension would naturally be slightly more; but 

 whether swelled heels had any part in that other examples will make 

 clear in a subsequent paragraph. The greater separation of fore and 

 hind is no doubt due largely to lighter hind shoes, but in some 

 measure also to the longer stride of 18.24 ft. The endeavor with the 

 front shoes was principally in the direction of equalizing the exten- 

 sion between the near and off, counteracting the weight necessary for 

 the paddling off fore by a lower angle of that foot. 



We shall consider the subject whose last shoeing was given in 

 Fig. 164 and once more see the effect of squared toes. 



The case considered from Fig. 161 to Fig. 164 inclusive was that 

 of a peculiarly and rapidly gaited gelding. There was a preference 

 for a near fore greater forward reach or extension the foot with a 

 dished toe and high heel due, no doubt, in part to the paddling of off 

 fore; and, furthermore, there was an over-reach of off hind foot 

 which, on account of interference with off fore, was placed more or 

 less inside of the latter. 



