The Angle and Length of Foot 255 



In the last trial we have again an increased stride of the hind over 

 fore by 0.36 inch, due no doubt to the condition of hind ankles, or 

 their habitual forward reach to avoid a shock. As mentioned before, 

 it is quite uncommon to have this occur, and when it reappears it points 

 to some weakness in the subject's mechanism, or to an abnormal atti- 

 tude, or to a tendency to hop and run with hind legs. Such a difference 

 is, however, only temporary if the animal continues to trot squarely. 



The animal was trotting pretty well and of the three trials that of 

 Fig. 187 seems to have been the one showing the best movements. In 

 it also is found the least extent in the total variations of the individual, 

 .strides from the general average, while in Fig. 188 these variations are 

 increased slightly, but are not so abnormal as in Fig. 186. Excessive 

 variations mean that the efforts at each stride are forced and labored, 

 due to some inadequate or deficient balancing. Whether as a temporary 

 or permanent adjustment, the inequalities in angles or lengths of toe, 

 or in the shape and weight of shoes, will often cor'rect the natural or 

 acquired defects of locomotion. Forcing the subject when going badly 

 in the hope of training him out of defects is not a method worthy of 

 imitation because of its crudeness and unreasonableness. A proper in- 

 vestigation of such a gait avoids much loss of time and much 

 aggravation. 



As before mentioned, most of these experiments were made on a 

 slightly downhill course, and I deem it to be a good test for proper 

 balance to have the animal tried on such an incline. Let us take, for 

 instance, the last trial which was trotted uphill by this Directum colt. 

 He moved resolutely and seemed to be going a little better. Fig. 189 

 will show the extensions. The stride (14.81 feet) was shorter and the 

 distance between the extremities greater (3.55) by 0.84 inch than in 

 trial of Fig. 188 (3.48) ; and again, the hind legs showed the same 

 slightly greater stride than the fore by 0.36 inch. It will also be seen 

 that the extensions were the reverse of those of Fig. 188 and similar 

 to those of Fig. 187, but more uniform than the latter. All in all, 

 therefore, the two ways of going are worth comparing and may lead 

 at times to suggestions for a change in shoeing. I will not go so far 

 as to advise such double trials in each case, but where a horse proves 



