The Harmony in a Gait 263 



Distance of correlated feet. 



n f - o h o f - n h 



3.94 feet 3.97 feet 



as the two averages, with smallest and greatest distances, as follows: 



3-6o,4-i5 370,4-35 



The difference between the averages is, therefore, 0.03 feet, or 

 0.36 inch, a negligible distance, which shows both sides to be regular 

 in extension. It should be mentioned that there was a preference of 

 the off fore to precede the near fore by 0.18 feet, or 2.16 inches, and 

 likewise the near hind (the diagonal mate of off fore) preceded the off 

 hind by 0.15 feet or 1.8 inch, the difference being as found, or 0.36 

 inch greater for the distance between off fore and near hind. 



As far as the overstep is concerned, it would naturally be greater 

 on the side where hind foot has a greater extension and fore foot ahead 

 of it has a lesser extension, as in this case would be the near side. That 

 difference here amounts to nearly 2 inches, which in view of the nearly 

 equal separations of fore and hind feet (3.94 and 3.97) becomes also 

 a negligible quantity. 



Regularity of gait is not bound by an exact equality of the distances 

 given and must at all times be allowed some elastic form or spring in 

 its progress. We are not dealing with an automobile with its stiff, me- 

 tallic component parts of machinery, but with the tissues of a highly 

 organized animal locomotion. Let me, therefore, bring before the 

 reader again the excellent pictures of a few horses in motion of recent 

 date, taken remarkably well by Mr. Ted. Hansom of New York. 



Fig. 192 gives the trotter Lord Derby 2:0534, with his two cor- 

 related feet near fore and off hind on the ground, ready to make a 

 supreme effort to hurl himself into the air while the other pair of feet 

 are getting ready to extend to their utmost reach. The position is in- 

 teresting in that it shows the difference between fore and hind motion 

 as discussed in Chapter VI under Fig. 156. The easier unfolding of 

 hock joint and its lower elevation as compared with the greater exer- 

 tion necessary for the front flexion is well shown here in its beginning. 



The next position, a fraction of a second later, is seen in Fig. 193, 

 the California stallion Idolita 2:09*4 being the subject. Here we 



