The Harmony in a Gait 



267 



scribed as being midway between trotting and pacing, for it may be said 

 that the front legs trot while the hind ones pace. There is a good but 

 rather vertical front action, while behind the action is not only low but 

 more forward. In its purity the single-foot is a delightful saddle gait, 

 but in its adulterated form, mixed more or less with the trotting or 

 pacing gait, it is an abominable hybrid motion. It seems to originate 

 from the same causes such as bring about a high vertical action in front 



and a low and forward action behind. Roughly stated it is caused by a 

 high angle of front feet combined with a low angle behind, but weight 

 and shape of shoe, as well as length of toe, are contributory to its de- 

 velopment. 



Let us examine the six positions of a single-footing horse in Fig. 

 197, taken originally from life and then re-drawn. On account of the 

 low and forward action of the hind feet we may say that they come 

 in contact with the ground before the, front feet do. In the first po- 



