292 Gait of the American Trotter and Pacer 



(48) and heavier shoe (n oz.) do not offset the longer toe (3^3 in.), 

 higher heel (49) and lighter shoe (9 oz.) of the near fore as far as 

 extension goes. For, the extension of near fore increases to twice the 

 distance (0.72 in.), although this is small in either case. It shows that 

 the higher heel (49) of near gives a better leverage to the longer 

 toe than the lower heel (48) gives to the shorter toe and heavier shoe 

 of the off fore. Behind the shorter toe (3^ in.) of the near and 

 its greater weight (8 oz.) gives an easier leverage and a greater ex- 

 tension (1.92 in.) than the longer toe (3^ in.) and lighter shoe (6 oz.) 

 of the off hind, the angles being the same. 



A notable agreement in these two trials may be seen in the equal- 

 ity of the strides both ways (15.60 15-59), which gives occasion to 

 call attention to the general rule that the separation of the extremities 

 is greater in the uphill movement (3.98) than it is in the downhill 

 movement (3.90), and also that the overstep in the latter (3.90) is 

 greater than it is in the former (3.80). These differences are no 

 doubt due to two causes, namely, the better backward extension of 

 the hind and also, to a lesser extent, the better or easier forward ex- 

 tension of the fore. 



In the uphill movement the fore enter more largely as drivers of 

 the equine machine, which function is .generally taken up by the hind 

 members in both directions; but the fore do at the same time reach 

 forward with greater vigor on account of that incline uphill. And so 

 the general difference of effects between uphill and downhill motion 

 may be summed up as follows : 



DOWNHILL. 



1. Higher action in front and lower action behind. 



2. Greater and easier forward extension of hind. 



3. Greater effort in forward extension of fore. 



4. Naturally longer stride for a given speed. 



5. Greater and easier approach of fore and hind. 



6. Leverage at toe less dependent on a greater angle of foot. 



7. Greater length of whole foot increasing extension. 



8. Weight of front shoe increasing action and slightly decreasing 

 extension. 



