Downhill and Uphill Trials Compared 293 



9. Weight of hind shoe increasing extension and decreasing action* 

 10. Toe-weights increasing extension of fore. 



UPHILL, 



1. Lower action in front and higher action behind. 



2. Greater and easier backward extension of hind. 



3. Less effort and easier forward extension of fore. 



4. Naturally shorter stride for the same speed. 



5. Greater and easier separation of fore and hind. 



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



7. Greater length of whole foot decreasing extension. 



8. Weight of front shoe decreasing action and slightly increasing 

 extension. 



9. Weight of hind shoe decreasing extension and increasing action. 

 10. Toe-weights decreasing extension of fore. 



In these contrasts the shape of the shoes will, of course, have a 

 modifying influence such as has been discussed before and as may be 

 left to the requirements of each individual horse. 



While these general principles hold true . for various kinds of 

 horses, it must be admitted that the combinations regarding gait and 

 general make-up, as found in each horse, are very varied and may 

 therefore require special adjustments. This exposition of the gait of 

 our harness horse, with its illustrative experiments, should, however, 

 lead to a solution of balance in every case, provided the method by 

 which the gait of each horse can be analyzed is employed every time. 

 In all questions of balance it should be borne in mind that any defi- 

 ciency of gait is either absolute or relative ; that is to say, the absence 

 of a desirable quality or capacity is either lacking entirely, or it is com- 

 pensated by a strongly developed quality or capacity elsewhere in the 

 total make-up of the horse. If there is no such compensation, then the 

 harmony of motion is seriously and perhaps permanently affected, and 

 it will be difficult to establish any sort of an equilibrium between the 

 parts of such a disordered mechanism. 



In conclusion, I wish to point out again the three conditions that 

 each track presents in more or less varied degree, and which affect the 

 balance of the horse. These are: the soil, the turns and the grades. 



