300 Gait of the American Trotter and Pacer 



The average distance between the fore and between the hind is 

 9.32 ft., which is one-half of the stride, 18.64 ft. In an equal gait the 

 sum total of the two fore extensions, as well as that of the two hind 

 extensions, equals, or nearly equals, the length of the stride: 9.32 X 2 

 = 18.64; an d even in a gait of unequal extensions the sum of both fore 

 and both hind extensions generally equals the stride. But the average 

 extension of each foot does not make up one-half of the stride of that 

 particular leg in the above trial ; that is to say, 9.38 X 2, or 18.76, is 

 not the stride of the near fore and so on. The difference between the 

 fore and between the hind extensions must be averaged for each pair ; 

 that is to say, the near fore in its position with reference to the off fore 

 is o-M f t ahead of the position of the latter, or 0.065 ft- -7& inch, 

 and likewise the off hind precedes the near hind with an average dis- 

 tance between it and the near hind of 2A ft., or 1.14 in. The stride 

 of each leg averages the same, namely, 18.64 ft-> f r > if it did not, 

 then the horse would not trot, but break into a run. 



We notice, therefore, a slightly greater extension of the off hind 

 over that of its diagonal or correlated mate, the near fore, which is 

 1.14 0.78, or 0.36 in., which will appear as the difference between the 

 averages of the distance of the two pairs of diagonal feet. 



Again taking up the table of continuous measurements, as they 

 were put down from the actual trial, we can easily ascertain these 

 diagonal distances by subtracting the figures of each hind leg on the 

 right side from its mate on line diagonally below. Starting, as usual, 

 with the first stride of near fore (18.90), we take from it the preced- 

 ing measurement of the off hind (14.95) an d P u t down in the column 

 marked "near fore off hind" the difference of 3.95. Proceeding to 

 the next stride of off fore, or rather its measurement of 28.90 ft., we 

 take from it the measurement of its preceding near hind, 24.25 ft., 

 which gives us 3.95 again for the distance between the other pair of 

 correlated or diagonal feet marked "off fore near hind." Carrying 

 this out for the twenty strides, we have the following table : 



