140 METHOD OF HORSEMANSHIP. 



to great speed in trotting, it is not the less 

 proved that the well-balanced horse can 

 trot faster than the one destitute of this 

 advantage. I have given proofs of this 

 whenever they have been demanded of me ; 

 but it is in vain that I have tried to make 

 people understand what constitutes the 

 motions of the trot, and what are the con 

 ditions indispensable for regularity in exe 

 cuting it. So, I was obliged in a race, of 

 which I was judge, to make the bets void, 

 and to prove that the pretended trotters 

 were really not trotting, but ambling. 



The condition indispensable to a good 

 trotter is perfect equilibrium of the body. 

 Equilibrium, which keeps up a regular 

 movement of the diagonal fore and hind 

 feet, gives them an equal elevation and ex 

 tension, with such lightness that the animal 

 can easily execute all changes of direction, 

 moderate his speed, halt, or increase his 



