THE HORSE IN MOTION. 13 



that it is not true that a horse ever did put liimself in the position 

 portrayed by the best artists ; and the explanation that I have to offer 

 is, that in the gallop the horse always moves his feet alternately, and 

 to the same extent; at the limit of extension there is a change of 

 direction given to them, and their image dwells longer upon the retina, 

 and the impressions are more lasting than of the intermediate and 

 more rapid movements which the mind is unable to distinguish any 

 more than the order in which they are made. 



The ear has been relied upon to determine by the rhythm of the 

 footfalls the order in which the feet strike the ground ; and bells have 

 been attached to tlie feet, each giving a different sound. Others have 

 studied the footprints, and the feet have been differently shod to dis- 

 tinguish the impression made by each foot upon the ground. 



The study of the mechanical anatomy of the horse is a necessity in 

 order to a proper understanding of the forces emplo3-ed and their 

 combined action. This necessity has now become more imperative, 

 as the action is better understood from the revelations of the camera. 



All the systematic works on the anatomy of the horse have followed 

 the plan of those on human anatomy, and apparently for the same pur- 

 pose, namely, the intelligent treatment of the diseases and accidents to 

 which horses, as well as men, are liable, while the action and relation 

 of the machine, as such, have been treated as of secondary importance 

 or altogether neglected. It has not been possible to study the action 

 of the muscles singly without falling into errors ; the correlation of 

 all of them is necessary to the understanding of any one. It is to this 

 cause that so many errors and contradictions found in all authorities 

 that have been consulted are to be ascribed. Indeed, how was it pos- 

 sible that it should have been otherwise, so long as it was not known 

 what those actions were .'' 



The progressive motions of a quadruped, which must be considered 

 as a unit, are very complex; when so studied it will be found that all 

 the parts are mutually dependent, that the forces employed are com- 

 pound and often indirect, and that the compensation of one indirect 

 action may be found quite remote. When thus considered it will be 

 found that the horse in motion is as perfectly harmonious in the dis- 



