196 



EQUINE LOCOMOTION 



other, cannot be recommended for the horse. He seeks to relieve the 

 fatigued muscles by changing sides, and is usually trained to do this by 

 a light stroke down the shoulder with the whip. 



The fore -leg which is not acting as a diagonal support is called the 

 leading leg, and a horse is said to be cantering to the left or right accord- 

 ing to which leg is leading. 



As a straightforward pace, cantering is perhaps the safest of all, but 

 while cantering a horse should not be asked to turn, except towards the 



Cupyright, iyy7, by Eadweard Muybritlge. 



From Animals in Motwn, jiublisheil by Chapman i 



Fig. 531.— The Canter 



side of the leading leg; neglect of this precaution renders him liable to 

 cross his legs and come down. 



The hind-leg upon which the whole of the animal's weight is momen- 

 tarily imposed, is on the opposite side of the leading fore-leg. 



There is a fast canter, more frequently called a " hand-gallop", in which 

 the diagonal support does not act unaided. The period of suspension in 

 the canter is obtained in the same way as in the gallop, the straightening 

 of the leading fore-leg raising the forehand. 



Listening to the uninterrupted sound of a horse cantering to the left, 

 it will be noted that the interval of suspension between the coming down 

 of the left fore and right hind feet is of greater duration than either of the 



