LEAPING AND JUMPING 199 



fore-leg of the diagonal support comes to the ground after its hind fellow, 

 while in the canter it was shown that the reverse was the case, the fore-leg 

 coming to the ground either immediately prior to, or at the same time as, 

 its hind fellow. The canter and galloj) are much alike, and the former 

 readily becomes a gallop by the greater extension of the leg that is not 

 leading. 



The leading fore-leg in the gallop is more extended when it touches the 

 ground than its fellow, and has also to afford a longer period of support 

 than either of the other three legs. It follows, therefore, that the leading 

 fore-leg is more subject to sprain of the back tendons and suspensory liga- 

 ment than the non-leading leg. As the left fore-leg is the one usually 

 chosen to lead becau.se more convenient to the rider, it is found to be more 

 frequently injured than the right. Captain Hayes thinks the ligaments of 

 the leading fore-leg are sprained by over-extension and not by concussion, 

 which latter is greater upon the non-leading leg " by reason of its coming 

 on the ground at a moment when it is wholly unsupported by the other 

 fore-limb ". 



In the gallop, the horse seldom has more than two feet on the ground 

 at the same time, and if a third touches it it is for the briefest possible 

 period. The extreme extension of the fore-feet represented in many old 

 prints is shown to be possible by some of Muybridge's photogi-aphs (see 

 Plate XII), and in such positions of the body and forehand the face will 

 have its profile vary between 40 and 55 degrees or even more. 



If the reader will follow the figures he will get a more correct know- 

 ledge of the successive movements of the limbs in this most interesting, 

 because fastest, pace of the horse, than from any verbal description we can 

 give. 



LEAPING AND JUMPING 



In jumping, the forehand is first raised, and the body and hind-c|uarters 

 made to follow by the straightening of the hind -limbs against the ground. 

 The period of su.spension in the leap is when the hind-feet have left the 

 ground. 



It is customary to speak of several kinds of jumping or leaping, although 

 produced by the same main springs. There is the standing and the running 

 jump, the high and the long leap. 



Taking-off. — A horse takes-off or commences his jump in a variety of 

 ways, according to whether he is standing (the standing leap), ambling, 

 cantering, or galloping. Few horses can jump properly from the trot, 

 although it is of great advantage to be able to do so. 



In the canter or gallop the animal prepares to take-off by straightening 



