20 HOW TO JUDGE A HORSE. 



ing, the footing, the supporting and the propelling; 

 but there is a decided difference between fore and 

 hind leg in the second and fourth moments, viz., the 

 footing and the propelling. The fore leg exerts its 

 greatest power in the moment of footing, a minor 

 one in the moment of propelling (or swinging-off), the 

 contrary being the case with the hind leg. 



At the second moment the fore leg has to take up 

 almost the entire force of the concussion produced 

 by the weight in connection with the motion, to pre- 

 vent the body from turning a summersault ; but at 

 the fourth moment the fore leg cannot do much in the 

 vray of tossing the burden forward, because its 

 elasticity is not transferred to a firm basis of bones 

 of the rump, but is reduced to a minimum by being 

 connected with the side part of the chest by mus- 

 cles only. 



The conditions under which the fore legs fulfil 

 their task best are easiest observed in the trot. 



The general points for a fine action in the trot, are: 



(1) Light, free and high raising of the leg from 

 the shoulder with well-bent knee ; far, light and 

 powerful extending from the shoulder; gradual 

 stretching forward of the parts underneath the knee, 

 so that the leg looks straight only when the hoof 

 touches the ground. 



(2) Footing on the full hoof. 



