CHAPTEE I. 



THE SKELETON. 



The horse is useful to man by its motion. The 

 faster, safer and lasting the same, and the less the 

 soundness of the legs is suffering from it, the more 

 perfect it will be. The motion of the horse varies 

 with the difference in the gait. In lualking it moves 

 forward with one hind leg assisted by the diagonal 

 fore leg, whilst the other hind and fore leg support 

 the body. This movement is executed in a slow 

 manner, in four beats, without free propulsion. 

 "When trotting, the motion is in two beats, spring- 

 like. Two diagonal legs support the body while 

 the other two move forward. A moment before they 

 foot, the first two leave the ground and move 

 forward and so on. In gallop, both hind legs throw 

 the body forward, almost simultaneously, and 

 move it in a rocking motion over the still 

 supporting fore legs. These latter are lifted the 

 next moment, so that the whole body floats in 

 the air for an instant. The hind legs reach the 



