ACTION. 31 



the horned viper or the cobra. My experience is that 

 light-hearted horses are more prone to this disagreeable 

 habit than are the more plodding, placid, methodical goers, 

 but when one of the latter makes a mistake it is apt to be a 

 serious one. 



Nothing is more unsightly in the walk, or in any other 

 pace, than the far too common habit of " dishing," or 

 '•'paddling." A horse is said to " dish " or ''paddle" when 

 in the walk, or, more frequently and in a greater degree, in 

 the trot, the fore leg, from the knee downwards, is not 

 lifted from the ground and carried forward in the plane along 

 which his whole body is moving, but is caused to describe, 

 before reaching the ground, a lateral ellipse or curve some- 

 what similar to that of the paddle of a canoe as it leaves 

 and re-enters the water. This faulty action is best detected 

 when a horse is being met or followed. The fore foot 

 should be thrown out perfectly straight, devoid entirely of 

 lateral twist. Dishing is most commonly seen among our 

 carriage horses and the hackneys and roadsters proper. 

 These products of Norfolk, and Yorkshire — the profane term 

 the former "Norfolk rollers" — have of late, since the creation 

 of a Hackney stud book, come much into fashion, and to 

 certain of the Confidence tribe are we indebted for the 

 accentuation of this objectionable gait. Unfortunately it is 

 potentially hereditary. 



When using the term hack I mean it to apply to the 

 thoroughbred, or "cocktail" (nearly thoroughbred). If 

 there be a flaw in his pedigree, then let the alien blood 

 be that of the Yorkshire roadster. For trotting purposes 

 we, in the old country, want nothing beyond the capacity 

 to do his twelve mile an hour under the saddle if needed. 

 To ride a fast trotter in the Park at the verge of his speed 

 would be shocking bad form ; one that can step handsomely, 



