THE GALLOP. 21 



THE RHYTHM OF THE THREE PACES. 



If we let i represent the left hind-leg, 2 the right hind- 

 leg, 3 the left fore-leg, and 4 the right fore- leg, and 

 suppose the horse to be leading with his right side, we 

 may express the rhythm and order of the three paces in 

 the following manner : 



The run would be, 1.2. 3.4. 1.2. 3.4. 1.2. 3.4. 



The canter would be, 1.3. 2. 4. 1.3. 2. 4. 



The gallop would be, i. f. 4. i. f. 4. i. f. 4. 



But if, in the gallop, the leg represented by 3 came to 

 the ground before that represented by 2, it would prove 

 that the horse was disconnected, and the pace had de- 

 generated into a canter ; and if there should be a pause 

 between foot-falls of the second and the third legs, then 

 we should know that the horse was not collected, and 

 that the gallop had become a run. 



WHEN THE GALLOP BECOMES THE RUN. 

 So long as the horse is united and in hand, so that the 

 action is even and regular, and the rhythm of three beats 

 is maintained, the pace is the gallop, even though the 

 mass be not thrown upon the leading fore-foot from the 

 hind-foot of the same side. But when the horse is so 

 extended that he becomes disunited and out of hand 

 (that is, unable to respond instantaneously to the demands 



