24 HORSE-BACK RIDING. 



hind-foot, which constitutes the second ; the tJiird is 

 seen in the raising and advancing of the left fore- 

 foot, and the fourth in the same action in the right 

 hind-foot ; but at the moment when the right hind- 

 foot is about to touch the ground, the right fore-foot 

 leaves it, and the hind-foot is placed in its track, or, 

 in the case of some animals, a little in advance. 



During these movements, there is a moment when 

 two of the feet are raised from the ground, and the 

 horse rests entirely on the other two, and as we have 

 already shown that the second movement follows 

 very closely upon the first, and that the left hind-foot 

 is on the ground at the same moment, or very nearly 

 so, as the right fore-foot, it follows that in this gait 

 the horse is supported, now on two feet laterally, 

 now on two feet diagonally. 



Hence, in this gait the centre of gravity being but 

 little or not at all changed, it is the easiest, the rider 

 receiving only moderate concussions, repeated at dis- 

 tinct intervals, regular, easy to count. This is the 

 only gait to ride immediately after meals, and should 

 be restricted in certain diseases. 



The i7'ot is a diagonal and jumping gait. If we 

 examine the movement of a horse which has just 

 started, there is a point of time when, by the force 

 gained, the horse is for a moment suspended in the 

 air, all four of his feet having quitted the ground. 

 He then falls on his right fore-foot at the same time 

 that the left hind-foot touches the ground, in order 



