352 THE ARABIAN'S GAITS 



anywhere. But there are few of them, except on the 

 newer ranges. 



Unless for the saddle, the Arabian is not worth his salt. 

 He is too light for draught. For the saddle, the Ken- 

 tucky type is better ; as to gaits, infinitely to be preferred. 

 When I say Kentucky, I mean the best class of Southern- 

 bred saddle-horses everywhere. I am naturally led to 

 speak of Kentucky as I am more familiar Avith that State 

 than the others. The gaits of the Arabian horse are not 

 as pure as those of the Southern. He has but two which 

 may be called perfect — the walk and gallop. His flat- 

 footed walk is undeniably good ; on the whole, better than 

 the average in the South, and that is saying a great deal. 

 His amble or rack is good, but neither rapid nor even 

 and reliable in individuals. He has rarely a canter proper ; 

 he always gallops. To " canter all day in the shade of an 

 apple-tree" is an unknown art to him ; he must go a given 

 speed. I have not seen a single slow, easy, rhythmical 

 canter in Asia or Africa, though I have seen a Bedouin at 

 dofantasiya plant his spear, and canter around it without 

 quitting his hold. This was, however, at great exertion to 

 man and beast, not performed as my " Patroclus " used to 

 do it — quietly, well-collected, and without strain. The Ara- 

 bian's gallop is rapid and neatly poised ; he gathers hand- 

 ily and quickly ; but he has not the true racing stride. 

 Still, for saddle - work, his gallop is good. Except these 

 two, the Arabian has no gait worth mention. His amble 

 or rack is slow ; he cannot start out into a sharp, fast, 

 twelve-mile rack. The running-walk as a steady, trained, 

 uniform gait, is unknown, though some individual horses 

 happen to blunder into it. Nor has the Arabian saddle- 

 beast a trot, unless trained for a Frank. 



Saddle-gaits are a matter of intelligent education. Un- 

 questionably, in his sharp and sudden manoeuvres in the 



