182 THE AMERICAN HORSEWOMAN. 



or quite cover the foot-marks of his fore-feet 

 with those of his hind ones. If the hind-foot 

 should fall short of covering the track of the 

 fore one, the animal will not be a good w^alker ; 

 if, on the contrary, it should pass somewhat be- 

 yond the mark of the fore-foot, it will indicate 

 him to be a fast walker, although he may over- 

 reach. 



In both the walk and the trot, when the horse 

 is moving regularly, a quick ear can detect four 

 distinct beats or tappings of the feet ; when 

 these beats mark equal time and sound exactly 

 alike for each footstep, it may be inferred that 

 the horse is a good walker as well as a good 

 trotter, and that all his legs are sound. But if 

 one beat be lighter than the others, it may be 

 assumed that there is some disease in the foot 

 or leg that produces this beat. Horse-dealers 

 will often endeavor to disguise this defect by 

 adopting means to disable the animal tempora- 

 rily in his healthy leg, as the treads will then 

 be made more nearly alike, though the slight 

 shade of difference thus effected can be readily 

 detected by a quick, experienced ear. These 

 hoof -beats are best heard when made on a hard 

 road. 



A horse that is a good walker will move with 

 a quick step, his hind-legs well under him, his 



