1 6 THE HORSE. 



step. The height of this triangle is very small and has a 

 tendency to complete extinction with the acceleration of 

 the gait. The trails contract together until, in the 

 paroxysm of racing, they inscribe themselves on the 

 medial plane. 



We have still to consider the space covered, i.e., to fix 

 the absolute length of the complete step. I believe it to 

 be very difficult to arrive at an exact estimation. An 

 attempt at so doing has been made by means of a 

 mathematical indication of a connection with the height, 

 from the withers to the ground, a supposition well 

 authorised, more especially when dealing with an oriental 

 horse, inscribed in a square ; but from the artistic point of 

 view, it is permissible to select a long horse, since such 

 exist, because of its additional gracefulness, and because 

 it causes the head to appear lighter. 



The result of personal experience makes me prefer 

 drawing a deduction as to the length of the pace from 

 the distance which separates the point of the arm from 

 the point of the buttock, namely, from the length of the 

 animal. 



The most practised eye is often deceived in estimation 

 of the two principal measurements — height and length. 



The height of a horse can preponderate over its 

 length, not only in oriental horses, but even in those the 

 speed of which is shown on the turf. I have proved this 

 fact by measuring a series of photographs of winning 

 racehorses in 1863. At that time a discussion had 

 arisen as to the height of horses in comparison with 

 their length ; the measurements proved the truth of my 

 assertion. 



It is rare for the length of a Norman or English horse 

 to exceed 2% heads. 



With Arabs and barbs, in many cases, the length 

 equals the height. 



In order to thoroughly impress upon the mind, from 

 the visual point of view, what has just been stated, 

 reference should be made to the termination of the article 

 Proportions, where will be found two drawings ; the one 

 is of a horse measuring 2^ heads in both directions ; it is 

 the copy of a photograph representing the proportions of 

 the stature indicated by Bourgelat ; the other is of the 



