28 



THE HORSE. 



the lungs be in a straight line for the facilitation of the 

 introduction and emission of the air in the lungs, it is 

 the paroxysm of the racing gallop, in which, however 

 great the detention of the members, the extremities of 

 the hoofs never exceed the end of the lips when the neck 

 has attained its full development. 



An English author, quoted by Gayot, excellently 

 specifies the gallop with two times, by saying that the 

 horse lifts its legs from the ground just high enough 

 to avoid obstacles ; it bends the back and loins, then 

 extends them, shoots forward the members like darts, 



Fig. 13. 



and achieves its progression by a series of springs, which 

 only a well-bred horse can execute. " This rapidity is 

 the consequence of the length of its body, neck, back 

 and loins, of its shoulder, fore-arm, thighs and pasterns. 

 Only a horse thus shaped will exhibit prowess on the 

 race-course." From what has just been read, it is clear 

 that this would be a perfect horse. 



In the last century, and even in our own time, many 

 military scenes and hunting pictures only represent the 

 gallop with parallel tracks, and the posterior bipedal 

 pressing with an equal effort on both toes for the start of 

 the gallop (fig. 14). It is thus that Carl Vernet represents 

 his horsemen in battles, races and hunting scenes, imitating 

 all his predecessors who were painters of horses. 



