GAITS. 33 



artists, especially sculptors, do not, in equestrian subjects, 

 quit the poses found in the airs das. 



The piaffer has the appuis of the trot, with the fore- 

 arms and the feet at a greater distance from the ground ; 

 it is made a stationary position. 



The. passage is an audible and elevated walk bordering 

 on the trot ; the members remain longer in the air than 

 at the piaffer. For the proper execution of the passage, a 

 perfectly collected animal is essential, one who will 

 advance but very slightly each time. 



In the pesade, the horse lifts its anterior very high, as 

 in the prance, and prepares for the ctirvet, or succession 

 of bounds in which the members quit the ground in pairs 

 and return to it together. 



The gallopade is a very restrained gallop with four 

 times, the execution of which is attained with very slight 

 perceptible gain of ground ; it is more elevated in front 

 than the ordinary gallop. 



In consequence of these airs, it is necessary to draw 

 the superior rays very short ; for if the fore-arm be long, 

 the knee being therefore nearer to the ground, everything 

 contributes to favour the progression. In this case, this 

 member, which has a disposition to skim the ground, gains 

 considerably in advance ; such is the race-horse. 



The contrary disposition occurs, in what we are now 

 considering, and especially pertains to the parade and 

 manege : if, with a short fore-arm, the hocks are bent 

 and the pasterns long-jointed, all the desired brilliance can 

 be obtained, the entire development of muscular force 

 expending itself in an upward direction, 



Finally, let it be said that the croupade is a more 

 elevated leap than the curvet ; one in which the horse 

 tucks the hind-legs under its stomach and bends the 

 hocks as much as the knees, and at the same height. 



The ballottade is a leap like the croupade, but the 

 animal, in place of bending the hocks under the belly, 

 presents its hind-hoofs as though about to kick without 

 giving the kick, as in the cabriole, which latter only differs 

 from the croupade and ballottade in this particular. 

 Formerly this elevated air was regarded as the most 

 perfect of all leaps. 



Here shall be pointed out the error of a great number 



D 



