NEUKO-MUSCULAR MECHANISM 



101 



the horse is balanced ou diagonal legs (2). The hind foot 

 which has left the ground is now advanced, and before it is 

 planted the corresponding fore foot is lifted (3), and thus, at 

 this stage, the animal is balanced on the fore and hind leg of 

 the same side (4). As the hind .foot comes to the ground, the 

 condition described at the starting is again reached and the 

 process is repeated. 



(2) Trot. The body is driven forward by the alternate pro- 

 pulsive action of the diagonal fore and hind legs. The near 

 fore and off hind feet leave the ground together, propelling the 

 body upwards and forwards (fig. 45, i), and are then advanced 



FIG. 45. The Trot. (ELLEN BE RGER.) 



to again reach the ground, when the off fore and near hind 

 feet repeat the same movements (a). 



(3) Amble. Here the two legs of the same side act together 

 as do the diagonal legs in trotting. 



(4) Gallop. At one stage of the pace, all the feet are off the 

 ground and well tucked under the body (fig. 46, i). One hind 

 foot, say the near, first reaches the ground (2), and immediately 



after the opposite hind foot is planted in advance of it (a). 

 The near fore now comes to the ground, and as it does so the 

 near hind is lifted and the horse rests on diagonal fore and 

 hind legs (4). Then the off hind foot leaves the ground and 



