ACTION. 



347 



is no tendency to " stand over," and lightness of fore- 

 hand. 



For effectiveness, the action should be the happy medium 

 between the cramped style of going, and one in which com- 

 mand over the limbs is, to a great extent, lost by the stride 

 being too long. 



The term, lightness of action, signifies well-balanced 

 movements of the limbs, by which undue weight is 

 thrown on none of them, and particularly not on the 

 fore-hand. The action, from a " level " point of view, is 

 influenced by the conformation of the body, and by the 



Photo bij'\ 



[M. H. H. 



Fig. 409. — Trotting. 



carriage of the head and neck. To be perfect at fast paces, 

 we require the animal to be hght in front ; to have oblique 

 shoulders and sloping pasterns, so as to have full power 

 to raise the fore-hand ; and to have good loin muscles. 

 The carriage of the head and neck has been discussed 

 on page 84, et seq. In heavy draught we do not require 

 lightness of action, which is directly opposed to the faculty 

 of being able to throw weight into the collar. 



The Walk. — At this pace, like at all others, the shoulders 

 should work with the utmost freedom, and the fore foot 

 should be thrown well to the front and only high enough to 

 clear and cover the ground. We may see this beautiful 

 play of the shoulders to perfection in young thorough-breds. 



