THE STAR GAIT. 



247 



toward the quarters, and thighs which are of great muscular solidity, 

 and heavily covered low down upon the gaskin, and resting on a hock 

 generally good, having a large and powerful tendon extending upward 

 therefrom. 



The Star Hambletonian is usually 15 to lof hands, close-ribbed and 

 strong in body, back, barrel, forearm and quarters, but deficient and 

 greatly lacking below the knees and hock. They are shaky in their 

 forelegs, in very many cases over on their knees, have thin hoofs, and 

 are often subject to unsound feet. How general is the complaint that 

 this one or that one has suffered in his feet! How almost universal, as 

 compared with other lines of descent from Abdallah and Messenger! 



The general good nature and kindly temper of the Bellfounder has 

 in large part given way to a manner not remarkable for strict amia- 

 bility. Many of them are in reality unapproachable by any stranger. 

 Hiram Woodruff found Dexter an overmatch for him occasionally. I 

 never yet saw a member of this family, or of that of Everett, that 

 did not show gi-eat positiveness of character and disposition. 



The Star-Hambletonians have a ready natural trotting gait, and go 

 with certain peculiarities which distinguish them from any family I 

 have seen. They have a wider or more open gait, and go with their 

 hind feet further apart than any other family of Hambletonians, as a 

 general rule. They have a thigh of such extra length as to show their 

 Uuroc cross, although not long from the hip to the hock. The whirl- 

 bone or buttock-joint is let down, so that the propelling power of the 

 muscles hangs lower on the gaskin or hock than in other Duroc 

 crosses; hence the gait, though wide open, is not the Duroc gait. 

 The Star gait is well known, resulting from a union of two organiza- 

 tions, which makes them unlike any other family. When they trot by 

 the halter, or at moderate rate of speed, the hind leg does not seem 

 to swing on the whirlbone as in other families, but s\^'ings straight 

 from the hip-joint — a peculiarity that is very noticeable. When the 

 rate of speed, however, is accelerated, they depart from this hip- 

 swinging motion, and lift the hind foot squarely, and carry every foot 

 in true and perfect trotting poise, not too close under the body, but 

 even on each side, and their trotting motion is the perfection of accu- 

 racy. Their stroke is rapid and powerful, not far reacliing or dwelling, 

 but steady and true, quick and even in every stroke. 



Startle measures 38f inches, and 22f inches in length from hip to 

 hock, and stifle to hock. Aberdeen measures 39 and 23 inches, and 

 Wilkins Micawber 39 and 23;^ inches; and he is a little wider gaited. 



