* DUROC-MESPENGER GAIT. 473 



of the Ericsson family, it has been compelled to yield either to the 

 superior and controlling agency of the Messenger conformation, by 

 the prepotency of that blood, or, as is clearly the case of Lady Thorn, 

 from causes that can not be explained or accounted for; thus forming, 

 as in her case, an exceptional instance. But, in nearly all other 

 instances, the tendency of this cross has been toward the develop- 

 ment of a long thigh, and a great width at the stifle, which brings a 

 corresponding width of gait, and an elevation of the hock totally 

 unlike the old-time trotters of Messenger blood, or those of the present 

 day where that blood has free scope, and is uncontrolled by this most 

 remarkable element. 



I have stated that the Blackwoods, Swigerts and Almonts lift their 

 hocks too high, and, further, that a horse that has a thigh 34|- inches 

 long, and measures but 39 inches from hip to hock, will trot thus. 

 Let us look at this point, and see if this gait is the result of such 

 conformation. 



By reference to the lines I and e/", in the cut of Hambletonian, it 

 ■v^dll be seen that in the case of a long thigh {J\ and of a short 

 measure from hip to hock, when the foot is lifted and moved forward, 

 inasmuch as the thigh is a single member that can not bend, the 

 stifle must be raised so high as to clear the flank altogether, and, also, 

 ■either strike the body of the horse, or it must spread out and lap over 

 the sides; the stifle is forced to move forward in a horizontal position, 

 and the hock is elevated to a great height at each step; whereas, if 

 the thigh be a short one, the line I swings forward, like the rod of a 

 pendulum, and the hock passes under the line of the stifle, which 

 rises at a fair elevation (the thigh meanwhile assuming almost a per- 

 pendicular position), and the hock advances, and the hind foot is 

 extended far forward and in direct line under the body. Such a 

 motion is practically impossible with a horse that has a thigh 24^ 

 inches, and only 39 inches from hip to hock, unless aided by an 

 exceptional muscular organization. Administrator is the only stallion 

 well known to the public that has a 24^ inch thigh that can move in 

 this way. He does not elevate his hocks, but moves his feet in right 

 line under his body. But he is entirely exceptional, and is only 

 enabled to do it by reason of the great size of the triangle of the 

 hindquarter (marked by the lines H G F)^ in this respect being the 

 same as Hambletonian; otherwise it is impossible that he should swing 

 the line 1 along so far as to pass the line e/, without spreading his 

 stifles wide apart, and elevating his hocks. While I say he advances 



