THE SIX rKIXCIPAL DEFECTS IN GAIT. 125 



by the tracks on the ground.* It should be re- 

 membered that a square gait is one that shows the 

 greatest efficiency, both in point of strength and 

 regarding speed, with the least exertion. 



Specific defects are the result of a deranged lo- 

 comotion caused by ( i ) faulty articulation of the 

 joints, (2) relative deficiency of muscular develop- 

 ment, (3) incorrect paring of feet and shoeing. 

 The first two may be largely avoided by proper 

 attention to the foot of the horse from early youth 

 up. "The growing foot is a growing evil," and its 

 continual paring and leveling will give the animal 

 a better action. A wrong articulation of the joints 

 and the consequent direction given the legs by the 

 way the joints are set and move in their opposite 

 parts, are matters much harder to correct or even 

 to alleviate. In fact, most stubborn cases of de- 

 fective gaits arise from that cause. Whenever 

 tliere is a deviation from a straight line in the join- 

 ing of the parts of the leg when we look at it from, 

 the front, there is likely to be a "toeing in" or 

 "toeing out" of the foot itself. The foot will also 

 show a "wing" at either inside or outside toe in 

 consequence. By giving the leg a straighter direc- 

 tion that will modify this angle of the foot on the 

 ground we shall have less of a curve in the motion 

 of the foot as it travels from one contact with the 

 ground to the next. 



*Scinip olijc'tiun lias been raisi'd to Mr. .JiTiL-nrs views on tin's 

 point: That the imprints made by a horse's feet when they strike 

 the gronnd do not indicate in what manner he has handled his legs 

 while in midair. 



