12G CAKE AND TItAIXIXc; OF TItOTTKItS AM) PACEKS. 



The twofold remedy of paring the hoof and of 

 making the shoe so as to aid such paring, or to 

 offset some structural fault of the hoof or leg, can 

 only then be understood properly if we actually 

 ascertain from an investigation of the gait both the 

 original cause of a defect and the effect of such a 

 remedy. What we need for that purpose is facts 

 and figures, rather than theories, as to the probable 

 cause of the defects. Guessing is but mere gam- 

 bling, and the horse in general, as well as the sport 

 of racing in particular, deserves more serious con- 

 sideration than either of these forms of juggling 

 carry with them. 



Many defects of gait result from a lack of har- 

 mony between the fore and the hind legs. Too 

 great an approach or too marked a difference in 

 the action of the two extremities make up most 

 of the causes of a disordered gait. I have always 

 insisted on more hind action of the right kind ; 

 that is, it does not want to consist of too much for- 

 ward extension, but should also have an adequate 

 backward reach as an effective means of propul- 

 sion. In order to bring that about the hind action 

 should be somewhat higher in elevation. The prev- 

 alent notion is that interference between hind and 

 fore feet can only be avoided by developing an ab- 

 normal front action and leaving the hind action 

 to take care of itself. In the many experiments 

 that I made with horses of all manners of going 

 two principles generally held true — namely: (i) 



