THE SIX I'lUNCII'AL DEFECTS IN GAIT. 127 



the higher the elevation the less the extension of 

 the feet and (2) the higher the action at one end 

 the lower it is at the other. 



The fundamental idea underlying all the rem- 

 edies for the defects in gait is to counteract the 

 wrong direction of motion by a correction which 

 has more or less the effect of sending the leg in 

 an opposite direction. The directions taken to in- 

 side or outside are due to either a badly leveled 

 hoof or to a crooked leg, and the directions for- 

 ward or backward depend on the length of toe and 

 the angle of the foot. It is much more difficult to 

 control the side motions than it is to restrain or 

 increase the forward and backward extensions of 

 the legs, because of the rigid position of the joints. 

 All equine locomotion is, however, very complex 

 and what hinders the straight directions of the 

 legs will also more or less influence the extensions 

 of the legs. In all our endeavors for the improve- 

 ment of a gait we need a lot of time in order to 

 allow the tendons, ligaments and muscles to ac- 

 commodate themselves to the changes made. Hurry 

 and many changes following close upon each other 

 are not only dangerous but will cause much con- 

 fusion both in the mind of the horse and of the 

 man. Again, remedies are either permanent or 

 temporary, and an analysis of the subsequent gait 

 becomes necessary in order to find out definitely 

 whether they are to be continued or abandoned. 

 When the defect in gait can be laid to a structural 



