THE GAITS IN PARTICULAR. 541 



minute, or 6 kilometres per hour. M. Raabe fixed it at 122 metres 

 per minute for a horse of 1.60 m., or 6 kilometres, 720 metres per 

 hour. Vallon made it 111 metres per minute for a horse of 1.60 m., or 

 6.600 k. per hour. Finally, M. Lenoble du Teil estimated it at 108.33 m. 

 per minute for a horse of 1.60 m., which gives 6.500 k. per hour. 



Displacements of the Centre of Gravity.— The displace- 

 ments of the centre of gravity are never very extensive. 



The support of the body upon the lateral bases constitutes the 

 extreme limits of the lateral or transverse displacements. The line of 

 gravitation, as in the amble, oscillates alternately from right to left 

 and left to right. What contributes to make these displacements 

 much less extensive than in the latter gait, is that a diagonal base and 

 two tripedal bases are constantly interposed between two successive 

 lateral bases. It is understood, then, that the lateral oscillations of 

 the body will be the less marked as the animal remains the longer 

 upon the diagonal bipeds. This is the variety of the walk which M. 

 Raabe extolled as always having more speed and being more pleasant 

 to the rider than that which Lecoq preferred. 



The longitudinal or vertical displacements are scarcely apparent, since 

 the body is never elevated above the soil. 



Reactions. — The reactions of the anterior quarters alone are 

 of any consequence. " It would seem," says M. Marey,^ " from the 

 extreme feebleness of the movements of the croup, that the action of 

 the posterior members consists principally in a propulsion forward, 

 with very little impulsion in the vertical sense." 



Conformation. — A special conformation, strictly speaking, is not 

 a necessary requirement for the proper execution of the walk. Never- 

 theless, all horses are far from progressing with the same elegance, the 

 same regularity, the same velocity, the same ease, and the same vigor. 

 The beauties of this gait will be recognized by the following character- 

 istics : 



The head and the neck will be carried rather high than low ; the 

 anterior member will be extended freely and directly forward, without 

 exaggerated elevation of the forearm and the knee ; viewed from 

 behind, the bright surface of the shoe will be visible ; the posterior 

 member will move in a plane parallel to that of the anterior ; its oscil- 

 lation should have a large amplitude consequent upon the strong pro- 

 jection of the femur and the tibia ; the flexion of the hock will be 

 moderate. 



1 Marey, Machine animale, p 168. 



