30 SEATS AND SADDLES. 



a 1 b 1 , from the moment this pair of legs leaves the 

 ground, the near fore and off hind legs at c and b 

 becoming the supporters ; and so on alternately. But 

 the dotted lines, in coming up successively to the position 

 of the full ones, intersect the latter at various points 

 of their length : the diagram shows them at the moment 

 each successive step is half completed, the intersection 

 of the two showing where the perpendicular from the 

 centre of gravity falls. And this intersection conse- 

 quently, too, the weight to be supported is always 

 travelling towards the fore leg that happens to be on the 

 ground, and therefore the centre of gravity vibrates alter- 

 nately from right to left, and vice versa, in trotting and 

 walking. 



In cantering and galloping the case is different : the 

 two legs at the same side are advanced simultaneously, 

 the other two remaining behind. Still, supposing the 

 animal to be in equilibrium, we observe the following 

 to occur (see fig. 2, B} : the horse " leads " here with 

 the two off feet that is, canters on the right hand, the 

 two near ones remaining behind so long as he remains on 

 this hand ; there is, therefore, not the same alternate 

 vibration of the centre of gravity from right to left, and 

 vice versa, as in trotting and walking, for it is always 

 the same pair of feet, moreover, just as in trotting the 

 diagonal ones, that mainly support the w r eight. In the 

 diagram we see that the off hind and near fore legs, 

 connected by the full lines, are both placed close under 

 the centre of gravity in the succession of bounds, as 

 shown at b, c, d, e,f, g, &c., and act chiefly as bearers; 

 whilst the near hind leg, a, acts chiefly as a propeller, 

 and the off fore leg, d, as a lifter, these two being 

 connected by dotted lines in the successive bounds, 



