RIDING AND TRAINING. 47 



in the gallop. The gallop becomes less free from 

 danger as it degenerates towards the trot, as in 

 the canter ; and in the so-called 'jog trot,' which 

 has one of the distinctive marks of the walk (i.e. 

 three feet upon the ground at once, during certain 

 stages, and is therefore no true trot), a horse is as 

 likely to fall as in the most careless walk. 



In the walk the horse has never less than two 

 feet upon the ground, and during certain stages 

 he has three feet bearing the weight. In the true 

 trot, the horse, practically, springs from one pair of 

 diagonal legs to the other pair, for the difference of 

 time between the impacts of either leg of each pair 

 is infinitesimal. In the gallop the horse has, at 

 certain stages, but a single leg bearing the weight, 

 and at other times uses two or three legs to carry 

 the mass depending upon the velocity and im- 

 pulse. 



In every case a fall from a stumble is occasioned 

 by the neglect of the succeeding bearer to take its 

 place, in time, under the centre of gravity after one 

 of the legs has been tripped up. 



For instance ; when in a walk the horse plants the 

 right fore-foot, the left hind-foot is next advanced 

 and planted (with a greater or less interval in time, 

 according to the united state of the horse), the mass 

 during the movement of these two having been 



