THE GAITS IN PARTICULAR. 503 



a series (a l . . ., a 2 . . ., a 4 . . ., 7 . . ., a s . . ., a m ) whose terms 

 are not all named or even known ; that these terms, nevertheless, exist 

 and presumably constitute particular forms of adaptation of a gait to 

 such or such service ; finally, that their list can increase only by the 

 employment of more delicate and more accurate processes of analysis 

 than our senses are. It is with the aid of the graphic method and 

 chrono-photography, which are never inaccurate in their results, that 

 we should pursue the long and difficult researches yet to be made on 

 this subject. 



CHAPTER II. 



THE GAITS IN PARTICULAR. 



THE horse, strictly speaking, employs in a state of nature only four 

 gaits, which are the walk, the amble, the trot, and the gallop. Domes- 

 tication has modified these primitive gaits, as it has changed his'external 

 form and his aptitudes ; it has originated modes of progression which 

 are, in reality, mere varieties of the preceding. 



Their study being most difficult, we will commence with the simplest, 

 and describe simultaneously their corresponding varieties. 



First, we will establish two great categories according to the man- 

 ner of association or succession of the members : the lateral gaits and 

 the diagonal gaits. 



Among the first we include : 



1st. The amble, a fast gait, marched with two times, and charac- 

 terized by the simultaneous raising and resting of the lateral bipeds. 



The broken amble, a variety of the preceding, with four times, 

 consisting in the disassociation of the lateral bipeds. 



Among the second we class : 



2d. The trot, a fast gait with two times, characterized by the 

 simultaneous raising and resting of the diagonal bipeds. 



Ordinarily it is marched, when the posterior imprints remain behind 

 the anterior of the same side; leaped, when the posterior imprints 

 cover or surpass the anterior. 



The broken trot is a variety of the preceding, which consists in 

 a disassociation of the diagonal beats. According to the length of the 

 step, the posterior imprints surpass or fall short of the anterior ; it may 

 therefore be leaped or marched. 



