140 METHOD OF HORSEMANSHIP. 



to great speed in trotting, it is not the less 

 proved that the well-balanced horse can 

 trot faster than the one destitute of this 

 advantage. I have given proofs of this 

 whenever they have been demanded of me ; 

 but it is in vain that I have tried to make 

 people understand what constitutes the 

 motions of the trot, and what are the con- 

 ditions indispensable for regularity in exe- 

 cuting it. So, I was obliged in a race, of 

 which I was judge, to make the bets void, 

 and to prove that the pretended trotters 

 were really not trotting, but ambling. 



The condition indispensable to a good 

 trotter is perfect equilibrium of the body. 

 Equilibrium, which keeps up a regular 

 movement of the diagonal fore and hind 

 feet, gives them an equal elevation and ex- 

 tension, with such lightness that the animal 

 can easily execute all changes of direction, 

 moderate his speed, halt, or increase his 



