THE HORSE 25 



hind legs. At the walk and trot the marks of 

 the hmd feet should certainly cover, and perhaps 

 overreach, the marks of the fore feet, and the 

 more they do so, provided the animal also thi'ows 

 out his fore legs well from the shoulder, the more 

 rapidly wdll he cover the ground with a minimum 

 of exertion. As long as the feet are lifted high 

 enough to clear the ground there is no advantage 

 in knee action, and the exaggerated up-and-down 

 knee action of some hackneys is objectionable in 

 every way. Such horses have no pace, and they 

 quickly hammer their legs to pieces on the road. 

 In the ideal action of the roadster the fore and 

 hind legs are flung well forward, the former being 

 straightened before touching the ground, and the 

 whole movement suggests to the eye freedom 

 without effort. 



When viewed from behind, the legs of each side 

 should follow exactly the same course. This con- 

 dition will not be attained if a horse " dishes," or 

 goes wide behind or in front, or crosses his legs. 

 Dishing, or the flinging outward of either or both 

 fore feet, is very common, and although, of course, 

 a fault, yet it is less objectionable than some if not 

 too marked. No horse which goes wide in front 

 is speedy, and it will generally be found that of 



