12 



PLATE X. 



THE TROT. 



This pace being the only one used in harness, requires particular 

 notice, as there is a great variety in this action. The annexed Plate 

 is intended to show the plain spanking trot, in which the horse 

 should carry his head well up, and, when out of harness, the nose 

 pointed forward. In the step, the shoulder should be thrown well 

 out, the knee rather straight, the hoof pointed forward, and put to 

 the ground, as a soldier is taught to march ; not by putting the 

 heel down first, nor the hoof full on the ground, but the point of 

 the foot should touch the ground slightly before the heel, with an 

 even motion, without a catch or jerk ; the shoulder, at the same 

 time, leaning well over the bearing leg, so as to make the reach the 

 longer, as in Figure 1 ; the quarter being thrown well under, but 

 not so far as to occasion an over-reach. I have heard many people, 

 who are great fanciers in trotting horses, admire the wide action 

 behind : but I cannot agree with them, as I think it excessively 

 awkward and ugly, and a great sign of weakness. I have never 

 found horses with such action able to perform long journeys. 



If a horse were to use his fore-legs in the form of Figure 2, 

 he must lose considerable ground at every step, and be liable to 

 trip and fall at any little roughness in the road, and must lose 

 in speed, by delivering the hind foot as Figure 3. 



