CHAPTER III 



WAY OF GOING— THE FUNCTION 



The temi, waj of going, is self-defining. Pace refers to the 

 rate at Avliicli the horse moves. Action implies flexion of knees 

 _^jtH(LJiocks. 

 h\(J~' The Stride presents for study the following features : 



1. Leng-th, the distance from the point of breaking over to 

 the jDoint of contact. 



2. Directness, the line in which the foot is carried forward 

 during the stride. 



3. Rapidity, the time consumed in taking the stride. 



4. Power, the pulling force exerted at each stride. 



5. Height, the degTee to -which the foot 4s elevated in the 

 stride, indicated hy -the" radius of the arc described. 



6. Spring, the manner in which the weight is settled upon 

 the leg and foot at the completion of the stride. 



7. 'Pegiilarity, the rhythmical precision wdtli which each 

 ^ stride is taken, in turn. 



8. Balance, the relative degree of any of the other features 

 of the stride manifested by fore and hind legs. 



/^tX^g t^^THE GAITS 



A gait is a particular way of going which is characterized by 

 definite and distinctive features regularly executed. 



Walk is a slow, flat-footed, four-beat gait; one of the most 

 useful, whether in harness or under saddle, if executed with snap 

 and animation, as it should be. 



Trot is a rapid, two-beat gait, in w^hicli the diagonal fore and 

 hind legs act together. The fast stepping trot is characterized 

 by the length and rapidity with wdiich the individual strides 

 are accomplished, and is executed with an extreme degree 

 of extension (Fig. 14). The high stepping trot is character- 

 ized by the height and spring of the stride, the horse placing 

 2 17 



