30 STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION 



end of the stride to carry the foot out. On the other hand, weight 

 well back in the shoe, toward the heel, is believed to be conducive 

 to action by calling for extra flexion, in order to lift the foot. 

 Whatever alterations are made in the matter of shoeing or 

 weighting must be gradual, in order not to unbalance the horse 

 in his stride. 



Hopples. — By uniting a hind and a fore leg by means of 

 hopples, a horse is held to his stride and prevented from break- 

 ing, mixing, or going any other gait. The straps are crossed or 

 straight, depending upon whether the horse trots or paces. 

 Hopples about the pasterns are sometimes put on harness horses 

 to develop action. 



Going Surface — While not of a mechanical nature, the char- 

 acter of the surface on which the horse steps has a marked influ- 

 ence on the kind of stride he takes. As a general rule, heavv, 

 soft, or deep going causes a high stride, while a hard, smooth 

 surface is more conducive to speed. Of the speed horses, trotters 

 and pacers require the hardest, smoothest track. Heavy going 

 frequently influences doublc-gaited horses to trot instead of pace 

 and seriously interferes with pacing performance. Runners do 

 best on the turf or a dirt track that has had the surface loosened 

 by a scratch harrow. 



Defects and Peculiarities in Way of Going. — Forging. — 

 Striking the ends of the branches or the under surface of the 

 shoe of a forefoot with tlie toe of the hind foot. 



Interfering. — Striking the supporting leg at the fetlock with 

 the foot of the striding leg. It is predisposed in horses with base 

 narrow, toe wide, or splay-footed standing position. 

 ^^ Paddling. — An outward deviation in the direction of the 

 stride of the foreleg, the result of a toe narrow or pigeon-toed 

 standing position. 



Winging. — Exaggerated paddling, noticeable in high 

 going horses. 



Winding. — A twisting of the striding leg around in front 

 of the supporting leg in much the same manner as in pad- 

 dling. This is most commonly seen in wide-fronted draft horses 

 at the walk. 



