THE GAITS 



ing the bridle hand. Turning is brought about by 

 the traction of one rein; stopping and backing, by 

 pulling upon both. 



If, when at the walk, the horse is urged to go 

 faster, it breaks into the trot. The trot is like the 

 walk, except that the diagonal action is more 

 pronounced and more apparent, and that the feet 

 are kept a shorter portion of the time on the ground. 

 In trotting, the horse's spine at the haunches 

 delivers a succession of shocks to the seat of the 

 rider, who neutralizes them by rising from the 

 saddle an instant before each blow. This device 

 secures both comfort and exercise. Except for this, 

 the conduct of the trot is the same as of the walk. 



The fastest gait is the run. The action is a 

 succession of leaps executed by the two sides of 

 the body symmetrically, or, as it is called, in 

 " lateral biped." A somewhat slower run is a gallop. 

 A slower gallop is a canter. 



If at the run, gallop, or canter the two legs on, let 

 us say, the right side, gain more ground than the 

 other two, the horse is said to run, gallop, or canter 

 to the right, or, more simply, to lead to the right; 

 and vice versa. But whenever a horse at run, gallop, 

 or canter turns its course to either side, it has to 

 lead with that side. Conversely, when the horse is 

 urged to any of these gaits, and at the same time is 

 compelled to turn to either side, it will, almost 

 always, take the lead to the same side. Otherwise, 

 these gaits are managed like the walk and trot. 



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