1:52 THE HORSK 



The Points of a Trotter. 



Mr. Helm's work is so full of information, especially in 

 regard to the characteristics of the early trotting stock, that 

 when a seeming error is noticed it is well to draw attention 

 to it, lest silence should be deemed to give consent. His 

 description of the conformation of the trotter as being 

 diametrically opposed to that of the race-horse may perhaps 

 be accepted in America, but is certainly not so in England. 

 He states: "Any one who has closely studied the crossing 

 of the trotter with the blood of Diomed, Sir Archy, and 

 other pure-bred horses in this country, has seen that the 

 effect is a gradual shortening of the line from hip to hock, 

 and also a lengthening of the distance of the hock from the 

 ground . . . longer hind cannons. This is the galloping 

 leverage; the reverse is the trotting leverage." Whatever 

 may be the case in America, the same conformation Mr. 

 Helm mentions as being necessary for the ideal trotter 

 is in England also sought for as essential to the high- 

 class race-horse. 



In other respects, indeed in this very instance just men- 

 tioned, his description of the requirements of a trotter is 

 very sound. " A trotter should go level and steady before 

 and behind, and he should not be a sprawler," is true of 

 other breeds besides trotters, for unless the machinery 

 works perfectly smooth there must be undue excess of 

 motion and consequent loss of power. " A colt must not 

 trot too high nor too low in front, and he must not do all 

 his trotting with his fore-legs " is most excellent advice. It 

 is the hind action which is the chief propelling force, and 

 an animal which goes too close to the ground in front 

 usually does so from a want of development of the flexor 

 muscles of the leg. This the ordinary horseman, without 

 any pretensions to veterinary lore, can easily see for himself 

 by noticing whether the leg just above the knee looks broad, 

 when viewed sideways, and the muscles prominent, with an 

 appearance of strength. Any weakness here is a sure sign 

 that the animal will quickly tire when called upon for a 

 severe effort. 



