82 



THE HORSE. 



Upon the mind, viz., that a walk in which either fore leg com- 

 mences the cadence is unnatural, or, at all events, exceptional. 



I HAVE THUS ENDEAVORED TO SHOW (and it may, I think, be 

 considered as the most simple mode of describing the pace) that^ 

 as a rule, when the horse is starting from a state of rest into a 

 walk he commences with one of the hind feet, the particular one 

 chosen being that which at the time bears the least weight of the 

 body upon it. Next follows the fore foot of the same side, then the 

 opposite hind foot, and lastly the fore foot also of the opposite side. 



EXCEPTIONAL MODE OF STARTING. 



When once it is shown that the hind foot almost touches 

 the heel of the foot which precedes it, before the latter is raised, 

 of which a moment's observation will satisfy any careful observer, 

 the order of sequence becomes clear enough, and, as I set out with 

 observing, a subject which is generally made extremely complicated 

 becomes as simple as possible. In nine hundred and ninety-nine 

 cases out of a thousand the horse starts on the walk with a hind 

 foot, and the only exception is when he is, from circumstances, at 

 the time in an unnatural attitude. 



The second question in dispute to which I have alluded is 

 that involving the part of the foot which first touches the ground 



