THE TROT— THE CANTER. 89 



the purchaser need not be afraid of this defect existing in the 

 horse he is examining. Provided the fetlocks and canna-bones are 

 not actually touched or "hit'' in trotting, the fore-legs cannot be 

 moved too closely together ; but if they pass very near to one an- 

 other in a fat dealer's horse, it may be suspected that when he is 

 reduced in flesh to a proper working condition, boots will be neces- 

 sary. A practised eye is required to judge of this correctly, and, 

 if there is any doubt, one had better be consulted. 



The Norfolk trotter of the present day has very perfect action, 

 intermediate between the pointed and flying trot of the American 

 horse, and the round high knee-action of the London park-horse. 

 Even he, however, is not nearly so pleasant to ride as the tho- 

 rough-bred, when the latter can trot at all; but many of this breed 

 have been so long accustomed to the gallop, that their trot is a 

 most imperfect pace. When they do perform it properly, it gives 

 a most delightful feel, and no rider for pleasure, if money is at his 

 command, should " throw his leg" over any but a thorough-bred, 

 or one nearly pure in blood. 



THE CANTER. 



The canter is a thoroughly artificial pace, at first extremely 

 tiring to the horse, and generally only to be produced in him by 

 the restraint of a powerful bit, which compels him to throw a great 

 part of his weight on his haunches. It is very difficult to describe 

 or define this pace, either in a pen-and-ink sketch or by the aid of 

 the painter. Indeed it is often quite a matter of opinion to decide 

 whether a horse is cantering or galloping. Many writers, and 

 among them Mr. Blaine, have attempted to draw a distinction, by 

 confining the canter to the pace which is executed without the feet 

 ever leaving the ground altogether ; but this definition is not gene- 

 rally admitted and followed, and many a horse whose canter would be 

 readily allowed by all horsemen to be true, may be seen to leave the 

 ground entirely for a certain interval of time, however small it may be. 

 There is so great a variety in the modes adopted by difi'erent horses 

 for performing the canter, that no single description will suffice, 

 nor indeed is it easy, as I before observed, to define any one of 

 them. Sometimes the carriage is extremely elegant, the hind legs 

 well under the body, and all moving like clockwork, with the head 

 bent on the neck, and the mouth playing lightly on the bit. 

 When such a pace is performed with the right leg leading, the 

 canter is exactly adapted for the female seat, in which the right 

 shoulder is of necessity slightly advanced, and it is therefore the 

 object of the breaker to obtain it. But it is only in those horses 

 which combine a free use of their limbs with fine temper and good 

 mouths, that such a pace can be developed, and if any one of these 

 qualities is deficient it is useless to attempt to teach them. On 

 8* 



