42 STABLE MANUAL AND HORSE DOCTOR 



from the disease ; he feels not the lesser pain, but trots off, 

 heedless of his lameness, or at least showing it much less. 

 Whenever there is much punishment, or the threat of it, 

 while showing a horse, be sure there is something to 

 conceal. 



The Trot — If his trot is good, the foot is boldly delivered 

 with an easy, light, and springy movement. Its course is 

 straight forw^ard and downward, not dishing to either side; 

 the motion should be from the elbow as well as the knee ; 

 the hind legs gathered well under the body, following with 

 regularity and precision ; the toes fairly raised from the 

 ground, and spread pretty accurately in the impress of the 

 fore feet ; if they pass beyond they are likely to overreach. 

 In the trot he should go lightly with the fore feet ; but 

 strike the ground energetically with the hind, taking a 

 long darting stride, and shooting, as it were, the body 

 forward. The horse that throws his legs confusedly about 

 should be rejected, for though most young and uneducated 

 horses have an ungraceful and disorderly action, the 

 sluggard is never precise and uniform in his trot. 



In criticising action, attention must be paid to breed ; 

 but it should be sufficiently high in a hack to clear all 

 ordinary irregularities on the ground. If it is very high, 

 look out for trace of having worn a knee-cap. Be careful 

 to observe that he does not occasionally drop; a casual 

 giving way on either leg, in the trot, is a sufficient hint 

 to reject the animal, for such a horse is a constant danger 

 to his rider's neck. 



Though the best horse may stumble, yet, until after 

 tripping, he springs out as if he feared the whip or spur ; 

 if he does, he is an old offender. Look again well to his 

 knees and head. Observe that he goes clear in all his 

 paces, and that one leg does not interfere with the other ; 

 horses that go very near are more likely to cut when 

 tired. 



The Tail. — The " set-on " of the tail is not to be over- 

 looked ; a horse that " carries two good ends " (of which 

 the head forms one, and the tail the other), always looks 

 grand and showy. Above all others, the charger should 

 possess this point in perfection to coincide with the 

 character of his display in the parade of a field-day. The 

 tail, in most horses, should form, when elevated, a straight 

 line, or nearly so, with the back ; a gentle declivity of the 



