THE PACES OF THE HORSE 171 



applications by the professional man. An eye-acquaintance 

 with these will enable the proprietor of an animal to judge 

 of the manual competence of farriers or grooms who may 

 pretend, in an emergency, to understand the best modes of 

 applying them. 



CHAPTER XII 



THE PAGES OF THE HORSE— THE WALK— THE 

 TROT— THE RUNNING TROT— THE CANTER 

 —THE GALLOP— LEAPING 



The mode of progression of the horse comprises five 

 distinct modes of lifting the limbs : 1, The walk ; 2, the 

 trot, of which there are two varieties ; 3, the canter ; 4, 

 the gallop ; 5, leaping, which is akin to galloping, and 

 exhibits several modifications, according to the obstacle to 

 be surmounted. 



The Walk. — The slow walk is the simplest of the paces 

 of the horse ; but, if accelerated, breaks either into the 

 amble or an approach to the trot, whereby the succession 

 of the movement of the limbs is varied. In the true walk, 

 one foot only is lifted at a time, three remaining on the 

 ground ; increase the pace, and the two legs at opposite 

 sides — that is, the near fore leg and oiF hind Teg, or vice 

 versa — are raised together. This, also, is the true trot, 

 although the muscular movement in the walk is very 

 different in degree and character. 



To walk well is a valuable property in any horse, but 

 particularly so in the hackney. Such an one can compass 

 his five miles in an hour with ease. Where a horse walks 

 well, the necessary harmony and accordance in the form of 

 the limbs are such as to make it almost a rule that he is 

 good in his other paces. The race-horse can stretch along 

 in his walk, so as to get over much ground in a little time ; 

 but it is not often that he does it either pleasantly or 

 safely ; his stride is too great, and the elevation of his 

 limbs is naturally curtailed by his training. It is a very 

 great acquisition also to the hunter to walk well. The 

 walk as a pace should be performed harmoniously, whether 

 it is quick or slow, each foot being dropped fiat on the 



