18 JUDGING LIGHT HORSES 



region that are not taking part in this unusual display, 

 though in this immobility they show their real strength. 



22. Straight and Regular Action. As to the action of the 

 fore legs, it is straight away with continuous folding and 

 unfolding. In the action of the carriage horse there must 

 be some style and dash and high lifting of the feet, but never 

 enough of it to make the action unserviceable. At no time 

 is the fore leg held in poise as it does not dwell either in 

 flexion or extension. The foot snaps from the ground and 

 is then carried forward wkile the limb unfolds, as if follow- 

 ing the rim of a wheel. It seems to reach the ground at the 

 right stage of the unfolding so that it is not held in suspense 

 at any point along the line of descent. The feet pass close 

 and in a straight line so that there is no swaying or dropping 

 down of the fore hand with each step. The hind foot leaves 

 the ground with the same quick movement and at no time 

 is it allowed to hang back so as to give the horse the appear- 

 ance of not gathering himself well together. 



23. The Driver's Sensation of Action. After all is writ- 

 ten that it is possible to write about the action of the car- 

 riage horse, there is something else that must go with it which 

 can not be described with sufficient vividness to make the 

 novice appreciate it. It has something to do with power 

 and its connection between the animal and its master seems 

 to be the driving lines. As you sit behind the horse of true 

 carriage action and conduct you feel your proximity to a 

 powerful mechanism that is undergoing a test of its minutest 

 parts. If anything fails everything will be demoralized but 

 it is the feeling of strength and power in the animal that 

 allays unnecessary fears. 



Without leaving this feature connected with the carriage 

 horse let us study its relation to the trotter. Substance and 

 strength in the carriage horse gives momentum to the occu- 

 pants of the somewhat cumbersome carriage, while the trot- 

 ter loses these for speed and stamina. Between the trotter 



