LOCOMOTOR SYSTEM 625 



with the ordinary saddle-horse, which has a stride at the trot of 

 9 feet more or less. The length of a step taken either by a pair 

 of fore or hind legs rarely reaches 5 feet, and is generally about 

 4j feet in length. The foot-tracks made on the ground by a 

 horse trotting are shown in Fig. 212. In the trot the impressions 

 of the hind-feet are generally made over those of the fore, but 

 not always, as may be seen in the case of the off fore in the figure. 

 The only real difference between the tracks of the horse trotting 

 and the one walking lies in the interval between the feet — e.g., 

 in the length of the step and stride. The height of suspension 

 in the air is greatly exaggerated in the trotting horse. In the 

 ordinary horse it may scarcely be noticed, the feet only being 

 lifted sufficiently high to prevent them being dragged over the 

 surface of the ground. The distance covered during suspension 

 is that which separates the fore from the hind legs ; if these 



1 2 3 4 5 6 7a 



Fig. 204. — Notation of American Trotting Horse. 



(1) The diagonals are preparing to propel ; this is effected first by a fore-leg, one 

 hind being left on the ground (2) ; the thrust from this lifts the body off the 

 ground (3) ; it is then received on one fore-leg (4), and then by the diagonal 

 hind (5). From this point the movement is a repetition of (1). 



are between 3 and 4 feet apart, that is the distance covered while 

 the animal is in the air. This will be realised from an inspection 

 of Fig. 203 (2), in which the body is shown suspended, having just 

 been propelled by the united action of the near fore and off hind. 

 The off fore and near hind are coming to the ground, and we know 

 from our study of the foot-tracks that the latter will be placed 

 over the spot just occupied by the near fore foot. 



When a horse falls at the trot, he does so either through not 

 flexing his knee sufficiently before bringing the leg forward, or 

 the extension of the knee is not perfect, and in consequence the 

 limb is unfit to stand weight. The knee should be sufficiently 

 but not unduly bent and the leg brought rapidly forward ; the 

 limb is then sharply extended, well braced, and the foot placed 

 firmly on the ground heels first. Regarding the latter point, 

 the question of pace settles whether the heel is distinctly the first 

 to make contact. In photographs of the match-trotter the 



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