134 FORM AND ACTION, 



quence is, that two, three, and even all four feet may possibly be 

 in the air at one and the same time. In the ordinary walk of the 

 horse, two feet are in the air at once, though they are not grounded 

 simultaneously ; there being, as Sir W. Hope has well described 

 it, a pretty regular beat in the time of lifting and grounding the 

 feet, in a true or good walk of one, two, three, four. Both fore 

 feet and both hind feet moving, in respect to each other, alternately, 

 it follows that no sooner is one fore foot lifted up than a hind foot 

 is put in its place, and that these successions are in regular alter- 

 nation, if we except the very first step the animal takes with his 

 fore foot ; that not being followed up by the hind one of the same 

 side until the remaining two feet have removed. 



Richard Lawrence, often an elegant, but not always a practical 

 writer, though he inclines to Borelli's notion of the hind leg being 

 the first set in motion, nevertheless commences his description of 

 the horse's " walk" by the advancement of one fore leg, and that 

 being placed on the ground — " this action being completed, the 

 off hind leg is elevated and advanced," &c. It must be a very 

 slow walk indeed — such a walk as a horse takes while he is graz- 

 ing or seeking after food, or as when he most painfully or reluct- 

 antly follows the man leading him — that allows the setting down 

 or completion of action of the fore leg before the hind one is lifted. 

 It is quite erroneous to imagine that, " during the walk, the ani- 

 mal is always supported by a triangular position of three legs; 

 namely, two fore legs and one hind, or one fore and two hind legs, 

 alternately." Progression would be tardy indeed conducted upon 

 such a principle as this, neither would there be that spring or lift 

 in the walk which is requisite to constitute a good or a fast one. 

 But two feet rest upon the ground in the ordinary walk ; and 

 however instable this may render the centre of gravity, the in- 

 tervals are so short between the alternate transfers of gravity from 

 the two feet quitting the ground to the two coming upon it, that all 

 instability is lost in the impetus of progression. Were the fore 

 foot set down before the hind was raised, the step could not be pro- 

 longed beyond the abstract extension of the fore limb ; whereas, 

 by the hind one of the opposite side being in the air as well, while 

 the hind of the same side is grounded in advance, by the lever of 



