144 FORM AND ACTION. 



THE TROT. 



Trot — a modification of our word tread — denotes in equitation 

 the pace ranking in order, in point of speed, between a walk 

 and a gallop ; neither slow like the one, nor swift like the other. 

 Although the limbs in the trot, in reference to the fore and hind 

 of the same side, have the same contrary or diagonal motion that 

 they have in the walk, i. e. the off fore and near hind, and near 

 fore and off hind, are both in action, as well as at rest, at the same 

 intervals of time, yet is the trot not an accelerated walk, but a 

 distinct pace by itself, as may be proved both by the animal's 

 manner of going, as well as by an analysis of the two paces. 

 We have already seen that, in the walk, although two limbs are 

 in motion at one time, yet do the four succeed one another, in being 

 lifted and grounded, in some such regular manner as may be re- 

 presented to the mind by counting aloud, one, two, three, four. 

 Not so, however, with the trot. No sooner are the limbs put into 

 quick motion than the time is found too short for them to play to 

 this fourfold step, and the consequence is, instead of reckoning 

 four, we can hear but two beats ; those of the contrary fore and 

 hind feet being synchronous. This will account for the spring or 

 elasticity of movement of the trotting horse; as well as for the 

 rough action of the runner — as the horse is called who trots after 

 the manner of walking, instead of possessing the synchronous di- 

 agonal movement, and who, as is well known, is commonly a bone- 

 setter. In this latter kind of trot, springless and uneasy though it 

 be to the rider, regularity or harmony in the motions of the limbs 

 is still preserved ; whereas in the jumble — trot can it be called 1 — 

 of trotting before and galloping behind, and in what John Law- 

 rence significantly terms hitching, there is evident discrepancy 

 in the movements, produced by overstrained efforts to accomplish 

 that which the powers or capabilities of the animal are inadequate 

 to. And this is the jumble of a pace — this the confusion of trot 

 and gallop — butchers' boys and cads, et hoc omne genus (who in 

 riding or driving are saving time by minutes, whilst in lounging 

 or doing worse they are squandering it by hours), urge their horses 



