CHAP I.] PEGGING. 555 



and are all modifications of the walk, trot, and 

 gallop. The walk is made in four equal steps ; the 

 trot in two, and the gallop likewise in two, except 

 at setting off. When the steps are not made in 

 equal time, then is the horse lame. This is ob- 

 servable when he walks, is more apparent when 

 he trots, but is scarcely perceptible when he 

 gallops : therefore to judge whether a horse be 

 lame or not, he should be put upon the short trot, 

 because at the long trot it is more difficult to be 

 discovered by seeing him go, than by hearing the 

 difference of sound in each alternate step. Hence, 

 it will be seen, we must examine whether a horse 

 be lame by a gentle trot. To judge whether the 

 lameness be before, let him come towards you, then 

 the fore leg which falls to the ground the quickest 

 is the sound leg, and the contrary one is faulty ; 

 but to find out whether the inequality of his paces 

 proceeds from defect in the hind leg, make him trot 

 from you, and that leg which is longest in coming to 

 the ground is affected in some manner or other ; 

 and in either case the faulty leg is to be closely ex- 

 amined, according to the instructions before set 

 down, page 458. Even then, unless the person 

 has great experience he is liable to be imposed on, 

 as the poor animal is often lamed of a fore and a 

 hind leg at the same time : an occurrence that may 

 have been inflicted on one leg in order to counter- 

 act the first appearance of actual lameness in the 

 other. To detect this cruel imposition, it becomes 

 necessary to examine every leg, to turn up all the 



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