GENERAL EXAMINATION 15 



formation which is but a living mechanism of levers, pul- 

 leys and transmitters, must have the delicate adjustment 

 and balance, that gives grace and smoothness to every 

 movement. Further there cannot be any unsoundness to 

 render less free or firm the step as both these characteris- 

 tics must be prominent in actions of all kinds. The more 

 action is studied, the deeper becomes the conviction that 

 every attribute of the horse contributes to it. Every qual- 

 ity comes more or less into play and for that reason the 

 difficulties in the way of securing the typical action of 

 the high degree of merit are almost insuperable. 



17. The Walk Active, Straight, Level. Excellence at 

 this gait is a very desirable quality in all varieties of horses, 

 and unlike the trot its meritorious features are the same in 

 all, as it has no connection with type. In the enjoyment of 

 a road horse there is much to admire in the manner in which 

 he conducts himself when walking. It is questionable as to 

 which is the most pleasurable to observe the walking of 

 the horse whose step is evenly timed and nervy, or the 

 trotting of one that has all the grace, style and snap that 

 characterizes the coacher. 



18. Observing Straightness of the Walk. In moving 

 away from you the feet of the active walker leave the 

 ground with a quick snap, showing in its passage the 

 reflection of the whole shoe. After leaving the ground with 

 this peculiar snap the foot swings upward and forward, 

 then the knee unfolds, the pastern carries the foot grace- 

 fully forward and it again comes to the ground lightly but 

 firmly with the characteristic spring and snap that iden- 

 tified the first movement. The feet move straight away, 

 swerving neither to the left or to the right, nor should the 

 folding of the knees or the flexing of the hocks result in an 

 outward pitching or spreading. A horse that will lift and 

 plant his foot in the way described almost invariably has 

 the upheaded and commanding appearance in movement 

 which is so admirable in the harness horse. 



