The Fraf}2ezvork of the Horse. 41 



feet as they alternately support the horse, whilst the 

 dotted ones represent the connection of those in motion. 

 When it comes to the turn of the near hind foot at a^ 

 and the off fore one at <$, to move up to their next 

 position at c d^ the line a b becomes a dotted one, «^ b^^ 

 from the moment this pair of legs leaves the ground, 

 the near fore and off hind legs at c and b becoming the 

 supporters ; and so on alternately. But the dotted lines, 

 in coming up successively to the position of the full 

 ones, intersect the latter at various points of their 

 length : the diagram shows them at the moment each 

 successive step is //«//* completed, the intersection of the 

 two showing where the perpendicular from the centre 

 of gravity falls. And this intersection — consequently, 

 too, the weight to be supported — is always traveling 

 toward the fore leg that happens to be on the grou7?d^ 

 and therefore the centre of gravity vibrates alter- 

 nates from right to left^ and vice versd^ in trotting 

 and zcaiking. 



In cantering and galloping the case is different : the 

 two legs at the same side are advanced simultaneously, 

 the other two remaining behind. Still, supposing the 

 animal to be in equilibrium, we observe the following 

 to occur (see fig. 3, B^ : the horse ''leads" here with 

 the two off feet — that is, canters on the right hand, the 

 two near ones remaining behind so long as he remains 

 on this hand; there is, therefore, not the same alter- 

 nate vibration of the centre of gravity from right to left, 

 and vice versd^ as in trotting and walking, for it is 

 always the same pair of feet, moreover, just as in trot- 

 ting the diagonal ones, that mainly support the weight. 

 In the diagram we see that the off hind and near fore 

 legs, connected by the full lines, are both placed close 

 under the centre of gravity in the succession of bounds, 

 as shown Titb c d efg^ etc., and act chiefly as bearers ; 

 while the near hind leg, «, acts chiefly as a propeller, 

 4» 



