FATIGUE FROM THE VARIOUS PACES. 67 



As I have already said, this tendency to lateral displacement of weight 

 is corrected to a certain extent, in his various paces, by the horse, who has, 

 however, to do it by a muscular effort, which is a lost force as regards 

 propulsion. 



Eflfect of Instability of Equilibrium on Speed. — The more 

 unstable the equilibrium is, during each step of the horse at any particular 

 pace, the greater will be the speed which can be developed at that pace, 

 whatever it may be. This follows from the fact that the more insecure is the 

 equilibrium, the quicker, when it is displaced, will the new base of support 

 have to be formed. Thus, in the walk of the horse {see p. 102) there are 

 never less than two feet on the ground ; three as often as two ; and 

 sometimes even four. In the canter {see p. 109), we have respectively in 

 three steps, a support of one foot, of two (or of three) feet, and of one foot. 

 In the trot and amble, there are two feet on the ground during each step. 

 From this we may conclude that the canter is a faster pace, naturally, than 

 the trot or amble. I am aware that this is not the case with many horses 

 which have been specially trained for match-trotting and match-pacing ; but 

 that fact does not bear on the subject in question. Of all paces, the gallop 

 is the one in which the equilibrium is most unstable ; for during each stride 

 of it, the centre of gravity is carried farther beyond the base of support {see 

 Fig. Id) than at any other pace. Besides, at each step in it, there are 

 fewer feet together on the ground than at any other pace. 



As it is imperative that the body of an animal intended for speed should 

 be as light as possible, provided he has sufficient bone and muscle to meet 

 his requirements ; the preponderance of weight on the forehand should be 

 obtained by conformation, and not by any approach to " heaviness " in that part. 



Fatigue from the various Paces.— In comparing the fatigue 

 undergone during certain paces, we must be guided by the consideration of 

 the respective distances through which the centre of gravity of the body has 

 to be moved. Let us first of all consider its vertical, and afterwards its 

 horizontal, displacement out of the straight line of the direction in which it 

 has to travel. In the walk and at all other paces in which there is no 

 period of suspension {see p. 96), it is carried nearly parallel to the ground, 

 with only a slight fall when each fore leg is taken up. At paces in which 

 there is a period of suspension, the centre of gravity will have to be raised 

 just as much as it will fall during that time. This fact is best marked in 

 jumping ; for in making even a long leap, the centre of gravity will have to 

 be raised a considerable height. Thus, when Howard of Bradford the 



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