102 PACES OF THE HORSE. 



the animal's body is not maintained as easily in it as in the 

 trot, which, consequently, is the less fatiguing pace to the 

 horse. The amble is a natural pace of the camel, 



The amble is, probably, a slightly faster pace than the 

 trot ; the apparent cause being that the equilibrium is more 

 insecure [sec p. 67) in the former than in the latter. 



The Walk. — This is a movement of four time, and is a 

 pace in which all the limbs move, respectively, one after the 

 other. If, for instance, the off fore leads, the sequence is : 

 I. off fore (see Fig. 54), 2. near hind [see Fig. 55), 3. near fore 

 (see Fig. 58), 4. oflf hind (see Fig. 60). If the near hind begins, 

 it will be : I. near hind, 2. near fore, 3. off hind, 4. off fore. 

 Each foot comes after the one which precedes it, at an 

 interval of about half the time occupied in taking one step. 

 The result of this is that we have the following order of 

 supports : i. left pair (see Fig. 53), 2. left diagonals (see Fig. 

 55), 3. right pair (see Fig. 57), 4. right diagonals (see Fig. 60). 

 As a rule, a horse begins the walk with a fore leg. 



We may divide this pace into : (i) T/ie sJiort stepping zualk, 

 in which the prints of the hind feet do not come as far 

 forward as those of the fore feet of their respective sides. 

 (2) The ordinary walk, in which they more or less cover 

 them. (3) T/ic long striding walk, in which they go clear 

 in front of them. (4) The Jiigh stepping walk, which is 

 generally an artificial pace, and in which the feet are raised 

 off the ground higher than usual. (5) The zualk in heavy 

 draught, which is a short stepping walk, and which has 

 peculiarities that I shall presently consider. 



Figs. 53 to 60 give an example of the ordinary walk ; for 

 the hind feet cover, as nearly as possible, the prints of the 



