122 



PHYSIOLOGY OF FARM ANIMALS 



[CH. 



The next position is like the first only that the three legs employed 

 are different. Considering the four movements more closely, we find ; 

 in (1) the horse puts one fore leg (e.g. the off fore) forward; 

 in (2) the near hind leg is lifted, the horse standing on the near 

 fore and off hind (i.e. on diagonal legs) : 



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Fig. 53. The walk (from Smith, Messre BailHere, Tindall and Cox). 



in (3) the horse is balanced on both fore and the off hind leg'; 

 in (4) the near fore and near hind are both put forward, the latter 



being advanced over the track of the near fore. 

 If a leg is not properly straightened by the extensor muscles the 

 toe of the hoof comes to the ground first, and the horse stumbles. 



Trotting. There are three stages : 



(1) The body is balanced on two diagonal legs. 



(2) All the legs are off the ground. 



(3) The body is balanced on the other two diagonal legs. 

 The animal is propelled off the ground by the two pairs of diagonal 

 legs (one fore and one hind) acting alternately. 



If a horse falls while trotting, this is due to its knee not being 

 properly flexed before extending its leg, or else it is due to the 



