62 THE CHANGES IN THE GALLOP. 



I will, by referring to the numbered figures 1 

 of the horse, explain more fully the two modes by 

 which the horse changes lead. First, when the 

 horse begins to change with the hind-legs (I am 

 describing more particularly the gallop of three 

 beats, but the analogy holds good in all forms of 

 the gallop), the intention must be formed (Fig. 6) 

 before the centre of gravity has passed over the 

 fore-leg from which the animal is going into air. 

 When that fore-leg has taken the weight, the hind- 

 legs are changing (see Fig. i); and when the 

 horse is in air the hind-legs are committed to a 

 certain order (see Fig. 2). The fore-legs begin to 

 change either when the horse goes into air, or after 

 a hind-leg has received the weight, depending upon 

 the state of poise in which the mass is carried 

 along ; the more languid the pace, the sooner the 

 change must be begun in the fore-hand. The feet 

 will thus be brought to the ground in the regular 

 order (see Fig. 3), and the change will have been 

 made in one stride without a false step. This is, 

 I think, the mode that horses usually follow when 

 at liberty, for instinct would lead the animal to 

 adopt the manner of changing which is in accord- 



1 Figures I, 2, and 3 represent the horse in the change beginning with 

 the hind-legs. Figures 4, 5, and 6 represent the horse in the change 

 beginning with the fore-legs. It must be borne in mind that the horse is 

 false behind in Figures 5 and 6. 



