THE HORSE IN MOTION 55 



nary and fast, according to the stride and speed. G-ay 

 also gives three kinds,^ the fast stepping, high stepping and 

 saddle trot. These he defines as follows : ' ' The fast stepping 

 trot, characterized by the length of stride and rapidity with 

 which the individual strides are taken and constituting the 

 gait of ' the harness race horse ; the high stepping trot, 

 characterized by the height and elasticity of the stride, the 

 horse placing himself, going collectedly and marking each 

 step with extreme flexion, as represented in the harness 

 show horse ; and the saddle trot, characterized by a square, 

 springy, collected and balanced stride, executed in perfect 

 rhythm, and with the utmost precision in order to secure 

 the comfort and security of the rider. The saddle trot is 

 distinct from the long, swinging stride of the trotter, also 

 the high, sometimes pounding, step of the actor, and should 

 reveal none of the roll or side motion of the lateral gait 

 into which saddle horses degenerate." This gait is less 

 tiresome to the horse than are others involving speed beyond 

 the walk, for the reason that the body is best kept in equi- 

 librium in diagonal movement of the limbs. Of the rapid 

 gaits, the trot is the most universal and useful. 



The pace, also known as the amble, is a fast, two-beat 

 gait, in which the legs on the same side move together in 

 unison. The pacer is also often termed the ' ' side wheeler. ' ' 

 This gait, which may be either natural or acquired, shows 

 wide variation in style of locomotion. Some horses pace 

 so wide as to make their gait very conspicuous and un- 

 attractive, while others possess a comparatively smooth and 

 level movement. The late Prof. John A. Craig, a great 

 lover of the light harness horse, has referred to this gait 

 in these interesting words : ^ " Horses pace in many ways, 

 some lurching, others shufHing and many more wobbling 

 in an unsightly manner; but, however they may go, they 

 are nearly all characterized by possessing speed. A level 



^ The Principles and Practice of Live Stock Judging. Carl W. Gay, 1914, 

 p. 99. 



' Judging Live Stock, 6th ed., 1904, p. 20. 



