THE WALK. 



81 



i 1 



RECEIVED INTERPRETATION OF THE WALK. 



engraving affords to the eye of the observer the most graceful and 

 striking position which is taken up in the walk, yet it is not the 

 one with which the horse commences that pace. Here the near 

 hind foot (1) has already been brought forward and placed on the 

 ground, on or near the spot occupied by the fore foot, which is in 

 the air; the off hind foot (3) is just about to leave the ground, 

 having expended its share of progressive force, and the weight of 

 the body is borne by the off fore foot and the near hind one. 

 Whenever a fore foot starts first (which, as- 1 have already re- 

 marked, may occasionally occur, as, for instance, in grazing, or 

 when the weight is unnaturally thrown upon the fore quarters), 

 the attitude is most constrained, and the proper sequence, or ca- 

 dence, if the animal is forced into a quicker pace, is not fallen into 

 without a most grotesque degree of rolling, which conveys to the 

 eye a full idea of the forced nature of the pace. Mr. Zwecker 

 has endeavored to fix this upon paper in the annexed engraving, 

 but though I fully admit that the drawing is correct, I confess that 

 I am not satisfied with the result of his labors. However, it may 

 serve to convey to my readers the fact which I wish to impress 



