HINTS ON HORSES 



47 



manner : for example, if the fore off leg leads, 

 it consequently follows by such leading, 

 that the same fore leg ought to be before 

 the other fore leg, and the hind leg on the 

 same side ought to follow, which hind leg 

 ought to be before the other hind leg, which 

 is the right gallop. 



" But in order to understand it the better, 

 the motion in galloping is in this manner : 

 the horse raises his two fore legs at the same 

 time in the action I have described, which is 

 one leg before the other, they are imme- 

 diately followed by those behind ; so that, 

 as I have said before, they are all in the 

 air at the same time : for his hind legs 

 begin to move when the fore legs begin 

 to fall, by which the whole horse is en- 

 tirely in the air. How would it otherwise 

 be possible, that a horse in running should 

 leap twice his length, if the motion of the 

 gallop was not a leap forwards? This de- 

 scription is very just both with respect to 

 the motion and posture of a horse's legs in 

 galloping, which, though it be true, is not 

 easily perceived in a gentle gallop, but very 

 visible in a swift one, where the motion is 



violent : I say, his four legs may then plainly 

 appear to be in the air at the same time, 

 running being no more than a quick gallop, 

 the motion and posture of a horse's legs being 

 entirely the same. It is, however, necessary 

 to observe, that a horse in a circular gallop 

 ought to lead with his two legs within the 

 volte, viz. his fore leg and hind leg within 

 the circle. 



" 5. Running.— The. motion of a horse and 

 the action of his legs are the same in running 

 as in galloping, the different velocity of the 

 motion only excepted ; so that running may 

 be properly called a swift gallop, and a gallop 

 slow running. This is the true movement in 

 running. The trot is the foundation of a 

 gallop ; and the reason is, because the trot 

 being cross-ways, and a gallop both legs on 

 the same side, if you put a horse upon a trot 

 beyond the speed of that pace, he is obliged, 

 when his off fore leg is lifted up, to set down 

 his near hind leg so quickly, that it makes 

 the hind leg follow the fore leg of the same 

 side, which is a real gallop ; and for this 

 reason a trot is the foundation of a gallop." 



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