HOW DO HORSES MOVE? 111 
the latter is lifted in time to allow the hindfoot to be 
placed in its track or even in some cases in advance of it. 
10. The trot.—The trot is a faster gait than the walk 
because, under ordinary conditions, there are only two 
feet upon the ground at any one time, sometimes only 
one and at other times 
none at all. In the 
typical trot one fore- 
foot and the opposite 
hind foot reach the 
ground at the same 
time. There are, there- 
fore, only two beats to 
each step. Ordinarily 
the hind foot will be 
placed either on the 
track of the front foot 
WHEN A Horse TROTS 
or ahead of it. In order A forefoot and the opposite hind foot are on 
for this to happen the the ground at the same time. 
front foot must be raised before the hind one comes to 
rest. Hence there must be an interval of time when all 
four feet are off the ground. The longer this interval of 
suspension, the faster is the gait. 
11. The pace.—Since when a horse trots the diagonal 
feet move forward together and are on the ground at the 
same time, it follows that the center of gravity is moving 
in a line between the two points of support. When a 
horse paces, however, the two members on one side go 
forward together. Hence the point of support alternates 
from one side to the other of the line on which the horse 
is moving. The equilibrium is, therefore, less stable. 
This is another way of saying that the pace is a faster 
gait than the trot. 
