112 FARM ANIMALS 
12. The gallop—When a horse gallops, the last foot 
to leave the ground is a front one, and the first one to 
reach the ground is a hind foot. Assuming the horse 
leaves the ground from the left front foot, the first foot 
to reach the ground will 
be the right hind one. 
This is followed by the 
left hind one closely as- 
sociated or  simulta- 
neously with the right 
front foot. The left 
front foot then returns 
to the ground while the 
others are preparing to 
leave it. 
WHEN A Horse PACES The horse is sus- 
Fore and hind feet of the same side are on the i 1 
ground in unison. Compare with the trot. pended Ath the aah oa 
much larger proportion 
of each step than in the pace or the trot, which accounts 
for its being a more rapid gait. A horse has its feet 
doubled up under it while thus suspended, and not 
stretched out, as often depicted. It is only when the 
horse is on the ground that its feet are extended. 
13. Quality.—Any gait is properly executed when it is 
performed regularly and without due loss of motion. A 
straight line is the shortest distance between two points. 
Other things equal, the nearer that the foot can be car- 
ried from one contact with the ground to another con- 
tact in a straight line, the less will be the loss of motion. 
Therefore when one views the horse in motion, from 
front or rear, the members should swerve neither to the 
right nor to the left. The feet must, of course, be raised 
sufficiently to overcome obstacles, but if the feet are 
raised excessively, it results in loss of speed. In showy, 
