THE AMERICAN TROTTER AND PACER 47 



breed. In fact, there is so little breed type that many persons 

 refuse to recognize it as a breed. In its best development this 

 light harness horse has symmetry of form, — a lean, intelligent 

 head ; a medium-long, refined, and graceful neck ; sloping, well- 

 laid shoulders ; sharp withers ; fairly level, short, strong back ; 

 graceful muscular croup, with tail well carried and set high ; lean, 

 muscular thigh ; round, deep body ; and legs short, clean, fine- 

 boned, and with excellent feet. This horse has a strong, long, 

 quick stride, a clean hock action, and greater activity of motion 

 than any other trotter known. The conformation of the pacing 

 horse often shows a steepness of croup and curving of hocks 

 which appear to be more or less associated with the pacing gait, 

 though not necessarily so. Some of the most famous pacers in 

 American racing history have had this peculiar conformation, 

 which is, to say the least, not beautiful. A more detailed con- 

 sideration of the conformation of the trotter and pacer is found 

 in the preceding chapter on "The Light Harness Type." Weights 

 of 1 1 50 pounds for a stallion and 900 pounds for a mare are 

 very acceptable, while any color will pass, although bays and 

 browns are most numerous. 



The gaits of the trotter and pacer are distinctly different, 

 although an animal may be able to trot or pace as desired. To 

 a certain degree, however, the distinguishing differences between 

 trotter and pacer depend upon the gait. 



The trot consists in moving forward at much the same time 

 front and rear opposite limbs ; as, for example, the left front leg 

 and the right hind leg. On account of the special leg movement, 

 as exhibited by the gait, the trotter is said to be " diagonal-gaited." 

 It is not only important but interesting to note here that in the 

 show ring, where the gait is considered, the trot furnishes the 

 approved form of locomotion, the pace being regarded as inferior 

 to the trot. 



The pace consists in the two legs on one side being moved 

 forward at about the same time, thus presenting a sort of parallel 

 movement. Due to this side movement of the legs the pacer is 

 sometimes spoken of as a "side wheeler" or " racker." The 

 horse naturally paces when his body is hardly long enough to 

 permit of a free diagon^tiwcas/^mefBiofrnthout interference of the 



