Bo FACES OF THE HORSE. 



CHAPTER XII. 



PACES OF THE HORSE 



Defimtions-»-The Trot— The Amble-~The Walk™-The Canter--Tlie Gallop 

 — The Passage — The Spanish Walk and Spanish Trot — The Rem Back — 

 Foot-prmts of the Horse during various Paces. 



I MAY remark tiat there is no such thing as absolute 

 uniformity in the paces of the horse. 



Definitions. To simplify explanation, we may, when 

 speaking of the liilnbs, call the near (left) fore and near hind, 

 the left pair; tW off (right) fore and off hind, the right 

 pair; the off fo'e and near hind, the right diagonals ; and 

 the near fore anc <Dff hind, the left diagonals. The meaning 

 of both fore and S^oth hind is evident. 



We may use the word support to signify the fact that 

 the weight of the body is borne by one or more limbs, as, 

 for instance, left support, when only the left pair are on 

 the ground; and right diagonal support, when the right 

 diagonals alone prevent the horse from falling. 



A stride is the distance from the foot-print of any one 

 leg to the foot-print of the same leg, when it next comes 

 to the ground ; or it is the action of the limbs while that 

 distance is being covered. 



A step isi t?e forward or backward movement of one 

 foot ; or it is the distance one foot is removed from its 

 fore or hina fellow. 



The te^m, period of suspension, will serve to designate 

 the time clurirg which the animal is completely off the 

 ground at any particular pace, or when jumping. 



