82 



PACES OF THE HORSE. 



The trot is the least fatiguing pace to the horse, by which 

 he can go a long distance continuously at a fair rate of speed ; 

 because both fore and hind limbs, respectively, have the 

 same amount of work to do ; the body can be more easily 

 maintained in a state of equilibrium by a diagonal support 

 than by a side support, as in the amble ; there is but little 

 loss of power in keeping the centre of gravity (p. 40) level ; 

 and because the pace is a tolerably fast one. It is more suit- 

 able for draught, than for saddle. First of all, it is very 



^JZ.JP^ If 



F*a. 55.— Beginning of Left 

 Diagonal. 



Fig. 56.— End of Left 

 Diagonal. 



r^^^ 



Fig. 57.--BEGINNING OF Right Fig. 58.— End of Right 



Dt AGONAL. Diagonal. 



Ordinary Trot. 



fatiguing to the rider, especially if he bumps up and down 

 d la militaire. Consequently, we find that men who are 

 accustomed to go long distances on horseback, as in the 

 Colonies, almost always combine the canter and walk instead 

 of adopting the trot. Although rising in the stirrups will 

 make this pace much more easy for the rider, it will not 

 benefit the animal to the extent one might imagine ; for, 

 strange to say, almost every horseman, when rising at 

 the trot, invariably comes down on one particular pair of 



