92 PACES OF THE HORSE. 



as in Fig. 115. In the canter of the cart-horse shown in 

 Figs. 107 to 113, there is no period of suspension. 



As an exceptional case, I may mention that the canter 

 of the riding school, when very short and greatly collected, 

 may be a pace of four time. 



In the canter, the fore leg which does not belong to 

 the diagonal support is called the leading fore leg. If, as in 

 Figs. 107 to 122, it be the near fore, the movement is said 

 to be a canter to the left ; if the off fore, as in Figs. 123 

 to 132, a canter to the right; the reason being that at 

 this pace, or at the gallop, the horse should lead with the 

 leg of the side to which he is being turned or circled. If 

 when leading with the off fore, for instance, he be turned to 

 the left, he will be liable to cross his legs and fall. I may 

 remark that in the gallop or canter, a horse can cross his 

 fore legs only with the leading leg. We may observe that 

 the hind leg which, in due rotation, alone supports the weight 

 of the body, is on the side opposite to the leading fore leg. 

 In the canter shown in Figs. 107 to 113 — which, with or 

 without a period of suspension, is usually regarded as the 

 typical canter — the supports are the same as the footfalls. 

 In the one portrayed in Figs. 1 14 to 122, the diagonal support 

 (off fore and near hind, Figs. 115, 116, and 117) does not at 

 any time act unaided (as in the other form of canter, Fig. 

 109) ; but is assisted by the other hind leg and the other fore 

 leg in turn. This smooth style of canter might be termed 

 (to use a popular expression) a hand gallop. We may note 

 that when there is a period of suspension in the canter, and 

 also In the gallop, it is obtained by the fore hand being raised 

 by the straightening of the leading fore leg (and especially by 

 that of its fetlock joint), as it quits the ground (Figs. 118 

 to 120). 



The time (three) of the movement shown in Figs. 114 to 

 122 is irregular ; for the interval during which the suspension 

 takes place between the coming down of the near fore and 

 off hind, is longer than either of the other two intervals. 

 Supposing that the speed be the same, and that there be the 



