94 



PACES OF THE HORSE, 



Fig 122 



ORDINARY" CENTER OR "HAND G\LLO'P" {contimud\ 



same Interval of suspension in an irregular canter of this kind 

 and in a typical canter, the former would be less distressing 

 to the horse than the latter ; for the weight is better distri- 

 buted in it. The same remarks apply to the canter shown 

 in Figs. 123 to 132, which is a series, from photographs, 

 of an easy canter of a high caste Arab, in which the near 

 hind is on the ground when the left diagonals comejdown 

 (Fig. 125), and they are supporting the body when the oft 

 fore reaches the ground (Fig. 127). 



We see that, in the canter, the leading fore has more 

 work to do than the non-leading fore leg. Hence, if this 

 pace be long continued, the rider should, if possible, make 

 the horse change the leading fore leg. 



The Gallop. — This is a pace of four time, in which the 

 feet follow one another in succession, with an interval of 

 suspension between the coming down of the leading fore foot 

 and that of the opposite hind foot (Figs. 133 to 148). If we 

 compare that series with Figs. 107 to 113, and with Figs. 1 14 

 to 122, we shall see that, in the canter, the fore leg of the 

 diagonal support comes to the ground at the same moment 

 (Fig. 108) as, or slightly before (Fig 115), its hind fellow; 

 but, in the gallop, it comes after it (Figs. 135 to 137). We 

 may note that this interval, in which consists the difference 

 between the canter and gallop, is dependent on the extent of 

 the forward reach of the non-leading fore leg. Hence we see 

 that the canter merges imperceptibly into the gallop, and that 

 the difference in these paces,, in the same animal, is simply 



