Breeding of Hunters and Roadsters. 
361 
standing or walking ; he is so distributing his poAvcr, and the 
feet moving on the ground are one by one raised, and in the 
same way and succession implanted. Two feet of the horse are 
always on the ground in varied positions ; Avhilst of the other 
two, one is disengaged in the air and the other in the act of 
alighting or rising. But the horse, the observer will say, gallops 
by strokes seemingly, using a renewal of efforts, his power is 
exerted in diagonal lines, thus the action of the near fore and off 
hind leg moves in close sequence, off fore and .near hind follow- 
ing. The sequence of action between each fore foot and its 
diagonal hind on the ground is so blended, as to make the exer- 
tion of one continuous leverage. However we may regard his 
action, the horse's equilibrium is perfect; the two lateral limbs 
move in sequence, so that the fore is always canied forward 
before the hind has passed the centre of gravity. I have hitherto 
observed the movements, in diagonal and parallel lines ; the fore 
limbs, in each direction, preceding the hind, with the exception 
of the first move in the gallop and canter, required as a pre- 
paratory and balancing move, not amounting to a full stride. 
I cannot admit that either the horse in galloping or any other 
quadruped flies through the air by means of a succession of 
bounds : all jumpers are slow movers, and the horse loses time by 
every jump he takes ; the faculty of leaping is reserved for a 
particular purpose, and not employed as a means of fast progres- 
sion — a little serpent will go twice across a broad road on its 
belly before a frog will get once over it by jumps. 
If by any device a steam-ship could be so constructed that its 
paddles were made to strike the ocean-Avaves as the horse's feet 
are implanted on the ground, with what speed, steadiness, and 
safety would it advance ! If we watch a race where the upper 
part of the horses and riders are alone in sight, because some 
obstacle such as a hedge or wall hides the movement of the 
horse's legs, we shall see directly that the horse does not jump 
or oscillate, but moves evenly, as a bird flies, or rather as the 
masts of a steam-ship, when the jerking movement of the ma- 
chinery is in like manner out of sight. Moreover, the distance 
at which each foot is implanted from where it was taken up, is 
no way dependent on mere length of limb, but represents the 
product of all the motive powers exerted ; the velocity at which 
the body is moving through the air determines the distance of 
stiide. 
If the physiology of progression in the horse can be made 
plain, such knowledge will, by leading to a better appreciation 
of symmetry, be of the first importance in practice. It will be 
recognised from the tenor of this essay that height and long legs 
do not necessarily give long stride ; and we may come to under- 
