ACTION. 
789 
fects from a utilitarian stand point than that which is less attrac¬ 
tive. In estimating the quality of action correctly in different 
individuals one has to have an ideal. How seldom, in sitting* 
behind a horse and closely observing his way of going at the 
trot and walk, do we find action that comes up to our ideal. 
Perfect action, as far as usefulness is concerned, is frictionless 
and light, and the foot is placed on the ground squarely. 
There is no loss of time-power in progression, or, in other 
words, the frictionless mover does not labor, neither does the 
light stepper experience the ill effects of concussion, the result 
of bringing the foot to the ground in a pounding manner. 
What a saving of “wear and tear” and'power the smooth 
mover and light stepper experience. 
One is amazed in instances to observe how much work a 
weak-footed, poor-legged horse will stand and still remain in 
workable condition ; but it can be accounted for in many cases 
by the defects mentioned being compensated for by light 
action. 
It is interesting and instructive to study the numerous and 
varying conditions that conduce to defective action. Lightness 
of step appears to be a quality not always dependent upon the 
conformation of the individual. For instance, length and ob¬ 
liquity of the pasterns are usually said to cause lightness and 
elasticity of the tread, but do not always do so, for we find many 
heavy-going horses of this formation. Mechanically this for¬ 
mation should conduce to light stepping, and does in a measure, 
but from the fact that horses with oblique pasterns sometimes 
pound leads us to look for another explanation. The statement 
may be advanced in explanation that the elasticity resulting 
from oblique pasterns may be neutralized by a straight shoul¬ 
der ; but this theory will not hold, as one not infrequently finds 
straight-shouldered, short pasterned horses that step lightly. 
Another explanation has to be found. We have to seek else¬ 
where in the animal economy than in the peculiar arrangement 
of the bones, muscles, tendons and ligaments of the limbs to 
account for the light step of some horses. The endowment 
