T
c
AMERKM&TT
C
THE LIBRARY
OF
THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
PRESENTED BY
PROF. CHARLES A. KOFOID AND MRS. PRUDENCE W. KOFOID
K A PACF
SIS &f THl
A NEW METH
AN 1NV PRINCH
'
MOT!' iON
THE GAIT
OF THE AMERICAN
TROTTER AND PACER
AN ANALYSIS OF THEIR GAIT BY A NEW METHOD
AND
AN INVESTIGATION OF THE GENERAL PRINCIPLES CONCERNING THE PROPER BALANCING OF
MOTION ACTION AND EXTENSION
BY
RUDOLF JORDAN, JR.
NEW YORK WILLIAM R. JENKINS CO.
PUBLISHERS 851-853 SIXTH AVENUE
COPYRIGHT, 1910
BY WILLIAM R. JENKINS Co.
[All Rights Reserved]
PRINTED BY THE
PRESS OF WILLIAM R. JENKINS Co. NEW YORK
o
THIS -BOOK IS DEDICATED TO THE CAUSE OF THE HUMANE TREATMENT AND RATIONAL CARE OF THE HORSE, WITH- OUT WHOSE DRUDGERY AND CONSTANT TOIL THE PRO- GRESS OF THE WORLD WOULD HAVE BEEN MATERIALLY RETARDED, AND THE COMFORTS AND PLEASURES OF OUR DAILY LIFE WOULD BE FAR LESS IN DEGREE AND EXTENT
M358912
PREFACE
Every owner and every trainer of a trotter or pacer, in fact, every one to whom the horse in general is a source of revenue or of pleasure, should make himself familiar with the simple principles of the animal's locomotion, and with the rational system of shoeing, as presented and advocated by the late David Roberge, in his book "The Foot of the Horse." Though given to the public over ten years ago, it is doubtful whether its real worth has been generally appreciated and estimated.
The late David Roberge of New York seems to have been one of the few intelligent horseshoers who combine the science with the art of their trade. He came to the rescue of the suffering equine world with a logical and simple method. His connections with Robert Bonner gave him the advantage of the views of that great student of the horse's locomotion, to whose persuasion is due the publication of that book. Their experiences and deductions were identical and constitute the most rational views and data on this subject.
In a personal correspondence with the writer he regretted that iH health had prevented him from supplementing his work with another on the special subject of balancing the gait of the fast trotter and pacer, because he felt the need of just such a treatise. As it is he took up the cause of the horse in general, thereby appealing to every owner who wishes to use the horse to the best possible advantage. All the greater in consequence becomes the merit of his work.
The writer is grateful to him for valuable suggestions, and has for many years put into practice his system of shoeing. This effort .to prove and to apply his teachings have led to a systematic analysis of gait by means of measurements and by averages and variations, so as to plot the peculiarities of each horse's mode of locomotion. The out- come is a sytsem which, though based on Roberge's investigations, is itself original in conception. It is offered in the hope that it will assist many owners and trainers of our fast trotters and pacers in solving the
vi Preface
intricate problem of balancing or adjusting the motion, extension and action of the horse at speed.
The laws of "pointing", or the horse's movement of the foot in the lines of least inconvenience or pain, as laid down by Roberge, form a very simple and rational foundation for paring the hoof and putting on the shoe. Much thought has already been given to this subject of balancing and gaiting, but as yet little has been done or shown by any methodical investigation.
Granting that much knowledge of ,gait may be gathered by sight, sound and sensation, in other words, by watching the action from all points of the compass and by listening to the fall of the feet, as well as by feeling the mouth while speeding, all proper balancing under such observation will nevertheless remain more or less guess-work. It will always be tedious experimenting for lack of definite data ; and even when success crowns the countless efforts and there is a happy combi- nation of adjustment, it is apt to be momentary and will give no rule for a repetition of the same conditions. Unless some more precise and exact method can be devised, there will be no record left behind, and we shall not possess any definite knowledge. Such guess-work and repeated haphazard trials, even when successful for a time, give no rational explanation of previous conditions or of the effect of any changes, or of the final results.
What is wanted is some plan or method by which any fault in the action or extension can be readily discovered and one's whole energy can be employed from the very start toward a possible correction of such deficiency.
Let us not gamble with Luck, cautions the Sage of Concord, but deal directly with Cause and Effect. Even then chances may be against us, but we at least deal with the subject in a logical and not in an ir- rational manner.
It is not claimed by the writer that any horse, or all of them, can be made to move squarely and fast by such a method, but merely that the faulty action can be more readily detected. It will be shown that there is at least a rational plan for the discovery, if not for the removal, of the cause of faulty or deficient action. No cure-all is offered, nor
Preface vii
is there a wish to belittle the judgment of intelligent horseshoers; for these there will be enough to do in spite of all knowledge of faulty action.
Far from overestimating my knowledge of shoeing, I beg to leave the importance of proper shoes for special needs to the intelligent men at the forge, who should understand the anatomy of the foot as well as they know how to turn and apply a sensible shoe. There is no patent on this method. Anybody with a little ability to figure and with a little accuracy and patience can work out the necessary data. Special note books for that purpose may be had from the author.
This book is the result of much time and labor, just as other duties would allow and opportunities offered themselves ; but during the long years of his investigations, the writer was always guided by the principle that authority and tradition, though good as a basis, should not be looked upon as being free from grievous error. It is a human habit to follow tradition and routine as the safest and quickest way out of difficulties and to yield to the undefinable attraction or mystery of luck. An open-minded inquiry directed solely and without prejudice towards the establishment of facts led to the investigations here offered. As reasonable and plausible as the assertions of Roberge appeared to be, his theory of pointing lacked proof as regards animals in motion. These assertions were likewise subjected to continued tests by this method until they were shown to be either entirely true or partly true.
At bottom, however, of these very facts there is at all times the great beauty of animal motion in which every lover of the horse de- lights. To convey this to the mind, when the eye cannot actually see it, is the mission of the true artist. I have, therefore, given as the very first illustration, a copy of a picture of a three-year-old colt, bred and at one time owned by me, which was painted by our well-known artist, H. W. Hansen. His watercolors of horses in motion are everywhere recognized for their exquisite coloring and excellent outline and depth. The half-tone reproduction does not quite come up to the original in color effect, but the expression and attitude of the animal are worth noting.
Without the advice and assistance of others I would not now be
viii Preface
able to put these investigations before the public, and I therefore, take pleasure in acknowledging my gratitude to all who have aided me.
To my old friend, Dr. H. H. Claussen, I am indebted for his careful instruction regarding the anatomy and make-up of the horse; and to J. P. Patery, a skilful and intelligent horseshoer of Oakland, Cal., for much practical advice and for his very efficient services at all times. For the diligent and successful efforts in the training and driving of the horses under observation, I am also indebted to Howard L. Franklin, of Syracuse, N. Y., K. O'Grady and sons, of San Mateo, Cal., and to C. B. Bigelow, of Woodland, Cal.
Furthermore, I take occasion to acknowledge my obligation to I. B. Dalziel, T. W. Barstow, O. V. Greene, "The Horse Review," Ted Hansom, and Schreiber & Sons, and M. H. Reardon, for their courtesy extended regarding the use and reproduction of some excel- lent photographs ; and I also wish to express my thanks to George W. Ellis for his painstaking efforts and for his advice in the matter of illustrations, and to Dwight L. Hackett — last but not least — for his suggestions in presenting this book to the public.
RUDOLF JORDAN, JR. 2563 Washington St.,
San Francisco, California.
CONTENTS
PACK
PREFACE v
CHAPTER I.
WANTED — A SQUARE GAIT i
CHAPTER II.
THE TRACKS AND MOTION OF THE FEET 8
CHAPTER III. THE ATTITUDE AND MOTION OF THE LEGS . . . 18
CHAPTER IV.
THE RECORD OF THE TRACKS ON THE GROUND AND THE IM- PORTANCE OF AVERAGES 40
CHAPTER V. THE REQUISITES OF PERFECT BALANCE 87
1. The Constant Shape of Hoof 87
2. Paring the Hoof to Counteract its Growth and Faulty
Directions 94
3. The Shape of Shoes as a Corrective of Gait . . .108
4. Simplicity of Rig and the Need of Time . . . .114
CHAPTER VI. EXPERIMENTS AND THEIR VERIFICATION 118
1. General Considerations . . . . , . .118
2. The Turns of the Track and the General Directions of
the Feet 125
3. Toe-weights 141
4. Knee and Hock Action Regulated by Weight and Shape
of Shoes 165
A. Squared Toes of Shoes 193.
B. Longer Heels. on Hind Shoes With and Without Squared
Toes 211
CHAPTER VII. THE ANGLE AND LENGTH OF FOOT 241
x Contents
PAG5
CHAPTER VIII.
THE HARMONY IN A GAIT . . , . . . 262
1. The Prime Condition of an Easy and Regular Gait . 262
2. Single-footing — An Alarm of a Disordered Gait . . 266
CHAPTER IX. DOWNHILL AND UPHILL TRIALS COMPARED .... 278
CHAPTER X. THE MAIN FEATURES OP MEASUREMENTS . . . .295
CHAPTER XI. A PLEA FOR A USEFUL TROTTER AND CONCLUDING REMARKS . 305
THE GAIT
OF THE AMERICAN
TROTTER AND PACER
" The epochs of our life are not in the visible facts of our choice of a calling, our marriage, our acquisition of an office, and the like, but in a silent thought by the wayside as we walk ; in a thought which revives our entire manner of life and says : * Thus hast thou done, but it were better thus.' "
Ralph Waldo Emerson (Spiritual Laws).
CHAPTER I.
WANTED-A SQUARE QAIT.
One of the most puzzling and intricate problems for the trainer of the trotter or pacer to solve is proper balance. By "balance" is meant such exact adjustment of hitching and checking, weight of shoes, as well as length of toe and its angle with heel, that will bring about, with the least expenditure of energy on the part of the horse, the most regular and frictionless, the truest and freest action, and therefore the greatest speed which such a horse is capable of pro- ducing.
The great difficulty of controlling a horse's locomotion lies not only in the complexity of a living organism, but also more particu- larly in the shape and the articulation of the leg and the hoof. Where, however, the relations of the mental and physical qualities of the horse are not such as to suggest or establish the so-called trotting instinct, or the ability to stick to the trotting (or pacing) action, even man's best devices and efforts often fail. It may lie within the possibilities of the laws of heredity that by continual training of successive genera- tions of the harness horse this instinct will become more of a fixed or typical characteristic. The ideal outcome of such hereditary influ- ence would, therefore, seem to be a more ready response to the train- ing for speed, and may bring about the disuse of all the cumbersome paraphernalia for the protection of the legs and of the cruel and un- natural check-line, so that a free action and a free head may become the general results of all combined efforts of the breeding and training of our harness horse.
Any sound and well bred trotter or pacer that has not been abused will stick to a square gait and will, true to his instinct, try to do his level best until constrainedly some difficulty of movement. In most cases these are mechanical hindrances, such as ill-shaped feet, too
2 Gait of the American Trotter and Pacer
heavy or too light a shoe, or one of bad shape, or the general discom- fort of the harness and of the hitching to cart or sulky.
Any forced methods, such as whipping, in order to "straighten him out" after irregular action or a break, can hardly come under the head of training and show lack of balance in the man behind the animal rather than in the horse.
The secret of the American trainer's success with the harness horse lies in his appeal to the animal's moral and mental qualities. Such a course makes the horse reliable and on it hinges more or less the result of a speed contest. To develop this confidence and courage in a horse proper balance is absolutely essential. A square gait alone will conserve muscle and strength, and will increase endurance. Be- sides, there is the spectator's point of view to be considered, because there is nothing as impressive as a horse that goes like a piece of ma- chinery, and the public takes delight in the unswerving regularity and equalized energy of a square gait.
There are trainers who seem to favor an irregular gait on the score that it rests a horse and that it makes him "catch" his gait more readily after a "break" or run. Skipping behind or rolling in front may favor such a handy "catch" because no time is lost in squaring away again. It really amounts to a questionable means "to get there", but does not constitute an honest effort such as the spectator has a right to demand. The usefulness of the harness horse should not be lost sight of, and all training should be directed toward bringing out the best qualities and teaching the best manners. The sport of speed contests — known also under the questionable name, "the game" — should be "on the square," and it is therefore to the interest of the cause of the harness horse that he should be trained to a square gait only.
Every trainer knows what a square gait is. In the course of this discussion on gaits as given in this book it will be shown that a square gait means nothing more nor less than an even and equal extension backward and forward for all the four moving legs of the horse, with two pair of feet striking the ground at equal intervals of time and dis- tance during a given trial.
Wanted — A Square Gait 3
Many faults of gait can be learned by studying the tracks of the horse's hoofs on the ground, and I urge trainers in general, and owners too, to direct their attention to these footprints. For, from the nature and position of these tracks, they can arrive at a remedy for a faulty gait much more quickly. It is not very hard work — consider- ing the results — to rake off a piece of ground, which has been pre- viously harrowed and is moist enough to show the tracks plainly. The record of the ,ground may serve to lead to a better record of the mile, and the impressions on the ground may help to effect better impres- sions on the grand stand. To give it meaning we must have two things, namely, a tape line and a white cord. The latter is stretched midway between the two sulky-wheel tracks and figures as a line of reference for the position of the feet; and the 100 ft. tape line serves in the measurements of all the successive footprints. The middle line is assumed as being the line of motion of the horse's center of gravity, around which all weight and motion is equally distributed. In a square gait, therefore, we should have the position of the feet on either side at equal distances from this line of reference. Any deviation would argue a certain deficiency or a bad habit of the gait. Such a wrong direction of motion may be due to some structural fault or to some temporary impediment caused by faulty shoeing. In either case a remedy may correct an irregular gait. Much can be learned merely by an inspection of the tracks thus referred to the middle line. Whether much figuring is done or not, some idea at least may be gained from the positions of the feet. Of course, the presumption here is that the trial so made did proceed in a straight, or nearly straight, line. The speed of a horse is most efficient in straight lines.
An irregular position of one or more feet can be readily detected and will indicate the possible remedy for a better direction or position of same. If not convenient, the figuring on these positions, as given later on in the fourth chapter, may be omitted and notes could be made ttnerely from the inspection by eye.
As to the use of the tape line, there is need of a little more work. The simpler features of such measurements are given again in Chapter X. Suffice it to say here that the tape line should be applied until we
4 Gait of the American Trotter and Pacer
have either ten or twenty strides on record. It is not one individual stride that will show any deficiency, but it is rather the averages of the various distances between the tracks that can give us a truthful ac- count of a certain manner of gait.
First, there is the stride, or the distance between the two contacts at the toe of one and the same foot. Then there is the distance be- tween the two feet that move together. This should be the same for both sides in a square gait. Again, there is the distance between one fore foot and the opposite one, or between one hind and its opposite mate. In a square gait these also are alike or nearly so. Sometimes a horse has a habit to extend one foot ahead of the other, in which case the hind that moves with that fore will also extend ahead of its mate. The distances thus measured will give us, by means of aver- ages, a more trustworthy account of the manner of propulsion than the eye can possibly detect.
The tape line used should be 100 ft. long and should be divided into 10 parts to the foot instead of 12 parts. This will facilitate figuring. A stride of 15 ft. and 3 inches, or 15% ft.., will therefore ap- pear as 15.25 ft. This enables us to add, subtract, multiply and divide as we do with dollars and cents, which avoids all the trouble incident to the figuring in inches. Of course, the tape line will have to be staked a number of times to include 20 strides. The measurements should be put down in a continuous form in a notebook and the figuring done later ; or it may be done on the spot as the various feet are taken. The latter way, however, takes too long on the ground and is more difficult. In the trot the start is made from the toe of near fore foot, in the pace from the toe of the near hind foot. The toe is the beginning and end of each distance so marked. A little systematic arrangement of the continuous measurements will soon bring the mat- ter clearly before one's mind. Reference is again made to the tenth chapter, where a general outline is given. The reader may prefer to find out for himself what is meant by such measurements and how they are obtained before he is willing or able to follow the discussions in the intervening chapters. I believe, however, that the subject is not so difficult for anyone who has at all applied himself to the study of
^A Square Gait 5
equine locomotion and balance. I would like to have the reader prove to himself, by his own trials, that I am not trying to set up any par- ticular theory regarding the motion of the horse, but that definite data of this sort give the best foundation for practical results and that there is a practical value to the investigation here offered. Many a reader may, however, turn from the various demonstrations as being too in- tricate and go back to the chance of hitting upon a lucky combination of circumstances. He may possess intuition or the knack of doing things without knowing the reason why. Some men have that insight and strike the right thing. Sometimes the reward comes to him who waits — long enough. Most of us, however, are not gifted that way and for all of us it seems better and safer to hew and saw timber by lines and figures.
What I intend to show in the course of this investigation is that irregular extensions of the legs, which mainly cause a faulty .gait and loss of speed, can be equalized again by means of a different adjust- ment of shoes, such as weight, length and angle of hoof, and the shape •of the shoe. Such unequal extensions must, however, be established from general averages and not from a few casual measurements. We should, therefore, make a trial for such measurements of at least ten strides, if not twenty, which will show the defects even better. The average of any of such distances is the sum of those distances divided by the number of times such distances were taken or computed. Any one of these distances may vary considerably from any other, but the average must show any peculiarity of gait.
These requirements may offer some difficulties at first, but a little familiarity with the positions of the feet on the ground will soon make matters clear. Special note books, such as I have used, will be pre- pared and offered at a reasonable price to those who may want to take up this matter with horses of their own.
This book will show in various cases the effects of weight and shape of shoe, of toeweights, of the angle of foot and of the length of toe. The combinations possible between these factors are almost num- berless, and trainers may succeed better than I have in making a proper combination on suggestions herein given. The general deductions
6 Gait of the American Trotter and Pacer
from this investigation may briefly, though incompletely, be summar- ized as follows:
Mere weight of shoe in front will increase action rather than ex- tension, mere weight behind will increase extension rather than action. The shape of the shoe, of course, will in either case modify both action and extension. A high heel or a long toe will, again, modify the effects of both weight and shape of shoe, the high heel by itself causing a "pointing back" and the long toe by itself causing a "pointing for- ward." Again, a longer or higher foot — both at toe and heel — will act as a check in front to that foot and will be a lever for the greater extension of its opposite mate. Injury to the front leg by concussion is often due to such slightly longer foot. The greater the speed, the greater the effect of any small difference between the fore or the hind feet. Again, a longer foot behind increases extension and will put a strain on its opposite mate through the latter's forced backward ex- tension. Skipping and running behind may have this difference for a cause, though unequal lengths of toes or angles of feet may also be at fault.
In the experiments I have tried to show that inequality of weight, angle or toe may at times become necessary to effect a square gait. Such remedies may be temporary or permanent, according to whether the irregular gait is due to an acquired habit or to some structural fault. Some consideration will also be .given to the extensions of the legs around the turns of the track, as well as to the effects of uphill and downhill grades on the locomotion of the horse.
I have not had much of a choice of subjects. Some were good and others indifferent horses. Some horses, again, were not amenable to treatment for speed development, but nearly all of them could be made to acquire a square gait while at their greatest speed. The breeding of the horses given, wherever noted, should not be construed as a reflection on family faults, and is only meant to show that the subjects were trotting-bred. Each horse should be treated as an in- dividual by this method, because each has faults in a different com- bination with the whole make-up of the horse.
To set forth the subject as clearly as possible it was necessary to
Wanted — A Square Gait 7
present many illustrations and diagrams. The reader may have some difficulty in understanding them, but a greater familiarity with the nature of the motion of the horse, according to the simple plan out- lined above and in Chapter X, will soon enable him to overcome such apparent difficulties. Shoeing and balancing is a difficult subject at best and requires TIME as a PRIME CONDITION to bring about any satisfactory result at all. By means of this method and with a little perseverance the particular gait of each individual horse may be ascertained, and from such definite data it will not be so very difficult to follow a plan of shoeing that will make the subject stick to a SQUARE GAIT.
CHAPTER II.
THE TRACKS AND MOTION OP THE FEET.
We have in the horse at motion five moving points, namely, the four feet, which strike the .ground and thereby cause propulsion, and the center of gravity, around which his weight is equally distributed. This latter invisible point lies in a plane bisecting, or cutting into two equal halves, the horse at right angles with or vertical to the ground plane. We think of this center of gravity being somewhere in the forequarter of the horse about midway in the girth region.
No matter what the action of the legs may be, whether high or low, the motion of the horse is the most perfect and graceful when this center of gravity is freest from up and down or side to side move- ments. It is most pleasing to the eye and most effective in point of speed when this center of gravity keeps in a practically straight line, and the motion of the legs is most economical of force and hence beautiful, when, looked at vertically from behind or in front, they proceed in nearly straight lines, and when even the curves of their action, looked at from the side, are all four of nearly the same mag- nitude and of the least elevation. In other words, the ideal trot should prpceed from straight movements and nearly equal elevations of the four feet. Therefore, when all force of motion is directed forward and shows the least deviation from straight lines we must of necessity have the best results in speed with the least expenditure of energy.
The lines of motion of the four feet must therefore be parallel to the line described by the center of gravity, and must, moreover, be at equal distances from it on each side. The vertical plane containing the center of gravity will meet or intersect the ground plane midway between the lines described by the feet. This center line I have called the median line and for practical purposes it can be located midway
8
Tracks and Motion of the Feet
between the wheels of the vehicle drawn (see Fig. i). We shall see later on that the distances on either side of line M N are not always alike and that, moreover, the four feet describe four lines instead of only two. Fig. i represents an illustration of the ideal line trot.
FlCr. 2 .
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C r |
B N D
v '
ft b ' Lines of feet- on nearside
C D * Lints of Feet on oFF side
fl fi * median line
\
n
o
O
/v
fore foot C\ = hind foot ^ ' M /v-- median lint
Furthermore, the actions of the legs, or rather their extension, must be like that of a pendulum swinging backward and forward to the same extent. This equal extension from an imaginary plumb line through the middle of leg insures the requisite regularity of gait,
10
Gait of the American Trotter and Pacer
rhythm of the fall of feet, and harmony between hind and front ex- tremities. Any deviation from the above lines of action will be due either to a natural or to an acquired or accidental fault. in the structure of the legs or feet. These deviations will enter largely into this in- vestigation, because most horses have some structural faults to over- come in their effort at speed. The correction of such faults, wherever possible, constitutes largely what is called "balancing."
We come now to the consideration of the imprints or tracks left on the ground by the trotter at speed. Fig. 2 will show the relative position of fore and hind feet of a horse going at about a 2:30 gait. Roughly estimated, we have here a stride of 16 ft., with about 3 ft. between the diagonal or correlated feet which move together, and with about 5 ft. as the distance of hind over fore, or overstep. The
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small brackets show the diagonal or correlated feet and the longer brackets the oversteps. Ordinarily this is the notation, or order of succession, of the four moving feet as they strike the ground. The distance between the feet is intentionally much exaggerated to show the lines of motion on each side. As a rule the distance between the fore, measured from the middle of frogs, is from 2 to 4 inches, and the distance between the hind probably averages from 4 to 7 inches. Now and then we strike a line trotter whose lines of motion of fore and of hind are nearly coincident. It is safe to say that in nearly all trotters the hind feet spread more than the fore. This is no doubt due to the greater mobility of the hind, as well as to the probability of their obtaining a better hold of ground by spreading somewhat. In no case of a fast trotter do we find an extreme outside position of hind as in Fig. 3. No doubt the larger spread of hind is also due to a pos-
Tracks and Motion of the Feet
ii
sible interference of hind with fore at I in Fig. 4, A and B, and the endeavor to avoid such. In A we have a knee-hitter and in B a
hind
fore ^
o
hind
/
fort
= hind
«-" ft /-
F/&.4. fro 5
paddler. The curves of motion of hind are excessive in this instance merely to show the tendency to spread and the point of possible con- tact. In the approximate line trot we are likely to have the same slight
F/0.6 .
contact, as at I in Fig. 5, if the length of the animal does not counter- act such contract, as in I in Fig. 6, where the hind cannot cross the path of the fore except after the fore has preceded it. Such an action
12 Gait of, the American Trotter and Pacer
is more likely to be found in the line trot, which we must assume as being the ideal locomotion.
All our investigations of such motion, whose record is left on the ground, should be made on an even surface of such a nature as the tracks of this country present. The ground should be harrowed or raked by hand, leaving a surface of fine loose earth on top, just as a fast and safe track is generally kept.
We must base such investigations on this even surface so that un- evenness of gait is not due to roughness of ground, but to the causes which we wish to ascertain. Ordinarily the greater the distance meas- ured the better will be the results, but all the way from 10 to 20 strides will show the ,gait well enough. Horses at a fair speed and according to the nature of the gait will stride from 16 to 21 feet with each leg as they fly through the air from one imprint to the next. I have al- ways taken 20 strides as my basis of calculations, because, firstly, the distance is long enough to show repetition of faults, or rather the varia- tions from the average ; and, secondly, because the simple decimal num- ber is easy to divide with in the calculations. We shall, therefore, re- quire a stretch of from 360 to 420 ft.
The second important requirement of such an investigation is an even rate of going when trotting over this stretch with the horse at speed. The line so taken should also be as straight as possible ; but ordinarily both these requirements are fulfilled because of the nature of the trial, which is but a piece out of a quarter or half mile. We may safely assume that if the speed is not uniform or the line straight, this is due to the very causes we intend to investigate. Averages and variations tell a truthful tale just the same.
Let us imagine that all these preliminary conditions are estab- lished and we look at the tracks of the horse just driven over that piece of ground.
There will be the record on the ground as given in Fig. 2. We know that in the trot two diagonally opposite feet move at the same time. Let us call them the correlated feet, because of their similar extension and action at the same time. In Figs. 7, 8 and 9 we have these correlated feet at rest, in a slow walk and in a trot. The fall of
Tracks and Motion of the Feet
these feet must occur at the same time ; that is, one fore and one hind should touch the ground at the same time. This is eminently so in the true trot and pace. Nor should there be any accent on the fall of one pair more than on the other. In order to bring about this regu- larity the distance of one fore from the other and of one hind from the other, should be the same ; that is, the extension of all four should be equal. And if this is so, then the two distances between the corre- lated feet should be the same. In fact, it will be found that the funda- mental principle of the square trot is the equal distance between these
Fit. 7
FIG
\ f
diagonally opposite feet. The same principle holds good with the dis- tance between the lateral feet, or feet on the two sides of the pacer. These also strike the ground at the same time and must be equally separated for even action and extension.
In Figs. 10, ii and 12 we shall take a brief look at the positions of the pacer when at rest, in a slow walk and at speed. What is true of the trotter's locomotion is also true of that of the pacer, with some slight modifications. A line pace is not generally spoken of as often as a line trot, but what holds good of lost motion in curves in one gait is also true in the other, and the danger point of interference is similar. As in the trot the hind foot is likely to interfere with the
14 Gait of the American Trotter and Pacer
fore foot, but on the opposite side as it passes it in the air at about I
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FIG. II
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in Fig. I2A. This constitutes "cross-firing" in the pacer. As in the trot the "overstep" was the overlap of one pair of correlated feet over the
Tracks and Motion of the Feet
other pair, so also in the pace there is a distance of opposite pair of feet as indicated by the brackets in Fig. I2A.
And again, as in the trot, these distances between the pairs of lateral feet, or the extension on one side and on the other, should be equal ; but we shall see later on that in either gait the extension on one side may exceed that on the other a little, because of the habit of horses to relieve themselves under great exertion by placing one foot ahead of the other. We shall also find that .generally in the pace the fore feet are apt to spread farther apart than the hind and the ten- dency of the lines of motion is given in Fig. 13. The line pace, how- ever, constitutes the standard to judge by.
We can, therefore, assert that the two distances between the corre- lated feet on both sides should be the same in both the trot and the
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pace. We also have seen that there is a possible interference of hind with fore as the pairs of correlated feet pass each other in midair, and that, inasmuch as any curves in the locomotion of either gait tend to loss of time and energy, there is a line trot as well as a line pace as the most economic form of propulsion as far as time and energy is con- cerned. Judged by these standards of gait, any locomotion deviating largely from them is faulty because it produces a certain amount of "lost motion," or motion to the sides, with all the dangers of interfer- ence.
Such must be the standards, but where faulty action accordingly exists there may be some compensations that offset these faults. On the whole, nature has a wonderful way of making amends for de- ficiencies in her creations of the animal as well as the human family.
1 6 Gait of the American Trotter and Pacer
She counterbalances a weak structure by a correspondingly larger de- velopment elsewhere. In other words, we may find a compensation or an offset in hind gait for whatever may be out of the ordinary with the fore action, and vice versa.
A phenomenon like Lou Dillon can give free play and action to her hind legs by a peculiar habit of crossing over with fore. At first this seems excessive and impossible, but her wonderful speed is that of a phenomenon. Later on we shall analyze her peculiar gait. Other great trotters may have similar habits of motion ; but we cannot judge the good ordinary trotter by a phenomenon, and it is best to take the locomotion of the majority of trotters as a standard form in estab- lishing the faults and shortcomings of gait. Speed is born with some horses; it is like genius — everything else adjusts itself to that gift That wonderful capacity to trot extremely fast with a frictionless gait evolves from the brain of the horse from early youth, and somehow the motion seems perfect, even though it should prove to be only a matter of compensations in the movements of legs. By compensation is meant that balance of development which counteracts weakness here by strength there in the make-up of the horse and in his motion. We find, for instance, a horse with very high action in front and low action behind, and yet he trots fast and true. The eye is not pleased, our sense of symmetry is sadly jarred and our task of balancing a trotter of that kind is truly great at times ; and yet we learn to accommo- date shoeing to that mode of action and will find it nearly impossible to equalize the action and to make it conform to that standard or ideal motion, where there is the least difference between the elevation of fore and hind and where the speed is attained without undue exertion. The test of measuring the extensions and computing the averages and variations — in other words, the analysis of such an apparently- unequal action — will reveal the fact that the symmetry of extension is good and that the feet land squarely on the ground.
This brings us to the ordinary way of judging the trotter's action by the eye, or by the side view while in motion.
The human eye has always claimed great accuracy of observation concerning things in motion, but photography has shown how unre-
Tracks and Motion of the Feet 1 7
liable it is in its verdict. We are now quite familiar with the positions of feet and motion of legs as the camera has fixed them in their pro- gression while the horse is moving. At first it was unbelievable; so set is the human mind on traditions.
In the next chapter, therefore, we shall consider the action as seen from the side.
CHAPTER III.
ATTITUDE AND MOTION OF THE LEGS,
Many years ago Dr. J. B. D. Stillman published a book on "The Horse in Motion", under the patronage of the late Gov. Leland Stan- ford, the maker and owner of the once famous Palo Alto Farm. Here a very skilful photographer by the name of E. J. Muybridge took a series of photographs of animals in motion and succeeded in proving as unnatural all previously conceived ideas regarding the various atti- tudes of animals in motion. The photographs were a wonderful reve- lation, not only to the men engaged with horses, but also to the world at large and particularly to students and masters of art. The services that Muybridge rendered to the cause of the horse and of art can never be overestimated, for they lie at the very foundation of a correct un- derstanding of animal motion. It was in these experiments that the strides of the moving horse was first measured and roughly stated for each horse, and this fact, together with David Roberge's sound prin- ciples of "pointing," first suggested the present analysis of the trot and pace. It seemed as if the record left on the ground by the tracks of each foot might be a sort of photograph of his mode of propulsion. Puzzling as the idea appeared to the writer some ten years ago, it gained in importance and interest as case after case was subjected to such an investigation. Before considering this method we have stiH to look into the motion of the legs, such as photography was able to present.
We have in the horse five moving points, namely, his four feet and the center of gravity situated in his body in a plane passing length- wise through the middle of the body, this plane being at right angles with or perpendicular to the ground plane or surface. This center of gravity acts as a pivot of locomotion around which weight is equally
18
Attitude and Motion of the Legs
distributed and upheld. The motion of the horse is most perfect and graceful when this center of gravity is freest from up and down or side to side movements. It is most pleasing to the eye and most effective in point of speed when this center of gravity keeps in a practical straight line; and the motion of the legs is most beautiful and most economical of force when, looked at vertically from behind or in front, it proceeds in nearly straight lines and when
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motion of feet.
D E, plane of motion of fixed end of pendulum P F.
A B, ground plane.
P M, P N, equal forward and backward extension or swing.
P, point in shoulder or hip at which legs may be pre- sumed to be pivoted like a pendulum.
Dotted lines, variations from equal extensions.
even the curve of its elevation, looked at from the side, is not ex- cessive, but presents a natural height for the speed shown.
Therefore, when all the force of motion is directed forward and shows the least deviation from a straight line horizontally and no ex- cessive curves vertically, we must of necessity have the very best re- sult in speed with the least expenditure of energy. The lines of motion of the four legs must therefore be parallel to the line described by this central point in the body, called the center of gravity (see Fig. 14), and must, moreover, be equi-distant from it on each side ; and, further-
20
Gait of the American Trotter and Pacer
more, must the action of the legs be like that of a pendulum swinging backward as far as forward, and thus bring about the regularity and rhythm of hoof-beats and the harmony of extensions (see Figs. 15 and 1 6.)
To illustrate the above principles, which ought to constitute the perfect gait of the trotter and the pacer, let us look at Fig. 16. Here is the profile view of a horse at rest in an ideal attitude, namely, where the legs stand perpendicularly under the body of the subject.
Vertical lines from the heels H' and H of both fore and hind (Fig. 16) will constitute the pendulums of legs at rest, having their
FIG. 16
M ti T N M' H F H'
A B C D B F, articulation of fore part. L P O R S T, articulation of hind part. P, P', origin or pivot of motion. P' M', P' N', extensions of fore legs. P M, P N, extensions of hind legs. G, approximate location of center of gravity.
respective pivots of motion P' and P in the shoulder articulation and in the buttock joint as given in Fig. 16. Such a vertical line runs down the middle of fore legs and passes along front line of cannon bone of hind legs. A further test of the correct attitude of hind legs is a vertical line dropped from end of buttock, and this line will coin- cide with oack outline of hind cannon tone. P' M' and P' N', as well as P M and P N, exemplify the even extension of legs as they stride over ground. Fig. 16 is meant to show an ideal attitude with ideal
Attitude and Motion of the Legs
21
extensions and general perfect articulations of the fore and hind parts of the horse;
Theoretical as it may seem, such attitudes are by no means rare and the pictures of Sweet Marie 2 :02 and of Sonoma Girl 2.05^4 (Figs. 66 and 78), two shining lights of California, illustrate this point to a remarkable degree. The firmness and readiness of such a position of legs must impress every horseman.
It must be left to the eye, more or less, if the motion of the legs, forward and backward, be equal, or if, in other words, they swing pen- dulum fashion or with equal extension. The rule of "pointing" as ap-
plied to motion will always hold true. For the fore legs and hind legs there are in each case two faulty positions as given in Figs. 17 and 18. Positions A, A stand for the normal and B, B for pointing in and C, C for pointing out. What the swing of each leg will be when in motion can be readily observed and is indicated in Fig. 15 ; and what can be done to overcome the faulty tendencies, if a remedy be possible, will be shown later.
There is no doubt but that such faulty tendencies either in fore or in hind legs may occur in subjects of great speed, for the efficiency and energy of the horse, both in conformation and in motion, is largely the result of proper compensations ; that is, one deficiency is often counterbalanced or entirely removed by a greater development else-
22
Gait of the American Trotter and Pacer
where. The faulty angularity of the joints may sometimes be counter- acted by powerful muscles, tendons, etc. After all, the results that we must try to reach must show a harmony of motion, action and ex- tension, or, in other words, a proper balance. Balance, as we shall see all along this investigation, is but a study of compensations for the defects as they generally exist in even the best trotters and pacers. The great ones of these are to the manner born, like genius, but a great many more are made by the patience and ingenuity of trainer and shoer combined, and it is the purpose of this book to aid both in that accomplishment.
Having considered the attitudes of "pointing", as well as the ex- tension of legs arising therefrom, we naturally come now to the eleva- tion of the feet or action of the legs. The action is effected on curved lines of various magnitudes. As a rule, the action of fore is greater than that of hind legs. The standard or ideal action should show an approximate equality between the two extremities ; in other words, that action will show the most harmony of motion in which the elevation of the hock action will be as high or nearly as high as the knee action. The greater power of flexion of knee over that of hock will always pre- vent the elevation of the hind feet from being greater than that of the fore feet. On the other hand, the hind leg, being more movable or more loosely hung than fore and at an opposite angle of flexion from that
Attitude and Motion of the Legs 23
of the fore leg, is apt to reach forward with greater ease than fore leg. Hence we shall see later that to prevent interference between the ex- tremities it is sometimes as necessary to decrease the extension of hind as it is to increase the extension of fore; in other words, to equalize the hock and knee action. Such, it seems, were the endeavors and the results of Palo Alto Farm and of the Electioneer family of horses. It is, in fact, a very reasonable and sensible view to take of the action and gait of the trotter.
It may be of interest to state that increasing the action of one extremity by one" means or another tends to decrease the action of the other extremity. If by toe-weight or heavy shoes we effect greater folding of fore legs and consequent higher elevation of feet, we seem to create a tendency in hind to remain closer to the ground ; and, vice versa, if by heavy shoes and calks or squared toes we effect the greater action of hind and consequent greater elevation of feet, we seem to diminish the action of fore legs or elevation of their feet.
The fore legs seem to have the mission of props to keep the horse from falling and the hind feet are meant as the great propellers when at speed. When we consider the forward angularity of hind limbs we can see how their tendency becomes one of forward action, while the backward angularity of fore limbs tends to a greater fold of the elbow and knee joints. In fact, though the hind legs are hung more loosely they are not quite as well adapted for high elevation ; while the fore legs, more firmly or stiffly set in forequarters, are compensated there- for by a .greater ability to fold or bend. Photography has proved that the fore legs also act as propellers, and the evidences of the tracks on ground will prove as much; and in a general way it may be said that the action of the hind is from one-half to two-thirds of that of the fore. The less the difference in action between the two extremities the more harmonious and regular will be the entire motion of the horse at speed.
As mentioned before, Muybridge first demonstrated by his instan- taneous photographs at Palo Alto Farm that the various positions of the horse in motion were totally different from accepted beliefs ; and it is well worth while to recall his results. I would, therefore, like to
24 Gait of the American Trotter and Pacer
present to the reader a few outlines of such series of pictures in order to enable him to judge for himself of the motion of the trotter; but the main purpose of doing so is to show the curves of elevation or action of fore and hind legs. These deductions are my own plotting of the various points in motion. By connecting these points with the intermediate line or curve of motion we arrive at a presentation of the line of motion, called the trajectory.
It is appropriate to quote Dr. Stillman in his "The Horse in iMotion," on the elevation of the horse while in motion.
"In the slow trot the action of the muscles is not sustained and the bony levers are allowed to resume their normal angles. At each half stride the center of gravity regains nearly, if not quite, its eleva- tion; but as the horse increases his speed he lowers the center of gravity; and in so doing enables the extremities to reach farther and sustain the weight longer, while the rapidity of the movement of the body gives it a momentum that forces the suspensory ligaments to yield and the angles to close to the requisite degree to prevent to alter- native of the defection of the trajectory or the crushing of the limb ; and if measurement be taken of the height of the horse at different .portions of the stride it will be found that it is least when it would 'seem that it should be greatest ; that is, when it passes the perpendicu- lar, or that point where the supporting limbs are shortest."
In Fig. 19 we get the general idea of the elevation and exten- sion of the trajectory or curve of motion which the foot of the horse takes from one contact of ground to the next. We assume here that the greater the elevation the greater the extension.
This illustration serves to show the accepted belief about exten- sion of feet or legs ; that is, the higher the elevation the greater the ex- tension. In a measure this is true, if other conditions, such as muscu- lar development, "pointing" and manner of shoeing, do not counteract it.
But from proofs by instantaneous photography and from actual experience, as will be shown in later chapters, it is generally true that the higher the elevation of action the less will be the extension. Figs. 20 and 21 will serve to illustrate the point on this subject. With
Attitude and Motion of the Legs 25
higher knee folding we are likely to have a shorter extension from A B to A C ; and with the high action of hock joint we are likely to see a backward reach and a lessening of forward extension from A C to A B, as seen in Fig. 21.
There is a general belief that extension proper is affected by and concerns only the fore legs. The use of weights is too often
F/G- 19 .
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resorted to as a means of extension ; but the effect is really not quite what it is claimed to be, as we shall see later on. And, furthermore, I hope to prove to the reader that the proper extension of fore feet depends a great deal on the proper and equal swing of hind legs and especially on the proper backward reach or propelling power of the hind legs.
We are not dealing with a biped but with a four-footed animal, and the attempt at regulating extension or stride or quick and slow
26 Gait of the American Trotter and Pacer
action should always take into consideration the movements of the hind legs as well. Horses move in all sorts of ways, it is true, and have speed, but many would not come up to the standard when speed and quality of gait are to be transmitted to their next generation without a step backward in their development. There are many freaks and many queer examples of compensations for deficiencies, but all of these are not proper factors for the greater evolution of the trotter and the pacer. We must have ideals regarding their gait as well as their speed. Mere speed can not, and in time will not, be the only criterion of their fitness as progenitors.
By kind permission of the publishers I offer my own outlines of pictures taken by E. J. Muybridge thirty years ago, as found in that excellent work "The Horse in Motion," by Dr. J. D. B. Stillman, pub- lished many years ago by Ticknor & Co. of Boston. The publishers have still a few copies on hand and it is a pity to think that all plates have been destroyed and the work is out of print.
The tracings here offered are those of the horses Occident 2:16^4, Elaine 2:20, Edgerton (Abe Edgington) 2:23^ and Clay 2:25, all owned by the once famous Palo Alto Farm some thirty years ago ; but the lessons from the motions of these four subjects will remain ever new even though we have progressed in the production of speed.
These four horses are different in action and gait and will serve as types for similar cases in these days. It is well worth while to recall this first brilliant and bold attempt to investigate this intricate subject. A good deal of what is thus presented may be well known to many, but it will bear repetition in conjunction with ,my subject.
The great usefulness of that unique presentation of the consecu- tive positions of the same horse in motion renders it invaluable for the student of gait. Nothing like it has ever since been attempted so far as I could find out. And the further fact that the ground line over which those horses trotted was divided into equal divisions has enabled me to also locate the consecutive positions of the feet and by connecting these points to trace the curves of motion, or the trajectories of fore and hind feet. Let me first outline to the reader the apparent characteristics of the gaits of these four horses.
Attitude and Motion of the Legs 27
It is said that Occident was found in the streets of San Fran-
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cisco pulling a butcher's cart, just as recently the trotter Berico, 2:09^4, appears to be a graduate from the hard school of delivery
28 Gait of the American Trotter and Pacer
horses. Such instances often give rise to the assertion that a real trotter will trot at any time under any conditions, no matter how his feet are trimmed or what shoes he wears. It is the call of the gambler who hits upon a lucky combination and mocks all natural laws. Trot- ters are discovered everywhere by their action and their gameness, but they are not brought to perfection under the system of chance.
In Fig. 22 are given the outlines of Occident in motion with a stride of 17 ft. 9 in. There will also be seen the elevation of fore and hind feet taken at point of toe and the comparative action or eleva- tion of knee and hock taken at the point of these joints. These curves or trajectories are taken from the pictures directly, the various points in the positions being connected by a continuous curve. In the case of fore and hind feet these curves have been enlarged to bring out the outlines better; but in knee and hock action the lines of motion follow the pictures exactly and are applicable to them.
Occident stands apparently as a type of the resolute trotter, with much display of action, especially in front, his hind action being a little out of proportion with front action. The forward reach of fore legs is of the impressive kind which tends to greater extension. When folding the knee there is no sudden drop of foot but a bold unfolding of that joint and a straight reach forward with foot. The path of feet in the illustration will prove this ; and yet he lacks the goose paddle out behind which gives the trotter his ability to hurl himself forward. There is a good upward and forward action of hind legs but also a little "pointing" forward or trotting under behind. All in all, Occident would stand for the ordinary resolute trotter of to-day with the usual fault of inequality of fore and hind action.
Occident was by Doc 449 and was a star at the time when in 1873 he took his record. The yearly Occident stake for three year olds is aptly named after him for his gameness and courage.
We now come to the so called Electioneer trotter in Elaine 2 120, by Messenger Duroc out of Green Mountain Maid, the dam of old Elec- tioneer. Here we have that peculiar and nearly equal extension for- ward and backward of the fore and hind legs. There is a nearer approach of elevation between the two extremities. The display of
Attitude and Motion of the Legs
29
action in front is not so impressive as with Occident, but the extension is as good. Behind we have the strong propulsion by means of the goose paddle backwards. The lifting of hind feet is more sudden and
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higher than with Occident, and because the fore feet are not so greatly elevated we have a more equalized action and extension at the two extremities.
30 Gait of the American Trotter and Pacer
Though often called a "low" gait it is not in reality so ; but there is no waste of energy in excessive elevation or extension of the feet, hence it strikes the eye as being a gait without loss of motion or a gait with some reserve force back of it. All in all, it is the best form of standard gait for the trotter in my opinion, because of those character- istics.
In Fig. 27 I have endeavored to compare the relative elevation of knee and hock joints and their rotations. The lines enclosing the hock action are the limits of elevation of knee action. Generally the hock joint stands higher than the knee joint, and generally, and in spite of that fact, the limit of hock action does not equal that of the knee. In the mare Elaine, however, it does so nearly ; and this is the point at issue with evenly divided action and extension. It is this lower action or elevation in front and the more than ordinary elevation behind that causes the impression of a "low" or creeping gait, when in fact it is a gait of exceptional value for speed, with a view to sound- ness, a free head and a sure footing.
The third object of comparison is a horse called Edgerton in the book "The Horse in Motion," but which was probably Abe Edgington instead, because on the photograph of Muybridge therein produced he is shown as a gray gelding, which Abe Edgington was. He* was by Stockbridge Chief Jr., and had a record of 2:23^, got in 1878.
In studying his gait we arrive at the conclusion that he belongs to the more ordinary class of trotters, with only medium action and a tendency to stand under in front as well as behind, as was shown in Figs. 17 and 18 under B. It may be noted in the illustration how hind foot passes on outside of fore, as in the second position. This is a faulty way of going at great speed ; for to-day the "line trot", so well advocated by the owner of Palo Alto Farm, and so well exemplified in the Electioneer family, is the only rational trot whereby the horse can go fast and safe. By line trot is to be understood a way of moving hind leg in nearly the same path as the fore leg on the same side ; at any rate, the fore on that side must be out of the way for the hind when the latter reaches forward. In Edgington the folding of knee is
Attitude and Motion of the Legs 3 1
pretty fair, though the hock action is jerky ; that is, there is a sudden lifting followed by a drop to a low elevation of foot, giving the ap-
pearance of a low hock action. The trajectories are evidence of such a gait, as we find it with the better class of trotters.
32 Gait of the American Trotter and Pacer
In the study of Lou Dillon's gait we shall see that with her manner of propulsion the question of interference of hind with fore feet does not apparently cut any figure. For, inasmuch as the fore feet cross over each other, they are out of the way of the approaching hind at the critical moment. There is no "line trot" here, although the hind feet move in nearly straight lines ; but the fore do not move in straight lines and effect their propulsion from the opposite side.
The last of these series is Clay 2 125, by St. Clair, a short-coupled and rather leggy horse, with all the faults of gait which such a horse is apt to be guilty of. With a good deal less fold of knee than the previous trotter he has still more of a jerky and sudden elevation of hock action, due to the fact that his reaching backward with hind legs is very marked. This sudden elevation is followed by as decided a drop and he just pokes hind leg forward without any further effort to lift leg or foot. Being deficient in knee action, we see in Fig. 27 that knee and hock elevation are about the same in magnitude as those of Elaine. Being leggy and short-coupled and probably standing under in front and pointing forward with hind, he passes hind legs on outside of fore, much more so than Edgington, and this is a fault not tolerated to-day and one that never promises much speed or an. even gait.
Finally, there is an unknown pacer given whose gait is not of the best and lacks extension to show its characteristics at speed. It shows, however, the low elevation of hind feet, not only as compared with that of fore, but also by itself ; and as a rule the pacing gait is of a more creeping nature behind than the trot is or ought to be, and in the lateral extension the hind feet are generally inside the lines of motion of the fore. This is the reverse from the lines of motion of the trotter and this closer approach of the hind adds to the tendency of their low elevation.
This pacer has, like the trotter Clay, the fault of lifting his hind foot off the ground before its correlated fore foot, which often tends toward single-footing, or at least to an uneven or rough gait. In Elaine, Occident and Edgington we notice the reverse, namely, that hind foot leaves the ground a trifle later than its forward mate. This is as it should be to insure an even or synchronous contact with the
Attitude and Motion of the Legs 33
ground at the farthest point of extension forward. In the above
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three cases the fall of the two correlated feet or diagonal mates occurs at the same moment. The fore foot always describes a higher and
34
Gait of the American Trotter and Pacc'>
therefore longer trajectory or path than the hind foot ; and therefore does this retarded action of hind not only cause a greater impulsion forward but also less interference with the fore on the same side and
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a more even action with its diagonal mate. In other words, it becomes apparent that the greatest fault in hind action of both trotter and pacer is its lack of backward extension, or, what amounts to the same thing, its excessive pointing forward or standing under with hind feet.
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Attitude and Motion of the Legs 35
In Fig. 27 appears a comparative schedule of the knee and hock
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36 Gait of the American Trotter and Pacer
action of the four above named trotters. It shows the difference of positions of both these joints as regards distance from the ground. In all cases the hock joint is located higher from the ground than the knee joint, which is a common observation with horses.
In a later chapter the details of such comparative elevation are fully explained and illustrated. The scope of knee action is here indi- cated by the parallel lines enclosing the curves of hock action. From these plottings it may be seen that Elaine comes first in developed action in front and 'behind ; Edgington should be second for a similar reason, but he shows a somewhat less developed hock action with more forward than backward extension, together with a consequent inter- ference. Occident is a good third, even with his excessive knee action and low hock action, his gait being a sample of the endeavor to remove the fore feet from the interference with the hind feet by means of excessive action in front ; and lastly there is Clay, whose indifferent knee flexion but good hock action seem to cause trouble by speedy-cut- ting, 'for his hind feet are seen to pass the rather sluggish fore feet on the outside. This is a gait that can in no way be recommended, but the animal's conformation is largely at fault for that defective pro- pulsion.
At the bottom of Fig. 27 I have endeavored to present the average of the movements above referred to, and from this the reader may get an idea of the comparative action in front and behind. These studies, when applied to actual cases, have always indicated that it is easy to increase the knee action or to decrease the hock action. These are the natural tendencies of the movements of these joints. Far more difficult it becomes to equalize the action of the two extremities ; that is, to increase the hock action and to decrease the knee action. As all trainers know, proper extension counts for more than action ; that, is, proportionate reaching forward with the fore and backward with the hind legs is the secret of a regular and fast gait. Much attention has been given to increase the extension of fore and but little to the pro- pelling power of a well placed hind foot as it reaches backward in its last effort to fling the body forward. I shall touch upon this matter later on.
Attitude and Motion cf the Legs 37
There is one more comparison of action that deserves notice. It
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38 Gait of the American Trotter and Pacer
is that of the horse Abe Edgington (Edgerton) to sulky and to saddle, as given in Fig. 28. With the superimposed weight of a rider the action of knee decreases and that of hock increases in elevation. The hock joint by depression of weight is nearly on a level with knee joint and yet its elevation is as high as in the trial to sulky. But the most remarkable change in action is the sudden elevation of hind when leaving the ground, as given in the drawings of trajectories. A few positions of the horse in motion under saddle are also given in Fig. 29, when the sudden elevation of hind feet becomes a fact to the eye, due to the greater backward reach or extension than there was visible in the trial to sulky, and with this backward action disappears the ten- dency to speedy cutting. The trotter clears or trots under the fore with his hind feet. The weight on the back prevents a pointing for-
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Abe Ed$in$ton to Saddle - Note backward action and extension
FJ5.29
ward of hind and seems to extend fore feet. There is an indication in this effect which points to a similar effect of letting down the head of a horse or of heavy shoes behind or shoes that will favor easy back- ward reach. This will be investigated in later chapters treating on the measurements of the gaits.
In summing up the points of importance shown in these illustra- tions I beg to have the forbearance of the reader for the imperfec- tions of the drawings. They were prepared with all the care and skill at my command, but since the originals were not quite perfect the faults are not altogether of my own making. In the main and princi- pal features the presentations and plottings are correct ; it is only in the fine outline and execution where they lack perfection.
The points at issue are all directed to nearly equalize or balance the fore and hind actions. It is a well known fact that fore action
Attitude and Motion of the Legs 39
is always greater than hind action, but it may be apparent to the reader that it has been shown that there is an adjustment possible between these actions which will bring these two extremities into proper har- mony. The high cleaving of the air by the fore feet is pure loss of motion and energy; while the low, shuffling gait of hind feet shows a lack of energy well to be considered. The former seems to produce the latter manner of motion; and the efforts toward a more perfect gait should be directed toward a lessening of forward action and an in- crease in the backward action of hind, whereby propulsion is effected and interference prevented. And, in fact, wherever an attempt has been made by me to bring that about there resulted a better and smoother gait and — as it should be — greater endurance and speed.
It seems, therefore, advisable to set up a standard of action, and among those analyzed above Elaine's comes nearest to that standard. There are still many advocates for the gait which Occident exemplifies, but one cannot pass on it as nearly so perfect as Elaine's, though, of course, it is energetic and powerful and apparently promising of great speed. It is the manner of speed that a great many fair and good trotters have.
The gait of Abe Edgington (or Edgerton) must be judged as somewhat faulty, but also as amenable to correction ; for when he was put under saddle his gait improved wonderfully. Here, then, seems to be a case that could be corrected and shod in such a manner that in time the faults would disappear. The trotter Clay presents a con- formation that would always balk every effort for improvement. Na- ture makes and mars trotters and pacers by a faulty conformation, even though the instinct to trot or pace is in the brain. The gait can be regulated and the speed improved up to a certain point, after which there will be a confusion of motion in spite of every effort.
Bearing in mind these side views of the horses in motion we are enabled thereby to detect some deficiency of gait by the eye, and this will aid us to analyze the gait of any horse by the method which I pro- pose to explain in the next chapter.
CHAPTER IV.
RECORD OF THE TRACKS ON THE GROUND AND THE IMPORTANCE OF AVERAGES,
With animals in motion we must ask either the camera or the tracks on the ground for the story of their gaits. What Muybridge, years ago, showed to an astonished world was the profile view of horses and other animals in all stages of motion. While the camera has thus given to the student the key to animal locomotion, it is not always practical to apply its revelations to every case. After having studied the principles of such exact knowledge as photography revealed, and leaving the eye to judge according to such facts, we shall dis- cover the actual condition of a gait only in the record left by the tracks on the ground. While "he who runs may not read" in this case, it may become convincing during the investigation that he who studies a little may certainly read the meaning of this record.
Muybridge and Roberge have done a great deal to analyze and simplify the motion of the horse, but added to that knowledge should be the study of the tracks for each individual case. This recorded gait on the ground, when reduced to figures by means of the tape-line and by means of simple calculation for general averages and variations, will soon produce order out of chaos and give as clear an idea of the horse's action and extension as is possible to acquire. The main fea- tures of the measurements and calculations are not beyond the reach of any intelligent person, even if all the details of such an investigation as formulated in my small manual books are not fully carried out or computed.
Many people make much of the so-called stride, or the step the horse takes with each leg. I want to say from the start that the stride for all four legs must be the same ; that is, the stride of a certain gait
40
Record of the Tracks on the Ground 41
is, say, 18 ft. That means that each leg strides that distance. One leg may vary more than another leg, but in the sum total the average for each leg's stride must be 18 ft, or else the horse will break into a run and cease trotting or pacing. To get at the stride of a particular gait, or of any horse at any speed, we must, therefore, measure the whole distance of such a trial, and compute from this the stride of each leg. If for convenient calculation we choose 20 strides for each leg as sufficient to indicate peculiarities of gait, we have for the average this total of 20 strides divided by 80. This is the average stride for that horse at that particular gait.
There are, however, irregularities of gait which are caused either by bad or indifferent shoeing or by a faulty anatomical structure in one or more limbs, such as a shorter leg, a club foot, etc. Such de- ficiencies in stride are found by this method to consist of variations in stride. The disturbing leg falls short of average stride, and when recovering lost ground exceeds such average. The absence of exces- sive variations in the strides has a great deal to do with the regularity and evenness of gait. Later on we shall see that the variation from average, in the fore and hind legs, has a different meaning respectively in fore or hind extremities.
The variations lead us to the question of extension; for, where the variations are different between either the two fore or the two hind legs, there must of necessity be a different extension or placing forward of foot. With almost all trotters or pacers the same habit prevails as with the runner, and that is, one foot is preferably put a little ahead of the other in front ; but this extension of one fore ahead of the other has as a consequence the simultaneous extension of hind. In other words, an irregularity in front is likely to cause one behind, because of the intimate relation between fore and hind legs. In the trot it will be the hind foot of opposite side, and in the pace the hind foot of the same side. As the difference of extension between the hind legs becomes greater, the danger of interference with fore legs in- creases. Fig. 30 will illustrate the points here raised for the trot and Fig. 31 for the pace. If, for instance, in the trot, the fore foot A is with preference placed ahead of fore foot B, it follows that the hind
Gait of the American Trotter and Pacer
foot D, moving with it at the same time, is placed ahead of the other hind foot C. If this were not the case and the diagonal feet did not reach the ground at the same time, the horse would not be trotting but single- footing or running. So in the pace, where A and C move together, and B and D, the hind foot C, moving with its lateral mate A, must be placed ahead of hind foot D. It must be noticed that Figs. 30 and 31 only indicate the tendency of such differ-
A7
O
o
N Fit. 30
FI&.3I.
ence of extension, as if the horse were pointing that way when at rest. In Figs. 32 and 33 we see the actual record of the tracks on the ground for the trot and the pace. Applying thereto the tendencies of unequal extension as indicated above, we shall find the actual position of feet as indicated by dotted outline of tracks. In the trot, Fig. 32, we have a possible passing of hind foot D on outside of fore foot B (speedy cutting) as illustrated in the case of the horse Clay, Fig. 25. And in the pace, Fig. 33, we have a possible passing or interference
Record of the Tracks on the Ground
43
(cross-firing) of hind foot C with fore foot B on the opposite side, as seen in the case of the pacer, Fig. 26.
In the square trot as well as pace we often find a tolerably small difference of extension between fore and hind feet. The shifting from one foot to the other may now and then alternate, but if this difference
A *
n
ft'
Ft 0.32.
n
\
a
n
Fio33
is small it becomes negligible in our investigations. We cannot pos- sibly insist on an absolutely pure and regular gait and must at all times allow for the condition of ground and the great effort for speed ; so that, when such a difference is only an inch or two, it need not alarm us, but when it becomes a foot or more there must be something wrong, as in a rough and irregular gait.
44 Gait of the American Trotter and Pacer
The ideal gait for the trot, as well as for the pace, lies in the words : equal extension of all four legs. Anything short of that may be classed as irregular and subject to a possible correction.
All my endeavors to reduce these two gaits to a basis of purity have brought out certain points which will be demonstrated by various experiments. The very fact that these experiments were tried on dif- ferent subjects, and that the principles involved were applied and yielded definite and practical results, may .give the reader some idea of the usefulness of this investigation. It may strike the reader as a laborious process to establish the facts of a gait; but are not facts better than guess work?
Balancing the horse in motion should be based on exact principles and these principles should be deducible from careful experiments. This is, to my mind, the only rational view to take of the matter.
I anticipate criticism to the effect that this method of measurement is not practical. To be sure, it requires some actual work in the field and some mental effort at figuring; but the time so spent will be far less than the time used up in endless, haphazard trials, with all the guesses and the errors of visual observation.
This method is not given as a cure-all, by any means, but merely as a correct indicator of faults in gait. The certainty of exact meas- urements enables us to get at the facts in the case. When we once know the cause of disturbance, or have any indication of it, we can proceed at least with intelligence to correct that disturbing cause, if that be possible. No claim is set up either of a cure following post- haste on such a detection of a fault. Time is the most important ele- ment in correcting a faulty gait. It should be remembered that a change in shoeing is not immediately effective of good results, and that the effect of a previous shoeing or paring of hoof becomes part of the effect of the last shoeing and paring. For, the adjustment of muscles and tendons to such a change does not, without possible injury, occur on the spot. Hence the importance of a continual record of the treat- ment of the foot and its results. This means a steady progress and an enlightenment on the peculiarities of the subject's gait, such as hap- hazard guess-work can never accomplish.
Record of the Tracks on the Ground 45
There is, however, a method of making some horses acquire a fair gait, outside of a definite plan of improvement. Many horse- shoers have pursued the same course, namely, that of fitting the 'hoof of the horse to the shoe that is supposed to improve the gait. By con- tinued application of a preconceived plan as to the needs of a horse for a good gait, the animal is supposed to adapt itself to these set require- ments. It is not always effective and smacks of the "root-hog-or-die" treatment. With a large expenditure of time, it often amounts to nothing but hope deferred and a blind perseverance.
In thus defending a rational method to ascertain not only the con- ditions that exist but also those that are wished for in the improve- ment of gaits, I do not claim that in offering this method of analysis of gaits there goes with it a prompt and immediate remedy or recom- mendation of shoeing. I doff my hat to the skilful American farrier. He is bound to find a remedy when definitely told where the fault lies. He cannot, however, be expected to know the animal's gait or hit the right thing by guessing at it.
Take, as an example, the instructive book on shoeing by William Russell. He has demonstrated in a general way the effects of certain shoes on the gait or manner of motion of the trotter and pacer. He insists that each case is separate from others and requires special treat- ment. This means that each case demands almost endless experiment- ing, with no assurance of knowing the reason why the final adjust- ment of balance is the correct one. Roberge followed him with a more reasonable theory by laying stress not so much on the make of the shoe as upon the shape of the hoof. While the making of complex shoes reflects highly on the art of shoeing and the ingenuity of the American farrier, the principle of controlling the motion by the shape of an ever growing hoof, and of thereby simplifying the shapes of shoes, carries with it more conviction. With full recognition of the eminent work done by these men, and for that matter by the' men who follow their principles, there was to my mind a great need of a method to establish the facts of observation upon which they base their con- clusions.
The instantaneous photographs of Muybridge and my plotting of
46 Gait of the American Trotter and Pacer
those curves of motion of the feet, as found in the previous chapter, first proved to me the irregularity of such motion and the need of ascertaining by means of general averages the variations of a gait. I found later on that the two eminent Frenchmen, Goubaux and Barrier, had ingeniously investigated the motion of the horse in their excellent work "The Exterior of the Horse."
This helped and encouraged me in my investigations to find a method by which proper balance may be more easily found than by guess-work. Though shoeing may be considered an art, the proper correction of a faulty gait must be based on a proper analysis of that gait. There may be an infinite variety of conditions and the relations between the four legs may be very intricate, yet there ought to be some logical deductions possible in each case, provided the actual facts are put down in black and white. From such a series of experiments I hope to give to the reader some simple generalizations. Should, how- ever, the reader still insist that each horse is a case by itself and doubt the general application of such generalizations, he can always, by this method at least, find the relative effect of each successive shoeing for that horse, and make the necessary changes to improve the gait of that particular animal.
In looking at the tracks on the ground or the impressions left by the shoe, we must judge of their nature first by the actual contact with the soil. The ground over which a trial for this purpose is to be made should not only be harrowed, but also be hand-raked so as to present a reasonably smooth surface. A smooth, frictionless and easy gait, or that of a horse well balanced, should show even and firm impres- sions on the ground of the four feet, without any slip or concussion.
Whenever there is any sliding or a marked hardening of soil at any point, and a repetition thereof, there is also an irregularity of gait and a difficulty of action. Notes should be made of such repeated con- cussions, because this shows a fact of a deranged action.
Now then, our horse has just moved over such a prepared piece of ground, practically level, for a distance that should give us -20 strides for each leg, as before mentioned. Let us then take a loo'ft tape line and put its end-ring at the toe of near fore by means of a
Record of the Tracks on the Ground
47
surveyor's pin. We pay it out to the end and place another pin at the 100 ft. mark. Going back to the start there is now to be recorded the consecutive measurements of the four feet. By means of an ordinary small blank book ruled as in Fig. 34, these measurements can be put down quickly as we go along the line and take readings at the point of
FIG. 34.
MEASUREMENTS OF TRACKS IN FEET AND TENTHS OF A Fool
FROM TOE TO TOE. Continuous Measurements starting with Near Fore.
|
Fore |
Stride |
Hind |
Stride |
Fore |
Stride |
Hind |
Stride |
||
|
N |
Toe> |
6.40 |
— |
0 |
201.60 |
19.25 |
207.60 |
19.10 |
|
|
0 |
9.70 |
— |
15-65 |
— |
N |
211.15 |
1925 |
217.25 |
19.15 |
|
N |
19.30 |
19.30 |
25.70 |
19.30 |
0 |
220.75 |
19- !5 |
226.75 |
I9.I5 |
|
O |
28.75 |
I9.05 |
35- |
19-35 |
N |
230.45 |
19.30 |
236.65 |
19.40 |
|
N |
38-05 |
18.75 |
44.70 |
19. |
O |
240.05 |
19.30 |
246.30 |
19-55 |
|
0 |
47-55 |
18.80 |
53-9° |
18.90 |
N |
249.60 |
19.15 |
256. |
19.35 |
|
N |
57-45 |
19.40 |
63.80 |
19.10 |
O |
259.15 |
19.10 |
265.55 |
19.25 |
|
0 |
66.95 |
19.40 |
73- |
19.10 |
N |
268.90 |
19.30 |
275-35 |
!9.35 |
|
N |
76.40 |
18.95 |
83-15 |
19-35 |
O |
278.45 |
19.30 |
284.80 |
19-25 |
|
O |
86.15 |
19.20 |
92.30 |
19.30 |
N |
288.20 |
19.30 |
294-75 |
19.40 |
|
N |
95.50 |
19.10 |
IO2.2O |
I9.05 |
0 |
297-95 |
19-50 |
304.20 |
19.40 |
|
0 |
105.45 |
19.30 |
III.7O |
19.40 |
N |
307.50 |
19.30 |
3H. |
19-25 |
|
N |
II4-75 |
19-25 |
121.05 |
18.85 |
0 |
S^-iS |
19.20 |
323.55 |
19-35 |
|
O |
124.20 |
18.75 |
130.50 |
18.80 |
N |
326.80 |
19.30 |
333.35 |
19.35 |
|
N |
134. |
19.25 |
140.50 |
19.45 |
0 |
336.70 |
19.55 |
343« 1 5 |
19.60 |
|
0 |
143.45 |
19-25 |
149.90 |
19.40 |
N |
346.40 |
19.60 |
353-10 |
19-75 |
|
N |
153.50 |
19-50 |
I59.90 |
19.40 |
O |
356.20 |
19.50 |
362.60 |
19.45 |
|
O |
163.20 |
19-75 |
169.10 |
19.20 |
N |
365.75 |
19.35 |
372.25 |
19-15 |
|
N |
172.55 |
19-05 |
179. |
19.10 |
0 |
375.25 |
19.05 |
381.60 |
19- |
|
0 |
182.35 |
19-15 |
188.50 |
19.40 |
N |
384.60 |
18.85 |
39L35 |
19.10 |
|
N |
191.90 |
19.35 |
198.10 |
19.10 |
O |
394-40 |
19-15 |
400.75 |
19.15 |
N, near side ; O, off side.
toe of each foot. To make calculations easier I found the surveyor's tapeline more practical because it divides the foot into 10 parts. Deci- mal computations are more readily made and therefore their use recom- mends itself for this purpose. If the metrical system were established in this country it would simplify matters vastly by ridding calculations of their complex figuring. So likewise here, if we were to figure all
48 Gait of the American Trotter and Pacer
these calculations by means of the twelve divisions to the foot, or actual inches, it would complicate matters and take more time. Decimal frac- tions of the foot are easily reduced to inches by multiplying by the figure 12; and one-half of a tenth of a foot would read: 0.05 ft.
In all measurements so taken and in all distances so recorded the reader should bear in mind that such distances are always taken parallel to the motion of the horse, even though they are referred to as diagonal distances in some instances, in order to designate the points in question.
Fig. 34 would ordinarily present two pages in an ordinary note book so prepared as indicated. We have to remember two things in recording these measurements, namely, the distinction between fore and hind and near and off side. The rest can be done at any other time and place. In the trot the hind is ahead of the fore foot, these two being together on each side ; and in the pace the fore precedes the hind on each side, as given in Figs. 32 and 33.
I present to the reader the gait of Lou Dillon 1 158^, which, through kindness of Mr. Budd Doble, I had a chance to take when the mare was under his excellent care at San Jose, Cal., in 1905. She was trotting well at the trial and was going at a 2 :n clip on the back stretch where the ground had been prepared for her.
The page in Fig. 34 is divided into two main columns for fore and hind measurements and since tracks occur two on one side, the near and off side alternate in the columns. These are marked "n" and "o" en left side. Auxiliary columns for strides are given to start calcula- tions. The strides are easily computed by deducting a previous near fore measurement from a following near fore, or an off fore from an off fore ; and in the same manner the hind feet.
There are three more requirements in the analysis of the gait when thus established by a continuous measurement of tracks, and these are:
(1) The distances between each pair of correlated feet, or the pair that move diagonally together,
(2) The extension or distance of one foot to the other (of either fore or hind) ; that is, the distance from near to off and from off to near and so on ; and
Record of the Tracks on the Ground
49
(3) The distance which hind foot precedes fore foot on each side, which is to be designated by "overstep."
Let us, however, look at the table of Fig. 34. There are 20 re- corded strides, whose average is approximately and quickly found by taking the measurement of the last near fore, namely, 384.60, and di- viding the same by 20, which is 19.23 ft.
This is only a rough calculation to get at the stride quickly. For actual computations we shall have to resort to the method employed in Fig. 36, where the sum total of all the strides divided by their num- ber (80) definitely determines the average stride.
FIG. 36. TWENTY STRIDES AND VARIATIONS FROM AVERAGE (+ AND — ).
Average, 19.24. FORE HIND
|
Near |
Var. |
Off |
Var. |
Near |
Var. |
Off |
Var. |
|
19.30 |
+ .06 |
19-05 |
— »J9 |
19.30 |
+ .06 |
19-35- |
+ .11 |
|
18.75 |
— .49 |
1 8. 80 |
— .44 |
19. |
— .24 |
18.90 |
— .34 |
|
19.40 |
+ .16 |
1940 |
+ .16 |
19.10 |
— .14 |
19.10 |
— .14 |
|
18.95 |
— .29 |
19.20 |
— .04 |
19-35 |
+ .11 |
19.30 |
+ .06 |
|
19.10 |
— .14 |
19.30 |
+ .06 |
19.05 |
— .19 |
19.40 |
+ .16 |
|
19.25 |
+ .01 |
18.75 |
— .49 |
18.85 |
— .39 |
18.80 |
— .44 |
|
I9-25 |
+ .01 |
19.25 |
+ .01 |
I9.45 |
+ .21 |
19.40 |
+ .16 |
|
I9-50 |
+ .26 |
19-75 |
+ .51 |
19.40 |
+ .16 |
19.20 |
— .04 |
|
I9-05 |
— .19 |
19-^5 |
— .09 |
19.10 |
— .14 |
19.40 |
+ .16 |
|
19-35 |
+ .11 |
19-25 |
+ .01 |
19.10 |
— .14 |
19.10 |
— .14 |
|
19-25 |
+ .01 |
I9-I5 |
— .09 |
19.15 |
— .09 |
19.15 |
— .09 |
|
19.30 |
+ .06 |
19.30 |
+ .06 |
19.40 |
+ .16 |
19-55 |
+ .31 |
|
I9-J5 |
— .09 |
19.10 |
— .14 |
19-35 |
+ -II |
19-25 |
+ .01 |
|
19.30 |
+ .06 |
19.30 |
+ .06 |
19-35 |
+ .11 |
19-25 |
+ .01 |
|
19.30 |
+ .06 |
I9-50 |
+ .26 |
19.40 |
+ .16 |
19.40 |
+ .16 |
|
19.30 |
+ .06 |
19.20 |
— .04 |
I9-25 |
+ .01 |
19-35 |
+ .11 |
|
19.30 |
+ .06 |
19-55 |
+ .31 |
19.35 |
+ .11 |
19.60 |
+ .36 |
|
19.60 |
+ .36 |
19-50 |
+ .26 |
19-75 |
+ -51 |
19-45 |
+ .21 |
|
19-35 |
+ .11 |
I9-05 |
— .19 |
I9-T5 |
— .09 |
19. |
— .24 |
|
18.85 |
— •39 |
I9-I5 |
— .09 |
19.10 |
— .14 |
I9-I5 |
— .09 |
|
384.60 |
' 384.70 |
384.95 |
385.10 |
||||
|
STRIDES |
|||||||
|
19.23 |
19-235 |
19.247 |
£9.255 |
||||
|
TOTAI, |
VARIATIONS |
||||||
|
+ |
1-39 |
1.70 |
+ |
I.7I |
1.82 |
||
|
— |
i-59 |
i. 80 |
— |
1.56 |
1.52 |
||
|
2.98 |
3-50 |
3-27 |
3-34 |
50 Gait of the American Trotter and Pacer
Now, looking down the columns marked "stride" we shall see distinct variations from this general average stride. The proper way of computing the general average is by arranging all strides according to the fore and hind feet and near and off side, then adding each of the four columns and dividing the total by 80, which is the total of the 20 strides of all the four feet. Fig. 36 presents such an arrangement of strides and their variations. The strides are easily arranged from Fig. 34, and adding all four columns of1 strides we have as a total I539-25> which divided by 80 gives 19.24 ft. as the average stride. Applying this average to each stride of each leg we shall find either an excess or a deficiency from that average, such excess being marked plus (-{-) or over, and such deficiency being marked minus ( — ) or under such average. These, being placed in special columns, are the variations from stride. It will be seen that the strides are far from being even measurements, but are subject rather to the condition of ground and to the various exertions of the mare when at speed. But in spite of variations the stride of each leg must be the same or nearly so. We cannot have a long stride in front and a short stride behind, or vice versa. Therefore, the error often committed by pen and tongue that the stride should be shortened either behind or in front by means of a certain style of shoeing is very misleading. What is really meant is the shortening of forward extension. I shall have occasion to touch upon that point again.
Now, I have found that in nearly all cases (and there were many) the total scope of variations indicates this :
(1) In fore legs the greater total variation belongs to or occurs in the stronger leg; and
(2) In the hind legs the greater total variation belongs to or occurs in the weaker leg.
By "total variation" is meant the entire scope of such + and — variations for the 20 strides, as the figures under the variations indicate. This is like adding same by arithmetic and disregarding the plus and minus signs, which latter are only to show the total extensions over and below the average stride. But if, furthermore, we divide the total variations as they stand by 20 we shall obtain the tendency of each stride with reference to the average stride.
Record of the Tracks on the Ground 5 1
For instance, we have as results of such division :
Fore Hind
near off near off
+.69 . +.85 +.85 +.91
—•79 —90 —-78 —-76
—.10 —.05 +.07 +.15
and adding these averages by the simple rule of algebra as given on p. 66 we get the results as shown, which mean, briefly mentioned, that fore feet fall short of average a trifle and hind exceed it a little. And this again proves that there was momentarily an increase of speed during trial, as elsewhere noted, which is always caused by greater hind extension first.
And so even at this stage of the analysis of Lou Dillon's gait we can say that her off fore leg is the more active or stronger leg, and the near hind is the more regular or stronger leg than its opposite mate. Allusion has been made to the interrelation of the four legs, or the influence which one deficient leg may have on its opposite mate or on its diagonal companion with which it moves at the same time. The off fore in this case will pull along the near hind, or vice versa ; and the lagging off hind may retard the extension of the near fore. It is therefore impossible to establish the tendencies of extensions by merely considering the stride and the variations.
Let us, therefore, consider the extension of each leg with reference to its opposite mate, as shown in table of Fig. 37.
These extensions are likewise figured from original measurements as given in Fig. 34, and they are found by deducting the figures of one foot from the next one. In the '''fore" column we have, for instance, 19.30 — 9.70=9.60, this being the extension or distance of off fore to near fore. Then again we have the next distance from last near fore to off fore. Here the figures are 28.75 — I9-3°=945 f°r tne extension or distance from near fore to off fore. On the table the letters "o to n" and "n to o" indicate the distances from off to near and from near to off. With a little practice it is not much of a trick to figure this out rapidly.
52 Gait of the American Trotter and Pacer
Now, when 20 such distances or extensions from one foot to its
Fie. 37. DISTANCES BETWEEN TWENTY OPPOSITE FORE AND HIND
(Near fore to off fore, etc.) Average, 9.62 (2 X 9.62 = 19.24).
|
77^ |
|||
|
POKE ^X |
/* HIND |
||
|
Off to Near |
Near to Off »P |
\ Off to Near |
A^ar ^ C^ |
|
9.60 |
945 A |
\ 10.05 |
9-30 |
|
9-3° 9.90 |
9.50 / 9.50 */ |
/^ 9-70 / 9'9° |
9.20 9.20 |
|
9-45 |
9-75 / |
I'M 10.15 r&&J) |
9-15 |
|
9-35 |
9-95 H |
* 9.90 |
9-50 |
|
9.30 |
9-45 (D |
^7 9.35 |
9-45 |
|
9.80 |
9-45 \ |
\ 10. |
9.40 |
|
10.05 |
9-70 on |
\<y^ 10. |
9.20 |
|
9-35 |
9.80 of |
^n) 9-9° |
9.50 |
|
9-55 |
9.70 / |
/ 9.60 |
9.50 |
|
9-55 |
9-60 f) |
92^*1 9.65 |
9-50 |
|
9.70 |
9.60 ^ |
ri/ 9-90 |
9.65 |
|
9-55 |
9-55 y |
\ 9'7° |
9-55 |
|
9.75' |
9'55 ok |
L 9.80 |
9-45 |
|
9-75 9-55 |
975 *1 °'l |
^ 9t / 9.80 |
9-45 9-55 |
|
9.70 |
9.90 / 9.80 A |
/ /< 9.80 "*. 995 |
9.80 9.50 |
|
9-55 |
9.50 0 |
^v 9-65 |
9-35 |
|
9-35 |
9.80 \ |
V 9'75 |
9.40 |
|
I9L75 |
on 192.95 0/ |
AT 196.50 |
188.60 |
|
9.587 Excess -f |
9-647 / + .o6 A •06 = .03 Q |
7 9.825 'nA + .395 77^ + .395 = .1975 |
'XM3 |
|
2 |
2 |
Opposite mate have been found and arranged in columns for each foot
Record of the Tracks on the Ground 53
we shall readily see the curious inequalities of such extensions, even in a horse of an apparently good gait. This proves in part my con- tention that only by an accurate method, such 'as this, can we detect the faults or peculiarities of a gait.
Adding these four columns and dividing by 20 we have the actual average extension of each leg with reference to its opposite mate,, but this being the difference of two averages these fractions should be divided by 2 to ascertain the actual mean difference between the ex- tensions of legs or feet. Hence off fore precedes near fore by 0.03 of a foot or 0.36 in. or 1/3 in. and near hind travels ahead of off hind 0.1975 of a foot or 2.37 inches or about 2 1/3 inches.
It will be noted that the averages of fore added together are 19.23 feet and those of hind are 19.25, which seems to indicate that for those 20 strides at least the hind exceed the fore slightly in extension. The same fact might have been noticed in Fig. 36 ; and it shows that hind legs were, in this stretch, slightly more active than the fore, an observation made in a good many resolute trotters with good hind action. But if we were to measure 100 strides this apparent greater extension of hind would subside at times and thus keep the horse from breaking. For, it should be remembered that the increase of stride is always first made by the hind legs ; and, therefore, this activity of hind in this case must simply be due to increasing speed as she trotted over that piece of ground.
The general average of all of the four legs is, as indicated at head of table, 9.62 ft., which taken twice will give the general average of stride,, or 19.24 ft., as we computed it in Fig. 36.
The result of the last table illustrates plainly the original method of David Roberge of reducing the analysis of gait to a series of "point- ing." Here we have pointing at speed, which is still more express- ive than "pointing" at rest. We have, therefore, arrived at the indica- tions of irregularities of gait by means of pointing or extension. These extensions, when unequal, simply show the habit of a gait and further- more indicate the solution of a possible correction. Later on it will be shown that Roberge's simple exposition of pointing will also serve as a suggestion for a remedy.
54
Gait of the American Trotter and Pacer
Another table in Fig. 38 is offered to further understand the
FIG. 38.
TWENTY DISTANCES OF CORRELATED OR DIAGONAL FEET
(Normally the same on both diagonals).
Average* 3. 26.
67.10
17
|
* t Distance * <f |
»/ |
Distance |
||
|
3-65 / *J |
^ |
3-05 2.85 |
||
|
3.55 V |
0 |
3-'5 /V^.J^. |
||
|
3-40 / |
3. Scale i m to J foot |
|||
|
3.20 |
ft/i |
3-25 ^£ 2£— £ M: |
||
|
o •* fc |
f 3- |
} f |
"v — a = v>o // |
|
|
3.05 ^ |
||||
|
3-50 |
\ |
2-95 |
||
|
3.60 Q/i |
h |
3-30 |
. |
|
|
345 of |
0 |
3-35 |
||
|
•r 3-40 |
7 |
3.50 |
||
|
355 ^ |
Tin |
3-50 |
||
|
370 Q |
»/ |
3-40 |
||
|
3-3° > |
w |
3-15 |
/- |
|
|
335 0A 3-40 y. |
\ |
nh ^ 3.20 oA |
||
|
3.30 *' |
? |
3.15 D/sf- nf-oh = 3.35 ft > Dist of- nh =J./S Ft- |
||
|
325 / 325 A |
n/f |
3-35 D,ff bet pears -.n ft 3.10 )0r 2.0* <n Average (List -3.26ft |
||
|
3.15 Q |
Ttf |
a d -- ac-hcof |
||
|
a. |
3/05 ^>c = ac t boc |
3-18
.1975 — .03 = .1675
nt
o
lad' be = cd -bo, = 2.
01m.
movements of the trotter. It considers the distance between the
Record of the Tracks on the Ground 55
two correlated legs, that is, the two which move together, such as the near fore and off hind and the off fore and the near hind. It should be assumed as an axiom, or a proposition unnecessary to prove and sufficiently evident, that these distances must be the same in the square trot. For, to insure regularity of action in the trot as well as in the pace the distances of feet moving and landing on ground together cannot help being alike on both sides. If they were not the gait would approach single-footing.
These distances are computed by deducting the measurement of one hind foot from that of its correlated fore or the diagonal fore which moves with that hind. In Fig. 36 we have, for instance, o h = 15:65, to be taken from n f = 19-30 or 19.30 — 15.65 = 3.65 ft. Again, n h = 25.70 to be taken from o f ' = 28.75 or 2&-75 — 25-7° = 3.05, and so on, always deducting the figure of one hind from that of its diagonal fore on the opposite side on the line below it.
There are, in consequence, two columns, and adding these we obtain, after dividing with 20 and getting the average on each side, a difference of 0.17 ft. or 2.04 inches between the sides. This means that the distance between near fore and off hind is 2.04 inches greater than the distance between the off fore and near hind. This is easy to prove by figures of previous table where it was shown that extension of off fore over near fore was 0.03 of a foot and that of near hind over off hind was 0.1975 of a foot. This would present the matter as in Fig. 39, though the difference here does not quite agree with dif- ference found in Fig. 37, which showed it to be 0.1675 of a foot, or just 2 inches instead of 2.04 inches. It is not often that these calcula- tions show a difference, but owing to the greater activity of hind, due. to probable increase of speed during trial, such a small difference in averages is apt to arise.
There is one more consideration about these measurements which concerns the relations between fore and hind legs, and that is the so- called "overstep" or distance that hind foot is placed ahead of fore foot on each side. Such calculation is only of importance to find out the relative over-reach of hind and backward pointing of fore feet. With increase of speed the overstep increases in distance, for
56 Gait of tJie American Trotter and Pacer
the greater the speed the longer will be the flight through the air of the horse in motion ; and this overstep shows in reality the distance between one set of legs moving together from that of the other set. Its average for both sides will prove again the faults of the gait as we shall see in Fig. 40. Here we calculate from table of Fig. 34 the overstep by crosswise subtraction, as, for instance, taking the measure- ment of each fore from that of each hind following it. Starting, as is always advisable, with overstep of first stride (19.30), we have 25.70 — 19.30 = 6.40 on near side, and 35. — 28.75 = 6.25 on off side, again dividing these oversteps into those of near side and those of off side until the 20 oversteps have been computed. Adding these again and dividing by 20 we get for each side the average overstep, or dividing the total by 40 we obtain the general average of 6.36 ft.
There appears again a difference between the two sides, which is the difference in extensions running through the whole trial, as shown in Fig. 41. Here we have the two oversteps placed side by side. We know that the extension- of off hind over that of near hind is 0.1975 °f a f°ot» hence cd = 0.1975 ft. ; and also that extension of off fore over that of near fore, L e., a b=o.O3 ft. Therefore the extension on near side must be greater than that of the off side by what the off hind foot lacks and the off fore foot gains. In other words, the two feet on off side approach each other by their opposite tendencies and the overstep loses as much on the off side as this approach measures, or ab + cd, which is 0.2275 ft. or 2.73 inches.
If in Figs. 41 and 39 I endeavor to prove the subject matter of table Fig. 40 by a few simple algebraic equations or signs it is not for the purpose of rendering this subject more abstruse but rather to satisfy the usual demands of simple mathematics for a proper "Q.E.D." — or "which was to be proved."
Since Lou Dillon had the peculiarity of crossing over her fore legs, the overstep is not so clearly distinguishable on the ground as it is with the trotters that have not got that way of going. In Fig. 41 -A we see the ordinary form of locomotion, from which the overstep can
Record of the Tracks on the Ground
57
be easily ascertained for each side, the off fore being in line with the off hind and the near fore in line with the near hind.
FIG. 40.
TWENTY OVERSTEPS OF HIND OVER FORE. Average, 6.36.
|
NEAR SIDE |
(o |
<n£ <nj |
OFF S.DB Sca&'/n Jcl foot. |
|
|
Distance |
Distance ~ nh oh |
|||
|
6.40 |
o/i |
W-* |
m |
|
|
•T) |
||||
|
6.65 |
1 |
6.35 |
||
|
6-35 ' |
V |
o' |
6.05 |
|
|
6-75 |
n/! |
6.15 |
||
|
6.70 6.30 |
^0 |
-/ |
6.25 6.30 |
|
|
6.50 |
6.45 |
|||
|
6.40 |
on |
fl\ |
5-90 |
y |
|
6-45 |
°/ |
O/ |
6.15 |
|
|
6. 20 |
6. |
|||
|
6.10 6. 20 |
(o |
«/ |
6. 6.25 |
|
|
6.40 |
6.40 |
|||
|
6.45 |
ofi |
_ |
6.35 |
|
|
6-55 |
oj |
o; |
6.25 |
|
|
6.50 |
*J |
6.40 |
||
|
6-55 |
6.45 -36= £ |
I J^ |
||
|
L-A n |
||||
|
6.70 |
m |
??>i |
6.40 Of nf |
|
|
6.50 |
^0 |
72/ |
r x |
|
|
6-75 |
J)/5/- 7?/^-/?/r= 6.47 //. |
|||
|
129.40 |
oj |
JJ) |
ZMSA <?/? - or - 6.25ft: T2c Ot; 2>/AA fa* oversteps ;.22 ft or 2.6+tn. |
|
|
6.47 |
6.25 Average overstep --6.36ft |
|||
|
ac = act + etc |
||||
|
+ .22 1975 + -03= -2275 |
(n VO |
n/f "/ |
a.b - ad. — ba. |
|
|
ac - ccl - etc -\- 60. or 2. 73 in. |
Gait of the American Trotter and Pacer
In considering the overstep we should remember that its distance is in a certain proportion to the general average of stride, and that the greater the stride, the greater will be the overstep. Practice will determine its proper proportion to the stride.
It may be stated here that with horses of hind legs pointing for- ward or standing under excessively, or with fore legs pointing back- ward, or both fore and hind pointing in that manner, the overstep will
nf
^o
show an unnatural length even with a short stride. In other words, though this calculation of overstep is not absolutely necessary for prac- tical purposes, it gives an insight into the locomotion of the trotter that make's it clearer to the mind in what way a possible correction may be attained. I do not insist on a complete carrying out of these calcula- tions of the measurements, because for practical purposes it may suffice to ascertain simply the average stride, the distances of correlated feet of Fig. 38, and the extensions of legs as given in table of Fig. 37. If
Record of the Tracks on tlie Ground 59
the total work of such an investigation, therefore, seems too much for some trainers or owners to bother with, the above requirements are absolutely necessary for any comprehension of the subject's gait. As mentioned before, horses are apt to trot with one foot ahead of the other in front, but such a habit should call for a like difference in ex- tension of its correlated hind foot or that hind foot which moves with that fore. An analysis of the gait would readily prove this fact.
So in this case of Lou Dillon's, if the off hind had only lagged, say, one inch, and the corresponding near fore had also lagged one inch, we could pronounce such a gait as a perfect trot, because the most im- portant condition of such a perfect gait would have been fulfilled.
This condition remains a peremptory demand for such a perfect trot and calls for an equality of distance between the diagonally moving feet. Wherever these distances, as given in table of Fig. 38, are not equal we must look for the offending leg and try the probable remedy on the same. All so-called "rough" gaits or single-footing or breaks are due to some over-activity of one leg and sluggishness of another, thus causing the inequality of the distances between the two pair of correlated feet, and in establishing such defect we find the probable cause of disturbance upon which to base a change in the paring of the foot or the shoeing of the same. Examples in a later chapter will make this more clear.
In the computation of the previous tables it has been shown that in order to establish a correct agreement of one with the other the first two measurements from one fore to one hind should be neglected and the start should be made with the measurement containing the rec- ord of the stride. For instance, the measurement from near fore to near hind is in table Fig. 34 = 6.40, which is not considered in any figuring, but the start is made from the two horizontal figures con- taining the first stride measurement. In these oversteps we therefore not only neglect 6.40, but also the second line, and proceed only with third line containing the first stride : 19.30 or 25.70 • — 19.30 = 6.40. This method has been found to conform to all proofs or verifications ; for, since we start with the first full stride, the start of all other rela- tions should be made with reference to that first stride.
60 Gait of the American Trotter and Pacer
To make this investigation complete it is necessary to find the actual positions of the tracks on the ground. This manner of placing the feet on the ground or of handling the legs while in motion may be termed lateral extension. We have just considered the extension of the horse as far as its forward and backward motion is concerned. Now we must face the question of the line trot and its variations to- inside and outside. The examination of the impressions on the ground is important and should be studied even if for lack of time or interest no further measurements are taken. For, the manner of position or placing indicates the line or curve of motion in which the particular foot travels. In the even, regular and energetic gait, whether it be the trot or the pace, the tracks on the ground should record a firm and clear, and, therefore, brief and light, contact without slipping or sliding. The foot lands squarely and stays where it is put until ready for the supreme effort of propulsion. Then it leaves the ground as quickly and without slip or slide, the impression showing no special effort or strain. This is really a great characteristic of proper "balance" and the tracks on the ground should be systematically examined so as to enable the intelligent trainer or shoer to judge the shortcomings and requirements of the gait.
In order to clearly understand the relative positions of such tracks we must have some standard line by which we can judge. It suggested itself to me that a line described on ground by the vertical plane bisecting the animal lengthwise would be that standard line. In other words, if we lengthen down to ground the upright plane contain- ing the center of gravity we shall have a line on both sides of which the tracks should be found at equal distances from it. For practical purposes we may assume this line to run midway between the tracks of the sulky wheels. This line I prefer to call the (( median line;" and it should be drawn by means of a carpenter's or mason's white cord along the straightest part of the trial to be investigated. Find- ing, for instance, the width of sulky wheels to be 4 feet 5 inches, this line should be staked out with surveyor's pins every 6 to 10 feet and put 2 feet 2^/2 inches from the center of either wheel track.
Record of the Tracks on tJie Ground 61
A slight curve may be followed in line as it exists in wheel tracks and for practical purposes such a curve does not affect the results seriously, especially if another slight curve in the opposite direction is included in that stretch to be measured. Of course, it always is very desirable that in every trial made the horse should be driven as straight as possible. This cannot always be done and we must be satisfied with a good average showing.
In Fig. 42 will be seen the main features of a cross section of a horse in motion hitched to a sulky. AB is the ground surface and comprises the width of sulky gauge ; the circle above is the body of the horse with center of gravity at C ; GH and DE are perpendicular lines indicating the moving legs of said horse ; and MN is the vertical plane
A H N £ B
no +2
parallel with the lines described by A and B, and bisecting or cutting in half said moving horse. . Judging from the mechanical accuracy of construction of the sulky, we may safely assume that the horse travels on lines equally distant from the tracks left by the wheels A and B, and that the median plane MN strikes the ground at a point N midway between A and B. Therefore, for all practical purposes the averages of the distances of the tracks at E and H should be equally distant from N, the median line drawn on ground as suggested.
These reasonable assumptions or postulates are offered to estab- lish a standard gait and a standard balance, for by such a standard we must judge the deficiencies.
After a trial over a prepared piece of ground and after the white cord has been staked out as the median line between the tracks of the
62
Gait of the American Trotter and Pacer
sulky wheels, we shall have the presentation of lines and points in question, as shown in Fig. 43.
|
A' c |
A |
1 0 |
I |
|
i A |
} ) |
||
|
< ( |
1 1 |
||
|
• r f |
1 I |
- |
1 " . • |
|
i ( L. |
I ) i |
_c |
> • |
N
In order to find the correct positions of the four feet with reference to this median line MN, I devised an instrument, the picture of which appears in Fig. 44. This track guage can be easily applied to each impression on ground, and will give both distances of each foot from median line and direction or pointing of each foot as well.
The distance of each foot from median line should be measured from the frog or from a point midway between the heels of the shoe as it appears on ground. Then we shall have a correct indication of the pointing of the toe
Record of tJie Tracks on the Ground
either in or out. Any toeing in should be designated as minus ( — ), and any pointing out as plus ( + ) ; and any crossing over the median line by either near or off feet should be designated by minus ( — ). The
|
N |
/j^ |
/ |
/ |
|||
|
S |
Wl |
|||||
|
1 1 t 1 1 1 |
1 1 1 1 I te |
'//r |
||||
|
F |
n |
ok |
||||
|
// |
x |
0 |
nf |
|||
|
Fi 0. ^S |
\\ |
/ |
/ |
|||
|
° V |
P |
nfj.d |
||||
|
<a*r |
OU3 |
off |
) |
|||
|
\ |
||||||
|
\ |
||||||
|
T |
||||||
|
1 1 1 1 t 1 |
1 1 1 1 1 e |
C > |
n |
o J. |
||
|
D |
||||||
|
M |
^ |
|||||
|
FIG. 45. |
• |
C |
}n'f |
|||
|
B R — Indicator pivoting at A. |
1 |
' |
||||
|
R — Point of toe. |
||||||
|
a b — Crosspiece at right angles to B R and extending to quarters. |
n.Jit |
1 |
||||
|
A — Thumb-screw with sharp point underneath nridwaybetweeu heels |
O.fC |
|||||
|
of shoe. |
X |
|||||
|
A B — Radius of arc O P, giving angle |
x |
|||||
|
of A R with A C (parallel with |
||||||
|
M N). |
n |
oh |
||||
|
M N — Median line. |
||||||
|
A F, C D — Pivoting at C and A meas- ure equal distances from M N at |
v |
o |
nf. |
|||
|
right angles. |
nh.Cl
Ft 0.46.
N
feet therefore remain plus or over in distances from median line as long as they remain on the side where they are supposed to belong; and they change to minus when they cross over to the opposite side. Such a notation facilitates finding the averages for all four feet both
64 Gait of Ike American Trotter and Pacer
in distance and in direction. Again, it must be emphasized that the averages obtained in all these calculations indicates the animal's hab- itual or compulsory mode of motion under the conditions of such a trial.
Fig. 45 will show the track gauge applied to a track of a shoe, which might indicate an angle outward or plus ( + ) of about 15 de- grees, and a distance for off fore of about 6 inches or more. If this track, however, were that of the near fore it would not only show that the near fore leg crosses over, but also that the more -natural toeing out has given way to a marked toeing in ; or, in other words, the near fore would show a distance of — 6 and a direction or angularity of toe of — 15 degrees.
Perhaps it is just as 'well to illustrate all this by the actual plotting or fixing of Lou Dillon's tracks. I offer here, in Fig. 46, an explanatory drawing of the tracks in part as found, and along side a presentation of the fore feet as they averaged in their lines of motion and direction. When first seen these tracks looked like those of a pacer, and, judged from the standpoint of a standard gait, this mare cannot pass muster. But she is a study of compensations ; that is, of such motions of legs and feet as will prevent or make improbable any interference of hind with fore feet. This peculiarity of gait can be seen in Fig. 35, where the mare is at full speed. The off fore is coming from the near side and the off hind is seen on outside of off fore, and no interference seems possible between the legs on the same side.
Another table is offered to the reader's attention in Fig. 47, where again the various measurements made with the track gauge for 19 strides are arranged according to fore and hind and near and off sides, and the distances and angles of directions are found in columns for cal- culating the averages. The distances (D) are given in inches and decimal fractions thereof. The small letters "t" and "oh" or "ih" stand for concussions or slips at toe (t), outside heel (oh) or inside heel (ih) ; and sometimes "hh" appears, which stands for both heels. A line under any of these notations, such as t, oh, ih, hh, means an intensified impression caused by undue concussion or by slipping. It is well to note these features of the tracks and take an average of
Record of tJi e Tracks on the Ground 65
them ; for, repetitions of any such marks on ground indicate in part the faults and peculiarities of gait. Every observation adds its mite to the sum total and completes the final verdict.
For the proper understanding of this table a trotter with a straighter direction of feet would have been better here, but the reader
FIG. 47-
DISTANCES FROM MEDIAN LINE (TO MIDDLE OF FROG) AND ANGLES WITH SAME + AND —
|
FORE |
HIND |
||||||
|
Near |
Off |
Near |
Off |
||||
|
D |
Angle D |
Angle |
D |
Angle |
D |
Angle |
|
|
— 1-50 |
+ 1° — |
6. |
+ i° |
+ 4- |
+ 4° |
— -25 |
+ 4° |
|
— . 2.50 |
o — |
5-50 |
3 |
6.25 |
3 |
i. |
6 oh |
|
— i. |
0 — |
4- |
3 |
3- |
6t |
i. |
6t |
|
— 1-50 |
— 2 |
5- |
— i |
4- |
4t |
•25 |
9 t,oh |
|
— -50 |
— 4 |
4-75 |
2 |
4-75 |
5t |
•75 |
8 oh |
|
— 1.50 |
— 5 |
3- |
3 |
3-25 |
5t |
2. |
9 oh |
|
— 3- |
2 |
3-25 |
— 4 |
3- |
7t |
1.25 |
10 oh |
|
— 2.75 |
— 2 |
3-75 |
2 |
4-25 |
6t |
— -25 |
9 oh |
|
— .50 |
— 3 — |
6.25 |
4 |
4-75 |
6t |
0 |
8 t,oh |
|
o |
3 |
5- |
5 |
4-75 |
5t |
1.25 |
10 oh |
|
— 1.25 |
— i |
4-5° |
2 |
3-50 |
s't |
2. |
9 oh |
|
— 2.25 |
— i |
3- |
— 2 |
4- |
3t |
1.50 |
7 oh |
|
— 2.50 |
— 4 |
4- |
3 |
4.50 |
4t |
0 |
8 oh |
|
— -50 |
— 4 |
5.50 |
3 |
4-50 |
6t |
0 |
9 oh |
|
— i. |
- 4 |
5- |
o |
— 5- |
5t |
— -5° |
8 oh |
|
— i. |
— 3 |
5- |
3 |
5- |
6t |
0 |
6t |
|
— 1-50 |
— 4 |
3-5° |
3 |
3-50 |
5t |
I. |
6 oh |
|
— 2.75 |
5 |
2.50 |
i |
3- |
7t |
2.50 |
9 oh |
|
— 3- |
— 3 — |
3- |
— 3 |
3-50 |
6t |
0 |
7 oh |
|
— 30-50 |
+ 6° |
82.50 |
+ 37° |
+ 78.50 |
+98° |
+ 14.50 |
+ 148° |
|
— 45 |
— 10 |
— I. |
|||||
|
— 30-5o |
— 39 |
82.50 |
+ 27 |
+ 78.50 |
+98 |
+ 13-50 |
148 |
|
— 1.6 |
— 2° — |
4-34 |
+ 1.4° |
+ 4.13 |
+5-i6° |
+ .71 |
+ 7-8° |
|
O |
o |
t |
oh |
||||
|
break |
over slightly on outside toes |
toe |
outside heel |
will no doubt follow the explanations readily. It is necessary to resort to a little algebra regarding the plus and minus signs and the finding of averages, but I trust that this will not deter anyone from studying this table* The meaning of the -}- and — signs has already been ex- plained and in popular language it might be said that whenever the foot goes in an unnatural direction, that is, when it crosses over the
66 Gait of the American Trotter and Pacer
median line or toes in, the minus ( — ) sign indicates that tendency The plus ( + ) sign is used merely, therefore, as indicating a more or less correct position of foot on ground and is generally understood where not given. In adding the plus and the minus quantities or numerals separately, we are able to get at the sum total so that we may get from it the average by dividing with the number of strides or nota- tions registered. It may be well to introduce a definition or corollary of algebra here to understand the meaning of sum total. It reads as follows :
"The sum of two quantities, the one positive and the other nega- tive, is the numerical difference, with the sign of the greater prefixed."
If therefore the distance (D) of off hind, as found in table, shows a variation from o to — .50 or y2 inch on left side of middle line, and from o to 2.50 or 2^2 inches on its right side, we find by adding the variations on right side (or plus) (+ 14.50), and also those of left side (•— i), the difference of which is +13.50, which divided by 19 will give us the average, or +.71 inch, or nearly y^ inch on right side of middle line. It will appear that this leg moves in a closer position as compared with near hind, which shows a more positive variation throughout and averages 4.13 inches to left of middle line.
The pointing in and out of foot as registered by the angles found with the track gauge will further illustrate the above definition of sum total. In second column we have +6 — 45, which shows a difference of — 39; which for 19 strides averages — 1.6°. In the fourth column we see the off fore point out or toe out a total of +37° and point in or toe in a total of — 10° ; the sum total of which is therefore +27°, which, divided by 19, or total occurrences, gives us +1.4°. This means that off fore, in spite of crossing over to near side 4.34 inches beyond middle line, still toed out, or to right, just a little, while the near fore crossing over to off side 1.60 inches on right side of and beyond middle line toed in, or to right, a little more.
The hind feet, having no such crossing over motion, are more easy to understand in their directions. It is plain addition of columns and divisions by 19 occurrences. We can see readily that off hind is being more or less dragged along, twisting to a greater .angle (7.80°) and
Record of the Tracks on the Ground 67
being planted down close to the middle line (+.71 in.), while the near
<-
o
near fi
near fore-
near fort
68 Gait of the American Trotter and Pacer
hind goes far out (4.13 in.) and preserves a much more reasonable toeing out (5.16°).
In Fig. 48 is given a section of actual distances and positions of feet according to the averages found. The hind feet are respectively 4.13 in. (n h) and 0.71 in. (oh) from the median line M N at O. Hav- ing found the average distances of fore to be negative quantities, we know that such distances from median line are on opposite sides, or —4.34 in. for off and — 1.60 in. for near fore. The mare proves to be a line trotter of an inverted order, hind feet apparently following their diagonal mates, but is by no means a real line trotter and is, moreover, a trotter of a wide and open gait.
Regarding the observations of break-over, or slide or concussion, the fore show a slight break-over at outside toe, hardly worth noting on table ; but the hind show that compensating activity which two legs, unequal in extension, generally manifest. It will be noted that while off hind strikes outside heel and has hardly any mark at toe, the near hind shows the extra effort at toe, which marks propulsion of a greater degree. We therefore note that near hind makes an extra effort to carry along the off hind, which, by some reason or other, fails to ex- tend forward sufficiently and shows no effort of propulsion at toe.
Lou Dillon in gait was a freak, for without that crossing over to the extent of nearly 6 inches of space between the fore (from frog to frog) and the slight outward action and reach of hind feet, she could not have cleared her feet as remarkably as she did. Let me illustrate this by Fig. 49, where the feet are represented as found on ground. These are the feet of one (near) side, which in the trotter move al- ways against and away from each other. (See Fig. 22, etc.) It is the same on off side, of course. Now, there is a moment when these feet of the same side are either as close together as possible or cross each other, as in speedy cutting, according to conformation and gait. In this instance, however, such or any interference seems almost im- possible, or rather improbable, because of the directions of those fore and hind feet on each side.
Fig. 49 shows such possible interference at F — A after near fore just left its track (dark print) and near hind is just about to land on
Record of t lie Tracks on the Ground 69
ground (dark print) beyond it. Whatever the position of F and A during the moment of their nearest approach (or passing), in this par- ticular case the danger point is avoided by the crossing over of fore feet. This latter direction is the peculiar compensation for a powerful action behind and without which the ordinary straight extension of fore might have proved an obstacle to extreme speed. The fact of her record remains as an indication of such a clear gait. We cannot quite accept it as a standard, though there can be no doubt that the action of the fore legs looked at from the side as shown in the plates of Figs. 22 to 25, emphasized the necessity of a powerful hind action coupled with less clawing of the air by the fore than many a fast trotter shows.
Shoes of Lou Dillon^
Fore '
u>(Ji?ht • 6 oz I i <5<?c tion
d/>?/e =48° I f _
roi -- J*//>
u)ith leather paaf
Hind
Joz
— . "
f /G .
concave fowarat inside
O^ liL>//OtV
Outside be?/ o fr/f/e fon
Under the field glass inspection it was a revelation to see that decisive and high hind action with its wonderfully divided backward and forward extension, as well as the direct and straight extension and the quick forward reach in front which showed no wasted knee folding Therefore, in advocating a nearer approach of elevation of hind and front action as a help to proper balance and absence of interference, this mare can well serve as a standard to 'judge by. There can not be imagined greater harmony of motion between fore and hind as she presented it in that trial. The shoeing of this mare was simple, as seen in Fig. 50, to which reference will be made later.
More than two years ago publication was made against my wish of the results of above trial and slight errors then made in the presenta- tion of the case have been carefully corrected now.
7O Gait of the American Trotter and Pacer
From the review of the trotting gait we shall now pass on to a similar investigation of the pacing gait. Fig. 51 presents the picture of the then 5-year old bay mare Alone, 2 :oo, ]/4) owned i>y T. W. Bar- stow, her breeder, of San Jose, Cal. She is by Nearest, 2:22^, full brother to John A. McKerron, 2:04^, both being by Nutwood Wilkes, 2:i6y2. Some years ago, this trial was made through the courtesy of Mr. Barstow, and for a subject of illustrating the pace none more perfect could have been selected. Unlike Lou Dillon, Alone is a mare 1 6. i hands tall and of magnificent proportions, a powerful and service- able animal and of a smooth, low gait. During the trial she paced a 2:05 gait; and she has a half mile record of 59^ seconds. Like Lou Dillon, she required practically no boots except for protection at dan- gerous points. A small heel boot in front and ankle boot behind was her entire outfit.
Unfortunately only 15 strides could be obtained instead of the customary 20, which always necessitates more calculations than a decimal like 10 or 20 does.
In Fig. 52 is given the. appearance of the tracks of the pace. While in the trot the movement of the feet on each side is in opposite directions and results in the overstep of hind over fore, as seen in Figs. 40 and 41, in the pace the hind follow their anterior members on the same side. Hence, in measurements as well as in tables the columns for hind feet precede those for fore feet.
Sticking the pin that holds the end ring of tape line into the ground at toe of near hind, we again measure off 100 feet and in a similar note book properly lined with pencil into columns for measurements we enter the feet and decimals thereof as they appear at toe of each foot, taking care to alternate sides in book as they alternate on ground ; that is, in pairs of hind foot and fore foot.
Fig. 53 presents the results of such measurements of the mare Alone. By subtracting alternate lines from each other we obtain again the strides for hind and fore, the near side being designated by the letter "n" and the off side by the letter "o."
As in the analysis of the trot, we have again three relative dis-
Record of the Tracks on the Ground
|
O |
FIG. |
53- |
|||
|
MEASUREMENT OF |
TRACKS IN FEET AND TENTHS |
OF A |
|||
|
n |
FOOT (FROM TOE TO TOE). |
||||
|
Continuous Measurements |
starting with Near Hind. |
||||
|
Hind |
Stride |
Fore |
Stride |
||
|
o |
N |
Tr»f» v^ «^ |
5-25 |
||
|
0 |
9-55 |
— |
*S-°S |
— |
|
|
n |
N |
19-15 |
i9-!5 |
24.00 |
18.75 |
|
0 |
28.90 |
19-35 |
34-00 |
18.95 |
|
|
N |
38.45 |
19.30 |
43.60 |
19.60 |
|
|
0 |
48.45 |
19.55 |
53-35 |
19.35 |
|
|
N |
57-75 |
19-30 |
62.90 |
i9-3r |
|
|
O. 0 |
67.75 |
19.30 |
73.10 |
19-75 |
|
|
N |
77-45 |
19.70 |
82.45 |
J9-55 |
|
|
n o |
87.20 |
19.45 |
92.20 |
19.10 |
|
|
N |
97.00 |
J9-55 |
102.45 |
20.00 |
|
|
o |
107.10 |
19.90 |
111.90 |
19.70 |
|
|
N |
116.40 |
19.40 |
121.50 |
19.05 |
|
|
0 |
126.65 |
19-55 |
I3L75 |
19.85 |
|
|
o |
N |
136.20 |
19.80 |
141.15 |
19.65 |
|
0 |
146.15 |
19.50 |
JS^oS |
19.30 |
|
|
n |
N |
i55.6o |
19.70 |
161.05 |
19.90 |
|
0 |
166.05 |
19.90 |
170.80 |
19-75 |
|
|
N |
175-55 |
19-65 |
180.60 |
19.55 |
|
|
0 |
185.90 |
19.85 |
190.95 |
20.15 |
|
|
O N |
195-45 |
19.90 |
200.40 |
19.80 |
|
|
() 0 |
205.50 |
19.60 |
210.65 |
19.70 |
|
|
^ N |
215-55 |
20.10 |
220.95 |
20.55 |
|
|
n o |
225.85 |
20.35 |
230.65 |
20.00 |
|
|
N |
235-25 |
19.70 |
240.40 |
19-55 |
|
|
0 |
245-9° |
20.05 |
251.05 |
20.40 |
|
|
N |
255-50 |
20.25 |
260.45 |
20.05 |
|
|
o |
0 |
265.70 |
19.80 |
270.65 |
19.60 |
|
1 I |
N |
275-55 |
20.05 |
280.55 |
2O. I O |
|
0 |
285.90 |
2O.2O |
290.80 |
20.25 |
|
|
O |
N |
296.10 |
20-55 |
300.70 |
20.15 |
|
0 |
305.45 |
19.55 |
3IO-65 |
19.85 |
|
|
Tracks of//>e/>crc<? |
N, |
near side ; |
O, off side. |
||
|
FIG. $2. |
tances between the feet which will establish the peculiarities of such measurements, to wit :
(1) The distance between each pair of correlated feet or the pair that move laterally together;
(2) The extension or distance of one foot to the other; that is.
Gait of the American Trotter and Pacer
the distance from near to off and from off to near (both fore and hind) ;
(3) The distance between each pair or correlated feet moving together ; that is, the distance between the double and full near ex- tension and the double and full off extension.
To roughly calculate the average of the 15 strides v/e take last near hind measurement and divide same by 15, or 296.10/15 = 19.77 ft. As in the trot this result is not reliable, but will serve as a quick estimate of the length of the average stride. The exact average will appear in next table of fig. 54.
FIG. 54.
TWKNTV STRIDES AND VARIATIONS FROM AVERAGE (+ AND — ). Average, 19.72.
HIND KORE
|
Near |
Var. |
Off |
Far. |
Arear. |
I'ar. |
Off |
Var. |
|
I9.I5 |
— -57 |
19-35 |
— .37 |
18.75 |
— -97 |
18.95 |
— •77 |
|
19.30 |
— .42 |
19.55 |
— .17 |
19.60 |
— .12 |
19.35 |
— •37 |
|
19.30 |
-.42 |
19.30 |
— .42 |
19.30 |
— .42 |
19-75 |
+ .03 |
|
19.70 |
.02 |
19.45 |
— .27 |
19-55 |
— .17 |
19.10 |
— .62 |
|
19-55 |
— •17 |
19.90 |
+ .18 |
20. — |
+ .28 |
19.70 |
— .02 |
|
19.40 |
— •32 |
19.55 |
— -17 |
19-05 |
-.67 |
19.85 |
+ .13 |
|
19.80 |
+ .08 |
19.50 |
— .22 |
!9-65 |
— -07 |
19.30 |
— .42 |
|
19 70 |
— .02 |
19.90 |
+ .18 |
1990 |
+ .18 |
19 75 |
+ .03 |
|
19 65 |
— .07 |
19.85 |
+ .13 |
1955 |
— .17 |
20.15 |
+ .43 |
|
19.90 |
+ .18 |
19.60 |
.12 |
1980 |
+ .08 |
19.70 |
.02 |
|
20.10 |
+ .38 |
2035 |
+ .63 |
20.55 |
+ .83 |
20.00 |
+ .28 |
|
19.70 |
.02 |
20.05 |
+ .33 |
19.55 |
— .17 |
20.40 |
+ .68 |
|
20.25 |
+ -53 |
19.80 |
+ .08 |
2005 |
+ -33 |
19.60 |
.12 |
|
20.05 |
+ -33 |
20.20 |
+ .48 |
20 10 |
+ .38 |
20.25 |
+ .53 |
|
20.55 |
+ .83 |
19.55 |
— .17 |
20.15 |
+ .43 |
19.85 |
+ -13 |
|
296. 10 |
295.90 |
295-55 |
295 70 ' |
||||
|
STRIDES |
|||||||
|
1974 |
19.726 |
1970 |
19.71 |
+ 233 — 2.03
TOTAI, VARIATIONS
2.01 + 2 51
I.9I — 2.76
4-3*
2.24 2-34
4.58
3.92 5.27
Fig. 54 will show the strides of each foot as it varies from the general average, the latter being accurately 19.72 ft. This is again found by dividing total footing or 1183.25 by 15. Comparing each stride with this average, we have again the variations of a greater or a
Record of the Tracks on the Ground 73
smaller stride from that average of 19.72. Entering in the variation columns the difference between the actual stride and the average, we designate that difference with plus ( + ) when the stride is greater than average, and by minus ( — ) when the stride falls short of average. Again, we see long and short strides throughout the movements of the legs, but they must all conform to this general average if the gait is to be kept up as a pace. So again, in spite of variations, the stride of each leg must be the same or very nearly so. We can not have a long stride in front and a short stride behind, or vice versa ; but we may find greater variations in one leg than in another, or in the hind than in the fore, or vice versa.
This trial was not made over an ideal piece of ground, the same being on outside of homestretch near grandstand and in rather loose soil. Moreover, the mare swerved a little to left, being used to going on inner side. Hence, the near fore shows a little greater variation,, that being the side to which she tried to get.
From experiments we have the same rules as to the indications of variations as were set forth in the case of Lou Dillon, namely:
1 i ) In fore legs the greater total variation belongs to, or occurs in, the stronger leg; and
(2) In the hind legs the greater total variation belongs to, or occurs in, the weaker leg.
By "total variation" is meant the entire scope of such -f- and — variations for those 15 strides; as the figures under the variations in- dicate. This is simply an ordinary addition without regard to the plus and minus signs, which latter only show the total extension over and below the average stride. But if, furthermore, we divide the total variations by 15 we will obtain the tendency of each stride with ref- erence to average stride.
For instance, we have approximately :
Hind Fore
Near Off Near Off
+.155 +-J34 +-167 '4-.I49
-.135 -.127 -.184 —.156
+ .02 +.007 .017 .007
74 Gait of the American Trotter and Pacer
and adding these averages by the simple rule of algebra, heretofore given, we get the results shown in footings, which mean, briefly stated, that hind feet exceed average slightly as compared with fore feet. This seems to prove again that there was momentarily an increase of speed during trial, which is always caused first by slightly greater hind extension.
Right here I beg to say a few words to the reader who may have found these minute details rather difficult or too abstruse for practical purposes. I simply desire now to demonstrate my investigation as fully as is possible for me to do, but will also assure the reader that for practical purposes there will appear in Chapter X only the main and most important features of such measurements, from which may be got a tolerably fair, if not thorough, understanding of the subject's gait.
We can now consider the extension of each leg or foot with ref- erence to its opposite mate as shown in table Fig. 55. We must re- member that in order to establish a conformity of results we should start with calculations of measurements from off to near side on the third line of table Fig. 53, using the first three figures only with ref- erence to the line showing the first stride. In Fig. 55 there are given the extensions, as measured from one hind to the other and from one fore to the other, as follows :
^S — 9-55 = 9-6°> 28.90 -— 19.15 = 9.75, etc. ; and 24 — 15.05 = 8-95, 34 — 24 = 10, etc., to the end. (See Fig. 53.)
Adding the four columns thus found and dividing each result by the number of strides, or 15, we obtain the average of extension of each leg with reference to its opposite member or mate. There is a difference of extension between the hind of 0.44 ft. and between the fore of 0.34 ft., but these differences must be divided by 2, being the differences of two averages, in order to ascertain the actual mean dif- ference between the extension of hind and fore.
Hence we find that off hind precedes near hind by 0.22 ft., or 0.22 X 12 = 2.64 inches, and that off fore precedes near fore by 0.17, or 0.17 X 12 = 2.04 inches. This shows in all a greater extension for the whole off side and illustrates my previous remark about the prefer-
Record of the Tracks on the Ground
75
•ence some horses have for one side or the other, and that if such
FIG. 55. TWENTY DISTANCES BETWEEN OPPOSITE HIND AND FORE
(Near hind to off hind, etc.) Average, 9.86 (2 X 9-86 = 19.72)
|
HIND Off to Near Near to Off |
\ |
vnh \ Off to jn |
FORE uV>ar Near to Off |
|
|
9.60 |
9-75 |
oh, |
1n 8-95 |
10. |
|
9-55 |
10. |
/ |
-»/ * / 9.60 |
9-75 |
|
9-30 |
10. |
L |
arf 9-55 |
IO.2O |
|
9.70 |
9-75 |
la |
,nh 9-35 |
9-75 |
|
9.80 |
10.10 |
V |
V 10.25 |
9-45 |
|
9-30 |
10.25 |
9T |
a) 9-60 |
10.25 |
|
9-55 |
995 |
oh, |
^hi 9.40 |
9.90 |
|
9-75 |
10.15 |
/ |
/ 10. |
9-75 |
|
9-50 |
10.35 |
<\/ |
nj 9.80 |
10.35 |
|
9-55 |
10.05 |
"T |
v"h 9.45 |
10.25 |
|
10.05 |
10.30 |
\ |
\ 10.30 |
9.70 |
|
9.40 |
10.65 |
of |
)f) 9-75 |
10.65 |
|
•9 60 |
10.20 |
oh |
Mi 94o |
10.20 |
|
9.85 |
10.35 |
L |
/nf 9>9° |
10.25 |
|
IO.2O |
9-35 |
$ |
u 9-90 jih |
9-95 |
|
144.70 |
151.20 |
V |
\ 145.20 |
' 150.40 |
|
964 |
10.08 |
°J |
)v 9'68 |
! 10.02 |
|
Excess |
+ -44 .44 = .22 2 |
ok I |
4 nh |
+ -34 •34 Excess — = .17 2 |
difference of extension be uniform in the correlated feet, or those that move together, and if it be not excessive (both of which con-
76 Gait of the American Trotter and Pacer
ditions we find in this case), such small irregularities do not affect the harmony of motion to any extent.
It will be noted that the sum total of hind averages in this table (19.72) exceeds that of the fore averages (19,70), which same fact we notice in table Fig. 54. This illustrates the supposition that the mare was slightly increasing her speed during those 15 strides
In the language of David Roberge, there is a marked "pointing" on the off side of the table of Fig. 55. The mean difference between the extension of the off hind and that of the off fore is but 0.05 ft. or 0.6 inch, which appears as the difference between the distances of the correlated feet in the next figure.
In Fig. 56 we have again the calculations from table of Fig. 53 by means of crosswise subtraction in order to obtain the distances of the hind foot to the fore foot on either side. We start where the first stride occurs, that is, on the third line or the near side, as follows: 24 — 19.15 = 4.85, 34 — 28.90 = 5.10, and so forth for the 15 strides.
The addition of the columns in Fig. 56 and the division of the totals by 15, as seen on the table, will result in a difference of 0.05 ft. which means that the distance between the lateral feet on the near side is that much greater, or exceeds the distance between them on the off side by 0.6 inch. Although such a difference is an indication of a slight irregularity of gait, it is so small that it may safely be considered as being negligible. It should be remembered, however, that differences in averages, be they ever so small, point without error to some lack of harmony of motion in the mechanism of the horse.
There is, as in the trot so also in the pace, another point of view to be taken of the movements of the feet, namely, the difference, if any, of extension of one pair of feet from the other pair of feet. That is to say, if we take the lateral pair on the near side as a moving unit and the lateral pair on the off side as a unit, the distance between them as they are alternately thrust forward would appear to be the same. It is reasonable to suppose that such distances are the same, because on such equal extensions of one side to the other depends, more or less, the regularity and purity of the gait. In the trot these distances were
Record of the Tracks on the Ground 77
designated as the "oversteps," because on the ground the hind foot
FIG. 56.
DISTANCES OF CORRELATED OR LATERAL FEET (normally same on both sides)
Average, 5.03.
|
Distance |
I |
nh |
Distance |
|
4.85 5-15 |
f oh |
£. |
5.10 490 |
|
5-15 |
nf |
5-35 |
|
|
5- 5-45 |
£ |
nh' |
5- 4.80 |
|
5.10 4-95 5-15 |
<>/ oh |
X |
5.10 4-90 4-75 |
|
5-05 |
(D |
nf |
5-05 |
|
4-95 |
1 |
nh |
5-15 |
|
5-40 |
4.80 |
||
|
5-15 4-95 |
oh |
xi |
5.15 4-95 |
|
5- 4.60 |
£ |
^ |
4.90 5-20 |
|
75.50 |
75-10 |
||
|
5-06 |
<tf |
<p |
5.01 |
|
+ .05 |
oh |
A |
|
|
Fig. 55 :.22 — .17 = .05 |
X |
nf nh |
overstepped the fore foot on the same side. Now, in the pace this dis- tance between these pairs of feet is found between fore and hind of
78 Gait of the American Trotter and Pacer
opposite side, as shown in Fig. 58. These distances are easily com- puted by subtracting each hind foot measurement from that of oppo- site fore on line below, as seen on table of Fig. 53. For instance, starting on second line and taking off fore or 15.05 from near hind or 19.15, we have 4.10 for the distance from off pair to near pair of cor- related feet. Again, continuing from next near fore to off hind, we have 28.90 — 24 = 4.90, or the distance from near pair to off pair of correlated feet. After placing these differences in the columns as ex- plained in table of Fig. 58, we again proceed to add the 15 records and divide by 15 to obtain the average of each side and by 30 to get the general average of 4.82.
Again, we obtain the same proof of extensions and find that whole off side extension is greater than that of near side by 0.39 or 0.40 ft., or about 4.68 inches. In Figs. 57 and 59 a few simple methods of geome- try and algebra have been employed to illustrate the subject in ques- tion and to satisfy the demands of simple mathematics, besides meas- urements, for a proper proof.
To this investigation of Alone's gait I may add a few remarks regarding her action and manner of going. She had good feet and was shod as given in Fig. 60. She was driven a very fast clip, better than her record gait. Having a low action, one could not realize her speed. Her tracks were firm and light, and without absolutely any indication of slipping or sliding or concussion. For a large mare (16.1 hands — J 200 Ibs.) her motion was remarkably rapid and smooth.
The distance from one side to the other (4.82), or the "overstep" •o'f the trot, was comparatively short for the speed she was going at and argues for rapid movements of limbs. Comparing this dis- tance with distance of lateral feet (5.03) shows that she had length in proportion to her size. Her stride (19.72) was certainly good for her quick motion and low action. As compared with Lou Dillon, there was less of that tremendous reach of hind legs and less pointing back of fore legs, both of which accounts for the greater overstep (6.36) and closer distance of correlated feet or pairs of diagonal feet (3.26) in Lou Dillon's gait. But for that preference to off side, Alone's
Record of the Tracks on the Ground
79
gait is a better example of regular motion combined with high speed than Lou Dillon's gait was at that time after her greatest days.
FIG. 57
b
2.04-in. a
nf
d
"CT1
nh on
. nh - nf- 5.06 D /'$/". oh ~ of - 5.01 Diff . bef pairs -.os or .6 in
Average,
a c = ad ~bd
dc
ad + a.b
dc. -ab
FIG. 58.
20 distances between op- posite pair of feet from one side to the other. Average, 4.82.
F/6.59.
Disf.nf-oh - 5.02 // . of -r>h - 4.62 ft DiFF bef opp pairs-jo ff- or +.8 in
.39 ft or +.68 in
8o Gait of the American Trotter and Pacer
In both of these cases I had no direct data regarding the shoeing, but in later chapters experiments with shoeing will show not only the absolute necessity of the greatest accuracy in shoeing, but also the telling effect of slight changes in hoof and shoe. The necessity of having the distance between the legs that move together the same will perhaps be self-evident. In Fig. 38 we found a difference of 0.173 ft., or 2.07 inches ; while in Fig. 56 there is only a difference of 0.06 ft., or nearly £4 inch. While such a discrepancy may be covered up by speed and a few extra revolutions of the legs, yet there is always this disturbing element in the gait that will tell in the speed for a whole mile. Only when such discrepancy is revealed by an investigation such as this can we proceed toward a remedy.
Shoes of Alone
*'" 7o& across foe.
narrow nm .1 outside heel*
The final requirement for the completion of this analysis of Alone's gait will be, as with Lou Dillon, the actual position of the tracks with reference to lateral or side extension. There is generally much con- fusion about the lines of motion or the curves described by one foot from one track to its next one. David Roberge has demonstrated, or rather had laid down, the rule of "pointing" as always offering a solu- tion of these directions of feet. He says : "It may be stated, as an invariable rule, that an animal's right or wrong way of standing is carried out in action, whether it be slow or fast." (P. 99, The Foot of the Horse.)
Lou Dillon pointed backward a little with fore legs, but her hind legs stood nearly straight ; while Alone pointed back a little with fore and forward with hind, or stood slightly under with both extremities. It is interesting to note that Alone, with a longer base (5.03 ft.) between the two pair of legs than Lou Dillon (3.26 ft.), should have the
Record of the Tracks on the Ground 81
average distance from one pair of legs to the other, or from one side to the other, only 4.82 ft., while Lou Dillon shows 6.36 ft. This may be explained by the difference in elevation and rapidity of action. While the trotting mare has a sweeping and comparatively high action, with special development of hock movement, the pacing mare has a more rapid and lower action. The greater stride of Alone (19.72 ft.) than that of Lou Dillon (19.24 ft.) should really show the greater dis- tance between pairs of legs, if the action were the same. In my opinion the action of the trotting mare is more favorable to a continued effort at high speed than* that of the pacing mare.
With Lou Dillon her fore feet were straight in direction while at rest, and her hind toed out slightly. The hind while in motion spread apart somewhat, but the crossing over of fore could not be suspected from their position at rest. She is, however, an exception or a freak in gait. With Alone we come nearer to Roberge's rule. Her hind toed in perceptibly, while of her fore the near was more straight than the off when pointing at rest. In the subsequent table, Fig. 62, we may see this by the results ; but it should be remembered that there was a slight swerve to left, and this evidently caused the pointing out of near fore, as well as produced a straight direction or pointing of off fore.
All this pointing may be natural or it may be due to faulty paring of hoof or to careless shoeing. To a certain extent faulty pointing may be corrected by paring and shoeing combined, as we shall see later.
As in Fig. 47, so in the case of this pacing mare, measurements were taken- by means of the track gauge with reference to a median line, or a string stretched in the middle between sulky wheel tracks and running parallel to these. This line is staked out carefully by means of surveyor's pins and must follow any little deviation to right or left with the wheel tracks. As a condition for such measurements it is required that the horse be driven as straight as possible, but since an absolutely straight line is seldom obtained, we can depend on fairly accurate results even if there are slight curves to right and left. The curves really compensate each other, and if the trial contains one of each of about the same magnitude one will offset the other in the
82
Gait of the American Trotter and Pacer
measurements. We should, however, avoid one curve to right or to left only, for this will throw the measurements out either to right or left. In Alone's case there was a swerve to left which threw the near hind in and the near fore out. It was all due to her endeavor to go from oiitside of track to inside, where she was accustomed to speed ; but even with that faulty line of direction we are able to see with sufficient clearness the directions of the four feet of a pacer. Even with the conditions of a trial of this sort we must strike a general average, because ideal conditions do not always prevail.
FIG. 62 DISTANCE FROM MEDIAN LINE (TO MIDDLE OF FROG) AND ANGLES
WITH SAME ( + AND — )
|
HIND |
FORE |
||||||
|
Near |
Off |
Near |
Off |
||||
|
D |
Angle |
D |
Angle |
D |
Angle |
D |
Angle |
|
0 |
- 3° |
4- 2 |
— 4 |
+ 2.50 |
4- 4° 4- |
° 2.50 |
— 2- |
|
— 1-75 |
— 5 |
2 75 |
— 5 |
• 50 |
— 4 |
3-50 |
— 2 |
|
— 1.50 |
^_ ^ |
I. |
— 4 |
1.75 |
4 |
i 75 |
2 |
|
o* |
— 3 |
0 |
— 4 |
3-50 |
5 — |
• 50 |
3 |
|
3-25 |
— 3 |
— 350 |
— 6 |
6. |
4 — |
3- |
5 |
|
525 |
3 |
— 3.25 |
— 4 |
750 |
6 — |
3.50 |
— 5 |
|
3- |
— 4 |
— .50 |
— 3 |
5-50 |
5 |
0 |
— 2 |
|
• 50 |
— 3 |
•50 |
— 5 |
3- |
5 |
1.50 |
— 3 |
|
• 5° |
— 3 |
I. |
— 5 |
2.50 |
6 |
i. |
— 3 |
|
L t -r |
~ 3 |
1.50 |
— 4 |
3- |
6 |
1.50 |
— 2 |
|
4- 12.50 |
-33° |
4-8.75 |
-44° |
4- 35.75 |
4-45 4- |
H.75 |
4- 7 |
|
— 4.25 |
— 7-25 |
— 4 — |
7- |
— 22 |
|||
|
4- 8.25 |
-33° |
4- 1.50 |
-44° |
4- 35-75 |
4-41 4- |
4-75 |
— 15 |
|
[+ .825 |
-3-3° |
4- .15 |
-4-4° |
4- 3575 |
4- 4.1° 4- |
•475 |
— 1.5° |
* Swerved to left slightly.
In Fig. 62 there are recorded, therefore, the measurements of the stretch of ground containing 10 contacts for each of the four feet, that being the best part of that trial for this final test of lateral extension.
In the total of near hind we have again positive and negative measurements ; that is to say, we found middle of frog by the gauge to be on left of median line — or where it belongs by nature — with a total of +12.50 inches, and on the right side of median line with a total of — 4.25. Adding these figures and dividing by 10, the total num- ber of contacts, we obtain the average of these deviations from median
Record of the Tracks on the Ground 85
line. Again remembering the simple definition or corollary of algebra, The sum of two quantities, the one positive and the other nega-
viz
tive, is the numerical difference with the sign of the greater prefixed ;" we have +8.25 inches for the total and +0.825 inches for the average lateral extension to the left on the part of near hind. In the same manner, as given in Fig. 62, we obtain off hind as being -{-0.15 inches on its natural side, or to right side of median line. The near fore
* * '
FIG. 63
being altogether on left, or its positive side of median line, we get the average of 3.57 inches on near side ; and for the off fore we again have a total on its right or positive side of 11.75 inches and a total on its left or negative side of — 7 inches, which added as above gives us -{-4.75 inches for total result, or +0.475 inches for the average lateral extension to its right or positive side.
With the totals of the angles of pointing in or out, the same cal- culations can be made, and we have the toeing in of both hind abso-
84 Gait of the American Trotter and Pacer
lutely without deviation and to the toeing out of near fore to the extent of an average of 4.1°, as well as the slight toeing in of off fore to the extent of an average of — 1.5°.
Perhaps it is well to bring before the reader again the application of the track gauge, and Fig. 63 presents the average measurement of near hind. We have here placed the gauge with its sharp point at A in middle between heels and set the distance found from A to S (0.825 inches, approximately 24 inch) at C to T. Then swinging BR till R passes through point of toe, with little cross piece a b dividing quar- ters into equal parts so as to locate point of toe more readily, we read off the indicator at B on arc O P as giving 3.3°. Since foot is point- ing in or toward median line, its direction or angularity is negative and thus indicated by — 3.3°. Of course, this track may be one of a foot on off side, in which case the distance becomes negative, or — 0.825 inches, because it is on opposite side of median line ; and its angularity would become positive or +3.3°, because the pointing of off foot is in this case an outward one, or to the right, its more natural direction.
Taking the average results as found in Fig. 62 and laying them out on a line at right angles with the median line, as in Fig. 64, we obtain an idea of the average lines of direction and of the angularity of each foot. This represents the actual positions and distances ac- cording to averages found.
In Fig. 65 are found the actual condition of the position of feet, as given in Fig. 64, and also a probable condition if swerve to left in trial had not taken place. The two pairs of feet are placed alongside of each other to facilitate comparisons.
Right here I may draw attention to a marked difference between the positions of hind feet in relation to fore feet. In pacers there is a tendency to travel closer behind than in front, while in the trotter there is an inclination of traveling wider behind than in front. While Lou Dillon's gait can not represent a standard gait, all other investi- gations with trotters and pacers have revealed this peculiarity. In fact, Lou Dillon's gait is the extreme of such an inclination when one considers that the crossing over of fore really means an extreme, or becomes a negative, approach of fore.
Record of the Tracks on the Ground 85
Alone wore practically no boots. She had only a heel boot in front and an ankle boot behind. Lou Dillon likewise needed little or no protection, a heel or a bell boot in front and a shin boot behind. While the trotting mare exhibited a marvelous but not excessive action, the pacing mare showed the action apparently best suited to that gait —
r/o.ef
N
|
• |
.IS |
||
|
ok |
of |
||
|
tnf [w» |
n h A 825 \ o |
I |
fa |
|
* 4 v<< /.«- |
\-^< v |
N
of
T)
FIG. 65
rapidity and low elevation — and while there was a highly developed hock action in the trotting mare or an approximate equality between fore and hind action, the pacing mare showed the more usual and less elevated action of hock movements.
The trot and the pace are built more or less on similar lines of motion, and their comparison will reveal the fact that there are certain
86 Gait of the American Trotter and Pacer
common principles or laws pertaining to the rapid locomotion of the trotter and the pacer that may be said to give us a certain standard form of locomotion. Taking it all in all, therefore, the average or standard gait of either should result in the greatest symmetry of action, together with the greatest economy of energy and the greatest speed. It is true that there will always be horses that have their own way of going apparently, and this may be due to a peculiar develop- ment and conformation. Their defects are often entirely offset by muscular and structural compensations. In all such cases, however,, the locomotion must be along lines of directness and symmetry ; other- wise theVe would always be a lack of balance and of speed.
This method of investigating a gait will at all times give us a clearer idea of such modes of motion, and therefore enable us to cor- rect any unevenness of gait all the more readily. In the small manual books, which I intend to offer for that purpose, this method is set forth in a more concise form, and they would materially help the in- vestigator in getting at the truth of an irregular or peculiar gait. .
CHAPTER V.
THE REQUISITES OF PERFECT BALANCE.
I. — THE CONSTANT SHAPE OF HOOF.
David Roberge tells us that the foot of the horse "points in the direction of the elevated part of the foot." His remarks deserve to be quoted :
"The foot which enjoys perfect equilibrium to-day will have lost a portion of that equilibrium by to-morrow, and this law goes on in- creasing every day until the overgrowth of horn has destroyed the horse's due balance so that he can neither stand nor travel at ease ; thus showing that this extra growth of horn requires trimming and paring very frequently in order to preserve the balance which results from the maintenance of the proper size and proportions of the hoof."
"Any increase or surplus growth of the hoof, whether at the toe or at the heels or the sides of the foot, will cause the horse to point with his foot in the direction of the elevated portion of the foot.' Whether it be with the toe of the hoof or the toe of the shoe, he will, invariably point in that direction." (P. 14.)
The author says elsewhere : "* * * the normal condition of the foot and leg and the harmony of movement while in motion depend absolutely upon the perfect equilibrium of the foot." (P. 22.)
Roberge called his principles a theory. The term is misleading, inasmuch as it often is used as the opposite of practice. His theory has the deeper and more scientific meaning of an exposition of certain principles upon which certain practical results or facts are founded. By seeking for a common cause of the difficulties of balancing and of the facts observed by him, he endeavored to place shoeing upon some scientific basis and thus eliminate from it the mystery of chance. His
87
88 Gait of the American Trotter and Pacer
theory of pointing is such an explanation of facts. It was the first rational effort to evolve a definite meaning of "balance," and to de- prive balancing of the element of luck and — ignorance. His theory of pointing is not sufficiently understood, I believe, and because I was eager to demonstrate what he simply stated from his long experience and convincingly based on principles, I set out on the present investi- gation of the two gaits.
Too much importance has always been laid on the weight and shape of shoes. It was never sufficiently recognized that balance was not altogether in the shoe. Shoeing is always a necessary evil, and the bare foot is the best shod foot, unless we take careful notice of the hoof and its continual growth. The intelligent shoer of to-day must be able to do as much with the rasp to effect balance as with the mak- ing of a shoe. No better authority could be given to him than the reasoning contained in this theory of pointing. It is not impracticable, but is itself a line of principles applicable to all conditions and explain- ing facts previously found.
Before going into demonstrations of the effects of paring and shoeing the hoof, I wish to call attention to the equally sound and sci- entific theory of paring the sole and rim of that hoof. He says: "At the point of union of the wall with the sole, there is a line of whitish horn which might be called the line of safety. The rule then is that every horse's foot should be cut down to this line of safety before having a shoe applied to it."
As to the proper size of hoof a horse should normally have, he is again as positive in language, namely:
"The white line that marks the junction of the sole and the wall shows precisely the size each horse's foot ought to be, other things being equal" (p. 56), and "all horn projecting beyond the line of union of sole and wall should be removed." (P. 58.)
This is the fundamental principle of a sound foot, and the keeping of that horny box in a rational shape cannot help being the funda- mental principle of balance. It is hard to convince the "long toe man" of the strain of the leverage from heel to toe, and the idea is retained that with each stride the long toe registers half an inch or an inch
Requisites of Perfect Balance 89
gained. This is poor reasoning, for we deal with animal locomotion where energy is the fuel. The greater the leverage at toe the greater the energy expended, and the greater the energy expended the less likely can an increase of speed or of stride be expected. Granted even that a stride is thereby made a half inch longer, it does not follow that with an enforced greater energy the horse will maintain a greater speed for the given distance ; nor is it true that such increased leverage at toe will cause greater rapidity of action.
In fact, we know by practice and experience that squared toes in- crease action and rapidity of motion at the expense of extension, such as is shown by the same foot with a round toe and under the same conditions. There is an exact proportion between speed, length of toe and energy which might well be expressed by saying that the longer the toe the greater the amount of energy necessary to acquire the same speed, and the easier the leverage at the toe the less will be the energy required to maintain that speed. Rapidity of action or motion, it may be argued, requires as much and more of that energy 'than the long sweeping stride. It is the initial effort, however, which overcomes the resistance of the leverage of toe, or of the length of the lever repre- sented by the ground surface of foot from heel to toe, that constitutes the greatest strain and hence the greatest initial energy. And again, the greatest amount of energy during action is spent in the effort of propulsion, and this effort is entirely placed at the toe of the foot.
Therefore it has always seemed almost criminal to me for any man, be he trainer or owner, to neglect the ever-growing hoof, whether same be on a horse he works or on one he has turned out to pasture. In any well regulated business records are kept of incidents, prices or figures of previous years and of various matters for comparison with similar data of every month as it passes. Why should therefore the business of shoeing, that which preserves balance, be left to an im- perfect memory and to guess work ?
If the foot has a certain frontal length, say 3 inches, from tip to coronet, and the angle which sole and heels make with this frontal sur- face at toe is 49° and the horse is well balanced, why is this not made part of a record of shoeing besides the weight and shape of shoes?
go Gait of the American Trotter and Pacer
Why do we hear everything about the ounces the shoes weigh and nothing of the length of toe and angle of foot? Is it not reasonable to suppose that having once established the conditions necessary for a balance, that these same conditions of length of toes and angle of foot would bring about the same balance at the next shoeing? These same conditions prescribing the former length and angle of toe will show definitely how much of the hoof is to be rasped off. There is no error possible where a businesslike record is kept. There is no guess work possible either. Were such a record kept from one shoeing to another of the length of toe, of its angle with heels or sole surface, of the size, weight and shape of shoes and of their application, the horse would have a chance to improve himself instead of being thrown off his gait by an approximate guess and approximate work. Were exact methods employed, the, gait would not suffer, but would be more firmly estab- lished, or if in spite of this there would appear any irregularity the method of simple measurements as here offered would reveal the fault and indicate the remedy. The prevalent superstition of "leaving well enough alone" and all its attendant mysterious guess work has done the greatest harm to the proper balance of the horse. To the toe of the previous shoeing is added or left some more toe because the horse was moving well. Then at a subsequent shoeing some more toe is left, because it seems good to "leave well enough alone." All at once something happens, or speed is lost, and off comes the toe again. In all these operations no heed is given to the angle of the foot. It is lowered indiscriminately as the toe is lengthened and the leverage at toe is greatly increased thereby. The energy of the animal is overtaxed and the ease of motion ceases. Harmony of action is destroyed, and if speed is not diminished, the gait is apt to be of the "get-there-anyhow" style.
There is no doubt that many horses have their own peculiar gait, and we may therefore be obliged to conform our endeavors of im- provement to the limitations of that particular gait. But as a rule the kind of trot or pace that is productive of great speed with ease is largely the result of following those principles of motion given in a previous chapter. That means a rational development of an ideal trot or pace.
Requisites of Perfect Balance 91
Such a procedure, however, does not imply that horses are to be shod or balanced according to a preconceived plan to which they are sup- posed to accommodate themselves. This would be the method of per- sistent repetition, with its inherent make-or-break policy. It is like fitting round pegs into square holes or square pegs into round holes. In no such spirit is it urged here to conform to ideals of motion or gait by any such means.
We may have to force the subject to abandon certain habits if conformation allows, but in order to do so intelligently we must have a definite knowledge of the gait and a definite understanding of the effects of certain changes.
In other words, a study of the compensations in the make-up of a gait would enable us to strike as good an average for the movements and for the speed of the subject as the make-up of the subject would allow. The analysis offered in ,the previous chapter gives just such a definite knowledge of the matter under investigation. From it can be derived that definite plan by which the gait can be ascertained at all times and from which such improvements could be followed as would tend to perfect that gait. Or again, if under such an exact method no definite improvement in gait and speed could be attained with all the skill of American shoeing at command, then it could still remain a quick and economical method to determine the subject's inability to trot or pace fast.
In Fig. 67 is given a scheme to make a record of the make-up and individuality of the animal. It embraces the main points involved in conformation and gait for speed or the lack of it. The attitude from the side (profile) and that from in front (en face) are most important features of such a preliminary examination. Under "articulation" is meant the way the legs and feet are united at their joints, or how the extremities are hung and how they are inclined to move thereby, with special reference to the flatness of knee and ankle and to the free position of elbow and stifle joints. Under "gait and action" the direc- tion and elevation of leg movements are meant ; and it is important to designate the difference between the fore and the hind legs, which is so necessary in determining the harmony of motion.
92 Gait of the American Trotter and Pacer
In Fig. 68 I desire to present a chart for a record of-shoeings as they occur in the effort to improve the gait or rather to effect a proper balance of action. The forms of shoes are given only in outline, and they are left open at heels to facilitate additions in the shape of heels when so wanted. Calks on the web itself, in any manner desired, or bars at heel or toe, can be easily filled in with pencil or pen. The lines for the lengthwise sections of shoes can also be readily marked down
FIG. 67. INVESTIGATION OF GAIT.
Subject :
Sire '.. Dam :
Sex • Age : Color :
Marks :
Height : Weight :
Length :
ATTITUDE (Profile) Front : Behind :
ATTITUDE (En Face) Front . Behind :
MOTION (in or out) Front : Behind :
ACTION
Front : Behind :
OTHER POINTS
Shoulder : Neck : Head :
Stifle : Elbow : Hip :
Back : Loin :
Withers :
FEET I
Size : Shape :
Front : Front :
Hind : Hind :
for a record. Finally, the cross section of hoofs are given to show ab- normal development, if any, and to designate by pencil the part of the hoof that has been intentionally lowered, giving reason therefor.
This, in brief, should be the record upon which should be based all systematic effort to effect balance. Without such a system we are apt to grope in the dark. Memory, be it ever so good, cannot be en- tirely relied on, and the necessary details upon whose exact execution depends the result escape our attention. For years I have worked out
Requisites of Perfect Balance
cases by books specially designed by me in just such exact a manner, and find it very easy to get an inside view of the locomotion of a particular case. From many cases so investigated I shall present certain deduc-
FIG. 68. SHOEING.
At: Date : Near
By:
Fore
Off
Section of shoe from toe to heel :
Angle : Toe: Weight :
Angle :
Toe:
Weight
Hind
Angle : Angle :
Toe : Toe :
Weight : Weight :
Feet lowered at : Fore
Hind
0 O
tions which, based on actual experiments as they are, will very likely be of some assistance to those interested in our American trotters and pacers.
94
Gait of the American Trotter and Pacer
II. — PARING THE HOOF TO COUNTERACT ITS GROWTH AND FAULTY
DIRECTIONS.
In a previous chapter I have endeavored to prove that the stride of all four legs must average up the same if the horse continues to trot or pace. The slight increase or decrease that is now and then found between fore and hind legs is merely due to a temporary increase or decrease in speed. But to speak of one leg having a "shorter stride" is not only misleading, but erroneous. What is meant is that such a leg lacks equal forward extension. It would therefore be more cor-
a b »' 4- m be •&/•» d c * /i in d angr/e a be -38*
f/G. 6$.
rect to say that such a leg had a "short extension." So likewise there is a confusion of terms when the "long" and the "high" toe are spoken of. The toe can absolutely have only one dimension and that is length irom the coronet to its tip on its frontal surface. We can not speak of its being "high" because even in its relation to heel it rests with latter on a plane considered practically level. No point in a plane can be higher than any other. We are now considering the unshod hoof whose sole surface constitutes that plane.
In Fig. 69 we have two hoofs whose toes are both 4 inches long and whose lengthwise sole surface is 5^ inches. In both cases the height of the heel, or the vertical distance of d to c, is supposed to be
Reqitisitcs of Perfect Balance 95
•\y2 inches. For argument's sake the angles are abnormal and impos- sible, being approximately 58° in one and 38° in the other case. The only variable point in both cases is "a," this being the point at coronet of frontal surface a b of toe. This point a varies in height in direct proportion to the size of the angle a b c. It is this point a that gives to the untrained eye the impression of elevated or "high" toe, while in reality it is a "high coronet" only.
It is at all times possible to measure the length of toe from a to b, and by means of a hoof gauge, such as is seen in Fig. 70, we can readily determine the angle at toe, or that angle which frontal surface line of hoof makes with the plane of sole surface. In considering the heel it may be permissible to speak of a "high" and "low" heel, because of its more vertical and less extended dimension. The heel can be measured, it is true, but not accurately, and it is determined by the angle of the toe. It can be called "high" or "low" on account of its more fixed position and its small variation in dimension, which is practically on a vertical line and hardly exceeds ^ inch in total variations.
To illustrate the relation of heel to toe, let us look at Fig. 71. Here is a hoof whose continual growth is indicated in C by surface be- tween f e and b c. In its untouched form it appears at A. There are three ways of reducing the horn of the hoof, viz :
1 I ) By leaving the toe and lowering the heels, as at B.
(2) By shortening the toe and leaving the heels, as at D.
(3) By both shortening the toe and lowering the heels, as at C. In the first case (B) we reduce the angle from 54° to 48° ; in the
second instance (D), we increase the angle from 54° to 58°, and in the last condition (C), we have the same angle of 54°, as in A. There- fore, we see that the relative length of toe and height of heels determine the angle at toe.
The length of the foot is most rationally and readily determined by the "white line," or that mark of Nature left at the junction of wall and sole of foot, and from these approximate dimensions the variations of heel or of toe will either open or close the angle at toe. If it is not safe to rasp heel down any more, we can close or decrease angle by leaving toe a little longer; and if toe cannot be shortened any
Gait of the American Trotter and Pacer
more, we can close or decrease angle by lowering the heels. And, again, if we leave heels untouched and shorten toe, we open or increase angle
A
a A 3iin. fe - 5i in.
d &
d fc = 5Sin. angle afc'5 dc *• 2/n
fc
angle afc~5+0
On ale a fa* 62*
if- Iff*.
FIG. 71
at toe ; or if, after shortening toe, as in E, we raise heels by mechan- ical means, such as thicker heels of shoes, we open the angle with double effect, as will be seen in E quite plainly.
Requ isites of Perfect Ba la nee 97
In all my experiments the rule of pointing, set forth by David Roberge, as regards backward and forward extension, was nearly always verified. A smaller angle meant forward extension and a larger angle brought about a backward extension. I am now speaking of the angle of the foot with the shoe on, inclusive of all the devices of intelligent shoeing that tend to forward or backward extension.
A much more difficult matter is the lateral adjustment or balance of foot. Again, we are forced to put before our mental view an ideal attitude, or a perfect position of the legs as viewed from the front and from the rear. In Fig. 67 the table there given for noting on the subject's points, indicates this particular deviation from the perfect by "Attitude (en face)."
It is generally accepted that, from both the standpoint of beauty and of utility, a line dividing the hoof, ankle and knee into equal halves, ^hould pass through or near the point of shoulder. This line can be called the axis of lateral balance for the fore leg. This line would also be the axis of the so-called "line trot," or rather, it indicates and stands for a plane parallel to the direction of motion of the horse in which the fore leg moves without any swinging to inside or outside. In other words, if the horse moves directly towards the observer, the movements of the fore legs should be confined to these vertical planes.
The same is true of the hind leg as viewed from the rear. Here the axis of motion should again divide the hoof, ankle and hock into two equal halves and pass through or near the buttock joint. This, again, may be called the axis of lateral balance for the hind leg. This line would also be the axis of the plane for the so-called "'line trot" of the hind leg. When, therefore, the horse moves away from the ob- server, this axis should indicate the perfect line of motion as regards lateral extension or its faults of swinging in or out. Both these ideal conditions for the fore and hind legs are illustrated in Fig. 72. This is, in fact, the attitude that should prevail with the best and the fastest, as well as the strongest and soundest trotters and pacers, if compen- sations for other faults do not mar the firmness and stability of the position. An illustration of such apparent equilibrium and firmness of
Gait of the American Trotter and Pacer
the four legs is seen in the expression of the attitude of Sweet Marie 2:02 (Fig. 66), and of Sonoma Girl 2:05^4 (Fig. 78).
Variations from such a perfect attitude are always in order, though they really strike the eye as being somewhat out of order. Take, for
FIG. 72
instance, the attitudes illustrated in Fig. 73. Here we have the fore legs closer together, with toes inwardly set as in A and outwardly set or possibly straight ahead as in B. And with hind feet in the same illus- tration approaching each other we may have either a straight direction
FI& 73
of hoof or one of toeing in. In case the hind toe out excessively, we would be likely to have an attitude more as given in Fig. 75 ; that is, a tendency to the cow-hock position of hind legs. Again, in A of Fig. 73, we have the position of too free an elbow and a tendency to stumble
Requisites of Perfect Balance
99
with possible paddling of fore. In B of Fig. 73, we have an elbow close to body and may have interference at knee when at speed. In A of Fig- 73> we may also have a possible crossing over of fore legs, although this is more likely to occur with B when direction or pointing of hoof, however, is straight ahead.
In Fig. 74, the legs spread and the lateral extension is excessive. This is due to a wide breast, as in A, with a tendency to toe in, or to a bad direction of leg from knee down, the articulation of both knee and ankle joint being outward, as in B. Again, the feet in A are likely to paddle, and, in B, we have a tendency to interference if separation does not make knee hitting impossible.
fie. 74
A
In Fig. 75, the fore legs have a common position ; namely, that of the regular knee hitter, the articulation of knee joint being outward with arm above and leg below straight in themselves. The hind legs, with the same tendency, are those of the cow-hocked horse, suggesting excessively free stifle joints and spreading as well as outward swinging of legs. It is entirely faulty, both for speed or ordinary work, just as the position in B of Fig. 74 is entirely faulty for the fore legs.
We can readily see that even here compensations may figure strongly in the making of speed, or in the absence of interference. Without enumerating all the possible combinations of fore with hind, it may be left to the reader what attitude at one end, even though faulty according to standard in Fig. 72, may be compensated by an opposite
ioo Gait of the American Trotter and Pacer
one at the other end, so as to avoid interference and hence produce a good clean gait. As to the hind attitudes, it may be worth while to note that in trotters the tendency is from Fig. 72-B to Fig. 74-C, and with pacers the tendency is from the attitude in Fig. 72-6 to that of Fig. 73-C ; that is to say, trotters are apt to spread behind, while pacers move hind legs closer together, and vice