The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-06-03

the horse when ridden under n close rein is such
as 10 give him a sort Of climbing action in front,
and there Is a certain elastic, bounding quality
about the motion which makes it the easiest
of all the gaits peculiar to the saddle-bred
horse. Trotters in harness frequently strike
this gait or something very like IL when started
up suddenly under a firm hold on the reins.
In the square trot there is a diagonal success.
sion Of hoof-beats In pairs. the right. front ana
~neously, followed after an interval by the left
front.and right hind feet in the same way. The
same Is true OF the square pace, the only diner
ence being that the PAGER uses the two limbs on
the same side together instead Of using the
strokes complete the revolution
The fox trOt il a modification Of the square
trot-a sort Of broken trot in which the diago-
nal succession of the four footballs IL separate
and distinct. yet in pairs. In this movement
the front foot touches the ground an instant
before the hind foot on the opposite side; then,
after q short interval. the other two feet are
moved and strike in quick, succession the same
way, so that the four strokes Of the revolution
sound 10 the ear, one-twO- one-twO. The
length of this interval varies in different horses,
and constitutes the difference in their merits AZ
this gait. Sometimes the interval II so long
and the impact of the two diagonal feet Is 80
nearly simultaneous that the gait becomes al
most as rough AZ the square trot. The nearer
the fox trot approaches the running walk the
easier il i for the rider, ms the four distinct i'm
pacts serve to diminish the conclusion
What the fox trot Is 10 the square trot the rack
Is 10 the square pace. n broken gait, in which
the two feet on the snme side are moved and
strike in rapid succession, followed after n short
interval by the opposite members In the same
way, the hind foot In each pair striking an in
slant before the front foot. and thus breaking
the conclusion incident to the square pace.
This gait is peculiarly suited TO the side-saddle,
and is the favorite gait among the women of
the South,
The single-foot is close 10 the border line be-
tween the modified trot and the modified pace,
and the authorities are not altogether agreed
AZ 10 whether the succession of the footballs IL
diagonal or lateral. The veteran Kentucky
horseman Charles !. Railey maintains that II Il
a modification Of the trot, and Is similar to the
running walk, except that II is faster. Each
foot seems to move INDEPENDENTLY Of the others
and the same interval Of time "lapses between
old saddle stallion Prince Pulaski, sire Of the
noted pacing mare Matte Hunter, ?l2.4, main
tanned that the sinrle-foot was q lateral gait, IN
which the succession would be right front, right
hind, lett front, left hind, with equal intervals
between ihe impacts, II Is a fast gait, very
trying on he horse, PUT arording 10 the rider
cause each quarter Of the animal moving scpo-
rately occasions none of the jolting incident TO
the square trot or pace.
From the earliest times TO the present day
those peculiar gaits have been highly priced
in the south and West. No animal, however
perfect ct. IN .o %IsHr b TS.pe" "risi IS there III wif deemed eel S, tho to
command Of his rider any one of these gaits.
They are the basis of the saddle horse breeders
stud book. and ~" DISTINGUISHING character
istics of the breed of horses which has been
formed through that register Of redirreeS,
JUS, rs sveed NJ the square trot is the di-tir-
gushing characteristic of the standard bred
horse and the test of qualification for admis-
sion TO tho trotting register, Practically oil
Cf the Saddlc-hred horses e to-day In the South
west are descendants of Gainas'S Denmark
What Rysdyk'I Ilnrnhletonian WINS to the
breed Of trotting horses. Gaines's Denmark
was 10 he tribe e Kentucky saddle horses,
He WINS a black stallion, foal"d In 1851 and got
by tho Thoroughbred ruce horse Denmark,
son Of imported IIedCctori ont 81 q mare,
that was a natural Singlc-footer ard rocker.
She was by n saddle horse called Coclspur
of unknown blood. The Gaines horse in
heritcd tho saddle gnits and the style Of his
dam. and the quality, finish and conformation
of his thoroughbred sire. These character
istics have Gene down 20 his Gesoendarts in
tho present generation, distinguishing them
from any other fnmilv Of horses In the world
The beauty cf The original stock has been i'm
proved with succeeding generations until the
snddlr-bcod horses are now generally ad-
mittad tn 10 The handSoine-t horses in America.
So -uccc Sful hnvn the saddle hCrs" breeders
boon IN their Prn-'' 20 fix the peculiar habits
~ action IN the breed 'Nnt nowadays II some
times happen. that a fonl hv the side Of its
dam will start Of on u single-fooi or n fox
trot untauyht ard wholly e It's own accord.
II any Of tho slddlo gaits so popular In the
Southwest ever found favor in this part Of
tho country. rs some high authorities have
maintained. they long since ceased 10 he fash
ionable AMONG New York epuestriars. The
single-foot. f%ox-trot. running walk and rack
are frowned upon and ignored as saddle gaifs
at the National Horse Show. just N the square
pace Is ignored ~ "A proper gait for the road
horse. At Madison SQUARE Garden and all
other leading exhibitions In the East the
walk trot and canter or short gallop are tho only