Walking on the right rein

Hind triple stance

In the series of illustrations shown here, the horse starts the walk on the right rein, with the horse placing the right hind leg on the ground. The horse is now standing on three limbs, the right and left hind and the left fore (Fig. 8.2).

Right diagonal double stance

The left hind leg is then lifted, leaving the horse standing on two limbs: the right hind and the left fore (Fig. 8.3).

Fig. 8.2 Right hind impact

Fig. 8.3 Left hind lift-off

Fore triple stance

The right foreleg is then set down, so that the horse is again standing on three legs: the right fore, left fore and right hind (Fig. 8.4).

Fig. 8.5 shows the skeletal system and Fig. 8.6 shows the musculature of the same horse at the same point in the walk stride as Fig. 8.4. The bones involved are illustrated in Fig. 1.3.

Fig. 8.4 Right fore impact

Fig. 8.5 Right fore impact – skeleton

Fig. 8.6 Right fore impact – musculature

Right lateral double stance

In Fig. 8.7 the left fore is lifted off the ground, leaving the horse standing on the right hind and right fore limbs, a position known as the right lateral double stance. Figs 8.8 and 8.9 show the skeleton and musculature, respectively, involved in the left fore lift-off. Fig. 8.10 shows the position of the right lateral double stance while Fig. 8.11 shows the skeleton and Fig. 8.12 shows the musculature.

Fig. 8.7 Left fore lift-off

Fig. 8.8 Left fore lift-off – skeleton

Fig. 8.9 Left fore lift-off – musculature

Fig. 8.10 Right lateral double stance

Fig. 8.11 Right lateral double stance – skeleton

Left diagonal double stance

The left hind leg then hits the ground so that the horse is again standing on three legs: both hind legs and the right fore. This is the hind triple stance again, but with different limbs involved compared with the first hind triple stance. Following this, the right hind lifts off. In Fig. 8.13 the right hind is lifted off the ground to leave the left hind and the right fore on the ground. Figs 8.14 and 8.15 show the skeleton and musculature involved in the right hind lift-off, while Figs 8.16–8.18 show the left diagonal double stance itself.

Fig. 8.12 Right lateral double stance – musculature

Fig. 8.13 Right hind lift-off

Fig. 8.14 Right hind lift-off – skeleton

Fig. 8.15 Right hind lift-off – musculature

Fig. 8.16 Left diagonal double stance

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