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LovitzInTheYear2000 t1_jds5txu wrote

Reply to comment by [deleted] in Can elephants canter or gallop? by [deleted]

It’s hard (sometimes impossible) to see the true mechanics of an animal’s gait with the naked eye. It wasn’t until the late 1800’s, through some revolutionary technological advances by Muybridge that we learned exactly how horses’ legs are positioned in a walk, trot, gallop, etc.

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pennyraingoose t1_jdtn8xz wrote

I just watched a film about Muybridge on Amazon and it was so interesting. Until his photo studies, we really didn't know what a gallop looked like. Looking back at earlier war paintings with galloping horses, their legs are all splayed out like they're jumping over a hedge, but in reality they're curled up under the body when they're all off the ground.

He was an interesting character too. Definitely worth a watch.

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