From the AS WE SEE IT articles-MOVEMENT
While I was at Soho in the 90's, Harry and I co-authored a series of articles about proper movement. this one photograph to illustrate side movement says it all.
Despite what you may be told as gospel these days, English cockers are not meant to putter, high step, or roll around like a drunken sailor. A dog that moves "true" fore and aft ( straight away from and back to the judge) is often considered "good enough." I've even been told that good propulsion/reach is incorrect! so read the standard as applied to each photo-one from 1973, the bottom 2 from 1994, and note that both the dogs on the bottom, while being of Soho lineage, also incorporate some of the finest show lines of the era. (outcrosses!) which just goes to show;if you pay attention to details, that stallion presence comes partially from a correct head and neck set-and good movement!Notice the back feet come off the ground and you can see the pads.
The liver roan is obviously more compact than the other two-and yet...you can see the muscles in his thighs working, and he achieves as much drive as the other two.Size is not indicative of movement; ability to use the rear freely and produce some real power is the key.Power that in the field lets them turn quickly, hustle into the bushes, and leap after a bird if need be-as well as the power to swim out and collect a downed bird. Yep, show standard or hunt standard, proper movement matters.
I dare you to compare these 3 animals ( who are not unique;Will, many generations down from these animals,exhibits extreme power and drive-and he doesn;t have to be moving fast!Starbuck, of the girls, probably is the easiest to watch and see the driving movement) to what passes for a "great movement photo" these days.