282 THE FORE LIMB. 



sure-footed, by bringing the weight back from the toe. 

 In all cases, this condition adds to the tension to which 

 the back tendons are put when they are flexing the foot. 

 Although it is in no way an advantage ; it is much less 

 a detriment to the cart-horse, which has rarely to go out 

 of a walk or slow trot, than to the saddle-horse or fast 

 trapper. Many heavy cart-horses are " back at the 

 knees " (Fig. 274), which is not an uncommon shape of 

 the fore limbs among Arab and East Indian horses. 



As the bones of the knee give attachment to important 

 tendons and hgaments, and as other important tendons, 

 respectively, pass over the front and rear aspects of that 

 joint ; it is a beauty, recognised by all good judges, for a 

 horse to have broad, large knees, as viewed from the 

 front. The front surface of the knee should also be fiat 

 (Fig. 356) ; for any prominence of the part, as in the 

 case of a " big " knee, will point to the probabihty of 

 unsoundness. 



From Knee to Fetlock. — We know from experience 

 that the more nearly parallel the back tendons are to the 

 cannon-bone — other things being equal — the better able 

 will the limb be to stand work. Why this should be the 

 case I cannot say with certainty. I may, however, hazard 

 the conjecture that, as " tying-in " below the knee is due 

 to the smallness of the bones which form the groove 

 through which the back tendons pass, this condition may 

 point to want of size in these tendons ; for " the function 

 makes the organ."' It appears that the calibre of this 

 groove (or rather canal), which, to a great extent, is 

 formed by the pisiform bone, is, as a rule, ample for the 

 working of these tendons ; for when such " tied-in " 

 tendons happen to become damaged by work, the seat of 

 injury is very rarely behind the knee. Hence I think we 

 may conclude that when this groove — which is dependent 

 for its size on that of the bones behind the knee— is com- 

 paratively small, the tendons are also proportionately 



