SPLINT. 249 



hwid of the inner splint-bone, is subject to injury from what is termed the 

 speedy cut. A horse with high action, and in the fast trot, violently strikes 

 this p£.rt either with his hoof or the edge of the shoe. Sometimes bonj 

 enlargement is the result, at others great heat and tenderness; and the 

 pain from the blow seems occasionally to be so great, that the horse drops 

 as if he were shot. The only remedy is to take care that no part of the 

 shoe projects beyond the foot ; and to let the inner side of the shoe, except 

 the country be very deep, or the horse be used for hunting, have but one 

 nail, and that near the toe. This part of the hoof, being unfettered with 

 nails, will expand when it comes in contact with the ground, and contract 

 when in the air, and relieved from the pressure of the weight of the body ; 

 and, although this contraction is to no great extent, it will be sufficient to 

 carry the foot harmlessly by the leg. Care should likewise be taken that 

 the shoe be of equal thickness at the heel and the toe, and that the bearing 

 be equal on both sides. 



Immediately under the knee we find one of those ligamentous rings by 

 which the tendons are so usefully bound down and secured; but if the 

 hinder bone of the knee, the trapezium, described at p. 241, be not suffi- 

 ciently prominent, this ring will confine the flexor tendons of the foot too 

 tightly, and the leg will be very deficient in depth under the knee. This 

 is called being tied in below the knee {b. p. 255). Every horseman recog- 

 nises it as a most serious defect. It is scarcely compatible with speed, and 

 most assuredly not with continuance. Such a horse cannot be ridden far 

 and fast without serious sprain of the back sinews. The reason is plain : 

 the pressure of the ring will produce a degree of friction inconsistent with 

 the free action of the tendons; more force must, therefore, be exerted in 

 every act of progression ; and, although the muscles are powerful, and 

 sufficiently powerful for every ordinary purpose, the repetition of this extra 

 exertion will tire and strain them. A more serious evil, however, remains 

 to be stated. When the back sinews or tendons are thus tied down, they 

 are placed in a more oblique direction, and in which the power of the mus- 

 cles is exerted with greater disadvantage ; and, therefore, both for extraor- 

 dinary, and even ordinary action, a greater degree of exertion is required, 

 and fatigue and sprain will frequently result. There are few more serious 

 defects than this tying-in of the tendons immediately below the knee. The 

 fore-leg may be narrow in front, but it must be deep at the side, in order to 

 render the horse valuable; for then only will the tendons have free action, 

 and the muscular force be exerted in the most advantageous direction. The 

 recollection of the reader will convince him, that there are few good race- 

 horses whose legs are not deep below the knee. If there are exceptions, it 

 is because their exertion, although violent, is but of short duration. The 

 race is decided in a few minutes; and, during that little period, the spirit 

 and energy of the animal may successfully struggle with the disadvantages 

 of form ; but where great and long-continued exertion is required, as in the 

 hunter or the hackney, no strength can long contend against this palpably 

 disadvantageous misapplication of muscular power. 



As they descend the back part of the leg, the tendons of the perforated 

 and perforating flexor muscle should be far and distinctly apart from the 

 shank-bone. There should be space free from thickening for the finger 

 and thumb on either side to be introduced between them and the bone, and 

 that extending from the knee to the fetlock. In a perfect leg, and towards 

 its lower part, there should be three distinct and perfect projections visible 

 to the eye, as well as recognisable by the finger, the sides of the shank- 

 hone, the most forward of the three ; next, the suspensory ligament ; and 

 hindermost of all, the flexor tendons. When these are not to be distinctly 



