222 MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY 



these elastic parts assist in the elevations of the feet 

 from the ground in those places in which they are 

 called into sudden and forcible action. The suspen- 

 sory ligament, by its reaction instantaneously after 

 extension, aids the flexor muscles in bending the 

 pastern joints. The astonishing activity and ex- 

 pedition displayed in the movements of the race- 

 horse at speed, seem to be referable, in part, to the 

 promptitude with which the suspensory ligament can 

 act before the flexor muscles are duly prepared ; the 

 latter, we should say, catch, as it were, and then 

 direct the limb first snatched from the ground by 

 the powers of elasticity." 



The spring and elasticity in the action of a 

 horse depends, in a great measure, upon the length 

 and obliquity of the pasterns. It should be long 

 in the race-horse, less so in the hunter, still shorter 

 in the hackney, and considerably less so in the cart 

 and dray horse. In the latter the concussion is ex- 

 ceedingly little, because their movements are slow ; 

 and the short and upright pasterns enable him to 

 sustain and drag the heavy loads which he is 

 destined to support and move forward. But in a 

 horse that is to be used for the saddle, the short 

 and upright pastern is not only a great defect, but 

 is also very unsafe, as he is exceedingly liable to 

 come down when trotting. Besides, such joints 

 soon begin to knuckle over, even with ordinary 

 work, which is the precursor of ossification of the 

 cartilages, ringbone, and contracted feet. 



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