44 EXAMINATION OF HO^RSES 



fore limb rests, and does not concern us here, so that we 

 have left us to consider the fore limbs when the horse is 



1. Standing at attention. 



2. ,, asleep. 



3. During motion. 



I next wish to draw your attention to the column of 

 bones themselves. It is necessary for them, when the 

 horse is in action, to be bent one moment and to be 

 rigidly stiff the next. I need not dwell on how freely 

 they bend forwards, but must lay special stress on the 

 very narrow limits in which they bend backwards. In 

 order that they may be rigid, stiff, and fixed, they are 

 provided with back stays, and these stays are, for the 

 most part, in every instance but one, powerful, unyield- 

 ing, true ligaments. Enumerated from above downwards, 

 these are the — 



1. Superior Carpal and Interosseous. 



2. Superior Sesamoidean or Suspensory. 



3. Inferior Sesamoidean. 



The superior carpal and the interosseous ligaments act 

 as a main stay to the knee, the two sesamoidean act 

 as main stays to the fetlock joint ; the inferior sesa- 

 moidean also acts as a main stay to the joint below the 

 fetlock joint, which is placed between the suffraginal and 

 coronal bones ; but to the last joint of all (the coffin or 

 pedal joint) we have a complicated stay capable of some 

 considerable extension and therefore 7iot rigid. I refer to 



