342 SPRAIN OF THE BACK-SINEWS. 



Immediately under the knee is 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. 338, is not sufficiently 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 

 (&, p. 351). Every horseman recognises 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 so for every ordinary purpose, the repetition of this extra exer- 

 tion 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 muscles is exerted with greater disadvantage. A 

 greater degree of exertion is required, and fatigue and sprain will not unfre- 

 quently 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. 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 continuance. The race is decided in a few 

 minutes and, during that short 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 with a palpably disadvantageous misapplication of muscular 

 power. 



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

 perforating flexor muscles 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 perceptible 

 by the finger the sides of the shank-bone being the most forward of the three ; 

 next, the suspensory ligament ; and, hindermost of all, the flexor tendons. When 

 these are not to be distinctly seen or felt, or there is considerable thickening 

 about them and between them (rf, p. 351), and the leg is round instead of flat 

 and deep, there has been what is commonly, but improperly, called 



SPRAIN OF THE BACK-SINEWS. 



These tendons are enclosed in a sheath of dense cellular substance, in order to 

 confine them in their situation, and to defend them from injury. Between the 

 tendon and the sheath there is a mucous fluid to prevent friction ; but when the 

 horse has been over- worked, or put to sudden and violent exertion, the tendon 

 presses upon the delicate membrane lining the sheath, and inflammation is pro- 

 duced. A different fluid is then thrown out, which coagulates, and adhesions are 

 formed between the tendon and the sheath, and the motion of the limb is more 

 difficult and painful. At other times, from violent or long-continued exertion, 

 some of the fibres which confine the tendons are ruptured. A slight injury of this 

 nature is called a sprain of the back-sinews or tendons ; and, when it is more 

 serious, the horse is said to have broken down. It should be remembered, how- 

 ever, that the tendon can never be sprained, because it is inelastic and incapable 



