FORE EXTREMITY 



21 



There are no active muscles in this region, but diminutive remains of 

 them are to be found, which, in the far-off ancestors of the horse with 

 their several toes, were muscles of considerable size and importance. 



The Fetlock. — The fetlock is situated between the canon bone above 

 and the pastern below. Its bony base re- 

 sults from the union of the large metacarpal 

 bone with the first phalanx, or large pastern 

 bone, and the two sesamoid bones. The 

 latter are tacked on behind, and are sup- 

 ported in position by the suspensory liga- 

 ment. A tuft of lono- hair hangs from the 

 angle of the fetlock. This is the footlock, 

 and in its midst may be noticed the ergot, 

 a horny growth varying in size in different 

 animals, but especially large in coarse-bred 

 Cart-horses. Like the chestnut, the ergot 

 represents the vestigial remains of what 

 was once a digit in the lost ancestors of 

 the horse. In its present condition it is 

 believed by some to exercise a protective 

 influence when the fetlock is brought to the 

 ground during the rapid locomotory move- 

 ments occurring in the forced gallop, and 

 especially in the final struggle of a race. 



The Pastern. — This region extends 

 from the fetlock to the coronet, between 

 which points it takes a more or less oblicjue 

 direction downward and forward. Its 

 bony base is formed by the first and second 

 phalanges, or, as they are commonly 

 termed, the large and small pastern bones. 



The Coronet. — The coronet is that 

 part of the limb situated immediately 

 above the hoof, and extending from front 

 to back. It is, in fact, the lowermost 

 division of the pastern. The term is use- 

 ful only as indicating proximity with the crown, or upper circumference 

 of the foot. 



The Foot. — The foot, as understood by the comparative anatomist,, 

 embraces all those parts of the limb beneath the lower extremity of the fore- 

 arm in front and the inferior extremity of the leg or second thigh behind. 



Fig. 13.— Front View of Horse 



■ Forehead. '' Poll. - Forelock. ' Ear, 

 * Snpra-orbit, ^ Eyebrow. ^ Eye, 7 Nose. 

 ^ Nasal Peak. " Nostril. "> Upper Lip. 



^^ Neck. ^^ Breast. ^^ Forearm. ^^ Knee. 

 ■*- Canon. ^ Fetlock-joint. ^ Pasteru. 



^ Coronet. ^ Foot. ^' Chest. *> Haunch. 



