THE FORE-LEG. 57 



down to it, they will produce such an injui'ious strain 

 upon the ligaments which bind them in their place, 

 that the horse will readily break down in his work. 

 When both extremities of the shank-bone are well- 

 developed, and the tendons run in a straight line from 

 end to end, there will be so much room for the inser- 

 tion of ligaments, and the leverage will be so favour- 

 able for the tendons, that the legs will stand an enor- 

 mous amoimt of work. This is the best foimation 

 that could be wished. 



I think it is just as necessary to attend to the con- 

 dition of the parts next the pastern, as to that of the 

 spot under the knee, which has always commanded 

 special notice. They are both very important. It is 

 frequently owing to a small, confined, contracted de- 

 velopment at these localities, that horses give way in 

 their fore-legs. 



There is an arch or bridge directly behind the knee, 

 thi'ough which some of the sinews belonging to the 

 muscles of the ami pass. If it is not placed at a pro- 

 per distance behind the end of the shank-bone, these 

 sinews must be tied in, by the transverse ligaments, at 

 the point wdiere they emerge below the joint. This is 

 certainly a gi*eat defect, as the ligaments will be sub- 

 jected to a greater strain than they are able to bear. 

 In judging of the state of matters here, however, we 

 must be careful to avoid mistakes. The arch, which 

 is composed of ligaments and a bone called the tra- 



