834 RUPTURE OF THE FLEXOR TENDONS AND SUSPENSORY LIGAMENT. 



of the muscles, either they or their tendons must necessarily yield. 

 One of two results may follow. If the muscles yield, the excess 

 strain falls on the comparatively inelastic suspensory ligament, 

 which may be partially or wholly ruptured. If the tendons yield, 

 a similar result may follow, the flexor tendons and the suspensory 

 ligament then suffering together. A single very violent shock is 

 therefore more likely to affect both the tendons and ligament 



Fig. 477.— Rupture of the flexor pedis perforans behind the fetlock in consequence 

 of suppuration in the tendon sheath. 



(because the muscles being untired do not yield), while long- 

 continued exertion is favourable to strain of the suspensory ligament 

 alone, on account of the muscles relaxing and the pull on the tendons 

 never becoming sufficient to overcome their tensile strength. In 

 the latter case the excess strain necessarily falls entirely on the 

 suspensory ligament, The fact that strain of the suspensory ligament 

 is nearly confined to the front legs in all riding horses is explained 

 by the fact that an unduly large proportion of the rider's weight 

 falls on the fore limbs, and that this proportion tends to increase 

 with increase in speed. 



