The Horse's Feet and Theie Care 171 



by the two sesamoids, so placed behind the upper end of the 

 pastern that the joint is capable of a very extensive motion. 

 These bones are held together by ligaments, only one of which — 

 the suspensory — demands special mention. 



The suspensory ligament of the fetlocks, starting from the knee 

 extends down behind the cannon, lying between the two splint 

 bones, until near the fetlock, w^here it divides and sends a branch 

 downward and forward on either side of the joint, to become at- 

 tached on the sides of the extensor at the lower end of the pastern 

 hone. As it crosses the sesamoids on the posterior borders of the 

 fetlock it throws out libers which hold it fast to these bones. 



The pastern joint is made by the union of the two pastern 

 bones. The cofHn joint is made by the union of the small 

 pastern, coffin, and small sesamoid or navicular bones, the latter 

 being set behind and beneath the joint surface of the coffin bone 

 in such a way as to largely receive the w^eight of the small 

 pastern. 



Three tendons serve to move the bones of the foot, one on 

 another. Two of these flex or bend the joints, while the third ex- 

 tends or straightens the column of bones. 



The flexor pedis perforans, or deep flexor of the foot, passes 

 down behind the cannon bone, lying against the suspensory liga- 

 ment in front, crosses the fetlock joint in the groove made by 

 the union of the sesamoids, and is attached to the bottom of the 

 coffin bone, after covering the navicular by a wide expansion of 

 its fibers. It is the function of the tendon to flex the coffin bone, 

 and with it the horny box. 



The flexor pedis perforatus, superficial flexor of the foot, fol- 

 lows the course of the preceding tendon and is attached to the 

 middle of the ankle. The function of this tendo^n is to flex the 

 foot at the fetlock. 



The extensor pedis runs down in front of the leg, is attached 

 on the most prominent point of the coffin bone, and has for its 

 function the straightening of the bones of the ankle and foot. 



The bones, ligaments and tendons are covered by a loose con- 

 nective tissue, which gives symmetry to the parts by filling up and 

 rounding off, and all are protected by the skin and hoof. 



The skin of the fetlock and ankle is generally characterized by 



