SPLINT. 245 



head of the inner splint-hone, is subject to injury from what is termed the 

 speedy cut. A horse with hij^h action, and in the fast trot, violently strikes 

 this part either with his hoof or the edge of the shoe. Sometimes bony 

 enlargement is the result, at others great heat and tenderness ; and the 

 pain from the blow seems occasionally to be so great that the horse drops 

 as if he were shot. The only remedy is to take care that no part of the 

 shoe projects beyond the foot ; and to let the inner side of the shoe, except 

 the country be very deep, or the horse used for hunting, have but one nai!, 

 and that near the toe. This part of the hoof, being unfettered with nails, 

 will expand when it comes in contact with the ground, and contract when 

 in air and relieved from the pressure of the weight of the body ; and, 

 although this contraction is to no great extent, it will be sufficient to carry 

 the foot harmlessly by the leg. Care should likewise be taken that the 

 shoe be of equal thickness at the heel and the toe, and that the bearing be 

 equal on both sides. 



Immediately under the knee we find 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. 241, be 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, (b, p. 255.) Every horseman recognizes 

 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 powerful for every ordinary purpose, the repetition of this extra 

 exertion 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 ; and, therefore, both for extraordinary, 

 and even ordinary action, a greater degree of exertion is required, and 

 fatigue and sprain will frequently 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. 

 The recollection of the reader will convince him, that there are few good 

 race-horses whose legs are not deep below the knee. If there are ex- 

 ceptions, it is because their exertion, although violent, is but of short 

 duration. The race is decided in a few minutes ; and, during that little 

 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 

 against this palpably disadvantageous misapplication of muscular power. 



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

 perforating flexor muscle 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 recognizable by the finger, the sides of the shank-bone, 

 the most forward of the three ; next, the suspensory ligament ; and hinder- 

 most of all, the flexor tendons. When these are not to be distinctly seen or 



