THE PASTERNS. .25V 



Tlieleno'tli and obliquity of the pastern vary, we have said, in the differ- 

 ent breeds of horses, and in proportion to the leng-th and slanting direction 

 of the pastern is the springiness of the horse and the easiness of his paces. 

 The pastern must be long in proportion to its obliquity, or the fetlock would 

 be too close to the ground, and, in rapid action, would come violently upon 

 it. It is necessary that the fetlock should be elevated a certain distance 

 from the ground, and this may be effected either by a short and upright,- 

 or a long and slanting pastern. In proportion as the pastern is oblique or 

 slantin"% two consequences will follow : less weigb.t will be tlu'own on the pas- 

 tern, and more on the sessamoid, and, in that proportion, jar or concussion 

 will be prevented; and the jar of the weight which is thrown on the pas- 

 tern will be lessened by the very obliquity of the bones, agreeably to vvlua 

 we have already stated of the angular construction of the limbs. 



Every advantage has, however, to a certain extent, its corresponding 

 disadvantages. In proportion to the obliquity or slanting of the pastern, 

 will be the stress on the fetlock-joint, and, therefore, the liability of that 

 joint to injury and strain ; and also the liability to ' sprain of the back- 

 sinews,' from the increased action and play of the flexor tendons; and 

 likewise to injuries of the pastern-joints, for the hgaments will be weak 

 in proportion to their length. The long and slanting pastern is an 

 excellency in the race-horse, from the springiness of action and greater 

 extent of stride by which it is accompanied. A less degree, of it is ne-^ 

 cessary in the hunter who is to unite continuance of exertion with case" 

 of pace, and who, in his leaps, requires almost as much springiness as 

 the race-horse; but for the wear and tear of the hackney a still less de- 

 gree of obliquity should be found. There should be suthcient to give 

 pleasantness of going, but not enough to endanger continuance and 

 strength. Experience among horses will alone point out the most advan- 

 tageous direction of the pastern, for the purpose required ; but the slightest 

 observation will prove the necessity of considerable variety in the structure 

 of this part. Let the reader imagine the heavy dray-horse with his short 

 and upright pasterns, contending in the race ; or the race-horse with his 

 long and\eak pasterns, endeavouring to dig his toe into the ground to 

 move some heavyweight. The concussion is little in a cart-horse because 

 his movements are slow, and therefore the upright and strong pastern is 

 given to him, which he can force into the ground, and on which he can 

 throw the whole of his immense weight. Tiie oblique pastern is given to 

 the race-horse because that alone is compatible with extent of stride and 

 great speed. Except a horse for general purposes, and particularly for 

 riding, be very hardly used, a little too much obliquity is a far less evil 

 thanli pastern too upright. The upright pastern is unsafe. The very 

 circumstance which enables the dray-horse to throw himself into his collar, 

 throws the riding-horse down; and while the jolting of the upright pas- 

 tern is an insufferable nuisance to the rider, it is injurious to the horse, and 

 produces many diseases in the feet and legs. A riding-horse, with up- 

 right pasterns, will soon begin to knuckle over, even with ordinary work ; 

 and this will be followed by ringbone, ossification of the cartilages, and 

 contracted feet. 



they are called into sudden and forcible action. The suspensory ligament, by its reac- 

 tion, instantaneously after extension, aids the flexor-muscles ni benduigthepastern-jomts. 

 The astonishino; activity and expedition displayed in the movements oi the race-horse at 

 speed, seem to be referable, in pait, to the promptitude with which the suspensory liga-. 

 ment can act before the flexor-muscles are duly prepared ; the latter, we should say, 

 catch, as it were, and then direct the limb first snatched from the ground by the powers ot 

 elasticity.'— PercivaU's Lectures ou the Veterinary Art, vol, i., p. ^34. 



