92 OF THE DISEASES 



tendons, it is evident that sprains in them are 

 generally caused by the effort of raising, and not 

 in putting down, the leg. It is not, however, in- 

 tended to argue that the flexors are never sprained 

 when the leg is brought to the ground. It is pos- 

 sible that they may sometimes suffer from over- 

 tension on such occasions. 



For reasons already given, the difficulty of raising 

 the foot, and consequently the strain on the flexor 

 tendons, is much increased by the resistance of the 

 toe of the ordinary shoe against the ground. 

 This strain will be much lessened by the use of 

 turned-up shoes, and again, in deep ground espe- 

 cially, by the use of the closely-fitting shoes which 

 have been already recommended. 

 Suspen- The suspensory ligament is also frequently 



ment. Sprained, constituting the accident known as a 

 " break-down." It is on this ligament that the 

 weight of the horse falls, when after extension the 

 leg is brought to the ground. The injury usually 

 occurs during the exertion of galloping, as on the 

 racecourse, or in the hunting-field, from the sudden- 

 ness and violence with which the weight is thrown 

 on this ligament. It is also from similar causes 

 very liable to be sprained in the act of landing after 

 a jump, especially where the ground falls. Calf- 

 kneed horses are, from their formation, more pre- 

 disposed than others to this accident. 



Turned-up shoes, by allowing the whole foot at 



