228 SPRAIN OF THE SUSPENSORY LIGAMENT. 



small pastern bone. It is called the suspensory liga- 

 ment ; because it materially assists in supporting the 

 weight of the frame whenever the leg is placed upon 

 the earth. 



It must have been observed how the pasterns and 

 the fetlock yield; how these parts are brought almost 

 to the ground in the rapid action of the blood-horse, 

 particularly if he has long pasterns. This ligament, 

 though quite as muscular as elastic, sustains the 

 weight of the horse ; for the principal yielding is con- 

 fined to the pastern. The foot being again lifted, 

 the ligament contracts to its natural length, and the 

 sessamoids, which had been forced downward, reoccupy 

 their former places. In this gradual play of the 

 suspensory ligament, consists the easy and pleasant 

 action of the horse with oblique pasterns. In the 

 horse with short and upright pasterns, which are 

 capable of little motion, the weight and concussion 

 are thrown more on the bones, and the action is jolt- 

 ing ; hence the greater liability to sprain and enlarge- 

 ment of the fetlock joint. 



This ligament, as it may be easily imagined, is 

 subject to serious injury. It is sometimes ruptured; 

 and the horse is said to break down. The fetlock, no 

 longer supported by the suspensory ligament, touches 

 the ground ; the lameness is dreadful. This lowering 

 of the fetlock will distinguish rupture of the ligament 

 from sprain of the back sinew. The injury, how 7 ever, 

 in breaking down is seldom strictly confined to the 

 suspensory ligament ; but the integrity of the pastern 

 joint is destroyed, and other ligamentous structures 

 are also torn asunder. 



