THE FETLOCK. 73 



tern forms, in leaving the cannon, a considerable angle, it is said 

 to be " oblique," and is almost always extended in length, so as to 

 assume the denomination of " long" or "lengthy :" this is a dispo- 

 sition of parts which also has its peculiar advantages, and one 

 that would have its objects defeated or much abridged by anv dis- 

 proportionate shortening with the obliquity. 



In proportion as the pastern is upright in position, less weight is 

 imposed upon the sesamoid bones, more upon the pastern bone, 

 and vice versa. What pressure or weight the pastern-bone re- 

 ceives descends to the coronet, and thence to the coffin-bone. But 

 what becomes of the weight imposed upon the sesamoids, they 

 having no bones below to transmit it to 1 They are in a somewhat 

 similar situation to the splint-bones; they call upon their attaching 

 bands — 'their ligaments — to support them under the load ; and 

 their ligaments do so by yielding — they being elastic — so long as 

 force is operating ; and the instant it is not, they, through elasticity, 

 again recover their short lengths, and so raise the sesamoid bones 

 into their places. This descent and ascent of the sesamoids is not 

 to be compared with that imperceptible and disputed motion of the 

 splint-bones ; on the contrary, it is a demonstrable and beautiful 

 descending and ascending operation — a playing down and up, after 

 the manner of a spring of most elastic and exquisite workmanship ; 

 imparting, at every step the horse takes, its anti-concussion influ- 

 ence to every part of his frame. Watch the long and elastic 

 fetlocks of the Arabian or race-horse, as he is cantering upon turf, 

 and at every bound he makes will the tufts of hair from those 

 joints be seen dipping upon the ground ; though, while the animal 

 is standing still, they may be some inches even removed irom the 

 surface. Nothing can evince more beautifully and plainly than 

 this the movements of the fetlock-joints. 



The elastic band or ligament upon which the sesamoids re- 

 pose in their descent, and depend for their re-ascent, is the suspen- 

 sory. And, in order to shew what proportion of the superincum- 

 bent weight these bones sustain, or, rather, how insufficient the 

 pastern is without their aid to support the burthen, we have only 

 to cut the suspensory ligament through : that done, the horse is, in 

 real truth, " broke down ;" the feet slip forward, and the toes turn 



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