So A TTITUDES OF THE HORSE. 



fibrous bands (Hg-aments) which, during rest, take the weight 

 ofif the muscles that straighten the various joints. I may 

 here remind my readers that these Hgaments are composed of 

 hard, inelastic, fibrous tissue, and act simply as strong cords 

 in connecting the parts together. The work they do being 

 entirely of a passive nature ; they do not get tired, like mus- 

 cles, the work of which is of an active form, and cannot be 

 continued without suitable intervals of rest. As an instance 

 of this "bracing" function of ligaments, I may mention that 

 the fetlock is passively supported during rest (taken in a 

 standing position) by an inelastic fibrous cord, which goes 

 behind the fetlock point, and is attached by one end to the 

 head of the cannon-bone, and by the other to the base of the 

 pedal bone. Not alone are the fore legs provided with these 

 special ligaments, to prevent the limbs from "doubling up" ; 

 but most of the muscles which straighten these limbs during 

 work are composed of a large amount of ligamentous fibres. 

 Such muscles, therefore, during their periods of rest, can 

 assume to some extent the functions of ligaments. In fact, 

 one powerful muscle in the fore leg of the dog is represented 

 in the horse by a ligament. Besides this, the muscles which 

 straighten the fore limb are not single, but multiple muscles, 

 one of which can take its turn at work, while its fellows rest. 



This mechanism enables the horse to sleep standing 

 without extraneous support. It is clearly and exhaustively 

 described in Colin's Physiologie Comparde. 



Carriage of the Head and Neck. — The attitude 

 which the head and neck assume is determined by the 

 following considerations : ( i ) For the horse to be able to see 

 in the required direction. If we regard a horse that is stand- 



