44 EXAMINATION OF HORSES 
fore limb rests, and does not concern us here, so that we 
have left us to consider the fore limbs when the horse is 
1. Standing at attention. 
2. 4G asleep. 
3. During motion. 
I next wish to draw your attention to the column of 
bones themselves. It is necessary for them, when the 
horse is in action, to be bent one moment and to be 
rigidly stiff the next. I need not dwell on how freely’ 
they bend forwards, but must lay special stress on the 
very narrow limits in which they bend backwards. In 
order that they may be rigid, stiff, and fixed, they are: 
provided with dack stays, and these stays are, for the 
most part, in every instance but one, Jowerful, unyield- 
ing, true ligaments. Enumerated from above downwards, 
‘these are the— 
1. Superior Carpal and Interosseous. 
2. Superior Sesamoidean or Suspensory. 4 
3. Inferior Sesamoidean. . 
The superior carpal and the interosseous ligaments act 
as a main stay to the knee, the two sesamoidean act 4 
as main stays to the fetlock joint; the inferior sesa- 
moidean also acts as a main stay to the joint below the 7 
fetlock joint, which is placed between. the suffraginal and 
coronal bones ; but to the last joint of all (the coffin or 
pedal joint) we have a complicated stay capable of some 
considerable.extension and therefore not rigid. I refer to 
