30 SPEAINS. 



MANNER IN WHICH THE SUSPENSORY LIGAMENT GETS 

 SPRAINED IN GALLOPING.— The gallop is a pace of four time 

 in which the sequence of the steps (supposing the off fnre to lead) 

 is near hind, oiJ hind, near fore, off fore, with a period of sus- 

 pension, terminated by the near hind again coming to the ground. 

 In the gallop and caiiter (Figs." 10, 11, 12 and 13), tlie leading 

 fore leg has to bear the weight of the body at each stride, and, 

 by the straightening out of its comjionent bones, to raise it from 

 the ground. Here, the suspensory ligament performs the passive 

 action of supporting the fetlock joint. As long as the horse is 

 untired, the muscles, attached to the back tendons, contract with 

 such precision that the foot is " picked up " (flexed) before undue 

 strain can fall on the suspensory ligament ; in fact, these tendons 

 act as braces to it. If the movement be continued, the horse will 

 " dwell " more and more in his stride, until tlie flexor muscles, 

 having become fatigued, may at length be unable to contract 



Fig. 5.\. — Weight on the fore leg. 



with sufficient quickness to save the suspensory ligament from 

 undue tension. Although the muscles get tired, the ligament 

 does not experience the sensation of fatigue ; hence, towards the 

 end of a tiring gallop, the horse will throw increased weight on 

 the ligament, in order to save the muscles. It is easy to imagine 

 how great the strain on the suspensory ligament must be in the 

 case of a racehorse struggling home during a desperate finish. 

 No wonder that when these animals break down, they generally 

 do so in the last furlong, especially if the ligament has been 

 previously injured. It is evident, loo, why they are more apt to 

 break down, when short of work, than when in good condition. 



As long as horses do not become fatigued, they are not liable 

 to sprain their suspensory ligaments or back tendons. A striking 

 proof of this is aft'orded by the fact that animals which have been 

 rendered totally unfit for the turf by one of these accidents, often 

 make serviceable chargers for ordinary parades. Here a gallop 

 beyond a few hundred yards is seldom recjuired, and this is executed 

 in a well-collected style. 



