CHECK LIGAMENT. 



39 



strain. The more the horse's streugtli is taxed, tlie higher will 

 the heel be raised from the ground on the toe tirst touching it, 

 and the greater will be the consequent jerk received by the check 

 ligament. The steeper the hill the horse faces, the longer space 

 will the heel fall through, before it reaches the ground, and, 

 naturally, the greater will be the strain on the check ligament. 

 If the heel is raised by calkins, or thick-heeled shoes, the distance 

 through which the heel falls will be shortened and the liability 



Fi'j. 10. 



Fi.'. II. 



Fig. 12. 



The Canttr. 



l-'iii- 13- 



to sprain cons-quently diminished. Practical experience te.iche.^ 

 the advisability of doing this. It also proves that sprains of this 

 ligament are more apt to occur going up hill, in draught, than on 

 level ground ; and that they hardly, if ever, happen going down 

 hill — a mode of progression that throws particularly severe strain 

 on the suspensory ligaments. 



It may be concluded from the foregoing remarks on the manner 

 in which this ligament becomes sprained at a walk in heavy 

 draught, that, when this accident occurs at a fast pace, it must 

 be due to a jerk from the toe coming on the p-round at a moment 



