FAST GALLOP, 97 



one of forward reach of fore leg— that is, of speed. I may 

 mention that the intervals of time between each of these 

 fpositions represented by Figs. 133 to 148 are all equal. We 

 may see, starting with Fig. 133, that the near hind, off hind, 

 near fore, and off fore (the leading fore leg) remain for nearly 

 the same time on the ground. The leading fore, however, 

 has to perform a longer period of support than any of the 

 other three. It is also more extended when it touches the 

 ground than is the non-leading fore leg, as we shall note if we 

 compare Fig. 140 with Fig. 137. Hence it is more liable 

 than the other limb to suffer from sprains of the suspensory 

 ligament and check ligament {inferior carpal)^ both of which 

 structures aid in supporting the fetlock joint. As regards the 

 injurious effect of concussion, it would appear that the non- 

 leading fore leg (Figs. 136 and 137), by reason of its coming 

 to the ground at a moment when it is wholly unsupported by 

 the other fore limb, would suffer more from concussion than 

 the leading fore. Consequently, I venture to submit that, 

 when the ligaments of the leading fore leg get sprained 

 during the fast gallop, the cause is over-extension rather than 

 the popular one of concussion, or even of sudden jerk. We 

 may also see from Figs. 143 to 145, and from Figs. 130 to 

 132, how it happens that the back tendons (especially the 

 flexor perforans) of the leading fore, during a gallop or canter 

 in *' heavy" ground, are far more apt to become sprained 

 than those of the non-leading fore leg ; for, immediately 

 before the period of suspension, they have (on the contraction 

 of their muscles) not only to help in raising the fore hand by 

 the straightening of the fetlock (Fig. 144), but have also to 

 overcome the resistance which the soil offers to the withdrawal 

 of the foot from its surface. 



In the fast gallop the horse has never, or perhaps only for 

 a very brief period, more than two feet on the ground. At 

 that pace, suspension is obtained more by *' doubling up " the 

 legs, than by raising the body off the ground. 



A horse galloping at speed sometimes brings the toe of 

 the advanced fore foot in front of the end of the muzzle, as we 



