Giant Ryan

[MO]

http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/racing-news/2012/06/14/giant-ryan-euthanized.aspx

He did not survive..........

[sighthound]

Terribly sad news.  My condolences to the connections.

[sighthound]

Sesamoids are integral to the somewhat complicated suspensory apparatus, running down the back of the leg, that keeps the ankle-pastern from hyperextending during stance phase/weight-bearing.  

Below the sesamoid bones (below ankle), there is no stretch to the ligaments that anchor the base of the suspens. apparatus.  Above the sesamoids (lower leg, back of cannon bone) there is some give.  

When you have an unfit horse, they tend to injure the tendons/ligaments above the sesamoid bones.  When you have a fit, hard horse, if something blows, it\'s usually the sesamoid bones shattering/breaking apart as the \"weakest link\" in the suspensary apparatus.

It\'s physics.

[sighthound]

Not exactly.  Same area, \"the ankle\".  Barbaro shattered the upper pastern bone, Giant Ryan broke the two small sesamoid bones at bottom back of cannon bone.