A tendinous structure that contains a few muscle fibres. It is located just behind the cannon bone dorsal to the deep digital flexor tendon. It originates from the most proximal part of the palmar/plantar canon and to a lesser extent from the distal carpal/tarsal bones. Approximately two thirds of the way down the cannon bone, it divides into two branches, these insert onto the upper part of the proximal sesamoid bones. The suspensory ligament prevents the fetlock joint from hyperextending during loading.

Originating from each side of the ligament, extensor branches run from the abaxial surface of the respective sesamoid bone obliquely in a dorso-distal direction and join the extensor tendon at the level of the pastern joint.