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Word rarity: = commonly used = occasionally used = obsolete


Words with two dots are between categories.
Total words in this section: 38

FARM HARNESS

A simple, one-horse draft harness used in the 19th century and by the artillery from early days until about 1800 ad.

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FARRIER

A horseshoer; one who trim's horses feet and shoes them. Used to be called a 'blacksmith'.

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FARTLEK

A swedish word that roughly translates to "speed play". Fartlek is a type of conditioning that involves an assortment of anaerobic stress (quick work, such as sprints) and aerobic slow work mixed. This method is often used on endurance horses.

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FEATHERS

The long hair that grows on the horse's fetlocks. This is also called 'fetlock hair'. Some breeds of horses, like Gypsy Vanner and Friesians, exhibit long, flowing feathers. The purpose of feathers is to protect the back of the fetlock, and to direct water running down the horse's legs away from the bulbs of the heel, where it could cause sores.

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FEED

The term for hay or grain that is fed to horses (and livestock).

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FERAL

Roaming wild but not naturally wild; released from captivity. Most 'wild' horses are actually feral; a true wild animal is one that evolved in the wild. Mustangs, Brumbies, and Chincoteague ponies are all examples of feral horses. The Przewalski horse is the only living breed of wild horse.

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FETLOCK

The joint where the pastern and cannon bone meet; the first join above the hoof. Not just the actual joint, but the outer part of the horse's body surrounding it is called the 'fetlock'.

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FEWSPOT

An Appaloosa term; refers to a horse that has very little spotting.

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FIELDER

Term to describe a good horse that worked very hard and ate little.

FIGURE EIGHT NOSEBAND

See "GRAKLE NOSEBAND".

FIGURE EIGHT RACE

A Western event in which two poles are set up, and the horse must race around them in a figure-8 pattern. The fastest time wins.

FILING - HORSE HOOVES

Horse hooves are filed with a farrier's tool called a rasp -- it is like a human finger nail file, only much larger and made of textured metal. One side is more abrasive than the other, and either side may be used depending on the job. This is used by a farrier during shoeing, to take off rough edges and smooth the hoof down.

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FILLY

A female horse under the age of 4 years old.

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FIRING

A traditional way to treat leg injuries, but now seldom used because of cruelty claims. It involves burning the flesh and connective tissue with a red-hot iron, while the horse is under general or local anaesthesia. There is no evidence that this speeds healing or helps the horse; it could just be the pain causes the horse rest the injury, letting it heal. The stated purposes are to increase blood flow and promote healing; and to create scar tissue as a substitue for weakened connective tissue around tendons and joins. With line firing, lines are burned into the skin at intervals along a flexor tendong. With pin or point firing, points are burned around a joint or over tendons. With all firing, the horse is given rest after the treatment.

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FISTULOUS WITHERS

An abcess on the horse's withers. This differs from poll-evil only in location. It is caused when bacteria enter by a wound on the spine, or it can be caused by pressure from an ill-fitting saddle.

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FLANK

The area around the horse's midsection, where the horse's abdoment meets its hindquarters. On a human, this compares with the waist, below the ribcage but above the hip bone, where one wears a belt.

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FLANK STRAP

See "Bucking Strap".

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FLANK CINCH

See "BACK CINCH".

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FLASH NOSEBAND

A piece of English tack that is used under the bridle to prevent a horse from opening its mouth. It is a simple cavesson that has another 'dropped' loop that buckles around the horse's mouth.

FLAT

Flat bones are those that are for muscle attachment or protection. Some examples are the skull and lower jaw bones. Jumping- a horse that jumps like a deer, with a high head and flat back.

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FLAT RACE

A race without jumps.

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FLAT WALK

A gait of the Tennesee Walking Horse. Slower than a Running Walk, but faster than a regular walk. This is a 4-beat gait.

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FLATWORM

An equine parasite that lives in the bowel. There are two types-- liver fluke and tapeworm. They can be killed by deworming medications.

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FLEHMEN

When a horse curls its upper lip. Doing this will help a horse place or remember a new smell. Most often seen when a stallion smells a mare; it is thought that this helps him determine if the mare is in heat. Some horses, when exposed to a new or strange substance, a new medication, or a strong smell, will flehmen. Also, sometimes this is done by mares in the first stage of labor.

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FLESHY

A horse that is in good condition, with a good layer of fat over body. With any horse, a general rule is the ribs should not be seen, but it should be easy to feel them.

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FLOATING

Filing down sharp or overgrown teeth. Most older horses need their teeth floated once a year, otherwise the teeth may develop sharp edges, cutting the tongue and making eating difficult.

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FOAL

A baby horse or equine of any sex.

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FOAL HEAT

On the 7-9 day after giving birth, a mare will come in what is called foal heat. Some breeders will breed the mare then, so they can get a foal out of her as soon as possible, but it is not as safe as breeding her during her regular heat. Her reproductive may not have had enough time to get back into its normal infection resistance. Mares bred in foal heat have a lower conception rate and a higher abortion rate.

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FODDER

A term for horse feed; not used very often.

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FOREARM

The upper part of the horse's foreleg.

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FOREHAND

The front part of the horse; its neck, shoulders, and forelegs.

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FORELOCK

The lock of mane that falls between the ears and down the front of the horse's face.

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FORGING

Gaiting defect. When the toe of a horse's hind leg strikes the bottom of the front hoof, just as the front hoof is being lifted.

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FORK

See "POMMEL".

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FOUNDER

A serious form of Laminitis. This is an infection of the soft laminae of the hoof; it is a very painful lameness. Founder can be caused by a number of factors, including stress, hard ground, drinking cold water just after being worked, overeating rich food, hormonal imbalances, dirty or cold water, and retained placenta. In a foundered horse, the coffin bone may rotate; a severely foundered horse's coffin bone may even penetrate the hoof's sole.

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FOXGLOVE

A plant that is poisonous to horses.

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FREEZE BRANDING

This is a method of branding that is less stressful than hot-iron branding. An iron is cooled with liquid nitrogen, or alcohol & dry ice, then the animal is branded with it.

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FROG

The triangular-shaped pad on the bottom of the horse's hoof. This is made of 50% water and acts as a shock absorber.

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FULL MOUTH

A horse around the age of 6 who has all his permanent teeth.

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FUTURITY

An event for horses under a certain age; usually under 5 years of age. See also MATURITY.

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