Traditional treatment of leg injuries, now dying out in the face of claims of cruelty. The skin is burned with a red-hot iron. Penetration varies from superficial to deep tissue and causes scar tissue to form hardening the area; usually carried out under general or local anaesthesia.
Line Firing - lines or bars are burned into the skin surrounding the flexor tendons and continue at intervals for the length of the tendon.
Pin/Point Firing - individual pin marks made around joints or over the tendons. In all cases rest is needed after treatment, it can be up to a year depending upon the severity of the injury and whether the horse is required to do fast work. It is open to question whether the firing or rest cures the initial injury.
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Contributors:
Jan
Fistulous Withers
An abscess in the region of the withers. Caused by a wound at the top of the spine.
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Contributors:
Jan
Flank
The side of the body of a horse between the ribs and the hip.
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Contributors:
Stephanie Minuzzo
Flash Noseband
Is a cavesson noseband to which a 'drop' strap is attached. This noseband enables a standing martingale to be used as well. The 'drop' strap fits as per a drop noseband. A Standing Martingale should always be attached to the cavesson part of the noseband never to the 'drop'.
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Contributors:
Jan
Flat
Bones are for protection and/or muscle attachment. For example the bones of the skull which protect the brain and parts of the ears, eyes and nasal passage. Along with the lower jawbone, which also houses the teeth
Jumping - the horse does not lower his head and neck or round his back (i.e. jumps like a stag).
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Contributors:
Jan
Flat Walk
A pace demonstrated by the Tennesee Walking Horses. Involves 4 hoof beats. Slower than the Running Walk.
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Contributors:
Katie
Flatworms
Come in two different forms: - Liver fluke and Tapeworm both live in the horse's bowl.
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Contributors:
Jan
flehmen
When a pony curls its lip in response to an unusual taste or smell.
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Contributors:
Rachael
Flehmen Posture
Extending the head and neck and curling the upper lip. Seen in sexually aroused stallions, during colic and in mares in first stage of labour.
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Contributors:
Jan
Flesh Marks
Are areas where the skin has no pigment, i.e. on a dark skinned horse they show as pink skin, often sensitive to sunlight and sunburn.
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Contributors:
Jan
Flexor
Muscle or tendon that flexes a joint. Opposite of extensor.
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Contributors:
Jan
Fluke
A parasite of the liver belonging to the Trematoda group. The fluke worm of sheep and cattle can live in other animals including horses.
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Contributors:
Jan
Foal
A baby male or female horse
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Contributors:
Megan
Fodder
Colloquial term for any type of foodstuff fed to horses.
