Falling Into the Ring (Falling In the Circle)
[Training] A horse is said to fall into the ring when being schooled it tends to drift toward the center of the ring rather than maintain a fixed course along the border of the ring. This may be the result of a natural tendency on the part of the horse and also the rider not employing sufficient aides to hold the horse on course. Beginning riders often lack the strength in their legs to prevent a horse from falling into the ring.
Farrier
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[Equine Professional] A blacksmith, who specializes in shoeing horses and caring for horses' feet. Most owners defer to trained professionals but some do their own shoeing. Poor shoeing can result in a lame horse.
Far Turn
[Horse Racing] The far turn is one of the four sections of an oval race track and is the second turning section, which that follows the straight backstretch section and leads to the homestretch section and finish line.
Feathers
[Anatomical Term and Breed Characteristic] Long tufts of hair running up the leg from the fetlock and found in many breeds of draft horses..
Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI)
[Equestrian Sport Organization] The Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI) is the French official name for what is named in English as the International Federation for Equestrian Sports. They set standards for International competition and rules for the care and safety and the horses involved in the competition. A number of well-known individuals with an interest in equestrianism have served as its president, including Prince Philip, Princess Anne, and Princess Haya bint Al Hussein of Jordon but only once has it had an American has its president.
Fence Line
[Pasture Management] The Fence line is the that path pasture fencing follows. The ground directly under it has an ecology distinct from the rest of the pasture and it deserves special consideration. While the rest of the pasture can be easily mowed to suppress weeds, the region along the fence is more difficult to care for. Without care the fence line soon resembles a weed, tree and shrub line. Neglect creates situations that the fence itself can deteriorate more quickly than a well-maintained one, aesthetics aside. Birds will sit on fence lines and their excrement adds seeds of local plants to the area. Fence lines soon becomes a haven for a wide variety of unwanted plants and perhaps ones toxic to horses. I try to regularly use a weed trimmer along the fence line and on occasion uproot persistent weeds and scrubs. A word to the wise, watch out for yellow jackets.
Fetlock
[Anatomical Term] The metacarpophalangeal joint of a horse's leg between the cannon bone and the pastern, which corresponds to the human upper knuckle in the hand. It bears a tuft of hair.
Field Master
[Fox Chasing] The field master is a staff member of a hunt responsible for conducting the field of hunt members and their guests on the hunt. A field master's presence allows the master to be up ahead and more fully concentrate on the hounds. Protocol demands that members not ride past the field master and certainty never pass the master.
Finial Halt
[Dressage] At the close of a dressage test the rider ends facing the judges and brings the horse to a straight, four-square stop, holding the position for a few moments and then salutes the judges.
Fistulous Withers
[Veterinary Medicine] An inflamed and draining chancel developing from inflammation and infection in the supraspinous bursa in the withers area, usually the result of poor fitting tack.
Fitch Metal Curry Comb
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Fixture
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[Fox Chasing] A fixture is a notice delivered to hunt members that announces hunt dates and places and constitutes an invitation to hunt. The term is also used for the venue of the particular hunt.
Flag
[Vaulting] The flag is a vaulting compulsory competition move in which the rider poses on resting on one knee with the other leg stretched out to the back and the opposite arm extended forward on the moving horse's body.
Flank
[Vaulting] The flank is a vaulting compulsory competition move in which the rider dismounts by swinging up into the air and releasing to land on the feet.
Flocking
[Saddle Component] Flocking is amorphous wool fiber used to pad contact points inside a saddle. Specialized tools allow flocking to be reintroduced to alter an older saddle's fit.
Floating of Horse's Teeth
[Equine Dentistry] Floating is a procedure that removes irregular sharp edges or hooks from the occlusal surfaces of horses' teeth. Over time these form with grazing and can interfere with the animal's nutrition. A device with rasp-like teeth that can be hand-held or electric powered is used, often in conjunction with a speculum-like apparatus, keeping the mouth open. Many horses required mild sedation to perform the procedure, which is not that lengthy.
Flying Change
[Dressage] During a flying change the horse is signaled to execute a lead change while in in the air between two strides. This might be continued in a series with each stride and referred to as tempi changes. It is difficult to execute and indicative of a skilled rider and well-schooled horse.
Flying Pace
[Equestrian Gait] The flying pace is the storied 5th gait of the Icelandic horse that only certain Icelandics can consistently preform. It is a very fast gait in which where a horse can go up to about 45 km/h for a short distance.
Founder
[Veterinary Medicine] Founder or laminitis is an inflammatory condition of the laminae of the hoof in horses. There are many potential causes but ingestion of excessive amounts of grain or being placed on a rich pasture is a common situation. Ponies are particularly susceptible. The affected animal may run a fever and avoids bearing direct weight on the involved limb. The hoof is warm to the touch and applied pressure pressure produces pain. An animal may recovery from a mild case but the prognosis is poor in more severe cases. Founder is best prevented.
Forehand
[Anatomy] That part of a horse that is situated in front of the position of the rider.
Forelock
[Anatomy] A tuft of hair growing forward from the mane between a horses ears. This covers part of the forehead and his useful when a horse stakes its head to discourage flies. It was customary to clip it off with certain breeds.
Forging
[Gait Problem] Forging occurs when a shod horse strikes its front shoe with the back one while at a trot or pace. It can corrected by corrective shoeing by a farrier.
Four-in-Hand
[Driving] A four-in-hand is a carriage or coach, drawn by a team of four horses and having the reins that it can be used by a solo driver. It also describes the act of driving such a carriage.
Forward Seat (Jumping Seat)
[Basic Riding] The forward seat is one of three principle seat positions in riding. A rider sitting in a forward seat is carrying weight forward and just behind the horse's withers as opposed to the classical seat in which the weight is carried farther back and more over the spine. English saddles variations are designed either for forward or classic seat riding. The forward seat is useful in more athletic riding; such as, jumping and used in fox chasing. The classical seat, also called the equitation position, is used in dressage.
Fox Chasing
[Fox Chasing] In our era of exploding euphemisms what was known as fox hunting is often now referred to as fox chasing and I am using that term. Fox chasing may be a more accurate name as participants are more interested in a good chase than catching a fox and some hunts will use an artificial scent trail rather than hunt a actual fox. Even so, it is still true that hounds may rarely corner and kill a fox before the staff can intervene. The original intent of fox hunts was to rid the countryside of what were considered vermin and my neighbors still lose a lot of domestic fowl to foxes, coyotes and raccoons. I figure such is the way of nature and who am I to keep chickens anyhow.
French Link Snaffle Bit
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[Equine Equipage] A type of multi-jointed snaffle bit that has a additional central mouthpiece link consisting of a smooth metal plate that distributes the load in the region of the tongue. Unlike the similar Doctor Bristol snaffle, the French link's mouthpiece is in the plane of the bit rather than at an angle. It is considered to be a mild bit for the horse
Friesian Horse
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[Equine Breed] Friesians are native to the Friesland, a province of the Netherlands. They generally are of a solid black color but rarely are chestnut. Except for the occasion animal that has a small white forehead star they should have no white markings of any kind. They have finely formed heads and arched necks and are strongly built, energetic in their movements and often with elegant flowing manes and tails.
Frog
[Equine Anatomy] The frog is a triangular area of softer tissue located toward the back of the bottom of a horse's hoof, It acts as a shock absorber and also serves to force blood return from the horse's leg when the horse is moving. If the human nail is like the horse's hoof, the very tip of the finger would be the frog. When picking a horse's hoof foreign matter should be carefully removed between the the horn and the frog.
Full Cry
[Fox Chasing] A fox hound pack running on a strong scent and often loudly crying out is in full cry.