FILLED LEGS — FIRING 



his knees sufficiently, the result being that he covers very 

 little ground. (See Action^ 



Filled Legs are usually caused by over-feeding, or the 

 want of exercise, the limbs swelling suddenly and becoming 

 very tender and stiff. Young horses, and those which are 

 run down by overwork, are peculiarly liable to this form 

 of trouble. 



Treatjuent. — A diuretic and gentle exercise will usually 

 effect relief. (See Diuretics, Monday Morning Evil.) 



Fillet String. — The ornamental cord which passes behind 

 the thighs about midway between the tail and the hocks to 

 connect the two sides of the quarter-piece. (See Clothing.) 



Filly. — A young maiden mare, the term usually being 

 applied to such until she is a four-year-old. 



Finnish Horses. — (See Swedish Horses.) 



Firing is an operation which may be successfully con- 

 ducted as a means of strengthening back tendons, or in the 

 treatment of spavin, in addition to which some owners, 

 particularly hunting men, have their horses fired as a pre- 

 cautionary measure in the hope of preventing a break-down 

 from one of the above causes, whilst others prefer to adopt 

 the milder treatment of blistering, but the operation should 

 be left to a professional man to carry out. In the face of 

 this assertion it may appear unnecessary to point out that 

 the irons are often applied with unnecessary severity. 

 Excepting in very extreme and rare cases there is nothing 

 to be gained by inflicting gratuitous punishment on the 

 horse by deep-firing. If the lines are regular, about half 

 or three quarters of an inch apart, and not unnecessarily 

 deep, the object of the operation will have been achieved and 

 the horse's appearance will not be affected more than is 

 absolutely necessary. Puncture firing, if properly carried 



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