100 HANDBOOK OF THE TUKF. 



the frog was intended as a protection to the inner part of the 

 foot, and that it ought not, therefore, to touch the ground. 

 This led to the practice of making the heel of the shoe high in 

 order to protect the frog ; but now the shoe is so set that the 

 frog is allowed to touch the ground, its true function being to 

 destroy the shock of concussion and prevent slipping. 



The flog, on botli hard and soft ground, is an essential portion of the 

 Aveigiit-bearing face. In the unshod, liealtliy foot jt always projects 

 beyond the level of the sole, and sel<lon» below that of the wall at 

 the heels; indeed, it is found, in the majority of hoofs, either on a 

 level with the circumference of this part, or beyond it, so tliat its 

 contact with the ground is assured. Hence its utility in obviating 

 concussion, supporting the tendons, and, on slii)pery ground, in 

 preventing falls. In ])u]li]ig up a horse sharply in the gallop, or in 

 descending a steep hill, the frog, together with the angular recess 

 formed by the bar and wall at the heel of the hoof, are ennnently 

 serviceable in checking the tendency to slip; the animal instinc- 

 tively i^lants the posterior portions of the foot, exclusively on the 

 ground.— Horse Shoes and Horse Shoeing, George Fleming, LL. D., 

 M. R. C. V. S. 



[Law.] Unt il the frogs become bad or troublesome, or the heels become 

 tender or fleshy, they should not be considered an unsoundness; 

 but when the original structure of the frog has become so altered as 

 to be perpetually tender, rendering the horse liable to drop at any 

 step, he IS then unsound. — The Law of Horses, M. D. Hanover. 



Full 131oocl. An animal of pure blood. Usually syn- 

 onymous with thoroughbred, although it is far from correct to 

 so use the term as applied to horses. 



Full Month. At from four and a half to five years of 

 age the horse has what is termed a " full mouth," that is to say 

 — the mouth is complete ; the incisive arch is semicircular and 

 regular in shape ; the temporary teeth or nippers are all shed ; 

 all the permanent teeth hav^e reached the same level, and while 

 the anterior borders of the corner teeth are completely worn, 

 the posterior borders are not yet worn. 



Fullering". That crease in the lower face of a horseshoe 

 in which the nail holes are placed ; often called " twitcheling." 



Furlong-. A measure of length equal to the eighth part 

 of a mile ; forty rods, j)oles or perches ; two hundred and 

 twenty yards. 



Furnishings. The appointments of a stable pertaining 

 to the horse and his service, embracing harness, saddles, cloth- 

 ing, robes, whip, bridles, boots, bandages, sponges, and stable 

 tools, but not including vehicles. See Devices. 



Furniture. The fixtures to a riding saddle, including 

 stirrups, girths, and surcingle witn steel bridge. 



Futurity; Futurity Stakes. A future event. A 

 term applied to stakes to be decided in the remote, future, gen- 

 erally speaking from one to three years after the event is opened 

 for entries ; and the usual custom is to call such stakes, espe- 

 cially where opened for young horses, " futurity stakes." 



