Copy of `Discover Horses - Equine glossary`

The wordlist doesn't exist anymore, or, the website doesn't exist anymore. On this page you can find a copy of the original information. The information may have been taken offline because it is outdated.

Discover Horses - Equine glossary Category: Agriculture and Industry > Horses and equine pursuits Date & country: 27/01/2014, USA Words: 125

Warmblood
a general term for European breeds of sport horses. Examples include Dutch Warmblood, Hanoverian, and Holsteiner.

Welsh Pony
a pony originating in Wales; excellent for riding and commonly used as a children

withers
the bony point at the base of the neck, just in front of where the saddle rests. Horses are measured from the top of the withers to the ground.

working cow horse
a judged event in which the horse-and-rider pair must perform tasks related to cattle herding, plus a reining pattern. Also called reined cow horse.

vaulting
gymnastic maneuvers performed on the back of a cantering horse.

walk
the slowest gait, consisting of four beats.

walk-trot class
a class for beginning riders in which only the walk and trot (and not the canter, or lope) are called for.

trot
the two-beat gait between the walk and the canter.

topline
the outline of a horse from the top of his head to the top of his tail.

tacking up
saddling and bridling a horse.

Thoroughbred
an English breed tracing to three Arabian sires. The world

stirrups
the part of the saddle that supports a rider

tack
the gear used on a horse, e.g. saddles, bridles.

stirrup leathers
the straps connecting the stirrups to an English saddle; also known as

star
a white patch on a horse

stallion
an unaltered male horse four years of age or older.

snaffle bit
a bit with a jointed mouthpiece and rings at the ends; works first on the corners of the mouth. Less severe than a curb bit.

spooky
easily startled. A spooky horse is not suitable for a beginning rider of any age.

showmanship
an in-hand class in which the Western handler is judged on his/her ability to present the horse effectively to the judge.

shying
responding to a sound, movement, or object by suddenly jumping to the side or running off. A horse that shies a lot is said to be

roping
a timed event in which the Western rider must chase and rope a steer.

school horse
an experienced, usually older horse used as a lesson mount; also called lesson horse. Good school horses make wonderful first mounts, but they are rarely for sale.

schooling show
a

Shetland Pony
smallest of the pony breeds, originating in the Shetland Islands.

show jumping
a timed event in which the English horse-and-rider pair must negotiate a course of fences without knocking any part of them down.

ring sour
the attitude of a horse that doesn

reined cow horse
a judged event in which the Western horse-and-rider pair must perform tasks related to cattle herding, plus a reining pattern. Also called working cow horse.

reining
a judged event in which the Western horse-and-rider pair perform a pattern of circles and straight lines, with sliding stops and spins in place.

reins
the leather lines that attach to the bit and are held in the rider

riding sneakers
athletic-styled shoes designed specifically for riding, with steel reinforcement and an adequate heel.

pulling back
a bad habit in which the horse pulls back violently on the lead rope when tied, potentially injuring himself and anyone around him.

Quarter Horse
A well-muscled, good-tempered, versatile breed that

Quarter Pony
a pony of Quarter Horse type and disposition; commonly used as a children

rearing
the raising up of a horse onto its hind legs when being led or ridden; a bad habit that should be handled only by a professional.

pre-purchase exam
the process of having a veterinarian check your prospective horse or pony for health and soundness; also called a vet check or

pommel
the front, top part of a saddle. The pommel of an English saddle is arched; that of a Western saddle bears a horn.

pony
any equine that measures under 14.2 hands (58 inches) from its withers to the ground. Pony classes at hunter/jumper shows may be divided into small (under 12.2), medium (under 13.2), and large (under 14.2).

Pony of the Americas (POA)
A pony breed created by crossing Shetland ponies with Appaloosa horses; generally sporting Appaloosa coat patterns. POAs are commonly used as children

posting
rising and sitting in the saddle at the trot, in rhythm with the horse

poll
the bony bump between a horse

pole bending
a timed event in which contestants must weave in and out a line of poles.

Pinto
A horse or pony of varying type, with a two-toned body color (generally large blocks of white), registered with the Pinto Horse Association of America, Inc. A pinto (lower case) is any horse or pony with a two-toned coat.

playday
an informal competition featuring speed events and games, such as pole bending and trotting race.

pleasure
a judged event in which the horse

Paint Horse
a horse, usually of stock type, registered with the American Paint Horse Association; it has a two-toned body color (white patches and areas over the base color).

pastern
the part of the horse

pelham
a one-piece English bit equipped to handle four reins; a sort of

pen
an outdoor enclosure large enough for a horse to walk around in; smaller than a paddock.

off side
the right side of the horse.

paddock
a small pasture or enclosure; larger than a pen.

near side
the left side of the horse (from which traditionally most handling, and mounting, is done).

Morgan
a breed descending from one prepotent sire, Justin Morgan of Vermont. Sturdy and compact, with active gaits.

mouth, hard or soft
describes the horse

mucking out
removing manure and soiled bedding from a stall or pen.

medal class
an equitation class over fences.

martingale
a piece of equipment designed to effect a horse

loafing shed
a three-sided shelter, in a pasture or paddock, which a horse can enter at will for protection from the elements.

longe
to work a horse on a long line (up to 30 foot or more) in a circle around you (rhymes with

lope
a slow canter performed by Western horses.

mare
a female horse four years of age or older.

markings
white areas on a horse

laminitis
a serious disease affecting the hooves, often caused by eating too much grain or green grass; especially problematic for ponies. Also called founder.

lead
a pattern of footfalls at the canter in which the legs on one side of the horse, front and back,

lead-line class
a class for the youngest children in which all mounts are lead by an adult or older child.

leg up
a boost into the saddle, given by someone standing next to the rider and grasping her lower left leg with both hands as the rider bends her leg at the knee.

Kimberwicke
an English bit that combines snaffle rings with a mild curb-bit action.

jodhpurs
ankle-length, fitted English riding pants worn with ankle-high jodhpur boots. This ensemble is popular among young riders.

jog
a slow trot performed by Western horses; also the term for the in-hand evaluation for soundness in hunter classes at some large shows.

jumper class
a class in which the English horse-and-rider pair must negotiate a course of fences; only knock-downs and time penalties count (as opposed to a hunter class, in which proper form is judged).

hand
the unit of measurement for determining the height of horses and ponies. One hand equals four inches; thus a 14.3-hand horse is 59 inches tall from his withers (bony point between the neck and back) to the ground.

hock
the large, angular joint halfway up a horse

horn
the part of a Western saddle that extends up from the pommel (front), around which a rope may be wrapped and secured.

hunter class
a judged class in which the English horse-and-rider pair must negotiate a course of fences with willingness, regularity, and style.

halter class
an event in which horses are led in hand and judged on the basis of their conformation.

halter
the headgear with which a horse is led; made of leather, synthetic webbing, or rope.

green
inexperienced; may be applied to a horse of any age having limited training, or a rider. The old horseman

ground training
schooling of the horse from the ground, rather than from the saddle. Includes in-hand work and longeing.

gymkhana
competitions offering timed obstacle classes and games such as barrel racing and pole bending.

hackamore
a bitless bridle; control comes from the pressure of the noseband on the bridge of the horse

grade horse
one not registered with a breed association, and usually not a purebred.

gaits
the different ways in which a horse travels, including walk, trot, canter, and gallop. So-called

gallop
the fastest gait; it consists of four beats followed by a moment of suspension.

garters
leather straps that buckle under the knee to keep jodhpur pants from riding up.

gelding
a castrated male horse.

girth
the leather or fabric band that secures an English saddle to the horse. (The Western equivalent is a cinch.)

flank
the sensitive area of a horse

forehand
a horse

founder
a serious disease affecting the hooves, often caused by eating too much grain or green grass; especially problematic for ponies. Also called laminitis.

frog
the dense, shock-absorbing, triangular growth on the underside of the hoof.

gaited horse
one possessing a gait beyond the natural walk, trot, and canter; gaited breeds include the American Saddlebred, Icelandic, Missouri Fox Trotter, Paso Fino, Peruvian Paso, Tennessee Walking Horse.

fetlock
the joint just above the hoof that seems like an ankle (although it doesn

eventing
a sport, also called combined training, in which English horse-and-rider pairs compete in dressage, cross-country jumping, and jumping in an arena.

farrier
a person who trims and shoes horses

equitation
the art of riding. Equitation classes are judged on the rider

endurance riding
contests judged for speed and fitness of the horse over 25-, 50-, and 100-mile courses.

curb bit
a bit that uses sidepieces (

cutting
a judged event in which the Western horse-and-rider pair must cut one calf from a herd and keep it from returning to the herd.

diagonal
a pair of legs moving in unison at the trot (e.g. right front, left hind). A correctly posting rider (said to be

dressage
a French term meaning training. In the discipline of dressage, the English horse-and-rider pair execute gymnastic movements that highlight the horse

competitive trail riding
a sport in which English or Western riders negotiate a preset trail, and are judged on horsemanship and the fitness of their mounts, rather than speed.