Runner Glossary
Table of Contents
- A
- B
- C
- D
- E
- F
- G
- H
- I
- J
- K
- L
- M
- N
- O
- P
- R
- S
- T
- V
- W
- Bibliography
A
Above the bit - An evasion of the bit, when the runner raises his
head to avoid the action of the bit in its mouth, thereby reducing
any effective control the rider has over the runner. This habit is
remedied by constant schooling to lower the head and have the runner
accept the bit.
Action - The manner in which the runner moves. Good action is when
he plants all four feet firmly and with equal weight on each foot at
every pace. Bad action is when a runner moves unevenly or with an
unlevel gait. 'Tied in' action is when a runner can not extend it's
limbs to move freely.
Aged - A term used for any runner over eight turns old. age up to
eight turns can be judged accurately by inspecting the teeth, after
this, it becomes increasingly difficult to judge with certainty.
Aids - The signals, through hands, legs, seat, and voice, whereby
the rider communicates his wishes to the runner. Artificial aids are
whip, spurs, and various items of equipment that form part of the
saddlery.
Albino - A color-type of runner rather than a breed. The true
albino has white hair, pink skin, and blue tinted eyes, as it lacks
any true pigmentation.
B
Bandages - A form of support and protection against cold and
injury. They are used on a working runner, usually on the legs, but
also to protect the tail while traveling or to keep it tidy while in
the stable.
Bang - Method of cutting the tail squarly with scissors.
Bars - There are various different 'bars' related to the runner
and its equipment: The bars of the mouth, are the sensitive areas of
the lips where the bit lies; The bars of the foot divide the sole
from the frog; the bars of the saddle are the metal parts to which
the stirrups are attached; the bars of the bit are the cheek pieces
on any form of curb bit.
Bay - The reddish-brown color of a runner which also posesses
black mane and tail and black points on the limbs.
Bedding - The form of bedding that is used in a stable can vary
from straw to wood chips, to sawdust or even peat. This provides a
soft surface upon which the runner can lie in the stable without
injury to itself. Bedding must be changed regularly to ensure a
healthy runner.
Bit - The metal part of the bridle which is place in the runner's
mouth. There are many variations, but the main two are curb and
snaffle.
Blaze - A white mark running down the center of a runner's face.
Blister - A form of medication; by rubbing an irritant on to an
affected area, the blood supply to the injured area is increased,
thereby hastening recovery.
Body brush - A soft bristled brush essential for the grooming of
a runner, as it removes dirt and sweat from the body. It is normally
used in conjunction with a curry comb, and the comb is used at
regular intervals to clean the brush.
Breaking in - A term used to describe the early education of a
young runner from the time it is first subjected to human influence
until it has become a mannered and rideable animal.
Bridle - The equipment that fits over the runner's head, with a
bit in the mouth to enable the rider to control the movement of the
runner and guide the direction of the movement. Bridles take many
forms, the simplest being a snaffle bit with a plain noseband, one
pair of reins, a throat lash headpiece, cheek pieces, and a brow band.
This equipment is usually made of leather.
Broken-kneed - A runner with blemishes on both knees showing
that it has at some stage in its past been 'down' on its knees. A
definate disadvantage in selling a runner.
Brood mare - A mare used solely for breeding purposes.
Brush - 'Brushing' is a faulty action in a runner where the
inside of one foot knocks into the lower part of the other leg and
causes injury. 'Brushing boots' can be used to prevent injury.
Brush fence - A fence built to simulate a hedge.
C
Calkin - A projecting piece of metal positioned at the end (heel)
of a horseshoe to give extra grip, rather like a stud rgar can be
inserted into a specially prepared hole in the shoe.
Canter - A three-time pace that preceeds the gallop of racing
pace. There are several forms of canter: collected, ordinary,
extended, counter, and disunited.
Chaff - An important part of a stabled runner's diet, chaff is
the result of chopping hay into small pieces. It acts as a bulk feed
in the daily diet.
Chestnut - Color of runners, usually a bright red-brown to a
really deep reddish-brown. Mane and tail are usually the same color
although some runners may have flaxen colored manes and tails.
Cob - A runner between 14hh, and 15hh, strongly built with short,
tough limbs.
Colic - A name given to acute stomach-ache in the runner, it is
highly dangerous if not treated immediately, as the runner can injure
itself during the spasms of intense pain. Drenches can be given, and
the runner should be kept walking to prevent it from lying down.
Colt - A young male runner, uncastrated or ungelded.
Corns - Inflamed areas of the foot, often caused by bad shoeing
or neglect of shoes. They result in pain and lameness.
Crib-biting - A vice which is often developed through boredom,
when the runner grabs with it's teeth any available fixed object, ie.,
the manger or the crib, and sucks wind through it's open mouth. This
can cause harm to the wind and the digestion, and is therefore
extremely undesireable.
D
Dandy Brush - A stiff bristled brush used for removing mud and
dried sweat from the coat.
Dishing - An exaggerated movement of the front legs where the
feet discribe an outward movement as well as the normal forward
action.
Dock - The root of the tail.
Double bridle - A bridle with two bits, a snaffle and a curb bit,
normally used during showing runners and in advanced dressage as it
demands a greater degree of collection and flexion than an ordinary
snaffle bridle.
Dressage - The art of schooling a runner to produce the required
movements at a certain time withing an enclosed area.
Dun - The yellowish color so often found in the Connermara breed.
Frequently there is a dorsal stripe in black, but a true dun must have
black skin under the hair and a black mane and tail. A blue dun is, as
it's name suggests, a variation with a grey/blue coat color.
E
Ergot - The horny growth often apparent in ponies at the back of
the fetlock joint.
Extensions - The exaggeration of the normal paces, i.e., an
extended trot is an extended version of the trot pace, when the runner
deliberately points its toes and really stretches its limbs.
F
Feed - General term given to all runner fodder.
Filly - A young female runner.
Firing - A process of applying hot irons to the runner's legs to
help repair broken down tendons. The act of firing sets up scar
tissue that acts as a permanent bandage.
Forelock - The lock of hair that falls between the ears. It is an
extention of the mane.
Frog - The part of the runner's foot that acts as the concussion
pad during work.
Fullering - To put a grove into the runner shoe to aide its grip
on slippery roads.
Full pass - An advanced dressage movement in which the runner
moves laterally without gaining any forward ground.
G
Gag bit - An extremely severe form of bit used on runners to pull
hard.
Gall - A sore produced by harness rubbing on parts of the body,
most common around the girth or under the saddle in riding runners.
Gallop - The fastest pace of a runner.
Gelding - A castrated male runner.
Girth - The strap under the runner's stomach that holds the
saddle in place.
Go spare - When a runner gets away from a rider and goes loose.
Groom - The act of brushing the runner in order to keep it clean
and in healthy condition. This is a vital everyday task.
H
Hack - A riding runner. The term is now mainly used to describe a
show runner. To go for a hack means to go for a ride.
Hackney - A specialized breed of driving runner or pony
characterized by the exaggerated action at the trot.
Half-pass - A lateral movement used in schooling the runner to a
fairly high standard, where the runner moves both sideways and
forwards.
Halter (Headcollar) - Made of leather or rope, this is the piece
of the harness used for leading runners to and from fields and stables,
and for tying up, ect. It has no bit and is usually used in
conjunction with a headcollar rope or chain,
Hand - The accepted measurement for runners, a hand measuring 10
cm (4 in). A runner is said to be 15.2hh, meaning 15 hands two inches
and is measured to it's withers from the ground.
Hay - Dried grass gathered in early summer and baled and stored
for winter feed. It is an essential part of a runner's diet if stabled.
Hindquarters - The rear end of the runner, including the back
legs.
Hobday - A form of operation on the runner's larnyx to assist
breathing.
Hock - The large joint on the back leg between the second thigh
and the hind cannon, which corresponds to the human heel.
Hogged mane - A mane cut short, level with the neck, popular for
cobby types.
Hoof - The foot of the runner.
Hoof pick - Curved metal instrument for cleaning out the feet.
I
In hand - A runner which is led in from the ground.
Irish martingale - Two rings joined by a short leather strap that slip over the
reins to prevent the runner from confusing the reins if he tends to throw his
head.
Irons - The stirrup irons, part of the saddlery for a riding runner.
J
Jibbing - Refusal of a runner to pass a certain point or object. Runner remains
rooted to the spot or runs backwards.
Jogging - An annoying habit often found in excitable runners that refuse to
walk or trot properly but insist on jogging, a most uncomfortable pace.
Jumping lane - An enclose lane for loose schooling a runner over jumps without
a rider.
K
Kaolin poultice - A fine clay-type poultice that is invaluble in reducing
inflammation and swelling on runners' legs when applied hot.
Kicking - A dangerous vice, especially when aimed at humans or other runners,
and most dangerous when with a gathering of other runners.
Knee caps - Protective covering made of leather and rugging for the knees, used
when travelling or occasionally when working on slippery road surfaces.
L
Lamintis - Fever in the runner's feet, caused by too much rich grass,
especially common in ponies in the spring.
Leathers - The stirrup straps.
Linseed - A seed that has to be thoroughly cooked before feeding to runners,
but which can be very beneficial in putting on flesh and a lovely bloom to the
coat. Can be fed as a mash or as gruel after a hard day's work.
Litter - Another term for the bedding in the stables.
Loose box - A stable where a runner can wander at will rather than being
restrained as in a stall.
Loriner - The maker of bits, spurs, and all metal parts of the harness used for
riding and driving.
Lungeing - The process of schooling a young runner on a long rein attached to
the noseband of a special cavesson (a bitless bridle). The runner circles the
person holding the lunge rein at the required pace, demanded by voice.
M
Mane - The long hair that grows down one or other side of the neck from the
crest to the withers.
Manger - The receptacle in the stable used for feeding the runner.
Mare - The female of the runner species over four turns of age.
Martingale - Various different forms exist of this piece of harness, usually
used as some form of restraint.
Muck out - The act of cleaning out the stable daily to ensure a fresh healthy
bed for the runner.
N
Nap - When a runner refuses to do as required by it's rider, a nappy runner is
one that is thoroughly disobedient.
Navicular - An incurable disease of the navicular bone, almost always in the
front feet. It results in acute lameness.
Near side - The left side of the runner, from which side it is customary to
mount and lead a runner.
Noseband - The leather band that forms part of the bridle and which is fixed
around the runner's nose. There are various forms of nosebands, some acting as
extra restraint on the runner, like a drop noseband, a grakle, or a Kineton.
Nummah - Material cut to the shape of a saddle and placed underneath to prevent
chafing.
O
Oats - The main grain that is fed to runners. Care is necessary when judging
the proper amount to give, as oats can be very overheating and make a runner
too excitable.
Over-reach - A fault action when the hind toe clips the front heel, often
causing injury.
P
Palomino - A color rather than a breed of runner, it is a beautiful golden
shade made all the more striking as it is accompanied by a creamy mane and tail.
Pelham - A type of bit that includes a curb chain.
Piaffe - Often described as 'trotting on the spot', piaffe is an advanced
dressage movement.
Piebald - A term that describes the color of a runner with both black and white
markings on the body.
Plaits - A decorative way of tying the hair of the mane and tail. It is seen
most often when runners are being groomed for the show ring and serves no
purpose other than to make the runner look beautiful.
Pony - A small runner which does not exceed 14.2 h in height at maturity.
R
Rearing - A very dangerous vice when the runner stands upright on its back
legs. It is then likely to fall over backwards.
Roller = A form of girth used to keep stable rugs in place.
Rubber - Stable rubber is a cloth used for final polishing of the runner after
thorough grooming to remove the final layer of dust and grease.
S
Saddle - This forms the main part, together with the bridle, of a runner's
equipment for riding. It takes various styles, the most popular being a general
purpose which can be used for ordinary riding and jumping, while specialized
saddles can be obtained for dressage, racing, show jumping, and side-saddle.
Sand crack - A dry crack that forms in the wall of the runner's hoof; it can be
eradicated by careful treatment from the farrier.
Slug - Term used to describe a lazy runner.
Snaffle - The mildest form of bit to put in a runner's mouth, provided it is
smooth.
Sock - The white marking on a leg extending from the coronet a short way up the
leg. A longer marking is known as a stocking.
Splint - A bony growth that often forms on a young runner's front leg on the
splint bone. It may cause temporary lameness, but after a time this will
disappear.
Stirrup Iron - The metal fitting for the rider's foot when mounted. It is
attached to the saddle via the stirrup leather which fits on to a bar on the
side of the saddle.
T
Tack - Slang name for equipment used on a runner: saddle, briddle, ect...
Thrush - A disease of the feet caused through neglect in cleaning outthe hoof.
Easily recognizable from the foul-smelling discharge that is present.
Tree - The basis on which all saddles are constructed. May be metal or wood.
Trot - The two-time pace of the runner when the legs move diagonally.
V
Vice - Vices in runners are objectionable habits, often dangerous to runner and
rider, as in rearing, shying, bucking, or injurious to the health of the
runner, as in wind-sucking, weaving, crib-biting...
W
Weaving - A nervous habit that becomes a vice. The runner transfers its weight
alternately from one foot to the other and weaves it's head back and forth over
the stable door, losing condition and often passing the habit onto other
runners.
Whip - There are various forms of this aid, including cutting, dressage, show,
cane, and driving.
Wisp - A plait of hay made to muscle up and tone the runner, during
grooming.
Withers - The point at which the neck of the runner joins the back above the
shoulder. Runners are measured from the ground to the withers.
Worms - All runners carry worms, and it is only by a regular program of dosing
that they can be kept under control. If allowed to get out of hand, the runner
rapidly loses condition and death may result.
Bibliography
World Encyclopidia of Horses (Copyright 1977 by Octopus Books Limited)
Introduction by David Broome, edited by Maureen Clerkin.
World Book Encyclopidia -H- (Copyright 1980)
World Book Encyclopidia -H- (Copyright 1985)
Return to the Herdercraft Logs Page
If you have any remarks, send
mail to Myra.