Equine Dictionary

Horse and related terms

Chestnut - An overall yellowish-brown , with the mane and tail possibly the same colour.

• Against the clock - A term used in show jumping competitions in which the final round is timed. The winner is the competitor who has the least number of penalty points combined with the fastest time over fences.
• Aids - Recognized signals used by a rider to pass instruction to his mount. Artificial aids include whips , spurs and ancillary items of tack used by a rider to assist him in giving aids. Natural Aids are the riders hands , legs , body and voice.
• At Grass - A horse that has been turned out in a paddock or field.
• Bars ( Of the mouth ) - Fleshy area between the front and back teeth on wither side of a horse's mouth.
• Bay - A deep , rich , reddish-brown coloured horse , with black points ( mane , tail , ears , muzzle , legs ).
• Bit - Mouthpiece often made of metal , rubber or vulcanite placed in the horse's mouth and kept in position by the bridle to aid the rider's control.
• Bitless Bridle - Bridle without a bit , example - hackamore. Applies pressure to the nose and chin groove.
• Box - to lead a horse into a horse box or trailer.
• Break in - To train the young horse to accept and respond to a rider on his back.
• Broken Wind - Permanent disability to a horse's respiratory system manifesting in a chronic , persistent and rasping cough.
• Brushing - striking of the inside hind or foreleg with it's opposite. May lead to injury and lameness.
• Cantle - Extreme back ridge of a saddle.
• Cavalletti - Adjustable low wooden jump used in the schooling of horse or rider in jumping.
• Cavesson - the simplest version of a nose band.
• Chestnut - An overall yellowish-brown , with the mane and tail possibly the same colour.
• Colt - a male , ungelded horse up to four years old.
• Diagonals ( left , right ) - A rider rides on the left or right diagonal at the trot depending on whether he rises as the horse's left or right foreleg moves forward.
• Dorsal Stripe - Darkened line running along the horses dorsal ridge ( it's back ).
• Double bridle - Traditional bridle with two bits ( snaffle and curb ) giving the rider greater control than a bridle with one bit.
• Draw Reins - Severe form of control comprised of reins attached at one end of the girth , which passes through the bit rings and back to the rider's hands ( forcing the horse to adapt an unnatural position )
• Dressage - the art of training a horse so that he is totally obedient and responsible to his rider , as well as agile and fluent in his porformance.
• Drop noseband - Noseband which buckles beneath the but to prevent the horse from opening it mouth.
• Dun - Generallt refers to a yellow coat with black points ( mane , tail , muzzle , ears , legs ) and a dorsal Stripe.
• Equitation - the art of riding and horsemanship.
• Eventing - Riding in a one to three day event. Includes dressage , cross country amd show jumping.
• Farrier - A skilled craftsman who shoes horses.
• Filly - A female horse up to the age of four years old.
• Foal - A horse of either sex up to the age of one year old.
• Gait - The paces at which a horse moves . Walk , trot , canter, gallop , rein back.
• Gelding - a castrated male horse.
• Grackle ( or figure eight ) Noseband - Thinstrapped noseband with double straps buckling above and below the bit.
• Grey - Refers to any colour horse from white to dark grey.
• Ground line - Pole or similar placed in front of a fence to help horse and rider judge the take-off point.
• Hand - The recognized measurement used for determining  the height of a horse or pony. A hand is equal to 4 inches.
• Horse box - Self - propelled vehicle used for the transportation of horses.
• Horsemanship - The art of equitation or horse riding.
• Impulsion - Strong but controlled forward movement in a horse.
• Jog - Western style term for trot.
• Jumping lane ( or shoot ) - A narrow track , usually fenced on either side in which a series of jumps are placed.
• Keeper - Small leather loops found on the straps of a bridle, designed to contain the end of the strap after it has been buckled , giving a neat appearance.
• Leg-up - someone assisting in mounting
• Lunge - The art of training a horse by directing it around in a circle while on a long lunge rein.
• Mare - A female horse over four years old.
• Nearside - The left hans side of a horse.
• Numnah - a saddle pad
• Offside - The right side of a horse.
• Palomino - The coat may be various shades of gold and the mane and tail light yellow to white.
• Pirouette - A dressage movement in which the horse pivots of the hind end and circle with it's forehand.
• Pommel - The front of the saddle.
• Pony - a Small horse that stands 14.2 HH or less.
• Quarter - Superficial grooming of stabled horses before taking them out for exercise.
• rein back - to instruct the horse to move backwards.
• Shy - Wherein a horse jumps to one side having been frightened bya real or imaginary phenomenon.
• Snaffle ( Bit ) - Aby one of a number of designs of bits that act on the corners or bars of the mouth, The bits takes only one pair of reins.
• Spurs - Small metal devices worn on the riders boots to help reinforce the leg aids.
• Tack - Comprehensive term for saddlery. A tack room is where tack is stored.
• Thoroughbred - Beautiful breed of horse , used mainly for racing , but is also a popular english horse and is even seen in the western discipline.
• Trailer - The transportation vehicle of one or two horses which is drawn behind another vehicle.
• Turn out - To put a horse out to grass or turn loose in a paddock.
• Vice - Any one of a number of bad habbits.
• Wisp - A coiled or woven rope of straw used in strapping a horse to massage the skin and muscles  and improve circulation.
• Yawing - When a horse continually opens it;s mouth and stretches it's head outwardds and down to the ground in an attempt to evade the bit.
• Yearling - A colt or filly between one and two years old.

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