by Paula Boer
Store cattle: Young cattle that are to be fattened for beef.
Strapper: A person who cares for horses, for example cleaning out stables and yards, feeding, grooming, rugging, and saddling.
Surcingle: A strap that prevents the cantle of the saddle from lifting up from the horse’s body. It is fastened looser than a girth.
Swag: A bedroll with a waterproof canvas covering used for
sleeping outdoors.
Tedder: A machine that spreads newly-mown hay for drying.
Thoroughbred: A breed of racehorse.
Travois: A primitive sledge consisting of a platform or netting supported by two long trailing poles, the forward ends of which are fastened to a dog or horse.
Turn on the forehand: This is a movement where the horse’s hindquarters move in a circle while the forehand remains in the same place. One hind leg crosses in front of the other. A clear walk rhythm and sequence is maintained throughout. During the turn, the horse’s forehand does not move forwards, sideways or backwards.
Turn on the hindquarters: This is a movement where the horse’s forehand moves in a circle while the hindquarters remain in the same place. One front leg crosses in front of the other. A clear walk rhythm and sequence is maintained throughout. During the turn, the horse’s hindquarters do not move forwards, sideways or backwards.
Twizzled: To twist a wire, or wires, to secure a fence. Also refers to anything caught up between two wires that have been twisted together.
Uni: An abbreviation for university.
Ute: An Australian utility (pick-up) truck with an open tray above the rear axle.
Walk up (to ask a horse to): To ask the horse to quicken and/ or lengthen its stride by engaging the hind quarters to provide more impulsion.
Warmblood: A type of horse resulting from crossing a hot blood with a cold blood.
Weaners: Calves that are old enough to be separated from their mothers.
Wedgie: A Wedge-Tailed Eagle.
Wether: A de-sexed male sheep grown for meat.
Whicker: A soft horse call.
Whinny: A loud, shrill horse call.
White rainbow: A rainbow made from ice crystals rather than raindrops which is totally white.
Windrow: A line of material such as hay, grain or logs, pushed together to dry.
Withers: The highest part of a horse’s back at the base of the
neck and between the shoulder blades.
Willy-willy: A small whirlwind that picks up dust and leaves and cuts a path across open spaces.
Wrangler: A person employed to handle animals professionally, especially horses.
Yakka: Australian slang for work.
About the Author
Paula Boer has been a horse-lover since she learnt to ride at age nine. She has competed in many equestrian disciplines and successfully mustered and broken in brumbies. Paula combines her love of horses and writing by being a regular contributor to horse magazines and anthologies of animal stories. Her best selling Brumbies series is just one of her many exciting tales.
