Dutch Warmblood A European breed selectively bred as to excel in equestrian sports such as dressage and show jumping.
Eggbutt A type of snaffle bit with egg-shaped (slightly oval) rings to which the cheek pieces and reins of the bridle are attached.
Equitation A type of horse show class in which the rider’s form and riding ability are judged.
Equus Scientific term for the species known as horse.
Eventing A three-phase type of equestrian competition in which horses are tested in dressage, cross-country jumping (natural obstacles across varied terrain), and show jumping.
Farrier A person who trims the feet of and “shoes” horses.
Flake (of hay) One measured section from a bale of hay.
Flash noseband A type of bridle noseband used to help keep the bit steady in the horse’s mouth and hold the horse’s mouth closed, preventing evasion of the rein aids.
Flea-bitten gray A horse coat color that features small splotches of brown and black hairs among predominantly white hairs.
Flexion tests A diagnostic tool often used to test for joint pain (and related unsoundness) by holding the horse’s joint (commonly in the legs) in a tightly flexed position for one to two minutes and then having the horse trot off.
Float To remove sharp edges from a horse’s teeth by filing them with a rasp, enabling the horse to chew its food more efficiently.
Fly sheet An article of horse clothing designed to protect the horse from insects.
Flying change When a cantering horse changes his lead to the opposite canter lead without slowing to walk or trot.
Forward A term used to describe energetic movement or impulsion in the ridden horse.
Founder A term commonly used to describe the equine vascular disease of laminitis, which impacts the sensitive structures of a horse’s hooves. In advanced stages of laminitis, a bone within the horse’s hoof can actually detach, rotate, and/or sink, hence the term “founder.”
Frame (in a) When a horse is moving forward with energy in response to the rider’s leg and seat aids into a restraining hand, often assuming a desirable “profile” or appearance with a rounded topline and the nose positioned just in front of the vertical.
Frog The firm, resilient V-shaped “cushion” that sits in the center of sole of the horse’s foot and helps absorb the shock of concussion.
Galloping boots Horse clothing used during exercise to protect a horse’s lower legs from injury.
Gelding A neutered (castrated) male horse.
Girth The piece of tack that attaches to either side of the saddle and wraps under the horse’s belly, holding the saddle in place on the horse’s back.
Going large When a horse is ridden on the outer track of the riding arena around the entire riding space.
Gooseneck trailer A trailer that attaches to the bed of the hauling vehicle, rather than to the bumper.
Green Used to describe a horse in the early stages of training, when it is inexperienced and often lacking confidence.
Half chaps A type of chaps used by riders that begin below the knee and help keep the rider’s leg steady as well as offer some protection from chafing.
Half-halt A sequence of aids that ask a horse to adjust its balance in preparation for the rider’s request for a particular movement or transition.
Halter A headstall generally made of leather, nylon, or rope used to lead or otherwise control a horse.
Hand The four-inch unit of measure used to determine a horse’s height from the ground to its withers.
Hand gallop A controlled gallop, with a speed between canter and full gallop.
Heartgirth The distance around a horse’s body when measured just behind the withers.
Homebred A horse whose owner owned its dam at the time it was foaled.
Hot walkers Racetrack workers who walk horses to cool them out following exercise, or the mechanical machines used to serve the same purpose.
Hunter A horse used in the sport of foxhunting (field hunter) or one competed in horse shows (show hunter), where the horse is judged on its way of traveling on the flat and its form over fences.
Impulsion The energy in a horse’s forward movement.
In-and-out Two jumps placed in close proximity and jumped consecutively, with a specific number of strides between them.
Interfere When a horse hits one leg against another due to a faulty way of moving its legs.
Irons A common term for the rider’s stirrups, which are often made of metal.
Jigging A term that describes the up-and-down movement of a horse between a walk and trot, usually occuring when a horse is excited or nervous.
Jumper A horse competed in classes where the horse’s ability to jump fences cleanly in the shortest period of time determines the winner, while its form over fences isn’t considered.
Kimberwicke bit A shanked bit with minimal to mild curb action that is more severe (“stronger”) in a horse’s mouth than a snaffle bit.
Lead To walk a horse with the aid of a rope or lead shank, or the word used to describe the leg extending furthest in front when a horse is cantering. The lead leg is the last hoof to make contact with the ground during each canter stride. The rider is said to be on the “correct lead” when the lead leg matches the direction of travel (for example, the right leg when traveling on a circle to the right).
Leg-yielding When a horse moves laterally, traveling both forward and sideways when cued by the rider’s leg, seat, and rein aids.
Liver chestnut A deep shade of chestnut horse coat color.
Liverpool A jump with a ditch or tray of water under it.
Long and low The phrase used to describe the way a horse moves on a long rein with his head and neck stretched out before him; a movement often used to stretch the horse during warm-up.
Long in the tooth An expression meaning “getting along in years,” since horses’ teeth get longer as they age.
Longeing (lungeing) The exercising and/or training of a horse on a circle using a long lash (longe whip) and a long webbed line (longe line) that is attached to a sturdy headstall (see cavesson).
Martingale, standing A leather strap running from the bridle’s noseband between the horse’s front legs to the girth, used to prevent the horse from carrying its head too high and evading the rider’s rein aids.
Near side The horse’s left side.
Never started A phrase often used to describe a horse that was never in a race.
Off A term used to describe a horse whose way of traveling indicates lameness.
Off side The horse’s right side.
On the bit When a horse moves forward energetically from the rider’s leg into a supporting rein with a rounded topline and the nose positioned just in front of the vertical.
On the flat A phrase describing a horse’s ridden performance when it is not jumping.
OTTB An off-the-track Thoroughbred.
Oxer A spread jump featuring the challenge of both height and width.
Paddock boots A low, heeled boot worn by horseback riders.
Palomino A horse coat color that comes in varying shades of gold with a white mane and tail.
Pastern The portion of the horse’s lower leg that connects the ankle joint and the hoof.
Pinto A horse coat color featuring mainly white hairs with black or brown patches.
Polo wraps A type of bandage used to protect a horse’s legs during exercise.
Pony The term to describe a horse under 14.2 hands high, or a way of exercising a horse by leading it while riding astride a second horse.
Prince of Wales spurs A mild type of spur with a short neck (shank).
Pulled (mane) The term used to describe a horse’s mane that has been thinned and shortened by selectively removing the longer hairs.
Quarter Horse A popular breed of horse developed in the United States and commonly used for ranch work, racing, and both English and Western pleasure riding.
Rasp A metal file used to reduce the points on a ho
rse’s teeth; also the name for the tool used to file down a horse’s hooves.
Revet A way of stabilizing a bank often used in the construction of cross-country obstacles.
Roll-top jump A solid jump with a rounded top.
Run up (stirrups or irons) When the stirrup iron is slid to the top of the stirrup leather as a way of stabilizing the stirrup on the saddle. Usually done when the rider is walking beside the horse, as it prevents a low-hanging stirrup from catching on doors and fences, for example.
Running out When a horse runs to the side of a jump at the last moment to avoid jumping it.
Saddlebred An American breed of horse known for its flashy, animated gaits.
Schooling figures Movements horses are asked to perform on the flat when being trained.
Scribe A person who assists a dressage judge during a dressage test by writing scores and comments on a test sheet as the judge dictates.
Shank The chain on the end of a shank lead, which can be attached over the horse’s nose for greater control, or the side pieces of a curb-type bit, or the neck of a spur.
Sheet An item of horse clothing lighter than a horse blanket, usually used in milder conditions or to protect the horse from rain.
Shipping boots An item of horse clothing used to protect the horse’s legs when it is being transported.
Simple change When a cantering horse changes his lead after first slowing to a trot or a walk (see flying change).
Sire A horse’s father (stallion).
Snaffle The simplest and mildest type of horse bit, which is usually jointed in the middle.
Snip A small grouping of white hairs on the front of the horse’s muzzle.
Sound Term used to describe a horse free of lameness or other conditions that would compromise its ability to perform.
Sport horse A horse used for equestrian competitions or recreational purposes.
Spurs An artificial aid attached to the rider’s boots to accentuate the leg aids.
Stall walking A vice demonstrated by a horse excessively moving around in its stall.
Stallion A male horse used for breeding purposes.
Standards (jump) The structures on the sides of a manmade jump that support the horizontal rails.
Star A grouping of white hairs on a horse’s forehead.
Stocks An enclosure used to constrain a horse, usually used to assist a farrier or vet.
Stride A single coordinated movement of the four legs of a horse, completed when the legs return to their initial relative position.
Sweet feed A palatable horse feed containing various grains plus molasses.
Tack up To saddle and bridle a horse in preparation for riding.
Thoroughbred A breed of horse used for racing at a gallop.
Transition A change from one gait to another.
Triple bar A type of spread fence that includes three sets of standards and rails.
Trot The second gait of the horse’s three main gaits, which include the walk, trot, and canter. The trot has two beats, and is faster than the walk but slower than the canter.
Tucked up The phrase commonly used to describe when a horse’s flank area is tight and contracted following hard exercise or dehydration.
Twitch A device placed on a horse’s sensitive upper lip to restrain it.
Two-point position When a rider lifts his or her seat slightly out of the saddle, leaving his legs and hands in communication with the horse.
Tying-up A muscular disorder occurring in horses usually following stressful exercise or dietary changes, which can cause painful muscle and kidney damage.
USEA The United States Eventing Association.
Vertical jump A jump with height but not width.
Vice An undesirable horse behavior, such as cribbing, weaving, and stall walking.
Walk The slowest of the horse’s three main gaits, which include the walk, trot, and canter. The walk has four beats.
Weaving A vice demonstrated by a horse swinging its head and neck from side to side while shifting its weight from one front leg to the other.
Withers The highest part of a horse’s back located at the base of its neck.
Wolf tooth A tooth sometimes appearing in the horse’s mouth in the area directly above the bars; generally removed to prevent problematic contact with the bit.
Points of the Horse
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Linda Snow McLoon was that girl who always wanted a horse of her own but had to wait until she was an adult for her dream to come true. She and her horse Bayberry competed in horse shows, dressage competitions, and horse trials. Linda taught young riders as a U.S. Pony Club Affiliate Coordinator of Instruction, and along the way bred and raced Thoroughbred racehorses. She lives in Portland, Maine. You can get in touch with Linda and find out more about the Brookmeade Young Riders Series by visiting www.lindasnowmcloon.com.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Jennifer Brandon is the painter, illustrator, and graphic designer behind Jaché Studio. Her passion is to share with you a piece of a beautiful moment through the medium of paint. Jen offers original and custom oil paintings, where the personality of each horse, person, or pet is expressively depicted and the energy of the moment is relived through the medium of paint. Visit Jaché Studio on Facebook and view more of Jen’s work at www.jachestudio.com.
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