Glossary of horse terms:
RidingWalk – the slowest gait. Has four beats to a stride
Trot – the gait that is faster than a walk. Has two beats and a moment of suspension per stride
Halt – the horse stopping on command
Canter – faster than a trot. Has three beats and a moment of suspension per stride. Has a leading leg
either left or right. The inside leg always leads otherwise the horse will be unbalanced.
Gallop – the fastest gait. Has four beats to a stride and a moment of suspension. The gait that
racehorses run. Like the canter, either leg can lead.
Flying change – during the moment of the suspension in canter or gallop, the horse changes leading
legs. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUgnXKK0ris
Show jumping – where the horse has to do a course with about 12 jumps in an arena. The jumps
have poles which can get knocked and penalties are given.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVJeFwnuew4
Refusals- when the horse stops at a jump.
Cross country – a part of one day event or three day event. Includes a course of about 16 – 20 jumps
that are logs or water, banks or anything.
Dressage – a part of riding also known as flat. In French it means training and is the art of making the
horse flexible, balanced and supple.
The training scale – the stages of a dressage: relaxation, rhythm, contact, impulsion, straightness,
collection. The key to a perfect dressage test
On the bit – or collection or vertical flexion. When the horse has acceptance of the bit and lowers
the poll so the head is vertical. Usually used in dressage.
Lateral flexion – when riding curved a line, the outside of the horse is stretched and the inside of the
horse is compressed to make the line of the spine the same as the line that you are riding.
Leg yielding – where the horse comes off the leg of the rider and crosses its front legs over and its
hind legs over while doing the gait to make it drift almost.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HcA5bw2Pqs
Clear round – when you have no refusals or knocks in a show jumping or cross country round.
Eventing – A competition with three components, dressage, show jumping and cross country.
Gymkhana – a mini show for horses. Lots of ribbons are rewarded.
Polo – a game played on horseback that is like hockey but with a mallet.
Polocrosse- a game played on horseback and is a mixture of polo and lacrosse.
Breaking in – when the rider is teaching the horse how to be ridden.
Buck – when the horse throws his hind quarters in the air in an attempt to throw the rider off or to
kick something.
Rear – when the horse stands on his hind quarters. Usually when the horse is excited or scared.
Mounted Games – a type of skill that involves weaving, picking up and putting down things,
dismounting and mounting while the horse is going fast and other activities.
Cutting – separating cattle from a herd on horseback
Hunting – hunting a fox or a sent with a group of horses and hounds.
Bareback – riding the horse with no saddle
Vaulting – mounting a horse by running and jumping
Terms:
Parts of a horse
Off side – the right hand side
Near side – the left hand side
Fore – front legs
Hind – back legs
Withers – the highest point of the horse’s back above the shoulders and at the base of the neck.
Horses are measured from the withers in hands high (hh).
Rump – the top of the hindquarters nor including the legs
Poll – the area in between the ears
Dock – the part of the tail that has a bone
Grade 5 – 1 – the stages of standard pony club levels with grade 5 for beginners and getting higher
and harder as you go.
1, 2, 3 & 4 **** - (1 2 3 & 4 star) the higher grades of riding with 4 **** being Olympic standard.
Grey – a horse with a grey or white coat
Bay – a horse with a brown coat and black mane, tail, tips of ears, knees and hocks
Chestnut – a horse with a red coat
Appaloosa – a breed of spotty horse
Brown/ black – a horse with a dark brown to black coat
Palomino- a horse with a cream coat and white mane and tail
Buckskin - a horse with a cream coat and black mane and tail
Pinto – a horse with patches on it.
Dappled – a horse with a few spots of similar colour to their coat.
Arena – an enclosed place for riding, may have sand for the ground.
Pony – a horse up to 14 hh
Galloway – a horse from 14 hh to 15 hh
Hack – from 15 hh and up
Mare – a female horse
Philly – a female foal
Stallion – a male horse with all his parts
Colt – a male foal
Gelding – a male horse that has been gelded (desexed)
Gear:
Saddle – a seat that is attached to a horse by a girth
Wintec (brand) – artificial leather that saddles are commonly made out of
Stirrups – the metal bars you put your feet in
Spurs – an artificial aid that is a piece of metal that gets put on the back of your shoes that enhance
your leg and feet aids
Bridle – the headgear made of leather that is used to control your horse
Bit – a metal bar that is attached to the bridle and is put in the horse’s mouth for control. Has reins
attached to it which helps you steer
Brow band – the fancy piece of leather that goes across the horse’s forehead
Halter – a simple piece of rope that is used to catch and lead the horse when not riding. Can use it to
tie them up too
Saddlecloth – a cloth used under the saddle to protect the leather and the horses back from any
rubbing
Boots – things that protect the horses tendons and from their back legs from overreaching that
Velcro at the side or buckles
Bell boots – boots in the shape of a bell that goes over the hoof
Float – a trailer that horses travel in
Helmet – a hard hat that protects your head when you fall off
Whip – a stick that us used to aid our riding. You flick the horse with it when it is misbehaving or you
are trying to teach them something.