Glossary of Equine Terms
Action: The movement of the horse's legs.
Aged: A horse of 15 years of age or older. Prior to this age, experienced horsemen can estimate the
age of a horse by examining the teeth.
Aging: The process of estimating the age of a horse by examining the appearance and development
of the teeth.
Aids: Signals or cues by which the rider communicates his wishes to the horse. The "natural" aids
include the voice, the legs, the hands and the weight. "Artifical" aids include the whip and spurs.
Amble: The slower form of the lateral pacing gait. (See Pacer)
Anhidrosis: A condition in which the horse has a limited ability to sweat.
Anthelmintics: Name given to the various deworming medications used to control equine internal
parasites.
Appendix: A horse registered in the Appendix of the American Quarter Horse Registry. Quarter
Horse/Thoroughbred cross.
Artificial Aids: Mechanical means by which the rider conveys his wishes to the horse. Includes spurs
and whip.
At Grass: A horse that has been turned out in a paddock or field.
Azoturia: Condition in which the horse experiences prolonged muscle contractions during exercise.
Exercise-induced myositis. Also known as tying-up and Monday Morning sickness, because the
condition often appears in fit horses following a period of rest.
Back at the Knee: A conformational fault where the upper leg is set back in comparison to the lower
leg. This fault is more serious than over at the knee because it places additional strain on the tendons
running down the back of the lower leg.
Back-breeding: The practice of breeding back to a certain stallion to preserve a particular desirable
trait.
Bald-Faced: US term used to describe a horse with a predominantly white face.
Bandy-legged: Where the hocks turn outward. (See also bow-hocks). Opposite of cow-hocks.
Banged tail: A tail which has been trimmed level at the bottom, seen in dressage horses and hunters,
but not in Arabians and western pleasure horses.
Barrel: The area of the horse's body between the forelegs and the loins.
Barrel Racing: A timed event in Western Riding where horse and rider complete a cloverleaf pattern
around three barrels.
Bars: In the horse's mouth, the fleshy area between the front and back teeth, where the bit rests.
Bascule: Term used to describe the arc a horse makes as it jumps a fence.
Bat: Artificial aid by which the rider may emphasize and back up the natural aids of seat and legs.
Used to encourage reluctant or lazy horses to move forward. Sometimes used to punish. See also
whip and crop.
Bay: Coat color - deep reddish brown with black mane and tail.
Billets/Billet Straps: Straps by which the girth is attached to the saddle.
Bit: Mouthpiece, of made of metal but may be made of rubber or other man made material and held in
place by the bridle, by which the rider conveys instructions to the horse.
Blaze: Elongated white marking down the front of the horse's face. (Also called a stripe)
Blistering: Application of a caustic agent, or blister, to the leg. Formerly and, occasionally, still used in
the treatment of a number of conditions, such as spavin, ringbone and bowed tendon. Thought to
encourage internal healing in some cases.
Blood Horse: A Thoroughbred horse.
Bloodstock: Thoroughbred horses bred for racing.
Boarding Stable: Equestrian facility where horse owners may keep their horse for a monthly fee. See
also Livery Stable.
Bog Spavin: Soft, synovial swelling seen on the inside of the hock. Does not usually cause lameness,
unlike regular spavin.
Bone: The measurement around the leg, just below the knee or hock. This measurement determines
the horse's ability to carry weight, therefore a light-boned will be limited in weight carrying capacity.
Bosal: A braided noseband used in western equitation. Western bitless bridle.
Bots: Equine parasite.
Bow-hocks: Bandy-legged, where the hocks turn outwards. The opposite of cow-hocks.
Bowed Tendon: Injury to superficial digital flexor tendon, which runs down the back of the lower leg.
Boxy hooves: Narrow, upright hooves with a small frog and closed heel. Also called club foot.
Breaking, or Breaking-In: The early education of the young horse, where it is taught the skills it will
need for it's future life as a riding or driving horse.
Breed: An equine group bred selectively for consistent characteristics over a long period of time.
Bridle: Item of equipment worn on the horse's head, enabling the rider to communicate his wishes
through use of the bit and the reins.
Bridoon: Snaffle bit used in conjunction with a curb bit in a double bridle.
Brindle Horse: Breed of horse exhibiting a distinctive marbleized coat coloring, similar to that seen in
brindle dogs.
Brood Mare: A mare used for breeding purposes.
Broken-In/Broke to Ride: Horse that has been accustomed to the tack and the rider and has begun
initial training. (Also called greenbroke)
Broken Winded: Term used to describe horses having an abnormal breathing pattern due to Chronic
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Also known as heaves.
Brushing: Where the hoof or shoe hits the inside of the opposite leg, at or near the fetlock. Usually
caused by poor conformation or action.
Brushing Boots: Item of horse equipment used to protect the horse's legs from injury due to brushing.
Buck: A leap in the air with the head lowered and the back arched.
Buckskin: Coat color - body can range from creme to dark bronze, mane, tail, legs and tips of ears are
black or dark brown. Horses showing similar coloration, but with a dorsal stripe, are called dun.
Cannon Bone: The bone of the lower foreleg between the knee and the fetlock. Also called the "shin
bone". In the hindleg, the corresponding bone is called the shank.
Canter: Three beated gait of the horse in which one hind leg strides first (the leading leg), followed by
the opposite diagonal pair and finally the opposite foreleg. Called the lope in Western riding.
Cantle: Back ridge of an English saddle.
Capped Hocks: Swelling or puffiness on the point of the hock. Can be cause by a blow or injury, or
may be caused by a horse lying down repeatedly in a stable with insufficient bedding.
Carriage Horse: An relatively light and elegant horse used for carriage driving.
Cart Horse: A coldblood draft horse.
Cast: A horse which rolls and gets stuck, either up against the wall of his stall, or near a fence, etc. Is
said to be cast. Human intervention can be necessary to release the horse.
Cavelletti: Adjustable low wooden jumps used in the schooling of horse and rider.
Cavesson: (i) Simple noseband fitted to a bridle. (ii) Leather or nylon headgear, with attachments for
side reins and lunge line, worn by the horse when it is being lunged.
Chestnut: (i) The small rubbery protrusion on the inside of all four legs. (ii) Reddish-brown coat color
(also see Sorrel).
Chin Groove: The groove above the lower lip in which the curb chain of a curb bit lies.
Chip/Chip-In: When a horse puts in a short, additional stride in front of a fence.
Cinch: Means by which a Western saddle is secured to the horse, which attaches to the saddle on one
side, running under the barrel just behind the legs to the other side. Called a girth in English Riding.
Coach Horse: A powerfully built horse, capable of drawing a heavy coach.
Coffin Bone: Small bone within the hoof. In severe cases of laminitis, this bone can detach and rotate,
causing extreme lameness. See also Founder.
Coggins Test: A blood test for Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA). Horses which test positive may be
required by the state of occupancy to be destroyed or permenantly quarantined. See also EIA.
Coldblood: The name used to describe the heavy European breeds of horse descended from the
prehistoric Forest Horse.
Colic: General term describing abdominal pain in the horse. Ranges in severity from mild to lifethreatening.
Colostrom: First milk produced by a mare following foaling. Contains globulins to provide the newborn
foal with temporary immunity against disease.
Colt: Uncastrated male horse up to four years of age. Male foals are called "colt foals".
Combined Training: Equestrian competition held over one or three days and including the disciplines
of dressage, cross country and show jumping. Also known as Eventing
Conformation: The overall way in which a horse is put together and also the relationship of specific
parts of the horse in regards to its proportions.
COPD: Abbreviation for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or heaves. Brought on by allergies and
characterized by abnormal breathing pattern and reduced tolerance to exercise. See also broken
winded.
Counter Canter: School movement in which the horse canter in a circle with the outside leg leading,
instead of the more usual inside leg.
Cow-hocks: Hocks turned in, like those of a cow. Opposite of bow-hocks.
Cracked Heels: Inflammation of the heels, resulting in cracked skin and discharge of pus.
Crib-Biting/Cribbing: A stable vice in which the horse hooks his teeth onto something solid, such as
the door of his stable, and sucks air through his open mouth. Said to be addictive behavior, cribbing
straps and collars have varying degrees of effectiveness at discouraging the behaviour. Horses which
suck air, without latching their teeth on to something are said to be wind sucking.
Crop: Artificial aid by which the rider may emphasize and back up the natural aids of seat and legs.
Used to encourage reluctant or lazy horses to move forward. Sometimes used to punish. See also
whip and bat.
Crossbreeding: The mating of horses of different breeds or types.
Cross-Ties: A method of tethering a horse using two ropes or ties, one on each side, connected to a
solid post or wall.
Croup: The top of the hind quarters, from the point of the hip to the tail.
Cues: Another name for aids. Signals by which the rider communicates his wishes to the horse.
Curb: Thickening of the tendon or ligament below the point of the hock, resulting from a strain.
Curb Bit: Bit fitted with cheeks and a curb chain which lies in the chin groove. Operates on the
leverage principle acting on the lower jaw. In a double bridle, the curb bit is used in conjunction with a
bridoon, or snaffle bit.
Curb Chain: Chain used with a curb bit.
Dam: A horse's female parent.
Diagonals: The horses legs move in pairs at the trot, called diagonals. The left diagonal is when the
left foreleg and right hindleg move, the right diagonal is when the right foreleg and the left hindleg
move. When on a circle, the rider rises as the outside foreleg moves forward.
Dished Face: The concave head profile seen in breeds such as the Arabian.
Dishing: A faulty action, where the toe of the foreleg is thrown outward in a circular movement with
each stride.
Distemper: Highly contagious disease caused by the bacteria Streptococcus Equi. More commonly
known as Strangles.
Disunited: Canter in which the horse's legs are out of sequence.
Dock: The bony part of the tail, from which the hair grows.
Docking: Amputation of the dock for the sake of appearance. (Illegal in the UK)
Draft Horse: A term applied to any horse used for hauling vehicles or loads, but most usually
associated with the heavy breeds.
Dropped or Drop Noseband: Noseband which buckles beneath the bit to prevent the horse from
opening its mouth to "take hold of" the bit and ignore the riders rein aids.
Dryland Distemper: Disease, also known as Pigeon Fever, which causes abcesses on the chest and
belly.
Dun: Coat color. Yellow or sandy colored body with black points. Also has a dorsal strip.
EIA: Equine Infectious Anemia. Viral disease for which there is no known cure or vaccine. Also known
as Swamp Fever. See also Coggins Test.
Engagement: The hindlegs are engaged when they are brought well under the body.
Entire: Uncastrated male horse. (Also called Stallion)
EPM: Equine Protozoal Myleoencephalitis. Neurological disorder caused by a protozoa which invades
the spinal cord, causing a variety of symptoms attributed to nerve damage - stumbling, loss of
coordination, muscle atrophy, etc.
EPSM: Equine Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy. Muscle wasting condition seen in Draft horses and
other breeds.
Equine Infectious Anemia: Viral disease for which there is no known cure or vaccine. Also known as
EIA or Swamp Fever. See also Coggins Test.
Equitation: The art of horse riding.
Ergot: Horny growth at the back of the fetlock joint.
Ewe Neck: Conformation fault in which the neck appears to be "upside down", concave along it's
upper edge with a consequent bulging of muscles along the lower edge.
Eventing: Equestrian competition held over one or three days and including the disciplines of
dressage, cross country and show jumping. Also known as Combined Training
Extension: The extension of the paces is the lengthening of the frame and stride. The opposite of
collection.
Extravagant Action: High knee and hock action such as that seen in the Hackney and the Saddlebred
Farrier: Skilled craftsman who shoes horses.
Feathering: Long hair on the lower legs and fetlocks. Abundant on heavy horse breeds.
Fetlock (Joint): Lowest joint on the horse's leg.
Figure-Eight Noseband: (Also called a Grackle noseband) Noseband with thin leather straps which
cross over at the front and buckle both above and below the bit.
Filly: Female horse under four years old. A female foal is called a "filly foal".
Firing: Treatment in which the skin over a leg injury is burned with a hot iron to produce scar tissue.
FistulousWithers: Inflammation of the bursa at the height of the withers. May become infected and
result in foul-smelling discharge.
Five-Gaited: Horses shown at the walk, trot and canter, as well as the "slow gait" and the "rack" are
called five gaited.
Flexion: When the horse yields the lower jaw to the bit, with the neck bent at the poll. The term also
describes the full bending of the hock joints. Vets perform "flexion tests" when diagnosing lameness.
Flexor Tendon: Tendon at the back of the horse's leg.
Floating: (i) The action associated with the trotting gait of the Arabian horse. (ii) The action of rasping
the horse's teeth (US).
Flying Change: Change of canter lead performed by the horse to rebalance during turns and changes
of direction.
Foal: Colt, filly or gelding up to one year of age.
Forearm: The upper part of the foreleg, above the knee.
Forehand: The horse's head, neck, shoulder, withers and forelegs. Horses in lower levels of training,
who have not yet learned to balance themselves in self carriage and are heavy in the bridle are said to
be on the forehand.
Forelock: The mane between the ears, which hangs forward over the forehead,
Founder: Term used to describe the detachment and rotation of the coffin bone which happens in
severe cases of laminitis. If this happens, the horse is said to have foundered. Causes severe
lameness.
Four-In-Hand: A team of four harness horses.
Frog: Triangular, rubber pad on the sole of the foot which acts as a shock absorber.
Full Mouth: A six year old horse, with all his permanent teeth is said to have a "full mouth".
Furacin: Brand name for nitrofurazone, an antibacterial medication.
Gait: The paces at which horses move, usually the walk, trot, canter and gallop.
Gaited Horse: Horses which move at paces other than the walk, trot and canter - such as the
Saddlebred, the Paso Fino and the Icelandic.
Gallop: Four-beated gait of the horse, in which each foot touches the ground separately, as opposed
to the canter, which is a three-beat gait.
Galvayne's Groove: Dark line which appears on the upper corner incisor of horses between 8 and 10
years of age. Since it extends downward gradually, it can be used to estimate the age of a horse.
Gaskin: The "second thigh" extending from above the hock upwards to the stifle.
Gelding: Castrated male horse.
Going: Term used to describe the nature of the ground, i.e. deep, good, rough.
Good Doer: Describes a horse that is easy to keep, which maintains good condition of small rations.
(See also Thrifty)
Goose-rumped: Pronounced muscular development at the croup seen in some jumping horses.
Sometimes called "jumper's bump".
Grackle Noseband: (Also called a Figure-Eight noseband) Noseband with thin leather straps which
cross over at the front and buckle both above and below the bit.
Grade: Term used to describe an horse that is not registered with any breed association.
Grease: Inflammation of the skin at the back of the fetlock and pasterns. Seldom seen now, but does
occur in horses pastured on wet grass. Can be likened to diaper or nappy rash in babies.
Green: A horse that is in the early learning stage of his particular discipline is said to be green.
Grey: Coat color ranging from pure white to dark grey. Further described by terms such as "dappled"
(small iron-grey circles on a lighter background) and "flea-bitten" (flecks of dark grey on a white
background).
Grooming Kit: The various brushes, combs and other equipment used to clean the horse's coat,
mane, tail and hooves.
Ground Manners: Term used to describe the behavior of a horse while being handled on the ground,
being groomed, saddled, in the stable etc.
Gymnastic: Combination of fences placed at relative distances to each other, used in the training of
the jumping horse.
Habit: Traditional riding attire for sidesaddle riders.
Halter-broke: Term used to describe a young horse that has been accustomed to the very basics of
wearing a halter.
Hand: Unit of measure used to describe a horse. One hand equals 4 inches, partial measurements
being described as 14.1, 14.2, 14.3.
Harness: Term for the equipment of a horse that is driven, as opposed to being ridden.
Harness Horse: A horse used in harness and having "harness" type of conformation, with straight
shoulders etc. and having an elevated "harness action".
Haute Ecole: The classical art of advanced riding. See also Airs Above the Ground.
Heaves: Term used to describe the abnormal breathing pattern seen in horses with Chronic
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease COPD, or broken winded. Also a common name for COPD.
Heavy Horse: Any large draft horse, such as the Shire, the Clydsdale, the Belgian Draft.
Heavyweight: A horse that is judged capable, by virtue of its bone and substance, capable of carrying
weights of more than 196 lbs.
High School: See Haute Ecole.
Hind Quarters: The part of the horse's body from the rear of the flank to the top of the tail down to the
top of the gaskin. Also called simply the quarters.
Hinney: Offspring of a male horse and a female donkey (See also Mule)
Hives: Allergic reaction characterized by bumps or weals on the skin. More properly called Urticaria.
Hock: Joint midway up the hind leg, responsible for providing most of the forward energy of the horse.
Hocks Well Let Down: Term used to indicate a horse that has short cannon bones (shanks) which is
considered to be a good conformational trait giving the horse strength in the legs. Long cannons, on
the other hand, are considered a conformational weakness.
Hogged Mane: A mane that has been shaved close for its entire length. (See also roached mane)
Horn: (i) Hard, insensitive outer covering of the hoof. (ii) Prominent pommel at the front of a western
saddle around which the rider loops or twists the lariet when a steer has been roped to secure the
animal. See also Saddle Horn.
Horsemanship: The art of equitation or riding.
Hot: A horse that becomes overly excited is said to be "hot". Easily excitable horses are also called
"hot".
Hotblood: Term describing horses of Arabian or Thoroughbred blood.
Hybrid: A cross between a horse and one of the other equids, such as an ass or a zebra.
HYPP: Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis. Genetic muscular disorder causing muscle weakness and
tremors, sweating and difficulty in breathing. Can be traced back to the Quarter Horse stallion,
Impressive
Impulsion: Strong but controlled forward movement in the horse (not to be confused with speed)
Inbreeding: The mating of brother/sister, sire/daughter, son/dam, to fix or accentuate a particular trait
or character.
Indirect Rein: The opposite rein to the direction in which the horse is moving. When giving an indirect
rein aid, the instruction comes by pressing the opposite rein against the horse's neck.
In Front of the Bit: A term used to describe a horse which pulls or hangs heavily on the rider's hand.
In Hand: When a horse is controlled from the ground rather than being ridden.
Inside Leg : The legs of horse and rider which are on the inside of any circle or curved track being
travelled.
Irons: The metal pieces attached to the saddle by means of leather straps in which the rider places his
feet. (See also Stirrups)
Jack: Male donkey.
Jennet/Jenny: Female donkey.
Jog: Western riding term for trot. Also used to describe a slow, somewhat shortened pace in English
riding.
Joint Ill: Disease in foals caused by bacteria that enter the body through the navel, resulting in
infection which spreads to the joints and causes inflammation, pain and heat.
Jumper: Type of horse suited to jumping and which competes in jumping classes.
Knackers: Slang word for slaughterhouse, abbatoir. Someone who buys horses at auction for
purposes of taking to slaughter.
Knock-Kneed: Conformation fault in which the knees point in toward each other.
Laminitis: Condition, caused by systemic upset, in which the laminae inside the hoof become
inflammed and painful to the horse. Severe conditions can lead to founder.
Lampas: Swelling of the hard palate in a horse's mouth. Sometimes seen in young horses as they
transition to hard feed and grain.
Lateral Cartilages: Wings of cartilage attached to the coffin bone, within the foot.
Laryngeal Hemiplegia: Partial paralysis of the larynx causing difficulty in breathing and a
characteristic noise, known as roaring as the horse breathes.
Lead: Term used to indicate the horse's leading leg in canter i.e. "right lead canter" or "left lead
canter".
Leader: Either of the two leading horses in a team of four, or a single horse harnessed in front of one
or more horses. The "near" leader is the left hand horse and the "off" leader is the right hand horse.
Leg Up: Method of mounting in which an assistant stands behind the rider and supports the lower part
of his left leg and giving a boost as necessary as the rider springs up off the ground.
Light Horse: Horse, other than a heavy horse or pony, which is suitable for riding or carriage work.
Light of Bone: Insufficient bone below the knee to support the horse and rider's body weight without
strain. Conformation fault.
Line-breeding: The mating of horses having a common ancestor some generations removed, to
accentuate particular traits or characteristics.
Livery Stable: English term for boarding stable.
Loins: The weakest part of the horses back, lying either side of the vertebrae, just behind the saddle.
Lope: Slow western canter.
Lymphangitis: Condition in which the lymphatic system, usually in the hind legs, becomes swollen
and painful. Seen in working horses on full feed that have to be confined to their stall for some reason,
such as severe weather or illness.
Manege: An enclosure used for training and schooling horses. Also called a school.
Mare: Female horse aged four and over.
Meconium: Firm, dark brown or black fecal matter passed by the foal shortly after birth.
Melanoma: Growth or tumor often seen in grey or white horses. May or may not be malignant.
Middleweight: A horse that is judged capable, by virtue of its bone and substance, capable of carrying
weights up to 196 lbs.
Monday Morning Disease: Common name for Azoturia, or tying up.
Mule: Offspring of a male donkey and a female horse. See also Hinney.
Mustang: Wild horse of the American West.
Mutton Withers: Withers that are wide and flat seen in horses such as the Quarter Horse, as opposed
to the prominent, bony withers often seen in the Thoroughbred.
Navicular Bone: Small bone within the hoof, fitting horizontally between the second phalanx, or short
pastern and the coffin bone.
Navicular Disease: Degeneration of the navicular bone, usually on the back surface where the deep
flexor tendon passes over the bone. Causes pain and lameness.
Nearside: The left hand side of the horse.
Neck Reining: The art of turning the horse by using the indirect, or opposite rein against the neck.
Neck Strap: Simple leather strap bucked around the horse's neck to give security to novice riders.
Also refers to that part of a martingale which buckles around the horse's neck.
Nerve Block: Diagnostic tool in which the veterinarian progressively blocks the nerves of the hoof and
leg in order to determine the seat of a lameness.
Neurectomy: Cutting of nerves supplying sensation to the foot. Also known as de-nerving. Used as a
treatment in cases of navicular disease.
Offside: The right hand side of the horse.
Overbent: An evasion where the horse tucks his head close in to his chest, reducing the rider's
control. The horse is said to be behind the bit.
Overreaching: Where the toe of the hind foot catches and injures the back of the pastern or heel of
the front foot. Occurs when the horse is galloping or jumping.
Pacer: A horse which moves its legs in lateral pairs, rather than the conventional diagonal pairs.
Pack Horse: Horse used to carry goods in packs placed in packs on either side of its back.
Paddock: Small enclosure in which horses are turned out for grazing.
Parietal Bones: The bones on the top of the skull.
Parrot Mouth: Overbite in a horse. The top jaw extends forward over the lower jaw.
Part-bred: Result of breeding a Thoroughbred with a horse of another breed i.e. Welsh part-bred.
Pastern: The sloping bone in the lower leg which connect the hoof to the fetlock.
Passage: Dressage movement in which the horse trots in an extremely collected and animated
manner.
Pedigree: Details of parentage and ancestry recorded in a studbook or registry.
Pelham: Curb bit with a single mouthpiece to which two reins may be attached. Aims to combine the
two bits of a double bridle into a single mouthpiece.
Piaffe: Dressage movement in which the horse trots in place, with forehand elevated and croup
lowered.
Pigeon Toed: Conformation fault in which the feet are turned inward.
Pinto: Term for coat color of white with patches of another color. See also piebald and skewbald
Pirouette: Dressage movement in which the forelegs of the horse describe a small circle, while the
hind legs remain in place, one of them acting as a pivot.
Poll: The highest point on the top of the horse's head.
Pommel: The center front of an English saddle. In some designs the pommel is cut back.
Port: Raised section in the center of the mouthpiece on some curb bits. The amount it is raised affects
the severity of the bit (low ported bits being milder)
Prepotency: The ability to consistently pass on character and type to the progeny.
Purebred: A horse with both parents being of the same breed
Quadrille: Performance given by a team of four, six, eight or more riders, involving riding an intricate
pattern to music.
Quarters: The part of the horse's body from the rear of the flank to the top of the tail down to the top of
the gaskin. Also called the hind quarters.
Quidding: A horse that drops partially chewed food from his mouth, because of age or dental
problems, is said to be "quidding". Floating the teeth usually resolves the problem.
Racehorse: Horse bred for racing. Can be Thoroughred, Quarter Horse, Arabian, Standardbred.
Rainrot: Painful, skin inflammation caused by the Dermatophilus organism, characterized by patches
of raised hair and hair loss and crusty exudate.
Rangy: Used to describe a horse with size and scope of movement.
Reining: Type of Western riding in which advanced movements such as spins and slides are executed
in various patterns.
Ridgling/Rig: Male horse that has retained one testicle within the body. Can cause stallion-like
behavior. Treated with surgery.
Riding Horse: Horse suitable for riding, with the conformation associated with comfortable riding
action (as opposed to draft or carriage horses)
Ringbone: Name given to bony changes occurring within the pastern and coffin joints. May be articular
or non-articular. Lameness often occurs while changes are occurring but may go away once callosity is
completely formed.
Rising Trot: The action of the rider rising from the saddle in rhythm with the horse's trot. (Also called
Posting Trot)
Roach Back:
Convex curvature of the spine between the withers and the loins. Opposite of hollow back.
Roached mane: A mane that has been shaved close for its entire length. (See also hogged mane)
Roaring: Characteristic abnormal noise on inhalation, heard in horses with Laryngeal Hemiplegia.
Roman Nose: The convex facial profile seen in Shires and other heavy breeds.
Rosin-back: A broad-backed horse used in the circus for trick riding acts. Rosin is used on the rider's
shoes to increase the grip.
Roundworm: Common name for ascarids, an internal equine parasite
Saddle Horn: Prominent pommel at the front of a western saddle around which the rider loops or
twists the lariet when a steer has been roped to secure the animal. See also Horn.
Saddle Horse: A riding horse.
Saddle Marks: White hairs in the saddle area, probably caused by galls.
School: Enclosed, marked out area used for the training and exercise of the horse. (See also Manege)
School Movements: The gymnastic exercises performed in the school or manege.
Scope: A horse which has scope shows potential and capability for freedom and movement to a
special degree.
Scours: Name given to diarrhea in foals.
Scratches: Scabby, oozing skin inflammation on the back of the pasterns, just above the heel.
Seedy Toe: Separation of the hoof wall from the sensitive laminae, often caused by neglecting the
feet. Sometimes accompanies laminitis.
Serpentine: School movement in which the horse, at any pace, moves down the center of the school
in a series of equal-sized loops.
Set Tail: A tail that has been broken or nicked to produce an artificially high tail carriage.
Shank bone: Hind cannon.
Shivers: Abnormal hind leg gait seen in draft horses in which the horse flexes one or both hind legs
and tremors can be seen in the large muscles in the upper leg. Thought to be caused by EPSM.
Shoe, To: The act of fitting and securing metal shoes to the horse's feet, usually done by a farrier.
Shoulder-In: Two-track movement in which the horse is evenly bent along the length of its spine away
from the direction in which it is moving.
Shy, To: Where a horse jumps suddenly to one side, having been startled by a real or imaginary
object.
Sickle hocks: Hocks which are bent, giving the hindleg the shape of a sickle, with the hind legs too far
under the body. Although consider a conformation fault, this trait is desired by some reiners as the
horse has to almost sit down in some of the reining patterns.
Sidebone: Ossification of the lateral cartilage on either side of the coffin bone within the hoof.
Side Reins: Reins used in training to help position the horse's head. They attach at one end to the bit
and to the girth or to the training surcingle at the other end. Often have a rubber "donut" or elastic
section in them.
Sire: A horse's male parent.
Snaffle (bit): Design of bit that acts of the corners or bars of the horse's mouth. May be jointed or
straight, but does not have shanks and only uses one rein.
Sock: White marking on any or all of a horse's lower legs. Markings extending higher than the knee or
hock are called stockings.
Sound: Free from lameness or injury.
Spavin: Name given to degerative arthritis of the lower joints of the hock, characterized by a bony
swelling which can be felt on the front and inside of the hock. See also bog spavin.
Splints: Injury to one or both of the metacarpal or splint bones, which run up the back of the cannon
bone. Stress or strain can cause the ligaments attaching these bones to the cannon bone to pull and
tear, causing heat, swelling and lameness. Eventually additional bone is laid down on the site of the
injury, leaving behind a bony swelling. called a splint.
Spurs: Small metal devices worn on the rider's boot to help enforce the leg aids. Come in a range of
severety, from very mild blunt spurs to severe roweled models.
Stable Management: The art of looking after one or more stabled horses, including all aspects of their
care and welfare.
Stallion: Uncastrated male horse. (See also Entire)
Standardbred: Breed of horse popular as a harness racer.
Star: Name given to any white marking on the horse's forehead. (Small markings are called a snip)
Stock Horse: Name given to horses that are used in ranch work, driving and cutting cattle etc.
Stocking: White marking on any or all of a horse's legs which extends beyond the knee or hock.
Markings which are confined below the knee or hock are called socks.
Strangles: Highly contagious disease caused by Streptococcus Equi. Also called distemper.
Stripe: Elongated white marking down the front of the horse's face. (Also called a blaze)
Stringhalt: Condition characterized by the over-flexion of the hind legs, in which the leg often is jerked
up toward the belly at each step.
Strongyles: Equine internal parasite, also known as bloodworms.
Stud: Breeding establishment - stud farm. The term is also used in the US to describe a stallion or a
colt.
Suspensory Ligament: Ligaments involved in the support of the fetlock and spreading around the
fetlock joint.
Tack: Refers to the equipment of a riding horse - saddle, bridle etc. Short for "tackle."
Tapeworms: Internal equine parasite.
Teaser: Substitute stallion used to test the mare's readiness for breeding with the breeding stallion.
Tetanus: Serious bacterial infection caused by Clostridium tetani, which enters the body through
puncture wounds. Also called lockjaw.
Thrifty: Describes a horse that is easy to keep, which maintains good condition of small rations. Also
called a good-doer.
Thrush: Fungal or bacterial infection of the frog, characterized by foul-smelling discharge from the cleft
of the frog.
Tied in Below the Knee: Where the measurement below the knee is substantially less than that
above the fetlock. Conformation fault.
Top Line: The line from the back of the withers to the end of the croup.
Top Heavy: Overdeveloped (heavy) body in relation to the substance of the legs.
Trailer" Transportation vehicle of one or more horses, which is towed behind another vehicle.
Trakehner: Breed of warmblood horse, popular in a variety of equestrian sports.
Transition: The act of changing from one pace to another. Walk to trot and trot to canter are known as
"upward transitions". Canter to trot and trot to walk are known as "downward transitions".
Trot: Moderate-speed gait in which the horse moves from one diagonal pair of legs to the other, with a
period of suspension in between.
Turnout: (i) The practice of turning horses loose in a field or pasture for all or part of the day. (ii) the
standard of dress and appearance of horse and rider, or horse and carriage.
Two Track: School movements in which the hindlegs follow a separate track from that made by the
forelegs.
Type: A horse that fufills a certain purpose, such as a cob, a hack or a hunter, but is not necessarily of
any particular breed.
Undershot: A deformity in which the lower jaw projects beyond the upper.
Unsoundness: Term used to describe any condition, or conformation fault that limit the horse's ability
to perform his job. Including sidebone, ringbone, roaring and others.
Up to Weight: Term used to describe a horse that, by virtue of its size, substance and conformation, is
capable of carrying substantial weight.
Urticaria: Allergic reaction characterized by bumps or weals on the skin. More commonly called hives.
Vaulting: Equestrian sport involving gymnastic exercises done on the back of a moving horse.
Vertical: (i) Upright fence with no spread. Can be rails, planks, gate or wall. (ii) Also used to describe
the horse's head set, as in on the vertical.
Weedy: A horse of poor conformation, generally weak in the quarters and shoulders, with long legs.
Well Ribbed-Up: A short, deep, well-rounded body with well-sprung ribs.
Well-Sprung Ribs: Long rounded ribs giving ample room for lung expansion, well suited to carrying a
saddle.
Wheeler: The horse harnessed closest to the carriage, behind the leader.
Whip: The driver of a carriage.
Withers: Point at the bottom of the horse's neck from which the horse's height is measured.
Yearling: Colt or filly between one and two years of age.
Zony: Hybrid cross between a zebra and a pony.
Zorse: Hybrid cross between a zebra and a horse.