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You are here:
Horses
> Horse words dictionary
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Dictionary of Horse Terms
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A
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Above the bit
When a horse raises his mouth above the rider's hands to avoid the pressure of the bit.
Action
The way a horse moves at various gaits.
Aged
A horse over 9 years old.
Azoturia
Cramping of a horse's large muscles, also called "tying up".
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B
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Backyard horse
A horse that lives with its owner, not in a proper horse barn or stable.
Bale
A measurement of hay, equal to 10 "flakes".
Barn sour
A horse that doesn't like to leave the barn or stable.
Behind the bit
When a horse places his head down to evade contact with the bit.
Bomb-proof
A horse that doesn't spook.
Breeding stock
A mare or stallion that meets the eligibility requirements to be registered as a distinct breed.
Breeder
A person who breeds purebred horses for a living, or maybe as a hobby.
Bridle
The entire headpiece, the headstall, bit, chin strap, and reins, is called the bridle.
Broodmare
A female horse that is used strictly for breeding.
Buck
When a horse jumps upward and arches his back.
C
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Canter
Term used in English riding for a three beat gait. This is the same as a lope or slow gallop in Western discipline riding.
Colt
A male horse under 4 years old that has not been castrated.
Conditioned response
When a horse is trained to a stimulus the same way every time the animal confronts that stimulus.
Conformation
The overall structure of the horse. What is acceptable conformation depends on what you plan to do with the horse.
Cribbing
When a horse chews on wood on a regular basis (i.e wood
stall or fence).
D
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Dam
The mother of the horse.
Dapples
Round, colored markings on a horse's coat.
D.V.M.
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
E
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Easy keeper
A horse that easily keeps his weight.
F
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Farrier
This is a blacksmith who does horse shoeing.
Filly
A female horse under 4 years old.
Flake
One tenth of a bale of hay.
Foal
A baby horse or pony still at its mother's side.
G
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Gallop
The fastest that a horse can run, a three-beat gait.
Gelding
A castrated male horse.
Groundwork
Lead rope and lunge-line training.
Gut sounds
The noises that can be heard from a horse's stomach.
Gymkhana
Rodeo events made up of games such as pole bending and barrel racing.
H
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Hand
This is the common way to measure horses. One hand is 4 inches, so a horse that is 15 hands is 60 inches tall.
Hard keeper
A horse whose weight is hard to maintain.
Headcollar
A British term for a halter.
I
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In season
When a mare is in heat.
J
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Jeanette
An off spring of a Stud and a Jennie.
Jog
Western discipline term for a slow trot.
L
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Lope
Western term for a three-beat gait, the same as canter.
M
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Mare
A female horse over 4 years old.
Martingale
A leather device used to control the position of a horse's head.
Mule
The offspring of a male donkey and a female horse.
P
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Paddock
A large enclosure to hold a horse.
Pony
Breeds of small horses, under 14.2 hands tall.
Purebred
A horse that through generations of unmixed bredding, has and will produce the preferred physical characteristics of the breed.
Put down
Euthanize, put to sleep.
R
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Rails
The horizontal bars that make up a jump.
Rogue
A horse with a bad temper.
S
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Saddle rack
Stand to hold your saddle when it's not on a horse.
Sire
The father of a horse.
Sound
This is the term to describe a healthy horse.
Stallion
A male horse over 4 years old that has not been castrated.
Stud book
This is a listing of breeding horses that is maintained by a registering organization.
T
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Tack
Horse tack is all the gear that comes with owning a horse. The bridle, saddle, bit, girths, cinches, saddle pads, lead ropes, halters, whips, stirrup irons and stirrup leathers, horse boots, and most other horse things are tack.
Tie down
A Western term for a martingale, used to control the position of a horses head while riding.
Tree
The basic structure of a saddle, which is then covered with leather.
Trot
A two-beat gait.
Truck-in
A person who brings their own horse to riding lessons.
Turnout
When a horse is let out of its stall into a pasture or arena or corral.
U
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Unsound
A horse with health problems or lameness.
V
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V.M.D.
Veterinary Medical Doctor.
W
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Weanling
A horse under one years old that has been weaned from his mother.
Y
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Yearling
A horse just approaching or just turning one years old.
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