Glossary

Abdomen (belly): Area between the ribs and the stifle, contains the digestive system.
Aids: Cues or signals a rider gives a horse to communicate movement. See Artificial Aids and Natural Aids for further descriptions.
Artificial Aids: Mechanical cues or signals a rider uses to convey his commands to a horse (e.g. spurs, whips, etc.).
Back: Upper portion of the barrel, between the withers and the loins.
Barrel: Trunk of the horse.
Bars: Fleshy area in between front and back teeth where a bit would rest.
Billets/Billet Straps: A mouth piece that aids the rider in giving commands to a horse. Can be made of metal, rubber, or other man-made materials. Attaches to a bridle and reins.
Blemish: A permanent scar or mark made on the horse’s skin that can be caused by injury or disease and typically results in the loss of pigmentation, or white hairs.
Blind Spot: An area where the horse is unable to see. Horses are unable to see directly in front of them and directly behind them. Always be caution when approaching a horse in these areas, as quick movements could spook the horse.
Bosal: A braided noseband used in western riding.
Breaking, or Breaking-In: Training of a young, inexperienced horse to saddle or a cart.
Breed: A group of horses possessing similar characteristics that make them unique.
Bridge of Nose: Bony portion of the face between the forehead and the muzzle.
Bridle: Tack item that extends from the horse’s mouth to the horse’s head. Enables the rider to give commands to the horse through the bit and reins. Also holds the bit in place.
Broodmare: A mare used for breeding purposes.
Buck: A horse that jumps in the air kicking its hind legs up and back. Typically an undesired move.
Cannon: Bone that lies between the knee and the fetlock on the front leg, and the hock and the fetlock on the hind leg.
Canter: English riding term for the three beat gait where one hind leg extends first, followed by the opposite diagonal pair and ending with the opposite hind leg.
Cast: A horse that gets stuck after rolling up against a wall or stall. Humans may need to intervene and roll the horse back to a natural position.
Chest: Front portion of the body between the shoulders.
Cinch: Western riding term for the tack piece that holds the saddle onto the horse. Once secured to the horse, encompasses the girth. Called a girth in English Riding.
Coggins Test: A blood test that determines whether a horse is infected with Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA). Many states require a horse to a have a negative Coggins Test before traveling.
Colic: Stomach or abdominal pain in a horse. Pain can range in severity and veterinarians should be contacted to determine a treatment.
Colt: A young male horse, under the age of 4 years old, that has not been castrated.
Conformation: Overall body composition; determines whether a horse contains desired traits. Some determinates include the height, weight and length.
Coronet: Lower part of the pastern immeProjected joint above the forearm and in front of the girth.
Face: Part of the head from the forehead to the muzzle.
Farrier: Occupation where an individual is trained in hoof care.
Fetlock: joint where the cannon bone meets with the pastern.
Filly: A young female horse under the age of 4 years old.
Flank: Thin folds of skin on the sides of the horse between the abdomen and the stifle.
Floating: Dental work on the horse’s mouth where teeth are filed down and maintained for proper chewing.
Flying Lead Change: Changing the lead foot during a canter or lope and is typically completed during a direction change or turn.
Dam: A horse’s “Mom”.
Dock: Bony area of the tail where hairs grows from.
Elbow: Projected joint above the forearm and in front of the girth.
Face: Part of the head from the forehead to the muzzle. grows from.
Farrier: Occupation where an individual is trained in hoof care.
Fetlock: joint where the cannon bone meets with the pastern.
Filly: A young female horse under the age of 4 years old.
Flank: Thin folds of skin on the sides of the horse between the abdomen and the stifle.
Floating: Dental work on the horse’s mouth where teeth are filed down and maintained for proper chewing.
Flying Lead Change: Changing the lead foot during a canter or lope and is typically completed during a direction change or turn.
Foal: Colt or filly under the age of one year old.
Forearm: Area between the elbow and the knee.
Forehead: Upper part of the face, extends down the forelock to the top of each eye; the area between the horse’s eyes.
Gait: The pace at which a horse moves. English riding includes the walk, trot, canter and gallop. Western riding includes the walk, jog, lope and gallop.
Gallop: Four-beat gait where each foot of the horse touches the ground at a separate time; fastest of all gaits.
Gaskin: Muscle above the hock.
Gelding: Castrated male horse.
Girth: Just behind the front leg where the cinch of the saddle is situated.
Green-broke: A horse that has been trained with basic tack and is moving into basic riding techniques.
Green: A horse in its early learning stages of a particular discipline.
Halter-broke: A horse that has been trained to accept a halter. Also known as Preliminary.
Hand: Unit of measurement to determine a horse’s height. One hand equals 4 inches. Partial measurements are then broken down to .1, .2 and .3 (example: 15 hands, 15.1 hands, 15.2 hands, 15.3 hands, 16 hands). Horses are measured from the ground to their withers.
Heterozygous: Genes (more specifically alleles) that are not identical.
Hock: Joint between the gaskin and the hind cannon bone.
Homozygous: Having two genes (more specifically alleles) that are identical.
Hoof: Horny growth that protects the lower limb/foot.
HYPP (Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis): Genetic muscular disorder that causes muscle weakness and tremors, sweating and difficulty breathing. Can be traced back to the Quarter Horse stallion, Impressive.
Inbreeding: The mating of a brother to its sister, a sire to its daughter, or a son to its dam. Typically done to fix or accentuate a particular trait or character.
In Hand: A horse that is lead by an individual on the ground rather than riding. Halter lead.
Jaw: Large rounded area under the eye.
Jog: Two beat gait where each set of diagonal legs move together (ex. front left leg moves with rear right leg). Gait in between the walk and lope. Referred to a Trot in English riding.
Knee: Joint located between the forearm and the cannon bone.
Lame: A horse that is crippled or disabled; will show signs by limping or showing difficulty walking.
Laminitis: Infection within the hoof. Can cause the hoof to become inflamed and if left untreated can lead to founder.
Lead: Used to describe which leg is leading the horse during a lope of canter. Referred to as the “right lead” when the front right leg is forward, and “left lead” when the front left leg is forward.
Line-breeding: Mating horses that share a common ancestor.
Loin: Portion of the spinal column after the ribs, between the back and the croup.
Lope: Western riding term for the three beat gait where one hind leg extends first, followed by the opposite diagonal pair and ending with the opposite hind leg.
Maiden Mares: Mares that have never carried a foal.
Mare: A female horse aged four or older.
Mucking: Cleaning of stalls. Must be a daily chore to reduce the chances of disease and infection to surrounding horses.
Muzzle: Includes the nostrils, and the upper and the lower lip.
Natural Aids: Natural cues or signals used to give a horse a command (e.g. human voice, legs, hands or body weight).
Neck: Area between the head and the shoulder.
Nostril: External opening of the nose.
Paddock: Small enclosed area where horses can be turned out.
Pastern: Located between the fetlock and the hoof.
Pedigree: The recorded lineage of horses.
Point of the Hip: Bone projecting on both sides of the hindquarters, located between the loin and the croup.
Point of the Shoulder: Bone protruding from the shoulder, toward the chest.
Poll: Part of the head, at the top of the neck and between the ears.
Pommel: Raised area on the front of an English saddle.
Saddle Horn: Raised area on the front of a western saddle.
Shoulder: Area below the withers and above the front leg.
Sire: A horse’s “dad”.
Sock: White markings on the lower legs that do not extend past the knee or hock.
Sound: A horse that is free from injury or lameness.
Spurs: A metal, mechanical aid worn on the back of a rider’s boot.
Stallion: Uncastrated male horse.
Stifle: Joint of the hind leg located at the lower part of the flank.
Stock Horse: A type of horse that is used for ranch and cattle work.
Stocking: White markings on the horse’s leg that start directly above the hoof and extend past the knee or hock.
Stud: Another name for a stallion or colt and is a typical name for a male horse being used for breeding purposes.
Tack: A name for the equipment used on horses (e.g. brushes for grooming, reins, saddle, etc.).
Throat Latch: Behind the jaw where the head attaches to the flank.
Trot: Two beat gait where each set of diagonal legs move together (ex. front left leg moves with rear right leg). Gait in between a walk and a canter. Referred as a Jog in western riding.
Unsoundness: A horse that shows injury or lameness while walking.
Vice: An undesired behavior in horses, such as cribbing or weaving. Typically developed due to boredom and can cause major health problems.
Weaving: An undesired habit, or vice, where horses sway from side to side in their stalls. Can be a result of boredom.
Withers: A bony ridge that begins at the crest of the neck and runs into the back in a gradual manner.
Yearling: Colt or filly between one and two years of age.