Glossary W

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Walk

A slow four-beat gait in which each foot strikes the ground separately.

Walk on a free rein

A move in a dressage test that requires you to let your horse stretch down and walk freely, unrestricted by the rider’s hands.

Walk the course

When a rider walks the jump course he’ll be jumping in competition on foot to evaluate the footing, the distances and course overall.

Wall

An upright show jumping obstacle made of hollow wooden painted and stacked to look like stone.

Walk-trot classes

Classes held at certain competitions where the only two gaits participants need to perform at are the walk and trot. Generally, these classes are judged on the horse, not the rider, unless otherwise specified.

Wall of the hoof

The hard outer lining that protects the softer structures of the hoof.

War bonnet paint

A particular coat color pattern of a paint horse that has dark ears and poll but the rest of his body is light. Native Americans felt this was a sign of supernatural powers that would make the rider invincible.

War bridle

A restraint that consists of a rope running under the horse’s lip and up over his pole. The more the horse resists, the more the rope loop tightens.

War horse

A horse used in war as a charger.

Warm up

Any gradual activity that prepares the horse (and/or rider) for strenuous training or competition.

Water founder

Founder (inflammation of the sensitive laminae of the foot) that is caused by the horse drinking too much cold water after strenuous exercise.

Water jump

Any jumping obstacle that includes water at least 6 inches deep. They can be as big as 16 feet wide with a 14 foot spread for a stadium jump but bigger for a cross-country.

Waxing

As a pregnant mare gets closer to giving birth, a dry waxy substance forms on her teats. It’s a sign that birth is imminent.

Way of going

The overall look of a horse as he moves.

Weaning

The act of separating foals from their mothers. Usually done around 6 months old for the health of both mother and foal.

Weanling

A foal that has been separated from his mother. Weanlings no longer need their mother to nurse from, fully able to eat solid food.

Weaving

A horse that sways back and forth in his stall. Generally a sign of boredom or anxiety.

Weight tape

A specially calibrated measuring tape that can tell you roughly how much a horse weighs.

Wedge

A plastic, rubber or leather pad worn under a horseshoe that is thicker at the heels and lower at the toes that changes the hoof angles.

Wedge pad

A saddle pad that gradually gets thicker towards the back of the saddle. It’s used to level the saddle as it sits on the horse’s back.

Well-sprung

Said of a horse whose front rooms are flat but the back ribs are round, allowing for plenty of room for the heart and lungs.

Western banding

A show grooming technique used at some Western shows where the mane is separated into small sections using special rubber bands. Instead of the braids used in Hunter shows, the mane is divided into small pony tails, and then divided again and again until you reach the end of the mane. Done well, banding can hide conformational flaws or enhance a horse’s good points.

Western competitions

In shows, Western classes are divided into three general groups; in-hand classes where the horse is led by a handler on the ground, equitation classes that judge the rider, and performance classes that judge the horse.

Western riding

A style of riding modeled after the Mexican vaqueros. It’s popular predominantly in the U. S., Canada and Australia but France also has cowboys who ride the semi-wild Camargue horses. The Western saddle offers more security to the rider and the bits give more control over the horse than its English counterpart.

Weymouth bit

A curb bit with straight shanks with a mouthpiece that slides up and down the shanks up to 1/2 an inch.

Weymouth bridle

A double bridle, accommodating two bits and two sets of reins.

Wheat bran

Food made from the rough out casing of the wheat kernel. It adds bulk and has a laxative effect. It should be mixed with liquid and never fed dry unless given in a small amount with other grains.

Whinny

One of many vocalizations that horses use to communicate with each other and with humans. Also known as a neigh.

Whip

A wood, fiberglass, leather or even bone tool with a lash or thong on one end and a handle on the other. It’s held in one hand while riding and is used as an aid, usually to encourage the horse to go forward.

Whiskers

Like a cat, horses use the whiskers on their muzzle to feel their way around, using them to find food, etc. It’s ok to shave them off for shows, etc.

White

A coat color that is solid white with very few pigmented skin spots. Most will have brown eyes. A white horse that is in reality an over achieving overo or Appaloosa will have pink skin and blue eyes.

White flag

The flag on the left side of a jump, used to help the rider know which jumps to take and in what direction.

White line

White border between the wall of the hoof and the sole of the foot.

White line disease

Any damage to the white line that is caused by bacteria, trauma or poor shoeing.

White spot

The smallest leg marking consisting of a group of white hairs occurring anywhere on the foot other than the heel.

Whoa

The command that means, “stop.”

Whorl

Any changes in the direction of the way the hair lies. It can take many forms, from simple to sinuous whorl; often used as a mark of identification.

Wild horse

Any horse living in a wild, undomesticated state. A truly wild breed of horse is one that has always been wild, as opposed to one that was once domesticated but was set free by any number of circumstances. Technically, the Mustang, for instance, is a feral horse because its ancestors were once domesticated.

Win

To come in first place at a race or competition.

Wind

A horse’s capacity for breathing.

Windpuff

A soft, painless fluid-filled swelling usually found near the fetlock. It may be caused by working on hard ground or strenuous training. Generally it doesn’t cause lameness.

Wind-sucking

A vice where the horse grabs on to a bar or other firm object, inhales while arching his neck.

Winking

When a mare is in heat, she opens and closes the lips of the vulva to indicate a readiness to mate.

Winter coat

The heavy coat that a horse grows during the winter months.

Withers

The bony structure at the top of the horse’s shoulders that helps keep the saddle in place.

Wolf teeth

Small teeth that sit in front of the upper molars. They are seen predominantly in male horses but can be seen in mares as well. Because they interfere with the bars of the mouth where the bit rests and are fairly useless, they are usually removed by a vet.

Wood shavings

Thin slices of wood used as bedding in the horse’s stalls. They are absorbent, soft and good to use in both stalls and trailers.

Work

To exercise a horse.

Working

Describing a gait, as in a working trot or working walk. Defined as when a horse moves in an energetic, calm way.

Work in hand

To train a horse from the ground.

Working hunter

A type of horse judged on his ability to negotiate a course.

Work off

A tie breaker in an equestrian competition.