Glossary A - B
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Abrasion
A superficial wound caused by scraping away the top layer of skin and hair.
Above the bit
Refers to a horse who evades the correct bit contact by holding his head too high, causing his back to hollow out. A horse that's above the bit can't move correctly from behind.
Abscess
An inflammation surrounding a pocket of pus. They can occur various parts of the body but usually in the hoof.
Accept the bit
Said of a horse that takes the correct contact with the bit without resistance.
Action
The way a horse moves. Different breeds emphasize different types of action. For example, the American Saddlebred should be animated while dressage horses should be more balance, supple and relaxed.
Acute
Description of a condition that comes on suddenly.
Adult
The age at which a horse stops growing. It could be four, five, six years or more, depending on the breed.
Ah
A voice command used when driving agricultural horses to cue them to turn to the left.
Aids
The means a rider uses to tell a horse what to do. There are two types of aids - natural aids, such as your legs or voice, and artificial aids such as crops or spurs.
Albino
A color type in which a horse has a white coat due to lack of pigmentation as well as pink skin and pale eyes.
Alfalfa hay
A high protein hay that horses usually enjoy but should be fed with care as it's very rich and can cause problems like weight gain or even colic.
All-in-one
A multi-purpose fencing tool that combines pliers, hammer, wire cutters and more.
All-purpose saddle
An English saddle that is deep enough to be used for dressage but flat enough for jumping.
Alternative therapies
Treatments used instead of or to supplement traditional medical remedies. For instance, acupressure, acupuncture and massage.
Amateur
Anyone who rides a horse solely for pleasure, not for monetary gain.
Anhidrosis
The inability to perspire, which can be fatal if not treated.
Ankle
Another name for the fetlock.
Ankle boots
Short boots made to protect and support the fetlock joint.
Anti-inflammatory
Any drug or agent that reduces inflammation, heat, pain or swelling.
Anvil
A heavy iron block with a flat surface used to shape horseshoes.
Apron face
A wide, white blaze that extends from the forehead to the muzzle, wrapping around to include both upper and lower lips.
Arena
The specific place to ride or compete.
Arena Polo
Polo played in an enclosed arena with teams comprised of only three members.
Aromatherapy
The use of essential oils and smells to treat heal illness or injury by the sense of smell.
Arthritis
The inflammation of a joint, usually through normal wear and tear and/or the passage of team. It can cause lameness, but there are several supplements and treatments to manage the disease.
Artificial Insemination
Impregnating a mare with semen collected from a stallion, which has been frozen and transported, to a mare where it is deposited in her body.
Artificial aids
Anything other than natural aids used to guide or encourage the horse. For example, whip, spurs or a martingale.
Ass
Also known as a burro.
ASTM/SEI
The acronym for American Standard for Testing Materials and Safety Equipment Institute that certifies helmet safety.
Astride
Said of a rider sitting on a horse with one leg on each side.
Azoturia
A condition characterized by muscles cramping up, causing a sudden semi-paralysis of the hind legs. The muscles stiffen and become hard to the touch. Also known as "Monday Morning Sickness" because of its propensity to happen on Monday after a weekend off, the condition is very serious and requires immediate medical attention.
Babysitter
A well-trained, usually older horse that knows more about riding than the beginner student who is put on his back. Used by a trainer or school to keep students safe while they learn the basics.
Back
The part of the horse's body between the withers and the hips.
Back at the knee
A serious conformation flaw in which the horse's knees appear to be hyper-extended, bending backwards while he's standing still. Serious consideration should be given before competing or breeding a horse with this flaw since it can lead to knee fractures and be an unsafe ride.
Back not round
A comment a dressage judge might make referring to the fact that the horse's back is flat or hollow instead of rounded by dropping his haunches and truly using his hind end.
Back rail
On an oxer, the farthest rail away from a horse as he takes off over the jump. Often the one that is knocked down, usually due to rider error.
Backwards shoe
A regular horseshoe that is intentionally applied backwards, with the open end at the front, generally to give the heel more support.
Bad Hands
A rider whose hands are heavy, rough or insensitive on the reins.
Balance
Said of when the horse and rider’s weight is equally balanced over the foot of each leg.
Balanced Seat
When a rider has a secure, upright posture, independent of the rein, which does not interfere with the movements of the horse.
Bald faced
A white face marking that covers most of the horse's face including forehead, eyes, nostrils and possibly even the horse's cheeks.
Bale
A rectangular bundle of cut, dried hay bound with wire or twine. The most common unit that hay is sold in, it is divided into flakes. The size and weight of the bale depends on the type of hay, the cutting, etc but they typically weigh about 75-100 pounds and are approximately 16-17 inches high, 23-24 inches wide, and 42-47 inches long. Also, as a verb, the act of cutting the hay and tying it into a bundle or bale.
Balky Horse
A horse that stops and refuses to move.
Ball mount
A towing device that connects a horse trailer to the chassis of the tow vehicle.
Banamine
An anti-inflammatory drug that is non-steroidal.
Bandage
Gauze or cotton that protects a wound. Also the wrap that can hold the wound together for faster, better healing.
Bandage bow
When a tendon becomes swollen or exhibits heat as a result of too tight or unevenly wrapped bandages. The loss of circulation to the area can cause torn fibers in the tendon sheath, the protective covering outside the tendon.
Banged tail
A tail that has been cut off to give it an even, finished look, preferred for dressage or jumping competitions. Usually a tail is banged no higher than the hocks.
Bank
A jumping obstacle that consists of a natural or man made mound of dirt with at least one sharply vertical side and a flat top. A bank is designed to be jumped both up (from the ground up onto the top of the mound) and down (from the mound down to the ground below). Often a bank is combined with a water obstacle, as in a bank down into the water.
Barbed wire
Thin strands of wire twisted together, resulting in sharp points sticking out at even, short intervals. Used as fencing in many areas but never recommended around horses. The possibilities of a horse seriously injuring themselves on the sharp wire make it a very dangerous choice.
Bar bit
A one piece bit with a straight or slightly curved mouthpiece made of metal or rubber.
Bareback Riding
Riding a horse without a saddle or blanket.
Barefoot
Said of a horse that doesn't have any horseshoes.
Barn
A building for housing animals, hay and grain.
Barn crazy
A horse that resents being in an enclosed area.
Barn Sour
Said of a horse that is reluctant to leave the safety of his herd in the barn and/or rushes to return to the barn after the ride is over.
Barley
A high energy grain that is a similar to oats. Usually fed in crushed or rolled form, care should be given as it's easy to overfeed this heavy food source.
Barrel
The round, barrel-shaped part of a horse's body between his withers and his hips. It includes his back, ribs and belly. Also, the three obstacles used in barrel racing that competitors circle around as part of the course.
Barrel Horse
A horse used for barrel racing.
"Barrel horses are the breeds that are used in barrel races. These horses need to be very athletic to be able to cope with the strains of barrel racing"
Barrel Race
A timed western riding competition in which the rider must circle three barrels in the fastest time without tipping the barrels over.
Bars
The toothless section of a horse's jaw where the bit rests. On a saddle, the bars are the metal portions under the flap where the stirrup leathers are connected to the saddle.
Bar shoes
Any horseshoe that is all one continuous piece instead of broken up by an opening at the back. A therapeutic shoe typically used to relieve pressure on the heels.
Basic Gaits
Walk, trot and canter movements of a horse.
Bat
A short whip with a handle on one end and a flattened piece of leather or synthetic material on the other. Usually between 15 - 24" long, it is often confused with a crop, which has a thin strip or loop of leather at the end instead.
Batwing chaps
Full-length chaps that flare out as they go down the leg to ultimately cover the stirrup and foot. A piece of Western worn by some cowboys to hide the spurring action of their foot in competition.
Bay
Horse coat color ranging from red to almost yellow with black limbs, mane and tail, variations include red bay, mahogany bay, blood bay and sandy bay.
Bedding
Material placed on the floor of a horse stall to provide cushion, insulate against cold, and absorb urine.
Beet pulp
A supplement given to horses to give them extra energy. Useful if a horse is thin and needs to put on weight or is in serious training and needs help keeping weight on. Fed as part of the grain supplement or on its own after being soaked for several hours in water.
Behind the Bit
When the horse tips his nose close to his chest to evade proper contact with the bit. Usually caused by rider error or too strong of a bit more than a horse's desire to be truly naughty.
Behind the motion
Refers to a rider who is too far back in the saddle and thus can't move in correct rhythm to his horse's gait. It impedes the horse by putting too much weight on his back end and in general may piss him off.
Behind the vertical
When a horse's nose is behind the imaginary vertical line that runs from his poll straight down to the ground.
Bell
One of two signals used in a dressage competition (the other option is a whistle). The bell signals when the competitor has one minute to enter the arena and begin their test as well as signaling if they go off course.
Bell boot
A bell shaped boot, usually made of rubber or other synthetic materials, that fits over the hoof, protecting the heels of the front hooves from getting nicked or scraped by the toes of the hind hooves while being ridden.
Bend
The flexion of a horse's body from the nose to the tail. Not as severe as if they are actually turning a corner, but enough to feel that the horse has more weight on the outside leg and rein aids.
Bending line
An imaginary curved line leading from one jumping obstacle to the next.
Between hand and leg
The ideal place for the horse to be - moving off the riders legs up into his hands with no excessive pulling or kicking required.
Between the flags
Generally refers to the start and finish line of any timed competition or jump course where the rider has to ride between the red flag on his right and white flag on his left to officially start and finish.
Bib
A leather or plastic spade-shaped attachment added to the halter to prevent the horse from being able to chew on his blanket.
Bit
A mouthpiece made of metal, rubber or synthetic materials that helps a rider control and guide their horse. It rests in the bars of the horse's mouth and is connected to the bridle as well as the reins.
Bit burr
A small, rubber disk that is smooth on one side and bristled on the other. It's placed on the bit, between the cheek pieces and the horse's lips with the bristled side towards the lips. Generally only used on one side of the bit at a time, it's designed to prevent the horse from pulling or leaning on one side.
Bit guard
Small, rubber disks that are placed on the bit between the cheek pieces of the bit and the horse's lips to prevent the bit from pinching the horse. Used particularly with loose ring bits.
Bitless bridle
Any bridle that uses pressure on the poll, the nose and curb groove rather than a bit for guidance and control. The hackamore is the most common example.
Black
A horse's coat color with no other colorings anywhere on the body except for white markings. For instance, a horse may appear black but if his muzzle or belly are a light tan color, he is actually a very dark brown but not black horse. A true black is rare in most breeds except Friesians, Percherons and the Fell Pony.
Black saddler
A saddle maker that specializes in cart and carriage harnesses.
Blacksmith
A person that forges all types of items out of hot metal.
Blanket
A covering to put over a horse as the weather turns colder. They come in many weights, from a light sheet to a heavy, waterproof turnout. Also, the act of putting the blanket on a horse. Lastly, a color pattern most commonly seen in Appaloosa's where a symmetrical white coat covers the haunches of a non-white horse. The white is spattered in either large dots or smaller flecks of a darker color.
Blanket clip
To shave the hair off a horse's neck and belly, leaving his legs and back in their natural state. This helps a horse that is in moderate to heavy work in the wintertime cool off while working and yet stay warm when not being ridden.
Blaze
A white mark that goes down the center of the horse's face and is wider than the bridge of his nose. Similar to a strip but wider.
Blind spot
An area in a horse's vision where he cannot see anything. For instance, directly underneath him or behind his body are two areas where a horse cannot see.
Blinders
Leather flaps used on a racing or driving bridle to keep the horse from being distracted by things he sees off to the side.
Blind obstacle
Any jumping obstacle where the horse can't see the landing spot until after he's taken off.
Blinker
A cloth hood worn by some racehorses that limits their vision to the side, also preventing distractions that might hinder their performance.
Bloating
When a horse fills his stomach with air and holds his breath. Usually a horse does this when his girth is being tightened and then exhales later on, making a formerly tight girth dangerously loose.
Blood horse
A thoroughbred or a pedigree horse.
Bloodline
The pedigree linage of a horse.
Bloodstock
The stock used to perpetuate a breed.
Bloodstock agent
A commission advisor of Thoroughbred sales and purchases.
Blue grass country
An area located in Kentucky where the grass is rich in phosphates and lime, which produces strong bones in raising horses.
Blue roan
A coat coloring that is an even mix of black and white hairs. The head, neck and points are often a darker color.
Boarding stable
A barn or facility that offers a space to keep your horse in exchange for a monthly fee. Usually the fee includes basic feed, water and daily stall cleaning.
Bobbing
When a horse is lame, it bobs it's head dramatically up and down with each stride. Whether it bobs up or down is an indicator if the injury is to the front or hind end.
Body brush
A grooming brush with fine, stiff hairs used to get off the majority of mud and dirt from a horse's coat before tacking.
Body clip
Shaving all the hair off a horse when his heavy winter coat grows in. It's used to keep a horse that is in full work during the winter from overheating from his heavy hair and keep him neater for winter competitions.
Bog spavin
A soft, squishy swelling of the hock that doesn't exhibit heat and doesn't usually cause lameness or affect the horse's usefulness. Brought on by any one of a number of things such as a conformation flaw, strain or stress from quick stops or turns. The only treatment is rest.
Bolt
A sudden horse movement of running away or taking off.
Bombproof
A safe, reliable horse.
Bone spavin
An outgrowth of bone just below the hock that causes lameness. A horse with a bone spavin, also commonly referred to as arthritis of the hock, will tend to drag that toe and be unwilling to flex that hock. Caused by trauma, faulty conformation, or wear and tear through the years.
Bonnet
A white face marking that covers the entire head except for darker hair on the ears and around the eyes.
Boot (horse)
Protection for a horse's legs that come in a variety of material, covering a myriad of uses. Basically, boots should protect the legs from scrapes and offer support to the tendons.
Boot (human)
Riding boots provide protection and safety for both English and Western riders. They need to have a small heel (approx. 1 inch) and a textured but relatively smooth sole.
Boot jack
A wooden, plastic or metal device used to help a rider pull off their tall boots by gripping the heel of the boot while the rider pulls. They come in a variety of shapes and designs, some which grip the toe as well as the heel of the boot. They are becoming almost obsolete now that most people prefer the tall boots that zip up the back over the difficulties of pulling on and off their boots.
Boot pull
A J-shaped hook used to pull on tall English riding boots. Like the boot jack, these tools are almost a thing of the past as tall boots that zip up the back are becoming more popular.
Boot tree
A wooden or plastic form inserted in tall boots when they aren't being worn to preserve the shape of the boot and prevent the calf from breaking down and wrinkling too much.
Bosal
A noseband made of rawhide that is part of a traditional Western hackamore, used to guide and control a horse without using a bit. Also, a generic term used to describe a bitless bridle.
Botulism
A disease caused by eating decaying plant or animal matter. Nearly always fatal, it will tend to hit an area or a barn, since most people in one area buy their food from the same supplier. An antitoxin is available but the problem is that botulism is mistaken for other diseases or doesn't exhibit signs at all until it's too late.
Bounce
A jumping obstacle that consists of two fences so close together there is no room for a stride between them. The horse jumps the first, lands and immediately jumps the next.
Bowed tendon
An injury to the flexor tendon and/or tendon sheath on the back of the horse's leg. 99.9% of the time it happens to the front legs though a horse can on rare occasion bow a hind tendon. Usually caused by strenuous physical activity, footing that is deep or uneven, poor shoeing or improperly applied bandages.
Box stall
Any horse stall where at least three of the four sides are solid as opposed to pipes or mesh that allow a horse interaction with their neighbor. A box stall tends to keep a horse from injuries caused by kicking or fighting with its neighbor.
Brace
Any liniment or solution that contains alcohol, menthol, or other aromatics that is applied to a horse's legs and/or body to increase circulation and assist in cooling the horse off or relaxing tired muscles. Usually a brace is sold as a concentrate and is meant to be diluted with water. Used full strength, some could actually burn so read the directions carefully.
Bran
The outer coating of wheat, rye, or other grain kernel, which is separated from the flour in milling.
Bran mash
A mixture of bran with hot water and sometime sweeteners used as a laxative or to administer medications.
Brand
Any mark or pattern applied to the hide of a horse (or cow) either by means of a hot iron or by freezing that signifies ownership of the animal.
Bray
The sound a donkey makes instead of a horse's whinny.
Break
To train a young horse to accept a rider and obey commands.
Breakaway halter
A halter with a portion made of leather instead of nylon. The leather attachment is designed to break if the horse gets caught on something with the halter on and struggles. The leather part is specifically designed to be easily broken and replaced, thus saving the horse, your halter budget and your crossties.
Breakover
The way the horse's hoof rolls forward, moving from heel to toe as the horse picks it up off the ground. A horse with physical issues (arthritis, tendon injuries, etc.) may need the farrier to square off his hoof to make the breakover easier for him.
Breastplate
A wide leather or web strap that circles the horse's chest and attaches to both sides of the saddle as well as the girth. Used to keep the saddle from slipping back.
Breeches
Comfortable, stretchy pants that taper below the knees, specifically designed for the English style of riding. Most have reinforced knee patches, though some are "full seat", that is with leather reinforcement from the buttocks on down. They are designed to work with tall riding boots or shorter boots and half-chaps.
"Breeches and spurs are usually options which most riders go for."
Breed
A particular stock or line of horses that, through breeding, have certain characteristics.
"One particular horse ranch may only breed and train a specific breed of horse."
Breeding
The act of reproducing the species. The quality of the bloodline.
Beryer Horse
A plastic or porcelain model horse made by Breyer Molding Company sold as a toy or collectible item.
Bridging the reins
A method of holding the reins; after taking up on rein in each hand, the rider takes the excess rein from each hand and overlaps it into the other, making a bridge or loop with the reins. Useful as a way of limiting the rider's ability to move his hands too much as well as a way to make sure the rider has a sure grip on the reins.
Bridle
Tack for the horse’s head consisting of a headstall, reins and sometimes a bit, used to control a horse.
Bridle path
The small patch of mane at the poll that is shaved to accommodate the bridle. Also, the pathway or road specifically set aside for horses and riders to enjoy, usually through sections of parks.
Bridoon
The smaller, thin bit on loose rings used with a curb bit in a double bridle. Sometimes spelled bradoon.
Broke
Said of a horse that is no longer wild but has been taught to accept a rider and respond willingly (more or less) to his cues. Also often the state of one who owns a horse.
Bronc Buster
One who breaks or trains a "bronc".
Bronc or Bronco
An unbroken or imperfectly broken wild horse. Spanish for rough and rude.
Broodmare
A mare used for breeding.
Broom polo
A game based on the rules of polo but played with a lot less intensity (and proficiency), using a beach ball and brooms.
Broomtail
A small horse, not considered worth the effort to break.
Browband
The part of the bridle that lies flat across the forehead below the ears and above the eyes of the horse and attaches to the headstall.
Brown
A coat coloring made up of a mixture of brown and black hairs. A brown horse is uniformly colored from a medium brown to almost black in hue but has no black points.
Brown saddler
A saddle maker specializing in saddles and bridles.
Brumby
The feral horse of the Australian outback. A brumby is not a truly wild horse because horses are not indigenous to Australia, probably because of a lack of a land bridge that connects them with the rest of the world. Brumby's are descendants of horses brought to Australia and then escaped to the wilds. Hardy, they are difficult to domesticate and, like the American Mustang, have been the heart of a controversial "culling" program that slaughtered the horses to reduce the herds to more manageable numbers.
Brush fence
A jumping obstacle made of wood with a brushy hedge on top. It is designed for the horse to touch the brush while jumping the fence, not jump completely over the top.
Brushing
An important part of grooming a horse that involves getting, mud, dirt, dried sweat and old hairs off the horse using a brush.
Buck
When a horse drops his head, arches his back and kicks his hind legs and jumps.
Buck knee
A conformational flaw also known as "over at the knee", where the horse's knee curves out instead of following a straight line. Often this will occur as a horse ages or if he has been ridden too young before his knees were fully formed. Serious thought should be given before breeding, competing or riding a horse with this fault, as they are likely to buckle at the knees and fall down.
Buckaroo
A cowboy, a vaquero, a bronc buster.
Buckskin
A coat coloring that is tan, yellow or gold with a black mane and tail. On rare occasions a buckskin will have a dorsal stripe and black tipped ears. It is similar to a dun but what separates the two is that fact that a buckskin lacks the dun's primitive markings - zebra or tiger striped legs, stripes at the withers and blonde lead hairs in the mane and tail.
"for example; Buckskin horses are great at barrel racing and breakaway racing."
Bulldogger
A horse used for steer wrestling
Bullpen
Also known as a round pen.
Bull rider
One who rides bulls in bull riding competitions.
Bull riding
A rodeo event where a rider rides a bull with one hand holding a rope, and the other hand is held high.
Bump
A polo term where one rider bumps into another rider to spoil his shot.
Bumper pull
A type of trailer that attaches to the back end (though technically not really the bumper) of the towing vehicle. Sometimes called a "tag along".
Burro
A Spanish term for an ass.
Bury
A jumping term referring to a rider error when they ride their horse too close to the jumping obstacle, forcing it to either stop or jump from an unsafe distance.
Bute
Phenylbutazone, a non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory, analgesic drug used to reduce pain and inflammation.
Butt bar
A bar at the back of a straight-load trailer that is swung in place against the horse's butt once he's safely secured inside the trailer. It helps keep him in place and gives him something to balance on in transit.
