Terms from Horses and Horsemanship Flashcards
mane, tail, and legs are black or darker than the rest of the horse
Black Points
iris of the eye a light color
Walleyed
indicates a predominance of black hair or deep color, with little yellow apparent
Dark
refers to the sheen which, when the light strikes the certain shades of dun, chestnut, and bay, makes them seem transluscent and golden
Golden
means a darker ribbon which goes along the back from mane to tail. The line may be almost any color though red and black are most common.
Line-back / Dorsal Stripe
indicates large roan spots on some base color
Patched
indicates uniformity, clarity and depth of color
Pure
Indicates black stripes or bars on the legs
Striped
implies darker patches dull finish, or dark overcast
Toasted
always means dark stripes on the legs and/or withers
Zebra
a straw yellow or dirty white. Normally caused by a mixture of dark hair and white
Flax / Flaxen
manes and tails having only white hairs
True White
lacking refinement; rough, harsh appearance
Coarse
upper, curved part of neck, peculiar to stallions
Crest
top profile of neck concave like a female sheep’s neck
Ewe-necked
Fineness of texture; freedom from coarseness
Quality
with a curved, crooked hock when viewed from the side
Sickle-hocked
healthy, active, vigorous
Thrifty Condition
a “scuffing” on the inside of the diagonal forefeet and hindfeet; generally confined to pacer
Cross-firing
a noticable pause in the flight of the foot, as though the stride were completed before the foot reaches the ground
Dwelling
striking fetlock or cannon with the opposite foot; most often done by base-narrow, toe-wide, or splay-foot horses
Interfering
throwing the front feet outward as they are picked up, most common in toe-narrow or pigeon-toed horses
Paddling
the hairline at top of hindfoot hits toe of forefoot as it breaks over
Scalping
the inside of diagonal fore and hind pastern make contact; sometimes seen in fast-trotting horses
Speedy Cutting
a short, quick, choppy stride, a tendency of horses with short, straight pasterns and straight shoulders
Trappy
an exaggerated paddling particularly noticable in high-going horses
Winging
a three-beat gait that is moderate and easy
Canter
controlled gait; a correct coordinated action
Collected
front foot and the opposite hind foot take off and stop at the same time; legs and feet move in diagonal pairs
Diagonal Gait
when a rider’s reaction to a horse’s gaits are pleasant and enjoyable
Easy Gaited
horse folds its knees, with the forearm nearly horizontal momentarily, flexes the hock noticeably, and lifts the feet high from the ground
Flashy / High Gaited
a slow, short, broken type of trot and the head usually nods. Hind foot hits ground an instant before diagonal forefoot
Fox Trot
gaits are executed in a smooth, collected manner. Action is not excessive or labored
Free Going
a fast four-beat gait where each hoof strikes the ground seperately
Gallop
a particular way of going, characterized by a distinctive rhythmic movement of the feet and legs
Gaits
a horse’s action in motion is difficult to perform and plainly excessive
Labored Action
the legs and feet move in lateral pairs in performing a gait. The front and hind feet on the same side of the horse start and stop at the same time
Lateral Gait
a fast, two beat gait with the front and hind legs on the same side moving simultaneously
Pace
a fast, unnatural, four-beat gait in which each foot meets the ground seperately at equal intervals. Also known as single-foot.
Rack
Stride lacks spring or action, therefore causing the rider unnecessary rider fatigue
Rough or Hard Gaited
a four-beat gait faster than the walk, often over 6 miles an hour
Running Walk
a pacer that rolls the body sideways as he paces
Side-wheeler
the distance from imprint to imprint by a horse’s foot when completing one step
Stride
a saddle horse trained to perform at the walk, trot, and canter
Three-gaited
lateral movement without forward or backward movement
Traverse / Side Step
a three-gaited horse, can perform at walk, trot, and canter
Walk-trot Horse
the ability of a horse to control its action in order to travel collectedly and in correct form
Balance
the line in which the foot is carried during the stride
Directness
the amount of foot elevation in the stride, determined by the radius of the arc described
Height
the distance from the point of breaking over in preparation for flight in a stride to the point of surface contact of the same foot
Length
the time used in taking one stride
Rapidity
the precision sequence with which each stride is taken in turn
Regularly
to step backwards
Back
rein placed against the neck for direction of turn
Bearing Rein / Neck Rein
eight feet; distance between horses in a column
Horse Length
the foremost, or last leg to touch the ground in completing a stride at the lope, canter or gallop
Lead
holding the saddle with hands while riding a bucking horse
Pull Leather
a type of western reins
Romel
to put on a bridle and saddle
Tack Up
the crown piece is split allowing one ear to pass through the crown piece to hold the headstall in place
Split Ear
a small loop is added to the crown piece to go around the ear
Slip Ear
a brow band added to the headstall to keep the crown piece from sliding down the horse’s neck and to add a little color
Conventional
the part of the hackamore that fits over and around the nose
Bosal
a piece of equipment placed in the horse’s mouth, used to apply pressure for communication; part of the bridle
Bit
a combination of bridle, harness pad, and crupper. Used to teach horse to flex at the poll.
Bitting Ring
the back of a saddle
Cantle
A noseband on a bridle. A stiff noseband on a halter used with longe strap in training.
Cavesson
A western saddle with cinch hung from center.
Center Fire
a wide cord girth used on western saddles
Cinch / Chincha
saddle pad cut to fit shape of the saddle; has a large colorful roll around the edge
Corona
a metal type of chain strap attached to a curb bit to apply pressure on the underside of the lower jaw
Curb Chains
the wide pieces of leather along the stirrup leathers on a saddle
Fenders
the front part of a western saddle fitting over the withers
Fork
the measure of the circumference of a horse’s body back of the withers. A leather, canvas, or corded piece around the body of the horse to hold the saddle on. Also part of the body.
Girth
A bitless bridle of various designs used in breaking and training; from Spanish “jaquima”
Hackamore
the leather bridle straps exclusive of bit and reins
Head Stall
straps fastened to the front legs of a horse to prevent it from straying from camp. In harness racing, leather or plastic semicircular loops are connected by straps and placed on the gaskin and forearm, connecting the front and rear legs of the same side of pacing horses to assist in maintainng the pacing gait
Hobbles
a ring of rope, rawhide, or metal on a lasso through which the loop slides
Honda
the rope, often rawhide, with running noose, used for catching cattle; spanish “la reata” = the rope
Lariat
a strap or rope attached to the halter for leading
Lead Strap
A strap running from the girth between front legs to the bridle. The standing martingale is attached to the cavesson. The running martingale has rings through which the reins pass. used to help control the height of the horse’s head.
Martingale
a chin chain of flat, large links
Polochain
the part of the mouthpiece of a bit curving up over the tongue
Port
that portion of the bit from the mouthpiece down
Shank
a term used to describe the shape of the fork on a western saddle
Slick
a widely used type of bit
Snaffle
a snaffle with small metal pieces dangling from the center used in training young horses to the bit
Snaffle-key Bit
a broad strap about the girth, to hold the blanket in place
Surcingle
What should the saddle do?
- fit the horse 2. Not interfere with the horses ability to perform 3. be appropriate for the riding style 4. fit the rider
What is the purpose of the saddle pad?
- to protect the horse’s back 2. to absorb sweat and moisture 3. to protect the saddle 4. to help saddles fit better
used to stabilize and prevent a saddle from slipping backwards
Breastplate / Breast Collar
a leather strap fastened to the rear of the saddle and looping under the base of the tail of the horse used to stabilize and prevent a saddle from slipping forwards
Crupper
a heastall for leading or tying a horse; may be made of leather, nylon, or other material
Halter
support and protect the splint bone during work
Splint Boots
protect the back of the rear fetlocks from abrasion during sliding movements
Skid Boots
protect the back of the front coromary band from injury due to overreaching, or the hind feet stepping on the front feet
Bell Boots (Overreach Boots)
for forward seat saddles. the pressure from a fall disengages a heavy rubber band (which forms the outside frame of the stirrup) releasing the rider’s foot
Safety Stirrup
usually refers to hair that is clean and glossy, denoting a healthy appearance
Bloom
to clean and brush a horse. Also refers to the person who does this.
Groom
the training of a horse to respond to natural movements when requested by the rider with the use of reins, hands, and feet
Dressage
a saddle horse trained to perform in five gaits, the walk, trot, canter, slow gait, and rack
Five-gaited
a horse with little training
Green Horse
the exercising of a horse on the end of a long rope or line, usually in a circle
Longe / Lounge
the starting point of a race
Post
the horny-grooved inside of the hoof, and on the outside front of the coffin bone
Laminae
result of a horse traveling in a manner inconsistant with its natural way of going
Lameness
inflammtion of the feet causing lameness. serious ailment of the laminae caused by overeating grain or lush pasture, too much water when the horse is hot, over work, or inflammation of the uterus after foaling. most common in forefeet but can affect all feet
Founder / Laminitis
an infection of the sensitive portions of the hoof that gains access through cracks in the white line on the sole. infection may break through at the coronary band and begin draining
Gravel
inflammation of the navicular bone of the fore foot. the cause may be disease or injury to the navicular bone, resulting in possible lameness
Navicular Disease
a disease of the frog of the horse’s foot, caused by unsanitary conditions and bacteria. infection is black and strong smelling. progresses from blemish to unsoundness.
Thrush
