A Dictionary of Horse Terms

A:

Action: Term used to describe the way a horse moves.

Appaloosa: A breed of horse noted for its spotted coat pattern.

Apprentice: A new jockey. To be licensed, a jockey must be at least sixteen years old.

Arabian: Known to be the oldest and purest breed of horse with a high-strung personality and excellent endurance.

B:

Backstretch: The straight-away portion of a race course on the opposite side from the stands and the finish line.

Balk: When a horse refuses to move or do what the rider wants.

Bay: A chestnut colored horse with black legs and tail.

Bit: The metal part of a bridle that goes in the horse's mouth.

Blaze: A broad, white strip on a horse's face.

Break: The act of training or gentling a horse.

Breed: A particular type of horse.

Bridle: The piece of tack that goes on the horse's head and is used to help control the horse.

C:

Canter: A smooth, three-beat gait that is faster than a trot but slower than a gallop.

Chestnut: A horse of any red or brown color.

Cinch: The strap that goes around the horse's midsection to hold the saddle in place.

Colt: A male horse less than four years old.

Conformation: Physical makeup and bodily proportions of a horse; how a horse is put together.

Cooling Out: Restoring a horse to normal temperature, usually by walking, after it has become overheated from exercise.

Crop: A small riding whip.

D:

Dam: Mother of a horse.

Derby: Stakes event for three-year-olds.

Doped: When a horse is given an illegal drug to affect the outcome of a race.

Dressage: An event where horse and rider perform complex movements and are rated on control.

E:

Eased: A horse that is gently pulled up during a race.

Equestrian: A horseback rider.

Equine: A horse.

F:

Fault: Knocking down a pole or part of a jump during showjumping competition.

Fetlock: The joint between the knee and hoof.

Filly: A female horse less than four years old.

Foal: A baby horse less than one year old.

Furlong: A distance that equals 1/8th of a mile...220 yards (used on racetracks)

G:

Gaits: The footfall patterns of horses including the walk, trot, canter, and gallop.

Girth: The strap or cinch that goes around the horse's belly to keep the saddle on it's back.

Green: A horse that has just started his training, usually one that is young and inexperienced.

Grey (or gray): A white horse with a light or dark tint to it. Most white horses are really grey.

Groom: The act of cleaning/brushing a horse. Also someone who is hired to groom a horse.

H:

Halter: A type of headgear used to lead a horse.

Hand: A unit of measurement equal to 4 inches which is used for determining the height of a horse from the withers (shoulders) to the ground. Thoroughbreds are typically 15 to 17 hands.

Hand Ride: Urging the horse with the hands and the reins; not using the whip.

Handicap: A race in which horses are assigned different amounts of weight to carry, according to their abilities and past performances.

Homestretch: The straight-away portion of a race course on the same side as the viewing stands and the finish line.

Hoof: Foot of a horse.

Hurdle: Commonly used in England and Ireland, it is lighter and lower than a steeplechase fence.

J:

Jockey: A person who rides racehorses.

Jumper: Steeplechase or hurdler horse.

Juvenile: A two-year-old thoroughbred; the age at which they are first eligible to race.

M:

Maiden: A horse that has not yet won a race.

Mare: A female horse over four years old.

Mudder: A horse that runs well on muddy racetracks.

Mustang: A wild horse found on the western plains of North America.

Muzzle: Nose and lips of a horse.

N:

Near Side: Left side of a horse. The side on which a rider mounts a horse.

Novice: A horse that has won its first race over fences.

O:

Off Side: Right side of a horse.

Out of the Money: A horse that finishes worse than third place.

P:

Paddock: The area where horses are saddled before a race and where they remain until they go onto the race course.

Palomino: A horse with a deep yellow coat color.

Pedigree: Written record of a horse's ancestors, usually up to four generations.

Pony: A small horse, usually having a gentle temperament.

Post: The starting point for a race.

Purse: The money earned in a race.

Q:

Quarter Horse: A short, stocky breed of horse developed for running short distances of a quarter mile; used in ranch and rodeo work.

R:

Refuse: When a horse will not break from the gate in a race, or jump a fence in an event.

Reins: Long straps attached to the bit and used by the jockey to guide a horse.

S:

Saddle: A piece of tack used to keep the rider in place on the horse's back.

Schooling: Preparing for a steeplechase race by having the horse practice jumping over obstacles as part of its training.

Scratch: Taking a horse out of a race before the race starts.

Showing: Competing for money, ribbons, or points with horses.

Silks: The jacket and hat worn by a jockey in the colors of the horse's home stable.

Sire: Father of a horse.

Spooky: A horse that is nervous and prone to shy at an unfamiliar movement or object.

Sprint: A short race, less than a mile.

Stall: A place where a horse is kept during the night and when not outdoors during the day.

Stallion: A male horse over four years old.

Steeplechase: A horse race over obstacles like fences and walls.

Stewards: Officials of a race who enforce the rules.

Stirrups: Metal rings that riders put their feet into to maintain balance.

Stud: The name for a stallion that is used for breeding.

T:

Tack: Equipment used to ride and train horses such as the saddle and bridle.

Tattoo: A permanent mark inside the upper lip of a horse used to identify it.

Thoroughbred: A breed of horse used in racing whose ancestors trace back to one of three stallions: the Darley Arabian, the Byerly Turk, and the Goldolphin Arabian.

V:

VMD: A Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

W:

Weanling: A young horse that doesn't need it's mother's milk anymore.

Withers: A horse's shoulder where the neck meets the back.

Y:

Yearling: A horse that is one year old.