Buying your first Horse
Learning to Ride
Horsemanship

This is an A-Z reference section of basic terms used around horses and ponies

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

Aids

Riders use aids to communicate with the horse. ‘Natural’ aids are the hands, lower leg, seat and voice. These are combined in different ways to signal to the horse what is required of it. Whips and spurs are examples of ‘artificial’ aids.

B

Bit

The bit is the part of a bridle that goes in the horse’s mouth. There is a large variety of bits, which provide different types/levels of control. Choosing the right bit for a particular horse requires knowledge and skill. Bridle The bridle is a collection of straps that hold the bit in the right place in the horse’s mouth. Usually made from leather, but webbing bridles are also available.

Blaze

A wide stripe of white hair down the front of a horse’s face.

C

Changing the rein

Changing the rein is the term used when a rider changes direction when riding in an enclosed space, such as a ménage or show arena. When riding in a clockwise direction, the right rein is on the inside of any circles or turns and the rider is therefore on the ‘right rein’. When riding in an anti-clockwise direction, the rider is on the ‘left rein’.

Chaps

Leather or suede leggings worn over trousers to protect the rider’s legs. Most commonly worn by western-style riders. Half chaps have become popular in the UK in recent years. These extend from knee to ankle and are worn over jodhpurs with short boots.

Clipped

A clipped horse is one that has had part or all of its winter coat shaved off to prevent it getting too hot (and sweaty) when working.

Colt

A male horse under four years of age. Contact The tension in the reins that enables the rider to ‘feel’ the horse’s mouth.

D

Diagonal

When a horse trots its legs move in diagonal pairs: left front and right back, right front and left back for alternate strides. In ‘rising trot’ the rider sits for one stride and lifts his/her seat out of the saddle for the next. The rider is said to be on the correct diagonal if he/she is sat in the saddle when the outside front leg is on the ground.

Double bridle

A bridle with two bits.

F

Farrier

A skilled craftsman who makes and fits horses’ shoes. Sometimes referred to as a blacksmith. Feathers The name for the long hair that grows around the bottom of a horse’s legs. Not all breeds have them; those that do include Shire horses and Dales ponies.

Filly

A female horse under four years of age.

Foal

A horse under one year old.

Frog

Part of the horse’s hoof.

G

Gelding

A castrated male horse.

Girth

A broad strap with buckles at either end that is used to keep a saddle in place. Traditionally made from leather, but also made of cotton and other ‘breathable’ materials (that allow heat and moisture to escape).

Grooming

Grooming is the means by which dirt is removed from the horses coat and hooves. A grooming ‘kit’ consists of a range of brushes and other items, each with a specific function.

Gymkhana

An event where riders play a series of games on horseback, commonly referred to as ‘mounted games.’

H

Hackamore

A bridle without a bit.

Hands

The units of measurement used to determine a horse’s height. The average length of a man’s clenched fist is four inches, which is the length of one ‘hand’. At markets buyers used to check the height of a horse by putting one fist on top of the other. The height of a horse is measured from the floor to the top of the shoulder (the withers).

Hoof

The foot of a horse. The exterior wall is made of a similar substance to our fingernails and grows in the same way. There are no nerves in the outer wall of the hoof, which is why horse shoes can be nailed on without causing any pain.

I

In hand

A class at a show where the horses are led by a person on foot. These classes are usually for young horses (one to three years old) and mares with foals. The aim is to identify the best of a particular breed by judging its conformation and how good an example the horse is of the breed.

J

Jump off

An extra round of a course of fences (usually against the clock) to decide the winner of a show jumping competition when two or more riders have the same score.

Jodhpurs

Well-fitting trousers that minimise chaffing (or rubbing) and maximise comfort and flexibility whilst riding. Named after the town in India where they originated.

L

Lead

The lead leg whilst cantering is the front leg that makes up the third part of the stride (and also reaches out farthest during the movement). The three elements of a horse’s canter stride are as follows: First the outside hind leg strikes the ground; then the inside hind leg and outside front leg strike the ground at the same time (working as a diagonal pair); finally the inside front leg strikes the ground.

Livery Yard

A stable where horses are cared by the yard owner and not necessarily the horses' owners.

Loose box

A contained area where a horse can move around freely. A stable can be described as a loose box, as can a boxed area in a barn. Lunge To lunge a horse is to exercise a horse from the ground, with the horse working on a circle at the end of long rein (usually made from webbing).

M

Mare

A female horse at least four years old.

Ménage

An outdoor exercise area with an all-weather surface. Usually fenced, quite often flood-lit for those short winter days. An area where you would school (train) your horse.

Muck out

To remove all droppings and wet patches of bedding from a horse’s stable.

N

Near side The left side of a horse. It is usual to mount and dismount from the near side.

Numnah

A lightly quilted cloth in the shape of a saddle, worn under the saddle when riding. Can also be made of sheepskin. Some are well padded. The name came from the Indian word ‘numdah’ which is a felt embroidered rug.

O

Off side

The right side of a horse.

R
RDA
Riding for the disabled Association

S

Saddle

The saddle is the equipment that enables the rider to sit correctly on the horse. There are different designs of saddle for different riding disciplines, such as show jumping and dressage where the position of the rider’s leg is very different. Racing saddles are different again – and very light weight.

Seat

The rider’s bottom. How a rider sits in the saddle – that is the position of their bottom – is important. A good seat is important for communicating with the horse.

Skip out

To remove the droppings from a horse’s stable, leaving the wet patches of bedding for another time. (The wet patches are usually below the surface of the bedding).

Sock

A sock is white hair from the hoof over the fetlock joint.

Sound

A sound horse is one that is healthy, with free movement in all four legs and no breathing problems.

Stall

A contained area (usually three-sided) where the horse is secured with a rope and halter. Stalls are usually found in barn-like structures. The horses are either secured facing the back wall or facing the access corridor. Stalls take up less space than a loose box (the horse normally has to be backed in or out, depending on which end it is secured).

Stallion

A male horse at least for years old that is able to breed.

T

Tack

Mainly refers to the saddle and bridle, but includes all other items of equipment used on the horse when ridden, such as protective boots (generally worn on - and protect - the legs and therefore not ‘boots’ at all).

W

Wing

Part of a jump. Poles (or planks) are suspended between two wings. The poles are supported in ‘cups’, which can be suspended at different heights on the wings.