Equestrian Glossary: definitions related to horses

Explore our glossary dedicated to the equine world: hippological terms, technical vocabulary related to horses, tack, riding disciplines, and more. A useful resource for riders, breeders, and enthusiasts.

A

• ABDUCTION
  Movement of a limb away from the midline of the body
• ADDUCTION
  Movement of a limb toward the midline of the body
• ANGULATION
  Angle formed by bones at joints, affecting movement
• ARTIFICIAL GAITS
  Gaits that are trained or exaggerated, not naturally performed.

B

• BIT
  Metal piece in the horse's mouth, connected to the reins, used for control
• BIT BUMP
  Small swelling at the corner of the mouth caused by repeated bit friction.
• BONE SPUR
  Abnormal bony growth on a joint, typically associated with arthritis.
• BRAID
  A small plait in the horse’s mane or tail, often used for grooming or showing.
• BREAKING IN
  The first stage of training a horse to accept a rider

C

• CANNON BONE
  Long bone between the knee and the fetlock in the foreleg.
• CLOSED STUDBOOK
  Registry only allowing horses from registered parents.
• CLUB FOOT
  A hoof abnormality where the foot is upright and steep
• COAT
  The color and markings of a horse's hair
• COLLECTED CANTER
  A canter where the horse shortens its stride and engages the hindquarters, used in dressage.
• COLLECTION
  Horse shortens stride and increases engagement and balance
• CONTACT
  The rider’s influence on the horse through the reins and other aids.
• CONTRACTED HEELS
  A hoof deformity where the heels are drawn inward, reducing shock absorption.
• CORONET BAND
  The upper part of the hoof from which the wall grows, made of keratinized tissue.
• COUNTER CANTER
  Canter where the horse leads with the outside foreleg in a turn
• CRIBBING
  A stereotypic behavior where the horse grips an object with its teeth and sucks in air.
• CROSSBREEDING
  Breeding between two different breeds.
• CROUP
  The area of the horse’s body above the tail, forming the hindquarters.
• CROWNPIECE
  Part of the bridle that goes behind the ears to hold it in place

D

• DANDY BRUSH
  Stiff-bristled brush used for grooming
• DIAGONALLY PAIRED
  Describes a horse moving a hind leg and opposite foreleg at the same time, especially in trot.
• DOMINANCE
  Tendency of a horse to assert control over others.
• DRAW REINS
  Auxiliary reins used to encourage head position and neck flexion
• DRESSAGE TEST
  A sequence of predefined movements performed during a dressage competition.

E

• ERGOT
  Small horny growth behind the fetlock, a remnant of a lost digit.

F

• FACIAL PROFILE
  The area from the forehead to the nostrils; can be straight, convex, or concave.
• FARRIER
  A specialist who trims and shoes horse hooves.
• FETLOCK
  Joint between the cannon bone and the pastern.
• FLASH NOSEBAND
  Noseband with an additional strap under the bit.
• FLEXION
  Controlled bending of joints or neck, depending on context.
• FLEXOR TENDON
  Tendon on the back of the limb that enables the joints of the lower leg to flex.
• FOAL
  A young horse, male or female, under one year old.

G

• GAITS
  The various ways a horse moves (walk, trot, canter, etc.), each with a specific number of beats and rhythm.
• GIRTH
  Strap that keeps the saddle in place under the belly.
• GREGARIOUSNESS
  Horse’s instinctive need to live in a group
• GROOMING
  Daily care of the horse (brushing, hoof cleaning, etc.)

H

• HALTER
  Headgear used for leading or tying up a horse
• HIGH-STEPPING ACTION
  Exaggerated upward leg motion, often seen in show horses.
• HOCK
  Joint on the hind leg equivalent to the human ankle
• HOOF
  The hard outer part of a horse’s foot, similar to a toenail

I

• IMPRINTING
  The process through which a young foal becomes accustomed to humans and its environment shortly after birth.

K

• KIND EYE
  Soft, relaxed expression in a horse’s eye indicating a calm temperament
• KNEE
  Joint in the front leg equivalent to the human wrist.

L

• LAMINITIS
  A painful inflammatory condition of the hoof’s internal structures.
• LOIN
  Area of the back between the ribs and the croup.
• LONG REINS
  Training tool using extended reins for groundwork or driving.
• LUNGE LINE
  Long rope used to exercise the horse from a distance

M

• MAIDEN MARE
  A mare that has never foaled, typically under 3 years of age.
• MARE
  Adult female horse, typically of breeding age.
• MOUNTING BLOCK
  Device or method to assist in getting on a horse
• MOUTHPIECE
  The part of the bridle that goes into the horse’s mouth
• MUSCLING DEFINITION
  Clear visibility and contour of the horse’s muscles

N

• NASAL PASSAGE
  The opening of the nostrils, evaluated for size and dilation during breathing effort.
• NECK
  The horse’s neck, whose shape and musculature affect balance and motion.
• NEURITIS
  Inflammation of a nerve, which may cause lameness or sensitivity in horses.
• NICKING
  A breeding term referring to a successful genetic cross between two specific bloodlines.
• NOSE IN THE AIR
  Horse raises its head and sticks out the nose, indicating resistance to contact.
• NOSEBAND
  Part of the bridle or halter passing over the nose, used to influence or limit mouth movements.
• NOSTRILS
  The horse’s nasal openings, through which it breathes (horses are obligate nasal breathers).
• NURSE MARE
  A mare that nurses a foal that is not her own.

O

• OPERANT CONDITIONING
  A form of learning where behavior is shaped by its consequences (reward or punishment).

P

• PACE
  A two-beat lateral gait, natural in some horse breeds.
• PASSIVE FLEXION
  Movement of a joint without voluntary muscle contraction, typically performed during a veterinary exam.
• PASTERN
  Area between the fetlock and the hoof.
• PIAFFE
  A highly collected dressage movement where the horse trots almost in place.
• POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT
  A learning method where desired behavior is rewarded to increase its recurrence.
• PRESCAPULAR NOTCH
  The hollow between the neck and shoulder, noticeable in lean or well-defined horses.

R

• REARING
  Sudden vertical leap where the horse stands up on its hind legs, often as a sign of resistance.
• REINS
  Straps used by the rider to guide the horse by connecting to the bit
• RESISTANCE
  Horse’s unwilling or evasive reaction to rider’s aids.

S

• SADDLE
  A piece of tack placed on the horse’s back for riding.
• SELECTIVE BREEDING
  Choosing breeding animals based on specific traits.
• SHOULDER-IN
  A lateral movement in dressage where the horse crosses its legs while moving diagonally.
• SHOULDER-IN
  A lateral dressage movement where the horse moves on three tracks with the head turned inward.
• SPINOUS PROCESS
  The bony projection of each vertebra forming the ridge along the horse's back; it can be felt under the skin.
• SPUR
  Device attached to a boot to reinforce leg aids
• STALLION
  An uncastrated male horse used for breeding.
• STIFLE
  Joint in the hind leg, equivalent to the human knee.
• STOCKING
  A white marking on the horse's legs, with varying height.

T

• TO SNORT NASALLY
  To produce loud nasal sounds when breathing, often due to a respiratory issue.
• TONGUE TIE
  A strap used to prevent a horse from moving its tongue over the bit.
• TOPLINE
  The outline of the horse’s back from withers to croup
• TOPLINE
  The upper contour of the horse’s body from withers to tail, including back.
• TREE (SADDLE)
  The rigid framework inside a saddle

U

• UNDERLINE
  The lower contour of the horse’s body from chest to groin.

W

• WEAVING
  A stereotypic behavior where the horse sways rhythmically from one foreleg to the other, often from stress.
• WITHERS
  The ridge between the shoulder blades, at the base of the neck