There is extensive terminology that is unique to horses. This guide should help readers who are unfamiliar with horses or any of the equestrian sports that are mentioned in my books. If there is a term that you think should be added, let me know!

Andalusian: Also known as the Pure Spanish Horse, this is a breed originating from the Iberian Peninsula. They are known as a beautiful and versatile breed

Arena: A building or structure within which horseback riding takes place. They can vary in size and style depending on how they are used.

Barrel racing: A timed event seen most frequently in gymkhanas and rodeos in which a horse and rider go through a cloverleaf pattern made of barrels.

Bay: A horse coat color where the main body is brown, and the mane, tail, ears, and lower legs are black.

Bending Line: A line consisting of two jumps that requires the horse to turn between the first and second jump.

Bit: A piece of equipment that goes in the horse’s mouth to assist with controlling its movements. They vary in size, style, and severity. Bits are attached to the bridle.

Breeches: Pants designed for horseback riding.

Bridle: The piece of equipment that goes on the horse’s head for riding. It typically consists of several pieces- usually leather- and a bit or hackamore.

Broke: A term to describe a horse that is mostly or fully trained, and that it can be ridden.

Buckskin: A horse coat color where the main body is tan, and the mane, tail, and lower legs are black.

Canter: A three-beat gait that is between a trot and a gallop. It can vary from 10 to 17 miles per hour.

Canter Pirouette: A highly collected dressage movement in which a horse’s front legs travel in a circle while the hind legs pivot in one spot.

Cavaletti: A small jump used for training purposes.

Cavaletti Exercises: Patterns or routines that require the use of cavalettis.

Center Line: In a dressage court, the center line runs from ‘A’ to ‘C’. In any arena, it is the line which runs through the middle of the arena, cutting the width in half.

Chestnut: A reddish or red-brown coat coloring. This coat has no black points.

Chukker: A period of play in a polo match. Each match is divided into several chukkers, and each chukker lasts seven and a half minutes.

Class: In horse shows, these distinguish the different categories of competition by horse and rider abilities, riding style, horsemanship, age, and/or discipline.

Coldblood: A horse type that refers to breeds that are typically large and heavy. They are known to be calm and easygoing. Most of these breeds originate from work horses that were used for farming, hauling, and war.

Colic: An all-encompassing term that describes abdominal pain in a horse. The symptoms can be caused by issues ranging from mild to fatal. The most common symptoms include frequently standing up and laying down, biting at the abdomen, refusing food and water, frequent rolling, sweating while in a rest state, increased body temperature, and increased heart rate.

Collection: This is when a horse correctly uses its body to maintain shorter strides, balance, and a sense of lightness. The horse carries itself with its neck raised and its poll at the highest point.

Colt: A male horse younger than four years old.

Combination: A series of three or more jumps that are designed to be jump as a set.

Cross Country: The second phase of Three Day Eventing. It requires riding through a course that takes place over natural terrain, and the jumps are typically made of natural elements such as logs, ditches, and water. Courses are typically several miles long.

Crossrail: A jump made of two poles crossing each other to form an ‘X’ shape.

Crosstie: An area where horses stand to be groomed and tacked up.

Curry Comb: A stiff brush made of rubber or metal. It has teeth or ridges that help loosen dirt in the horse’s coat.

Dutch Warmblood: A highly athletic breed that are used often in competitive dressage and jumping events.

Draft Horse: A breed type that includes large, heavy horses that were traditionally bred for pulling carts and agricultural equipment.

Dressage: The art of riding and training a horse in a manner that develops obedience, flexibility, and balance.

Dressage Court: A space that is either 20 meters by 40 meters (short court) or 20 meters by 60 meters (full court) that is used for dressage riding. The fencing is typically very short (12 inches). Each section of the court has a designated letter that corresponds to it. These letters are used to map out tests.

Endurance Riding: A sport consisting of long-distance races.

Extension: The lengthening of the horse’s stride.

Equitation: The act and/or art of horseback riding. It refers to the rider’s position and ability to utilize their aids, such as their legs, hands, seat, etc.

Equitation class: Competition events that judge a rider’s position, performance, and ability to control their horse.

Farrier: Someone who trims and shoes horses.

Figure eight: A pattern in which horse and rider create an ‘8’ pattern around the arena.

Filly: A female horse younger than four years old.

Flat Class: A competition event where horses and riders are judged on their performance in different gaits (walk, trot, and/or canter). There is no jumping.

Flatwork: Any horseback riding exercise activity that does not require a horse to jump.

Gallop: A four-beat gait that is also the fastest gait at which a horse can run. The average speed of a gallop is 25-35 miles per hour.

Gelding: A castrated male horse.

Girth: A piece of tack that goes around the horse’s belly, behind the shoulders. It keeps the saddle in place on a horse’s back. In western riding, this piece is called a cinch.

Green-broke: A way to describe a horse that has some training, but they are still learning.

Green: A way to describe an inexperienced horse.

Groom (v): The act of cleaning a horse. The process typically involves a curry comb, a hard brush, a soft brush, a hoof pick, and sometimes other tools.

Groom (n): Someone who handles daily care for a horse. This may include feeding, cleaning, some first aid activities, and some exercising.

Gymkhana: An equestrian sport that consists of riding through patterns and games. The goal is to get the fastest time through the given pattern.

Hackamore: A piece that attaches to the bridle to control the horse without anything in its mouth. It can vary in severity.

Half halt: A brief combination of aids from a rider to rebalance and cue a horse for the next action.

Half turn on the forehand: A pivot movement in which a horse’s front legs stay in one spot while the hind legs move. A half turn changes the direction that the horse faces.

Half turn on the haunches: A pivot movement in which a horse’s hind legs stay in one spot while the front legs move. A half turn changes the direction that the horse faces.

Halt: A stop.

Halter: A head piece that a horse wears to be led around by hand.

Hand Gallop: A controlled gallop that is somewhere between the speed of a canter and a gallop. The rider still maintains control of the horse through the reins.

Hands: The unit for measuring a horse’s height. One hand is four inches.

Holsteiner: A German horse breed that has natural talent for high-level jumping. It is a warmblood breed frequently seen at the top of English riding sports such as show jumping, dressage, and eventing.

Hoof Pick: A tool used to clean out a horse’s hooves.

Horsemanship: The art of riding, handling, and training horses. It refers to anything that affects the relationship between horse and rider.

Horse Trials: A competitive event for the sport of Eventing, in which a horse and rider pair compete against other horse and rider pairs in three phases: show jumping, dressage, and cross country. These events are typically run as a one-day event or three-day event.

Hotblood: light-weight horses with refined features, natural talent for speed and stamina, and a lively temperament.

Hunter: A style of riding within the realm of jumping that judges the horse’s form and style over and between jumps.

Jog: The western term for trot. It’s also usually slow, collected, and more comfortable for the rider to sit so they don’t do any posting.

Judge’s Line: A line of jumps along the arena’s perimeter nearest to the judge’s booth.

Jumper: A style of riding within Show Jumping that is judged objectively based off fastest times and fewest penalties.

Jumper course: An objective jumping event where scoring is based off fastest times and fewest penalties.

Jump off: A second round in a show jumping competition for riders who did not have any penalties in the first round- otherwise known as having a clear round. It is a shorter and faster course made with the same obstacles used in the first round. The horse and rider with the fastest time in the jump off are declared the overall winners.

Lateral movements: Actions during which a horse travels in a manner that is not simply straight and forward. These can include moving sideways, diagonally, in place (pivoting), or with hooves traveling on different tracks. Movements include turning on the haunches or forehand, pirouettes, side passes, leg yields, half passes, shoulder-in, haunches-in, and more.

Leads: The direction of travel for a horse at a canter or gallop. This can be identified by looking at the leading leg in the stride.

Lead changes: The act of changing the direction of the stride in a canter or gallop. This can be done through a simple change, by switching to a walk or trot, or through a flying change, where a horse swaps its leading leg during its current gait.

Lead rope: A line of rope that connects to a halter so that a handler can lead the horse without riding.

Lope: The Western term for canter. It is usually slower and somewhat collected.

Lunging: A form of exercise and training for a horse. It can be done with a lunge line, which is a long rope designed to control a horse from a further distance, or by free lunging with no rope. The horse moves around its handler on a circle. The handler uses verbal and nonverbal communication to tell the horse the speed and direction it should travel on the circle.

Mane: Hair on the neck of a horse that can grow to long lengths.

Mare: An adult female horse aged four years or older.

Markings: Physical traits that can distinguish a horse from others. These can include facial markings, socks, and any colored spots on a horse.

Mustang: A feral horse that is found in the United States. This breed is made up of many other horse breeds, but they are descended from Colonial Spanish horses that were brought to the Americas. Mustang populations are regulated by the Bureau of Land Management, which also oversees adoption of the animals.

Outside Line: A line of jumps along the arena’s outer perimeter.

Paddock: A small field or enclosure in which horses can be kept. It is spacious enough for them to run around and exercise.

Paint Horse: Formally called the American Paint Horse. This breed is known for having a pinto coat pattern and typically has the build of a western stock horse. They are bred from other Paint horses, Quarter Horses, and Thoroughbreds. If a horse has two Paint parents but does not have the pinto coat, it can still be registered as a solid Paint horse.

Percheron: A draft horse breed originating from France.

Poll: The highest point of a horse’s head between the ears.

Polo: A team sport where riders use mallets to hit a small ball into the opposing team’s goal.

Pony: Horses that are below the height of 14.2 hands high, or 58 inches. Not all horses below this height are considered ponies.

Quarter Horse: A popular American horse breed that is commonly used for ranch work, rodeos, and racing at a quarter mile distance. They are typically small, stocky, and sturdy, but there is a lot of variety within the breed.

Reining: A style of western riding in which a horse and rider execute a pattern that mimics the skills and behaviors of working on a cattle ranch.

Reins: The part of a bridle that the rider holds while riding to deliver cues to the horse through the hands.

Roan: A pattern that describes a horse’s coat coloring when there is a base color, as well as white and colored hairs intermixed into the coat. The background color’s name is typically added to the pattern name to describe what type of roan the horse is. This can include blue roan, red roan, and bay roan.

Rollback: In Western disciplines, a rollback is considered a maneuver where a galloping horse then stops, turns 180 degrees, and then immediately lopes or gallops away. In English disciplines, a rollback is a U-turn or similarly tight turn between two jumps.

Round Pen: A circular pen in which a horse may be exercised with or without a rider. It is commonly used for lunging.

Saddle: A piece of equipment which goes on the horse’s back. A rider sits in the saddle when riding.

Schooling Show: A practice competition that prepares horses and riders for real horse shows.

Serpentine: A riding exercise in which the horse and rider perform a series of half-circles in alternate directions, creating a track similar to an S-shape.

Shoulder-in: A dressage movement in which a horse’s legs move on three tracks, where the hind end stays closest to the wall or fence, and the horse’s shoulders onto an inside track away from the wall or fence.

Show Jumping: A sport that includes jumping events for horse and rider pairs. The sport includes jumper, hunter, and equitation classes. Hunter classes are rounds in a show in which the horse is judged on its skill and style around a jump course. Equitation classes judge a rider’s ability to guide the horse through the jump course, which is typically more technically difficult than a hunter course. A jumper class has objective judging based on the completion time and fewest penalties during the round. These classes are usually very complex and technical.

Socks: White markings on the lower legs of a horse, starting from where the hoof and leg meet.

Stall: An enclosed space in which a horse lives.

Stallion: An adult male horse aged four years or older.

Stud Chain: A chain that can be attached to a lead line to give the handler more control while leading a horse from the ground. It can be used to get a horse’s attention more quickly, correct behaviors, or to create a more obvious cue for horses that don’t respond to more subtle pressure.

Surcingle: A strap of equipment that goes around a horse’s girth area. Different types of surcingles can be used for training or riding.

Sweat Scraper: A tool used to wipe excess water off a horse after it has been bathed.

Tack: A general term for any and all horse-riding equipment.

Tacking Up: The act of placing equipment on a horse for the purpose of riding and/or training.

Thoroughbred: A highly athletic horse breed used in horse racing. They are versatile, so they are used in many other sports as well.

Three Day Eventing: A sport in which a horse and rider perform in three phases against other horses and riders in one competition. These phases are dressage, show jumping, and cross country. It is an Olympic sport with origins in cavalry combined training.

Trakehner: A warmblood breed originating from East Prussia. They can be very excitable and spirited, but they are also very athletic. They are well suited to English riding sports but particularly dressage.

Travers: Also known as a haunches-in. A dressage movement in which the horse’s shoulders stay beside the wall or fence, while the hind legs move to an inside track.

Trot: A two-beat gait between a walk and a canter. The speed of a trot is typically 8-12 miles per hour.

Walk: A four-beat gait with an average speed of 4 miles per hour.

Walking Pirouette: A dressage movement in which the horse’s front end moves around the hind end.

Warmblood: A breed type that is a combination of cold-blood and hot-blood horses. They are athletic middleweight sport horses.

Wash Rack: A designated area for bathing horses.

Withers: The highest portion of the horse’s back that meets the base of its neck. This point is to which a horse’s height is measured.