forging the striking of the rear hoof and the toe of the front hoof during a trot, caused by overextending.
fox trot walking with the front legs and trotting with the rear.
gait the speed and sequence of a horse's walk or run; gaits include walk, trot, canter, gallop, and rack.
gallop a full run.
gambado a low, four-legged leap, as when frolicking.
gaskin part of the hind leg between the stifle and the hock.
gee a traditional horse command meaning to "turn right." Opposite of haw.
gelding a castrated or gelded male.
girth the band of leather that goes around the trunk of a horse for fastening the saddle to its back.
grade a horse of unknown ancestry.
green horse an untrained horse.
green jumper a horse that has been taught to jump.
gymkhana a riding meet or competition.
hack a horse used for pleasure riding.
hackney a horse of English origin, characterized by its flexed knee gait.
halter a rope used for leading or tying a horse.
hand a unit of measurement in which 1 hand equals 4 inches, used to estimate the size of a horse.
haw traditional horse command meaning "turn left."
headband part of the bridle placed over the horse's forehead to prevent the bridle from slipping back.
heat the breeding period of a mare, occurring at three-week intervals and lasting about five days.
12 animals and insects
hock the joint located in the lower leg, corresponding to the ankle in humans.
hogback a horse having a rounded back, opposite of a swayback.
hunter a horse bred or trained for hunting, usually a fast runner and strong jumper.
jib a nervous or fidgety movement sideways or backwards.
jodhpurs horse-riding pants made of heavy cloth, fitting tightly at the knees and ankles, and typically worn with ankle-height leather boots also known as jodhpurs.
jog a slow trot.
lather sweat.
lope canter.
lunge a long rope or rein used for breaking or training a horse by leading it around in a circle.
manger a horse's wooden feeding trough, attached to a stall wall.
mare an adult female.
mudder a horse that runs well on muddy ground, as on a wet racetrack.
muzzle collective term for the nose, nostrils, lips, and chin of a horse.
neigh the cry of a horse.
noseband a strap fitted over the nose as part of the Western bridle.
offside the right side of a horse when viewed from behind; also known as the far side.
paddock a fenced-in area adjoining a barn where horses may play.
palfrey a post-horse, or historically a small horse used by ladies.
passade a backward movement.
pastern part of the foot between the fetlock and the hoof.
Pegasus the great steed of Greek mythology, known for its wings.
piaffe a test of horsemanship, in which the horse trots slowly in place.
pigeon-toed standing with toes pointed inward.
pillion a pad used for an extra rider behind the saddle.
poll the top of a horse's neck behind the ears.
pommel the front portion of the English saddle, fitting over the withers.
posting in English riding, the rising and falling of the rider with the rhythm of the trot.
rack a difficult four-beat gait or gallop used by a trained horse.
rear to stand up on the hind legs.
rip a wornout or useless horse.
sire father of a horse.
span horses in a matched pair.
splayfoot standing with toes pointed outward.
staggers a cerebrospinal disease characterized by loss of coordination, staggering, and falling down.
stallion adult male used for breeding.
steed a spirited horse, or a horse ridden in combat.
stifle the joint corresponding to the knee in humans.
swayback an old horse with a swayed back.
volt a partially sideways gait or step.
whinny a low and gentle neigh.
withers highest part of the back, between the shoulder blades.
Horse Breeds
American albino a Nebraska-bred, snow-white horse having pinkish skin and blue, brown, or hazel eyes.
Andalusian an elegant, good-natured Spanish horse, usually gray or bay and standing about 15 hands high.
Appaloosa bred for endurance by the North American Plains Indians, a horse widely recognized by its spotted rump.
Arab greatly admired, highly prized desert horse, known for its distinctive forehead bump shaped like a shield. Since it has fewer ribs and lumbar bones than other breeds, it has a distinctively short back. The Arab is said to "float" when it runs.
Boulonnais French breed; heavy but elegant, bred today mostly for its meat.
Camargue the ancient breed of southern France; thought to be that depicted in prehistoric cave paintings at Niaux and Lascaux.
Cleveland bay a popular coach-pulling or harness horse in the 19 th century. Noted for its stamina and strength, it is now used as a hunter or as a show jumper.
Clydesdale a strong, heavy draught horse of Scottish breed; the Budweiser beer mascot.
cob not a breed, but a stocky short-legged horse noted for its jumping ability.
Connemara intelligent Irish breed known for its sure-footedness and jumping ability.
Criollo Argentine, dun-colored horse having great endurance and toughness, ridden by the gauchos of the pampas.
Dale hardy, calm Yorkshire breed, usually black, and used for riding or as pack horses.
Dartmoor a small, European riding horse having a kind, quiet nature.
Dutch draught massive, strong horse with a docile temperament, originally bred for farm work.
Exmoor British pony breed, thought to have pulled Roman chariots, now used as fox hunter and children's riding pony.
Fell European breed similar to a Dale but smaller, used as a hunter and as a riding horse.
French trotter Normandy-bred harness-racing horse, known for its stamina.
Friesian Holland-bred work and harness horse.
hack a refined, well-mannered and elegant show horse having a trot that appears to "float." The term hack is also used to denote any type of riding horse.
Hackney a high-stepping, trotting horse of English breed. It was once a popular carriage horse.
Hanoverian German breed renowned for its show- jumping ability.
Highland Scottish pony breed used for hunting, jumping, and everyday riding.
holstein a tall (16 to 17 hands high) German carriage horse noted for its intelligence, today used in show jumping.
hunter European breed ridden in England and Ireland for hunting purposes. It is noted for its agility, stamina, and jumping ability.