Gender and Age:
Foal: a baby horse, under one year old
Filly: female horse under 4 years old
Colt: male horse under 4 years old
Yearling: filly or colt that is one year old
Mare: adult female horse that is over 4 years old
Gelding: male horse that cannot breed
Filly: female horse under 4 years old
Colt: male horse under 4 years old
Yearling: filly or colt that is one year old
Mare: adult female horse that is over 4 years old
Gelding: male horse that cannot breed
Height:
Hands: how a horse is measured, one hand is equal to four inches
Pony: smaller than 14.3 hands tall
Hony: between 15 and 15.3 hands tall, honies are technically horses but they have a very awkward stride which makes them harder to jump
Horse: 15 hands or taller
Pony: smaller than 14.3 hands tall
Hony: between 15 and 15.3 hands tall, honies are technically horses but they have a very awkward stride which makes them harder to jump
Horse: 15 hands or taller
Colors and Markings:
Bay: one of the most common colors; the horse has a brown body, and has black legs, tail, mane, and ear tips.
Chestnut: reddish-orange color coat, mane, and tail
Grey: grey colored coat, horses with a grey coat can easily get sun burnt and also get melanomas because they usually have pink or light grey skin
Pinto/Paint: horse that has two combined colors (black and white, or brown and white are most common) paint horses are also a breed of horse
Black: black colored coat
Liver Chestnut: a variation of chestnut, but unlike a normal chestnut coat it is more brown than red
Stock/Stocking: marking on the horses legs
Blaze, Star, Bald-Faced, Snip, and Stripe: different markings on a horses face
Chestnut: reddish-orange color coat, mane, and tail
Grey: grey colored coat, horses with a grey coat can easily get sun burnt and also get melanomas because they usually have pink or light grey skin
Pinto/Paint: horse that has two combined colors (black and white, or brown and white are most common) paint horses are also a breed of horse
Black: black colored coat
Liver Chestnut: a variation of chestnut, but unlike a normal chestnut coat it is more brown than red
Stock/Stocking: marking on the horses legs
Blaze, Star, Bald-Faced, Snip, and Stripe: different markings on a horses face
Gaits:
Walk: the slowest gait, always has two or three feet on the ground at a time
Trot: the second gait, trotting is faster than walking and is considered the most bouncy gait
Canter: the third gait and all four feet are off the ground, it is a three beat gait, you have two canter leads that are based on what direction you are going and what leg goes forward first
Simple Lead Change: trotting a few steps to pick up a different canter lead
Flying Lead Change: changing your canter lead while still cantering instead of trotting like you do when while doing a simple lead change
Gallop: fastest gait, the horse stretches out while it runs
Trot: the second gait, trotting is faster than walking and is considered the most bouncy gait
Canter: the third gait and all four feet are off the ground, it is a three beat gait, you have two canter leads that are based on what direction you are going and what leg goes forward first
Simple Lead Change: trotting a few steps to pick up a different canter lead
Flying Lead Change: changing your canter lead while still cantering instead of trotting like you do when while doing a simple lead change
Gallop: fastest gait, the horse stretches out while it runs
Horse Showing:
Amateur: a non-professional rider who is under 18 years old
Course/ Jumping Course: a pattern of 8 jumps that is based on height and goes up 3 inches each level (2 foot, 2 foot 3 inches, 2 foot 6 inches, etc.)
Class: a group of riders who compete with each other based on skill level, jumping height, and age
Fault: penalties on the horse and rider for not following the jumping course, knowing a jump down, etc.
Judge: a professional rider who judges a rider and horse
Rail: the fencing that lines that ring you ride in, you will hear the term "on the rail" a lot and it just means to ride a long side the rail
Fence: what you jump in a jumping course
Course/ Jumping Course: a pattern of 8 jumps that is based on height and goes up 3 inches each level (2 foot, 2 foot 3 inches, 2 foot 6 inches, etc.)
Class: a group of riders who compete with each other based on skill level, jumping height, and age
Fault: penalties on the horse and rider for not following the jumping course, knowing a jump down, etc.
Judge: a professional rider who judges a rider and horse
Rail: the fencing that lines that ring you ride in, you will hear the term "on the rail" a lot and it just means to ride a long side the rail
Fence: what you jump in a jumping course
Tack:
Saddle: a "seat" for the rider that sits on the horses back
Bridle: riding equipment that goes on a horses head and is used to help steer the horses (includes bit, reins, throat latch, etc.) can either be a bit bridle or or bitless bridle
Bit: piece of metal that sits in horses mouth (not of the teeth) and is used to help steer the horse, does not hurt the horse is used properly
Girth: connects to both sides of a saddle and goes under the horses stomach to keep the saddle from falling off (called a cinch in western riding)
Saddle pad: a "blanket" that goes under the saddle, it prevents the saddle from irritating the horses skin
Bridle: riding equipment that goes on a horses head and is used to help steer the horses (includes bit, reins, throat latch, etc.) can either be a bit bridle or or bitless bridle
Bit: piece of metal that sits in horses mouth (not of the teeth) and is used to help steer the horse, does not hurt the horse is used properly
Girth: connects to both sides of a saddle and goes under the horses stomach to keep the saddle from falling off (called a cinch in western riding)
Saddle pad: a "blanket" that goes under the saddle, it prevents the saddle from irritating the horses skin
Other Terms:
Halter and Lead Line: goes on the horses head so you can lead them around
Chain: a small chain that attaches to the halter and goes across the horses nose, it doesn't hurt the horse if it's used properly and is used to help correct behavior issues
Lunge line: a longer version of a lead line that is used when lunging a horse (usually +20ft long)
Lunging: training method that has the horse going around the handler in a large circle on a lunge line, can be used either for training or to help exersise the horse
Bareback: to ride the horse with out a saddle
Farrier: person who cuts down horses hooves to keep them from getting too long
Chain: a small chain that attaches to the halter and goes across the horses nose, it doesn't hurt the horse if it's used properly and is used to help correct behavior issues
Lunge line: a longer version of a lead line that is used when lunging a horse (usually +20ft long)
Lunging: training method that has the horse going around the handler in a large circle on a lunge line, can be used either for training or to help exersise the horse
Bareback: to ride the horse with out a saddle
Farrier: person who cuts down horses hooves to keep them from getting too long