Glossary
An A–Z glossary of horse words with plain-language definitions, examples, and the Spanish equivalent of each term.
Horse people use a lot of special words. Learn them in small pieces.
How to use the glossary
- Look up a word
- Read the example
- Follow the links to lessons that use it
Glossary A–Z(74)
A
- Arena
- A fenced area where riders practice.
B
- Balance
- Staying steady without tipping or wobbling.
- Barrel
- The round midsection (ribcage area).
- Bit
- A piece that can sit in the horse’s mouth in some bridles.
- Body Brush
- A soft brush for finishing touches.
- Boot
- Footwear that protects your feet and works safely with stirrups.
- Bridle
- Headgear used to guide the horse.
- Bucket
- A container for water (and sometimes feed).
C
- Cannon Bone
- The long bone in the lower leg.
- Canter
- A smooth three-beat gait (not full speed).
- Chest
- Front of the body between the front legs.
- Circle
- A round path in the arena.
- Contact
- A steady, gentle feel on the reins (with instruction).
- Cool Down
- Easy work at the end to help the body return to normal.
- Course
- A planned path, often with patterns or jumps.
- Croup
- Top of the hindquarters near the tail.
- Cue
- A signal you give the horse, like legs or reins.
- Curry Comb
- A rubber brush used in circles to loosen dirt.
D
- Dandy Brush
- A stiff brush to flick dirt away.
- Diagonal
- A posting-trot timing check (your instructor will teach you how to spot it).
F
- Feed
- Food given to horses, often measured.
- Fetlock
- The joint above the hoof.
- Fitness
- Strength and stamina for work.
- Flank
- Side area in front of the hind leg.
- Flat Palm
- A safe way to offer a treat on an open hand.
- Focus
- Paying attention to one task.
- Forelock
- Hair between the ears that falls on the forehead.
- Frog
- Soft triangle part on the bottom of the hoof.
G
- Girth
- The strap that holds the saddle on (English tack).
H
- Halt
- When the horse stops moving and stands still.
- Halter
- Headcollar used to lead a horse.
- Hay
- Dried grass used as food for horses.
- Helmet
- Protective headgear for riding.
- Hindquarters
- The back end of the horse where pushing power comes from.
- Hock
- A hind-leg joint like an ankle.
- Hoof
- The hard foot of a horse.
- Hoof Pick
- A tool for cleaning the bottom of a hoof.
- Hydration
- Having enough water in the body.
L
O
- Obstacle
- Something you ride around or over (with instruction).
P
R
S
- Saddle
- The seat used for riding.
- Saddle Pad
- A pad under the saddle for comfort and fit.
- Salt Block
- A hard block a horse can lick for salt.
- Scoop
- A tool used to measure feed.
- Seat
- How you sit and balance in the saddle.
- Shoulder
- Front area where the leg joins the body.
- Spacing
- Keeping a safe distance from horses and people.
- Stifle
- A hind-leg joint like a knee.
- Stirrup
- A foot support attached to the saddle.
- Sweat Scraper
- A tool that removes water/sweat from the coat.
T
- Tack
- The equipment used for riding and handling a horse.
- Tail
- Long hair at the back of the horse.
- Transition
- Changing speed or gait (walk to halt, walk to trot).
- Treat
- A small snack given as a reward (only with permission).
- Trot
- A faster two-beat gait.
- Turn
- Changing direction.
- Turnout
- Time when a horse is outside in a paddock or pasture.
- Two-Point
- A riding position where you rise slightly out of the saddle.