aid. The rider’s voice, reins, legs, and weight, used as cues. “On the aids” refers to a horse being “on” the bit and perfectly controlled by bit and leg pressure — able instantly to respond.
animated. Lively; moving with energy and greater action.
balk. To refuse to go forward.
barn sour. Reluctant to leave the barn or pen.
bars. Interdental spaces in the mouth where there are no teeth; the bare gums, consisting of skin over the bone, where the bit rests.
“behind the bit.” Term used to describe when the horse avoids bit pressure by tucking his chin excessively.
bellyband. Surcingle; part of the harness that goes around the girth. billet. Leather piece that attaches the girth to the saddle.
bit. Metal mouthpiece of a bridle.
bitting. Teaching the horse to carry a bit, yield his jaw, and be responsive.
bitting harness. Harness used for getting the horse accustomed to the bit.
bitting snaffle. Straight bar snaffle with small metal pieces attached to the middle of the mouthpiece for the horse’s tongue to play with.
blinkers. Protrusions from the driving bridle that block the horse’s side and backward vision so he can look only straight ahead; also called blinders or winkers.
body language. The way a rider or horseman moves or stands, conveying attitude and intent.
body rope. Rope around the horse’s girth; the free end comes through the halter ring for tying.
bolt. To run away; also implying hard to stop.
bosal. Braided rawhide noseband on a hackamore.
breast collar. Strap around the lower part of the neck in front of the shoulder and attached to the saddle to hold it in place.
breastplate. Leather strap around the lower part of the neck in front of the shoulder; part of a driving harness.
breeching. Part of the harness that goes around the hindquarters.
bridle. Headgear for controlling the horse, consisting of headstall, bit, and reins.
bridoon. Snaffle bit with small rings. Part of a full (double) bridle.
broke. Trained and reliable.
browband. The leather strap of the bridle that goes around the horse’s forehead.
cadence. Rhythm of hoofbeats.
canter. Three-beat gait; collected gallop.
cantle. The back of the saddle seat.
capriole. Classical dressage movement in which the horse springs into the air and thrusts out his hind legs; originally a military maneuver used against foot soldiers.
carriage (head). How the horse carries his head (e.g., high, low, nose down or up).
cart. Two-wheeled vehicle pulled by a horse.
cavalletti. A series of poles on the ground, followed by a jump standard, for teaching a horse how to space his strides.
cavesson. Noseband attached to a headstall. A cavesson used for longeing has rings for the longe line or long reins and a jaw strap to keep the cheek pieces from getting in the horse’s eyes.
change of lead. To change from one leading set of legs (at the canter or gallop) to the other.
charging. Rushing forward.
check. To contact the mouth with the bit; to cue the horse to slow or stop or pay attention.
checkrein. The strap to the bit on a harness or bitting harness that holds the horse’s head in a certain position.
cheek. Side piece of a headstall or side piece of a bit.
chin strap. See curb chain, curb strap.
chute. Narrow alleyway for confining an animal.
cinch ring. Metal ring on the end of a cinch that fastens to the saddle billet or latigo.
closed bridle. Driving bridle with blinkers.
clucking. Making a kissing or clicking sound to encourage the horse to move or to move faster.
coldbacked. Resentful when saddled; the horse humps his back and protests, especially when the cinch is tightened.
collar. Neck piece on a harness that rests on the shoulders; the horse leans into it for pulling.
collected. Moving with animation, impulsion, and elevated action; shortened frame.
conformation. How the parts of a horse’s body are put together.
contact. Bit contact; constant communication via the reins.
courbette. Classical dressage movement in which the horse rises on his hind legs, folds his front legs, and hops on his hind legs.
cricket. A roller attached to the mouthpiece of a curb bit or spade bit.
crop. Short riding whip.
cross-cantering. Cantering on one lead in front and the opposite lead behind; see also disunited.
croup. Highest point of the rump.
crownpiece. Top part of the headstall of a bridle.
crupper. The part of a harness that runs from the back pad under the dock of the tail.
curb. Bit with shanks. Puts pressure on the mouth, chin groove, and top of the head when reins are pulled, due to leverage action.
curb chain, curb strap. Fastened to the top part of a curb bit, this puts pressure on the chin groove when the bit is tipped by a pull on the reins.
cutting. Sport competition in which horses are judged for their ability to handle and outmaneuver a cow — sorting her out of the herd and keeping her from rejoining it.
dally. A loop of rope around a post; to loop a rope around a post, pole, or saddle horn.
dam. Mother of a horse.
diagonals. At the trot the horse’s feet move in diagonal pairs; the rider posts on the left or right diagonal.
direct-rein. To turn a horse with a pull on one rein (to the side), pulling his head around to that side.
disunited. Cantering on one lead in front and the opposite lead behind; cross-cantering.
doubling. Bending the horse sharply and pulling him around so he is facing in the opposite direction.
draw reins. Reins that run through the bit and attach back to the saddle, giving extreme leverage action.
dressage. Highest form of training and horsemanship. Teaches the horse to be totally responsive, via subtle cues, to the rider.
D-ring. Metal ring on the saddle to which the leather is attached for holding a cinch.
D-ring snaffle. Snaffle with D-shaped rings.
driving. Controlling the horse with a bit and long lines (as when he is pulling a vehicle), rather than riding him.
driving in long lines. Ground training in which the horse is controlled by a bit and long lines while his trainer is walking behind him.
egg-butt snaffle. Snaffle with large, thick rings.
extended. Moving with a lengthened frame; uncollected.
fiador. Rope throatlatch of a hackamore that also attaches to the back of the bosal to provide loops for reins.
flex. To bend at the poll and yield to bit contact; to bend the body to the curve of a circle.
flying lead change. To change leads at the canter, lope, or gallop without slowing to a trot.
forehand. Front end of the horse; shoulders and front legs.
fox trot. Slow, broken trot; faster than a walk.
gaited. A horse that does 4 or 5 gaits rather than just walk, trot and gallop. Fastest gait of most horses.
Gee. Verbal cue to turn right.
gentle. “Broke” or well trained; to train a horse.
girth. Strap under the belly to hold an English saddle in place. Also, the body area of the horse where this goes.
good hands. Light contact on the mouth at all times, never bumping the horse in the mouth.
grazing curb. Curb bit with short, angled-back shanks that make it easier for a horse to graze while wearing this bit.
green horse. Inexperienced, untrained horse.
groom. To brush and clean a horse.
hackamore. Bitless bridle that uses a bosal for control.
hair coat. The horse’s body hair.
half breed bit. A bit that combines features of a standard curb and a spade bit.
half-halt. Temporary pressure on the bit (quick pull and release) to signal him to slow down or pay attention.
half moon snaffle. Snaffle with a curved bar mouthpiece.
half-pass. Lateral movement in which the horse travels sideways as well as forward, with his body curved in the direction he is going.
halter-break. To teach the horse to lead and tie.
hame. The frame that holds the driving collar in place; used in conjunction with a driving collar.
haunches. Hindquarters.
Haw. Verbal command to turn left.
head a cow. Horse and rider move into position to turn her in the proper direction.
head shy. Insecure about having anything approach the head; not wanting the head touched.
headstall. Headpiece that holds a bit in place.
heat. Estrus; period in mare’s estrous cycle when she is, or is becoming, receptive to the stallion.
heel knot. Rawhide knob at the rear of a bosal, resting under the horse’s jaw.
heavy hands. No flexibility; pulling or bumping the mouth.
herd-bound. Reluctant to leave the security and companionship of other horses.
hobbles. Leather, rope, or cloth loops used on legs for restraint.
hock. Large joint on the hind leg, above the cannon bone.
horse psychology. Understanding the mind, emotions, and social nature of horses.
horse sense. Understanding how a horse thinks; being able to predict what he might do in certain situations.
imprint training. Handling a foal at birth to get him accustomed to touch and to manipulation of all body parts so he will later be submissive under human handling.
impulsion. Forward movement and energy.
incisors. Front teeth.
indirect rein. Rein opposite the direction the horse is turning. When neck-reining, the indirect rein is used, pressed against the horse’s neck.
interdental space. The area between the incisors (front) and molars (back) where there are no teeth; also called bars.
jigging. Prancing and fretting, refusing to settle down and walk.
jog. Slow and unanimated trot.
joining up. Bonding with the trainer; becoming willing to respond to the trainer.
jointed snaffle. Snaffle with one or two joints in the mouthpiece.
lariat. Small-diameter hard-twist rope used for roping cattle.
lash. The long, flexible end of a whip.
lateral. Sideways movement.
latigo. Leather strap that fastens the cinch to the saddle.
leads. At the canter or gallop the horse leads with the legs of one side or the other, the legs on that side going farther forward.
legged up. Conditioned, improved muscle fitness developed by gradually increasing the horse’s work.
leg yield. Maneuver in which the horse travels sideways and forward, with his head and neck curved slightly away from the direction of travel.
levade. Classical dressage movement in which the horse crouches on his hind legs and rears slowly.
light hands. Maintaining constant light contact with the bit; see also good hands.
light-mouthed horse. A horse with a sensitive mouth; very responsive to the mildest bit pressure.
lipping. Grabbing the shank of a curb bit with the mouth.
locking up. “Freezing”; unresponsive to cues. Also, locking the hind legs for a sliding stop.
longe (also spelled lunge). To exercise or train a horse in a large circle, controlled by a long line held by the trainer standing at the circle’s center.
long line. Long rein for ground-driving or for longeing a horse.
lope. Western term for the canter or slow gallop.
lug. To pull against the bit.
martingale. Combination of straps attached to the reins (running martingale) or noseband (standing martingale) at one end and the saddle girth at the other, to keep the horse from tossing his head or carrying it too high.
mecate. Braided horsehair reins tied to a bosal on a hackamore.
mullen mouth. Straight mouthpiece; no port, no joint.
“muscle memory.” Having done a maneuver once, the horse finds it easier the next time, not only mentally but also physically.
navicular. Small bone inside the hoof; also a term for a disease of this bone, often caused by too much concussion on hard surfaces.
near side. Left side of the horse.
neck-rein. To turn the horse by use of the indirect rein, moving it across his neck.
noseband. The strap of a halter or bridle that goes across the horse’s nose.
off side. Right side of the horse.
“on the bit.” Willingly responding to constant but gentle bit pressure, with relaxed and yielding jaw; constant bit contact.
open bridle. Bridle without blinkers.
overcheck. Cord running from the bit to the top of the headstall, then back to the harness (or saddle), to keep the horse from putting his head down.
Paso. A breed of gaited horses from Central and South America.
passage. Dressage movement; slow to medium trot, highly collected.
Pelham. Bit with both curb and snaffle action (curb mouthpiece with shanks and snaffle rings).
piaffe. Dressage movement; prancing in place.
pirouette. Dressage movement; galloping in a small circle with hind legs practically stationary and front legs moving around them.
poll. Top of the horse’s head; junction of head and neck.
pommel. Front of the saddle.
pony horse. The horse being ridden when leading another horse alongside.
ponying. To lead one horse from another.
port. Raised part in the center of the mouthpiece of a curb bit.
posting. Rising to one beat of the trot and staying out of the saddle for the next; rising (or sitting) as the same front foot comes to the ground.
prance. Impatient gait of a horse who’s trying to trot instead of walk, but moving slowly because he’s held back by the rider; almost trotting in place.
quarters. Hindquarters.
rack. One of the gaits of a five-gaited horse; a swift four-beat gait (also called a singlefoot), faster than a walk and with more up-and-down motion of the legs.
rail. Fence line; also term for a pole.
rein back. To back the horse by first pushing him into the bit with leg pressure, holding the bit steady with fixed hands rather than pulling on it. Leg pressure tells him to move, and because he cannot move forward, he moves backward.
reining. Sport competition in which horses are judged by their ability to do various maneuvers at speed.
reins. Lines, usually leather, attached to a bit, used to give signals to the horse.
rigging. Straps connecting the cinch to the saddle.
rollback. Maneuver in which a horse stops quickly from a gallop, pivots on the hind legs, and again takes off at a gallop in a new direction.
rowel. Small wheel (often with points) attached to spur shank.
rubbernecking. Turning the head in response to rein pressure without turning the body.
running walk. A four-beat gait, faster than a normal walk, with a long over-stride (hind feet overstepping the tracks of the front feet).
sacking out. Getting the horse accustomed to various things touching all parts of his body.
serpentine. Winding pattern or loops or half-circles.
set back. To pull back strongly on the halter rope when the horse is tied.
shafts. The small-diameter poles attached to a cart, between which the horse is positioned for pulling.
shank. The portion of a spur that sticks out past the rider’s heel; also, the lower portion of the cheek pieces of a curb bit or Pelham.
shoulder-in. Dressage movement. Horse travels sideways as well as forward, his whole body flexed away from the direction of travel.
shy. To leap sideways or spin away from a frightening object.
sidepass. To move sideways, crossing one leg over the other.
side piece. Cheek piece of a halter, bridle, or a bit.
singlefoot. See rack. Also called a broken amble.
singletree. Spacer bar attached to a cart or wagon, behind the horse, to which the harness traces are attached.
snaffle. Bit with rings attached at the mouthpiece. Rein pressure is directly to the back or side, putting pressure on the tongue, bars, and mouth corners.
splint. Bony enlargement on the cannon bone due to injury, often caused by concussion on hard surfaces or striking it with a foot.
spook. To shy or jump away from something frightening.
stifles. Large joints at the top of the hind legs.
stirrup bows. Support for the rider’s feet in a Western saddle.
stirrup irons. Support for the rider’s feet in an English saddle.
stirrup leather. Straps attaching stirrup irons or bows to the saddle.
straight snaffle. Snaffle with a straight, unjointed mouthpiece.
supple. Flexible.
surcingle. A broad girth that goes around the horse; also called bellyband.
tack. Equipment used on the horse.
tapadero. Leather hood over the front of a stirrup bow.
throatlatch. Strap of the bridle that goes under the throat to keep the horse from rubbing off the headstall. Also, this area of the horse’s head.
tie-down. Strap connecting the noseband to the cinch or breast collar, to keep a horse from getting his head too high.
traces. The portion of the harness (leather straps or chains) that attach to the singletree to pull the vehicle.
tree. Inside foundation of a saddle, traditionally made of wood but now sometimes fiberglass or other materials, upon which the leather is attached.
trot. Two-beat, diagonal gait.
tug. Portion of the harness at the rear of the horse that attaches to the vehicle.
two track. To travel sideways as well as forward.
unanimated. Moving with little energy or extra motion.
walk. Slowest gait of the horse, a four-beat gait.
war bridle. Cord running through the mouth and over the poll; when tightened, it is a means of restraint.
“way of going.” How the horse handles himself, or how he moves himself, at various gaits.
Whoa. Command used to tell the horse to stop.