If you're fairly new to the horse scene, you've probably heard
more experienced equestrians throwing around words you don't
understand. For your education and amusement, here are some
definitions of common equestrian terms.
Auction
A popular, social gathering where you can change a horse from a
financial liability into a liquid asset.
Azoturia (Monday Morning Disease)
a condition brought on by showing horses all weekend. Symptoms
include the feeling of dread at having to get out of bed on
Mondays and go to work.
Barn Sour
An affliction common to horse people in northern climates during
the winter months. Trudging through deep snow, pushing
wheelbarrows through snow and beating out frozen water buckets
tend to bring on this condition rapidly.
Big Name Trainer
Cult Leader: Horse owners follow them blindly, will gladly sell
their homes, spend their children's college funds and their IRA's
to support them- as they have a direct link to "The Most High
Ones" (Judges).
Bog Spavin
The feeling of panic when riding through marshy area. Also used
to refer to horses who throw a fit at having to go through water
puddles.
Bolt
to gulp feed usually occurs with sandwiches at half-hour holds.
Bran
A wheat by-product occasionally fed moistened to horses, most
usually applied as spackel or stucco on owner.
Colic
The gastrointestinal result of eating at the food stands at horse
shows.
Colt
What your mare always gives you when you want a filly.
Contracted foot
The involuntary/instant reflex of curling one's toes up - right
before a horse steps on your foot.
Corn
small callus growths formed from the continual wearing of cowboy
boots.
Cribbing
The vice of chewing your pencils while worrying as you figuring
cost of next year s hay.
Drench
Term used to describe the condition an owner is in after he
administers mineral oil to his horse.
Endurance ride
The end result when your horse spooks and runs away with you in
the woods.
Equitation
The ability to keep a smile on your face and proper posture while
your horse tries to crowhop, shy and buck his way around a show
ring.
Feed
Expensive substance utilized in the manufacture of large
quantities of manure
Fences
Decorative perimeter structures built to give a horse something
to chew on, scratch against and jump over (see inbreeding).
Flea-bitten
A condition of the lower extremities in horse owners who also own
dogs and cats.
Flies
The excuse of choice a horse uses so he can kick you, buck you
off or knock you over - he cannot be punished.
Founder
1.) The discovery of your loose mare-some miles from your farm,
usually in a flower bed or cornfield. Used like-"Hey, honey, I
found'er." 2.) A condition that happens to most people after
Thanksgiving dinner
Frog
Small amphibious animal that emits a high-pitched squeal when
stepped on.
Gallop
The customary gait a horse chooses when returning to the barn
Gates
Wooden or metal structures built to amuse horses.
Girth Sores
Painful swelling and abrasion made at the point of mid-section by
fashionable large western belt buckles.
Green Broke
The color of the face of the person who has just gotten the
training bill from the Big Name Trainer...
Grooming
The fine art of brushing the dirt from one's horse and applying
it to your own body.
Grooms
Heavy, stationary objects used at horse shows to hold down lawn
chairs and show bills. (see pit crews)
Hay
A green itchy material that collects between layers of clothing,
especially in unmentionable places.
Head Shy
A reluctance to use the public restrooms at any horse event.
Always applies to pit toilets.
Head Tosser
A blonde-haired woman who wears fashion boots while working in
the barn.
Heaves
The act of unloading a truck full of hay.
Hobbles
Describes the walking gait of a horse owner after his/her foot
has been stepped on by his/her horse.
Hock
The financial condition that a horse owner goes into.
Hoof Pick
Useful, curbed metal tool utilized to remove hardened dog doo
from the treads of your tennis shoes.
Horse Trailer
Expensive movable urinal for horses. (and occasionally riders)
Horse shoes
Expensive semi-circular projectiles that horses like to throw.
Inbreeding
The breeding results of broken/inadequate pasture fencing.
Jumping
The characteristic movement that an equine makes when given a
vaccine or has his hooves trimmed.
Lameness
The condition of most riders after the first few rides each year;
can be a chronic condition in weekend riders.
Lead Rope
A long apparatus instrumental in the administration of rope
burns. Also used by excited horses to take a handler for a drag.
Longeing
A training method a horse uses on its owner with the purpose
making the owner spin in circles-rendering the owner dizzy and
light-headed so that they get sick and pass out, so the horse can
go back to grazing.
Manure spreader
Horse traders
Mosquitoes
Radar equipped blood sucking insects that typically reach the
size of small birds.
Mustang
The type of horse your husband would gladly trade your favorite
one for...preferably in a red convertible and V-8.
Overreaching
A descriptive term used to explain the condition your credit
cards are in by the end of endurance/show season.
Parasites
Small children (no flames please) that get in your way when you
work in the barn. Many gather in swarms at horse shows.
Pinto
A colorful (usually green) coat pattern found on a freshly washed
and sparkling clean grey horse that was left unattended in his
stall for ten minutes.
Pit Crews
Absolutely indispensable people occasionally noted for their
ability to get lost, be in the way, eat all the food, or be
sleeping in the camper when you finish a 100 mile ride.
Pony
The true size of the stallion that you bred your mare to via
transported semen-that was advertised as 15 hands tall.
Proud Flesh
The external reproductive organs flaunted by a stallion when a
horse of any gender is present. Often displayed in halter
classes.
Quarter Cracks
The comments that most Arabian owners make about the people who own Quarter Horses.
Quiter
A term trainers have commonly used to refer to their clients who
come to their senses and pull horses out of their barns.
Race
What your heart does when you see the vet bill.
Rasp
An abrasive, long, flat metal tool used to remove excess skin
from the knuckles.
Reins
Break-away leather device used to tie horses with.
Ringworms
Spectators who block your view and gather around the rail sides
at horse shows.
Sacking out
A condition caused by Sleeping Sickness (see below). The state of
deep sleep a mare owner will be in at the time a mare actually
goes into labor and foals.
Saddle
An expensive leather contraption manufactured to give the rider a
false sense of security. Comes in many styles, all feature
built-in ejector seats.
Saddle Sore
The way the rider's bottom feels the morning after an endurance
ride weekend.
Sleeping Sickness
A disease peculiar to mare owners while waiting for their mares
to foal. Caused by nights of lost sleep, symptoms include
irritability, red baggy eyes and a zombie-like waking state. Can
last several weeks.
Splint
An apparatus that can be applied to various body parts of a rider
due to the parting of the ways of a horse and his passenger.
Stall
What your truck does on the way to am endurance ride, 150 miles
from the closest town.
Tack Room
A room where every item necessary to work with or train your
horse has been put, in a place which it cannot be found in less
than 30 minutes.
Twisted Gut
The feeling deep inside that most riders get before the endurance
ride.
Versatility
an owners ability to shovel manure, fix fences and chase down a
loose horse in one afternoon.
Vet Catalog
An illustrated brochure provided to stable owners that features a
wide array of products that are currently out of stock or have
been dropped from a company's inventory.
Weaving
The movement a horse trailer makes while going down the road with
a rambunctious horse in it.
Whip Marks
The tell-tale raised welts on the face of a rider-caused by the
trail rider directly in front of you letting a low hanging ranch
go. (Also caused by a wet or dry horse tail across the face while
cleaning hooves)
Windpuffs
Stallion owners. Also applied to used car salesmen.
Withers
The reason you'll seldom see a man riding bareback.
Yearling
the age at which all horses completely forget the things you
taught them previously.
Youngstock
A general term used for all equines old enough to bite, kick or
run you over, but not yet old enough to dump you on the ground.
Zoo
The typical atmosphere around most horse owner s houses before a
weekend excursion
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