Essential Horse Terms to Understand the Equestrian Language

“My numnah fell off the other day when the dam got ill but at least I had fun tent pegging!”. If this doesn’t make sense to you then you’re not one of the equestrian nature. It makes sense that each hobby has its own terms and expressions that non-hobbyists wouldn’t understand but equestrian terms can be incredibly confusing due to how many there are. At least the learning process is interesting!

Numnah

A numnah is a saddle pad or blanket placed under the saddle to provide cushioning and protect the horse’s back. It helps to distribute the rider’s weight evenly and prevents friction. 

Poll

The poll is the area on a horse’s head right between the ears and just behind them. It’s a sensitive part of the horse’s body and riders use it for communicating with the horse and controlling it in specific ways. 

Stallion

A stallion is a male horse that has not been gelded, meaning it remains intact and capable of breeding. Inexperienced riders should avoid stallions as they can be unpredictable and have a tendency to assert dominance. 

Mare

A mare is an adult female horse, typically over the age of three. Mares are highly versatile and are used for riding, driving, and breeding. Their maternal instincts make them prized equestrian possessions as they directly contribute to the health and pedigree of an equestrian program. 

Foal

A foal is a young horse of either gender, usually under one year old. They remain with their mother, or dam, for nursing and protection. Foals require constant supervision as they’re prone to injuring themselves or worse. 

Earning Your Colors

“Earning your colors” refers to the achievement of being accepted into a riding club or hunt, and being awarded the official rider’s attire that includes a specific colored jacket and/or insignia. This recognition showcases a rider’s skill, dedication, and adherence to the club’s standards and traditions, and marks an important step in their career. 

Western Riding

Western riding is a style of horseback riding that originated from the ranching and cowboy traditions of the American West. All riders of this style have a saddle with a horn that’s designed for long hours of riding and cattle work. But in essence, it’s all about comfort and practicality. 

English Riding

English riding is a traditional style of horseback riding that originated in Europe. Riders have a saddle without a horn that’s designed for a variety of disciplines such as dressage, show jumping, and eventing. It’s a direct contrast to Western riding because it focuses on precision, balance, and elegance. 

Cold-Backed

A “cold-backed” horse is one that exhibits stiffness or discomfort in its back, especially when first being ridden. This condition can cause the horse to hump its back or move awkwardly at the start of a ride. 

Drag Hunt

A drag hunt is an equestrian sport where riders and hounds follow a pre-laid scent trail, rather than pursuing live game. This practice mimics traditional fox hunting but is more controlled and predictable.

Stud

A stud is a male horse, or stallion, used for breeding purposes. The term can also refer to a breeding facility where horses are raised and mated. Breeders pick studs based on their genetics, conformation, and performance to produce high-quality offspring. 

Dam

A dam is a term that refers to a female horse, or mare, that has given birth to a foal. In essence, if you’d want to say ‘horse’s mother’, you could say ‘horse’s dam’ instead. 

Halter

A halter is a piece of equipment that riders use to lead and tie up a horse. It has straps that go around the horse’s head and is typically made of nylon, leather, or rope. 

Irons

“Irons” are another term for stirrups, the metal frames attached to the saddle that support the rider’s feet. Riders use irons (stirrups) to influence what they want the horse to do. 

Bridle

A bridle is a piece of riding equipment that fits over a horse’s head. The rider uses it to communicate with the horse by twitching and snapping the reins. It consists of a headstall, bit, and reins. The bit fits in the horse’s mouth and the headstall holds the entire thing in place. 

Chip In

The “Chip in” is a small, additional stride a horse takes before a jump because it misjudges the jump’s distance. Riders always aim to avoid chipping in by maintaining a consistent pace and correctly judging the takeoff point for a clear, controlled jump.

Half Halt

A half halt is a riding technique that riders use to rebalance and refocus a horse without stopping forward movement. It’s done through a subtle combination of seat, leg, and rein aids to engage the horse’s hindquarters and lighten the front end.

Gelding

A gelding is a male horse that has been castrated which is usually done to make it more manageable and even-tempered. People use geldings for riding and work because they tend to have a steadier disposition than stallions.

Tent Pegging

Tent pegging is an equestrian sport where riders gallop at high speed and use a lance or sword to pick up small ground targets, usually pegs. Think of it as a modern-day version of knight jousts. 

Travers

Travers, also called haunches-in, is a dressage movement where the horse moves forward in a straight line while bending its body to the inside. The horse shifts its hindquarters off the track, creating a lateral movement.

Renvers

Renvers, or haunches-out, is a dressage movement similar to travers but with the horse’s hindquarters moving toward the rail while the front remains on the track. The horse bends in the opposite direction of the movement.

Withers

The withers are the highest part of a horse’s back, located between the shoulder blades at the base of the neck. This area is a key reference point for measuring a horse’s height.

Fetlock

The fetlock is the joint between the horse’s cannon bone and the pastern, often called the horse’s “ankle.” It includes the fetlock joint and the surrounding area. This joint provides shock absorption and movement flexibility.

Whipper-In

A whipper-in is an essential member of a hunt staff, responsible for assisting the huntsman by keeping the hounds together and preventing them from straying during a hunt.

Park Class

Park class is a type of competition in the show ring where judges judge horses based on their high-stepping gait, elegance, and overall presence. This class emphasizes beauty, refinement, and the horse’s athletic prowess.

Garrocha

Garrocha is a traditional equestrian discipline from Spain, involving the use of a long pole, or garrocha, to perform intricate movements and maneuvers while riding.

Weaving

Weaving is a repetitive, stress-related behavior in horses where they shift their weight from one front leg to the other, swinging their head and neck from side to side. This usually happens in stabled horses due to boredom or anxiety.

Kitten Barely Clinging to Life Gets a Second Chance After Being Rescued

Kitten Barely Clinging to Life Gets a Second Chance After Being Rescued