Above the Bit
When a horse raises his mouth above the rider's hands to avoid pressure on the bit.

Bale
A measurement of hay, equal to ten flakes

Bar
Area of gums between teeth and molars which has no teeth, allows the horse to "take" the bit

Barn Sour
A horse or pony that does not like to leave the barn

Behind the Bit
When a horse places his head down to evade bit contact

Blemish
A fault in confirmation that does not affect perfomance

Bomb Proof
A horse that does not spook

Breeder
A person who breeds horses for a living

Broodmare
A femail horse used for breeding

Buck
When a horse kicks out

Cannon
Bone located between the knee and fetlock

Cantor
Three beated gait similar to a lope or gallop

Chestnut
Refers to both light brown color of a horse; horny growth inside and above each knee, inside kneeand below the hock

Colt
A horse under 4 years old

Conditioned Response
When a horse is strained to respond a certain way based on stumulus

Conformation
The build of a horse that is determines how likely it is to be healthy

Croup
Toplin of horse from the top of the tail to the hightest point of the hindquarters

Dam
The mother of a horse

Dapples
Round, colored markings on a horse's coat

Farrier
Blacksmith that shoes a horse

Feather
Long hair on lower legs, common in heavier horse breeds

Fetlock
Joint formed by the cannon, pastern and sesamoid bones

Filly
A female horse under the age of 4

Flake
Section of measurement for hay

Foal
A baby horse usually still suckling

Forging
Interference in the gait in which the hind-foot strikes the front foot. Caused by a horse "overstepping"

Frog
Area located on the underside of the hoof; portion that bears weight (v shaped)

Gallop
Three beated high-speed gait

Gait
sequence of horses movements (usually refers to walk, trot, canter, gallop etc...)

Gaskin
Part of the hindleg between the hock and stifle

Gelding
Castrated male horse

Groundwork
Working a horse on the ground (not over fences)

Hand
The standard using for measuring horses. A single hand is equivalent to 4 inches.

Hock
Joint in the hind leg joining the cannon and gaskin (similar to ankle on humans)

Hoof
Casing of foot

In Season
A mare that is in heat

Laminae
Membrane lining the hoof, inflamation causes laminitis

Lead
indicates which foot moves forward first at the canter or gallop

Lope
Western term for canter

Mare
A female horse

Martingale
A piece of tack used to control or influence the position of a horse's head

Overreaching
An interference in the gait in which the hind foot steps on th eheel of the forefoot on the same side

Paddock
Large enclosed area that a horse can run around or move about freely.

Pastern
Part of the leg between the coronet and the fetlock

Pony
Horse under 14.2 hands

Sesamoid Bones
Small bones attached to the cannon and pastern by ligaments

Sire
The father of a horse

Sound
Term used to describe a healthy horse

Stallion
A male horse that has not been castrated

Stifle
Joint between the femur and tibia (similar to knee in humans)

Tack
Gear used to ride a horse (ie. saddle, bridle, etc..)

Trot
A two-beated gait, that is faster than walking, diagonal feet move together

Turnout
An area where a horse can run around

Tying Up
cramping up of a horse's large muscles

Unsound
A term used to refer to a horse that is not healthy

Walk
Slow 4 beated gait in which the feet move diagonally front left, right rear, front right, left rear.

Withers
Top of the shoulders between the neck and the back

Yearling
A horse that is approaching one or just turnging one.