Fun and Important Horse Terminology That You Should Know As a New Equestrian
Equine is the word for a mammal in the order Equidae. Equines include horses, zebras, donkeys, ponies, and more. Aside from horse breed names and general terms, there are many phrases and idioms used in equestrianism. If you are new to horseback riding, it’s not only vital to learn riding techniques but to also the terminology related to training with a horse. Even if you are an intermediate level rider, it’s always a good idea to spend a few minutes refreshing yourself.
Though equestrian terminology is extensive, here are a few fun and helpful phrases and vocabulary words to begin with.
Sayings, Idioms, and Phrases
Horses have been part of human civilization for millennia, inspiring many of the sayings, phrases, and idioms used in today’s equestrian world and everyday life. No, you don’t have to love horses to have heard some or any of these.
Hold Your Horses
The phrase “Hold your horses” is believed to have been used to let someone know they were driving a chariot too fast in The Illiad by Homer. Nowadays, it’s more commonly used when you’re telling someone to slow down and/or wait. For example, “Be patient, hold your horses. There’s no need to rush.”
Get off Your High Horse
“Get off your high horse” implies that someone is a bit too self-assured and could benefit from being more humble. A high horse refers to a large horse, often used in war. Persons with military or political power would generally ride the biggest steeds to help prove their status. The “high horse” would place them high above civilians.
You Can Lead a Horse to Water
“You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink” is a saying meaning that no matter how hard a person is pushed or told to do something, they’re simply not going to do it unless they truly want to. Change comes from within.
Straight from the Horse’s Mouth
This is generally used to refer to truths received straight from the source, or from trustworthy, reliable sources. It has its origin in the racetrack. Bookies and trainers could not be relied upon to give accurate information about a horse’s age, which is a major factor when determining which horse to bet on. Instead, savvy bettors would look at the horse’s teeth, which enabled them to determine its actual age.
Horse Anatomy
Learning equine anatomy is part of bonding with your horse or pony. It will help you understand parts of your horse and what they do. Conformation refers to how a horse is built. This knowledge can also be useful when selecting which horse you’re going to ride. Horse anatomy terms are another extensive list, but here are a few to get you started.
A horse’s muzzle is its nose and its neck is known as the crest, from which the mane. Behind a horse’s ears, you’ll find the poll, which is the location of the two pressure points that can be used to communicate to the horse that it should put its head down. The space between a horses shoulder’s is called the withers. This point is also used to determine a horse’s height. Withers are connected to a horse’s back, followed by its croup, which is its rump.
The torso of a horse is known as its barrel. Much like human torsos, it houses and protects the horse’s organs. The feet of a horse are called hooves, and they help the horse distribute its weight. Domesticated horses, particularly that work for a living, will usually have their feet trimmed by professionals known as farriers and wear metal shoes referred to as worshipers. This enables them to successfully navigate a variety of surfaces without damaging their feet. Hooves are connected to pasterns at the top, which lie between the hooves and fetlocks (ankles). The equivalent of an equine knee is called the stifle.
Common Horse Markings
Common horse markings will vary depending on the region and may include the top five following colors.
Sorrel: a reddish-orange coat.
Bay: dark brown color with black muzzle and legs.
Palomino: a coat that looks yellow or gold, often with a lighter blonde mane and tail.
Dun: tan colored.
Dapple: various shades of darker gray circular patterning on lighter gray background fur.
Continuing Education
Horses teach humans about patience, discipline, understanding, empathy, compassion, self-control, and dedication, among many other skills. Without these abilities, riders will not go far in their riding abilities. Horseback riding is physically demanding and can help you stay in shape, but it will also teach you things, like vocabulary, that will boost your confidence.
Learning equestrian terminology is spun, and it makes the rider more comfortable with riding, which is extremely useful if you are entering the professional world of equestrianism. It also leads to a deeper bond with your horse.
