Equine Terminology - PATH

Question 1

Balanced Seat

Answer 1

The position of the mounted rider which requires the minimum of muscular effort to remain in the saddle and that interferes least with the horse’s movement and equilibrium.

Question 2

Bight of the Reins

Answer 2

The bight of the reins (the connected end portion) is off the right side of the horse’s neck – underneath your right rein. Each hand will hold a single rein. This is similar to how you would see a jockey hold the reins. Again, the pinkies can be on the outside of the reins or on the inside, grasping like a fist.
The part of the reins passing between thumb and fingers and out the top of the hand.

Question 3

Blemish

Answer 3

A defect that hurts an equine’s appearance but does not hurt its working ability (e.g., a scar).

Question 4

Bolting

Answer 4

An animal breaking out of control or trying to run away.

Question 5

Broke

Answer 5

1. Tamed and trained to a particular function, as halter-broke. 2. To leave or alter gait (e.g., the trotter broke stride).

Question 6

Canter or Lope

Answer 6

A three-beat gait in which the first and third beats are made by two legs striking the ground independently and the second beat is made by two limbs striking the ground simultaneously. In the left lead, the sequence of beats is (1) right hind leg, (2) left hind leg and right foreleg, and (3) left foreleg. The reverse applies for the right lead.

Question 7

Cavesson

Answer 7

Headstall with a noseband (often quite large) used for exercising and training horse

Question 8

Change of Lead

Answer 8

Change of leading leg at the canter

Question 9

Cinch

Answer 9

Girth of a Western saddle

Question 10

Cold-Backed

Answer 10

Describes a horse that humps its back and does not settle down until the saddle has been on a few minutes. Some “cold-backed” horses will merely tuck their tails and arch their backs when first mounted, but others will take a few crow hops until warmed up.

Question 11

Collected Gait

Answer 11

Remaining on the bit, the horse moves forward with its neck raised and arched as a result of energetic impulsion. Lightness of forehand, engagement of hindquarters are called for. Shorter strides but lighter and more mobile.

Question 12

Conformation

Answer 12

is the way a horse is put together, its physique. Good conformation is beautiful, but more important, it makes a horse able to work well and stay sound even with hard work. Conformation defects can make a horse weak in a particular part or they can just make a horse less handsome.

Question 13

Counter Canter

Answer 13

A suppling movement deliberately asking for the opposite of a normal lead, such as right lead on a circle to the left

Question 14

Crest Release

Answer 14

A way in which riders in the jumping position can maintain balance and control by placing each hand firmly on top other crest approximately one-third of the way up the horse’s neck

Question 15

Crop

Answer 15

a riding whip with a short, straight stock and loop

Question 16

Cross-Firing

Answer 16

A gait defect that occurs when the inside of the hind foot strikes the diagonal foreleg

Question 17

Curb Bit

Answer 17

type of bit designed to exert a leverage type of action in the horse’s mouth

Question 18

Direct Rein Steering

Answer 18

the direct rein puts pressure on the bit, directly back toward the rider. It works in opposition to the horses’ forward motion. The direct rein makes the horse shorten its stride for the turn, so it works best where you need more control or a tight turn

Question 19

Dressage

Answer 19

A time-tested, methodical progression of exercises designed to increase a horse’s muscular capabilities and degree of suppleness, allowing it to perform increasingly difficult movements under saddle

Question 20

Equine-assisted activities (EAA)

Answer 20

Treatments conducted by appropriately licensed medical professionals. PATH Intl. provides standards of professionalism and safety for all these EAAT professionals

Question 21

Equitation

Answer 21

The act or art of riding horseback

Question 22

Footfall Pattern

Answer 22

The sequence in which the legs move in a gait, such as the walk, trot or canter

Question 23

Forehand

Answer 23

The front of the horse, including head, neck, shoulders, and forelegs; in other words, that portion of the horse in front of the center of gravity.

Question 24

Forward Seat

Answer 24

Style of riding that permits the rider to sit closer to the forehand and permits adjustment of the center of gravity forward to negotiate obstacles and remove the weight (seat) from the saddle when necessary

Question 25

Free Walk

Answer 25

A relaxed gait in which the horse is allowed complete freedom to stretch hour and lower its head and neck

Question 26

Girth

Answer 26

the strap of webbing that holds the saddle in place

Question 27

Half-Pass

Answer 27

A variation of travers, executed on the diagonal instead of along the wall. The horse, slightly bent round the inside leg of the rider, should be as close as possible parallel to the long sides of the arena, the forehand slightly in advance of the quarters

Question 28

Hand Gallop

Answer 28

An extended canter, but the horse remains collected, unlike the flat-out run when the horse's gait almost returns to a four-beat status

Question 29

Head Carriage

Answer 29

Refers to the position in which the head and neck are carried relative to the parallel. An ideal head carriage should have the neck parallel to the ground to slightly above the parallel

Question 30

Headset

Answer 30

refers to the amount of flexion at the poll. An ideal headset should be perpendicular to the ground to slightly forward of the vertical

Question 31

Horse Leader

Answer 31

or horse handler is the person responsible for controlling the horse during an EAA lesson/session

Question 32

Impulsion

Answer 32

Engagement of the hind legs and rounding of the back, allowing the horse to move forward with greater energy

Question 33

Lateral Bend

Answer 33

refers to the horse's ability to curve or "bend" its body from head to tail

Question 34

Lateral Movement

Answer 34

Work on 2 tracks, in which the horse is bent uniformly from poll to tail and moves with the forehand and quarters on 2 different tracks. Shoulder-in, haunches-in (travers), haunches-out (renvers), and half-passes are lateral movements

Question 35

Lead

Answer 35

the leading foot (leg) of a horse. When cantering circularly, the foot to the inner arc of the circle clockwise, a right foot lead; and counterclockwise, a left foot lead

Question 36

Leg Yield

Answer 36

A suppling exercise designed to make a horse responsive to unilateral aids

Question 37

Medium Gait

Answer 37

is between the collected and extended

Question 38

Natural Aids

Answer 38

A part of your body. Each natural aid has a certain way of signaling the horse. There are 4 natural aids: 1) hands 2) voice 3) legs 4) weight(seat)

Question 39

Nearside

Answer 39

The left side of the horse

Question 40

Offside

Answer 40

The right side of the horse

Question 41

Overreach

Answer 41

The hitting of the forefoot with the hind foot

Question 42

Pace

Answer 42

A 2-beat gait in which the lateral limbs strike the ground simultaneously. There is a lateral base of support and a period of suspension with all 4 feet off the ground occurring between each beat.

Question 43

Participant

Answer 43

A general description of the persons who take part in equine assisted activities and therapies at a PATH Intl. Center for their benefit; also called riders, drivers, vaulters, students, or clients. There will be varied usage depending on the discipline. For instance, in a therapy setting, it is appropriate to use client; in a school setting, one may use the term student.

Question 44

Posting Diagonal

Answer 44

When traveling on the rail in the arena or when working in a curved line, the rider rises (posts) when the horse's outside shoulder moves forward.

Question 45

Postural corrections

Answer 45

Corrections made by the CTRI to the position in which the rider's body is aligned while riding. Posture is habitual; therefore, ongoing corrections are essential to riding skill development.

Question 46

Rein Back

Answer 46

Backward movement in which hooves are raised and set down almost simultaneously by diagonal

Question 47

Rhythm

Answer 47

The regularity of footfalls within each gait

Question 48

Rollback

Answer 48

A series of movements that blend together to look like one movement; incorporates a run or lope, a balanced stop, a fast, smooth 180-degree pivot and a fast break out of the rollback into a run or lope on the proper lead

Question 49

Serpentine

Answer 49

Series of equal curves from one line of the centerline to the other, changing the direction of the turn each time the horse passes over the centerline

Question 50

Shoulder-in

Answer 50

The horse is slightly bent round the inside leg of the rider, and its inside legs pass and cross in front of the outside legs. The horse is looking away from the direction in which it is moving

Question 51

Side Pass

Answer 51

A movement in which the horse goes straight and sideways; the horse's outside leg should cross over in front of the supporting leg. This movement has a slight degree of forward motion. Side passing lets you move the horse over to open and close a gate easily when mounted, helps in suppling and in preparing for flying changes.

Question 52

Trappy

Answer 52

A short, quick, choppy stride usually seen in horses that have short and steep pasterns and straight shoulders

Question 53

The position of the mounted rider which requires the minimum of muscular effort to remain in the saddle and that interferes least with the horse's movement and equilibrium.

Answer 53

Balanced Seat

Question 54

The bight of the reins (the connected end portion) is off the right side of the horse’s neck – underneath your right rein. Each hand will hold a single rein. This is similar to how you would see a jockey hold the reins. Again, the pinkies can be on the outside of the reins or on the inside, grasping like a fist. The part of the reins passing between thumb and fingers and out the top of the hand.

Answer 54

Bight of the Reins

Question 55

A defect that hurts an equine’s appearance but does not hurt its working ability (e.g., a scar).

Answer 55

Blemish

Question 56

An animal breaking out of control or trying to run away.

Answer 56

Bolting

Question 57

1. Tamed and trained to a particular function, as halter-broke. 2. To leave or alter gait (e.g., the trotter broke stride).

Answer 57

Broke

Question 58

A three-beat gait in which the first and third beats are made by two legs striking the ground independently and the second beat is made by two limbs striking the ground simultaneously. In the left lead, the sequence of beats is (1) right hind leg, (2) left hind leg and right foreleg, and (3) left foreleg. The reverse applies for the right lead.

Answer 58

Canter or Lope

Question 59

Headstall with a noseband (often quite large) used for exercising and training horse

Answer 59

Cavesson

Question 60

Change of leading leg at the canter

Answer 60

Change of Lead

Question 61

Girth of a Western saddle

Answer 61

Cinch

Question 62

Describes a horse that humps its back and does not settle down until the saddle has been on a few minutes. Some "cold-backed" horses will merely tuck their tails and arch their backs when first mounted, but others will take a few crow hops until warmed up.

Answer 62

Cold-Backed

Question 63

Remaining on the bit, the horse moves forward with its neck raised and arched as a result of energetic impulsion. Lightness of forehand, engagement of hindquarters are called for. Shorter strides but lighter and more mobile.

Answer 63

Collected Gait

Question 64

is the way a horse is put together, its physique. Good conformation is beautiful, but more important, it makes a horse able to work well and stay sound even with hard work. Conformation defects can make a horse weak in a particular part or they can just make a horse less handsome.

Answer 64

Conformation

Question 65

A suppling movement deliberately asking for the opposite of a normal lead, such as right lead on a circle to the left

Answer 65

Counter Canter

Question 66

A way in which riders in the jumping position can maintain balance and control by placing each hand firmly on top other crest approximately one-third of the way up the horse's neck

Answer 66

Crest Release

Question 67

a riding whip with a short, straight stock and loop

Answer 67

Crop

Question 68

A gait defect that occurs when the inside of the hind foot strikes the diagonal foreleg

Answer 68

Cross-Firing

Question 69

type of bit designed to exert a leverage type of action in the horse's mouth

Answer 69

Curb Bit

Question 70

the direct rein puts pressure on the bit, directly back toward the rider. It works in opposition to the horses' forward motion. The direct rein makes the horse shorten its stride for the turn, so it works best where you need more control or a tight turn

Answer 70

Direct Rein Steering

Question 71

A time-tested, methodical progression of exercises designed to increase a horse's muscular capabilities and degree of suppleness, allowing it to perform increasingly difficult movements under saddle

Answer 71

Dressage

Question 72

Treatments conducted by appropriately licensed medical professionals. PATH Intl. provides standards of professionalism and safety for all these EAAT professionals

Answer 72

Equine-assisted activities (EAA)

Question 73

The act or art of riding horseback

Answer 73

Equitation

Question 74

The sequence in which the legs move in a gait, such as the walk, trot or canter

Answer 74

Footfall Pattern

Question 75

The front of the horse, including head, neck, shoulders, and forelegs; in other words, that portion of the horse in front of the center of gravity.

Answer 75

Forehand

Question 76

Style of riding that permits the rider to sit closer to the forehand and permits adjustment of the center of gravity forward to negotiate obstacles and remove the weight (seat) from the saddle when necessary

Answer 76

Forward Seat

Question 77

A relaxed gait in which the horse is allowed complete freedom to stretch hour and lower its head and neck

Answer 77

Free Walk

Question 78

the strap of webbing that holds the saddle in place

Answer 78

Girth

Question 79

A variation of travers, executed on the diagonal instead of along the wall. The horse, slightly bent round the inside leg of the rider, should be as close as possible parallel to the long sides of the arena, the forehand slightly in advance of the quarters

Answer 79

Half-Pass

Question 80

An extended canter, but the horse remains collected, unlike the flat-out run when the horse's gait almost returns to a four-beat status

Answer 80

Hand Gallop

Question 81

Refers to the position in which the head and neck are carried relative to the parallel. An ideal head carriage should have the neck parallel to the ground to slightly above the parallel

Answer 81

Head Carriage

Question 82

refers to the amount of flexion at the poll. An ideal headset should be perpendicular to the ground to slightly forward of the vertical

Answer 82

Headset

Question 83

or horse handler is the person responsible for controlling the horse during an EAA lesson/session

Answer 83

Horse Leader

Question 84

Engagement of the hind legs and rounding of the back, allowing the horse to move forward with greater energy

Answer 84

Impulsion

Question 85

refers to the horse's ability to curve or "bend" its body from head to tail

Answer 85

Lateral Bend

Question 86

Work on 2 tracks, in which the horse is bent uniformly from poll to tail and moves with the forehand and quarters on 2 different tracks. Shoulder-in, haunches-in (travers), haunches-out (renvers), and half-passes are lateral movements

Answer 86

Lateral Movement

Question 87

the leading foot (leg) of a horse. When cantering circularly, the foot to the inner arc of the circle clockwise, a right foot lead; and counterclockwise, a left foot lead

Answer 87

Lead

Question 88

A suppling exercise designed to make a horse responsive to unilateral aids

Answer 88

Leg Yield

Question 89

is between the collected and extended

Answer 89

Medium Gait

Question 90

A part of your body. Each natural aid has a certain way of signaling the horse. There are 4 natural aids: 1) hands 2) voice 3) legs 4) weight(seat)

Answer 90

Natural Aids

Question 91

The left side of the horse

Answer 91

Nearside

Question 92

The right side of the horse

Answer 92

Offside

Question 93

The hitting of the forefoot with the hind foot

Answer 93

Overreach

Question 94

A 2-beat gait in which the lateral limbs strike the ground simultaneously. There is a lateral base of support and a period of suspension with all 4 feet off the ground occurring between each beat.

Answer 94

Pace

Question 95

A general description of the persons who take part in equine assisted activities and therapies at a PATH Intl. Center for their benefit; also called riders, drivers, vaulters, students, or clients. There will be varied usage depending on the discipline. For instance, in a therapy setting, it is appropriate to use client; in a school setting, one may use the term student.

Answer 95

Participant

Question 96

When traveling on the rail in the arena or when working in a curved line, the rider rises (posts) when the horse's outside shoulder moves forward.

Answer 96

Posting Diagonal

Question 97

Corrections made by the CTRI to the position in which the rider's body is aligned while riding. Posture is habitual; therefore, ongoing corrections are essential to riding skill development.

Answer 97

Postural corrections

Question 98

Backward movement in which hooves are raised and set down almost simultaneously by diagonal

Answer 98

Rein Back

Question 99

The regularity of footfalls within each gait

Answer 99

Rhythm

Question 100

A series of movements that blend together to look like one movement; incorporates a run or lope, a balanced stop, a fast, smooth 180-degree pivot and a fast break out of the rollback into a run or lope on the proper lead

Answer 100

Rollback

Question 101

Series of equal curves from one line of the centerline to the other, changing the direction of the turn each time the horse passes over the centerline

Answer 101

Serpentine

Question 102

The horse is slightly bent round the inside leg of the rider, and its inside legs pass and cross in front of the outside legs. The horse is looking away from the direction in which it is moving

Answer 102

Shoulder-in

Question 103

A movement in which the horse goes straight and sideways; the horse's outside leg should cross over in front of the supporting leg. This movement has a slight degree of forward motion. Side passing lets you move the horse over to open and close a gate easily when mounted, helps in suppling and in preparing for flying changes.

Answer 103

Side Pass

Question 104

A short, quick, choppy stride usually seen in horses that have short and steep pasterns and straight shoulders

Answer 104

Trappy