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
C ramping 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.