Horse Terms

Following are some of the common horse terms and their definitions. If you would like to suggestion any additions to our dictionary, please contact us. We also have a separate list of horse sayings.

Action - How a horse moves at various gaits.

Bedding - Straw or other material put on the floor of a horse box to provide a comfortable layer for the horse to walk or lay on (thus 'bed' or 'bedding'). Performs a number of functions, such as urine absorption and psychological occupation. For details see comparison of horse bedding.

Blacksmith. A person who forges and shapes iron with anvil and hammer. Term also used to mean farrier.

Breeding Stock - Depending on person using the term, can mean 'horse which is or will be used for breeding' or 'a horse of sufficient quality to be used for breeding'.

Breeder - A person who breeds horses. Usually applied to a person who breeds multiple horses professionally.

Broodmare - A mare which is used mainly or solely for breeding. Also known as a 'brood mare'. The term 'breeding mare' is used to describe a horse that is or will be used for breeding, but not neccessarily in the broodmare sense that this is its main function. For more information, click on broodmares.

Buck - When a horse jumps upward. Typically done by the horse in an attempt to remove a rider.

Canter - Term used in English riding for a three beat gait. This is the same as a lope or slow gallop in Western discipline riding.

Colic - Medical term, refering to the presence of abdominal pain. Sometimes used in a more restricted sense to mean abdominal pain caused by a problem with the digestive system (stomach, intestines or colon). Depending on cause and severity, can be either a minor temporary condition or an emergency situation. See horse colic for details.

Colt - A male horse under the age of four. Some people use this term for both female and male horses under four, but correct use is for a male only (see Filly below). Some organisations and countries use the term differently. For example, in thoroughbred racing a colt is defined as a male under five years (rather than under four years). See also stallion and filly.

Conformation - The overall build and appearance of a horse. Often used to compare an individual horse to its breed standard.

Crib or Cribbing - When a horse chews on wood (e.g. wood in its box or wooden fencing). It is considered a fault, mainly due to the potential health risks rather than the actual amount of wood damage done. Depending of frequency and severity, can be considered a major fault.

Dam - The mother of a horse. See also sire.

Dapples - Round, colored markings on a horse's coat.

Easy Keeper - A horse that does not require much food. See also hard keeper.

Farrier - A person who trims and shoes horses. In some countries the term blacksmith is used instead. 

Female Horse - There any numerous terms to define a female horse, depending on its age and function. For details, click on female horse.

Filly - A female horse under the age of four. Some organisations and countries use the term differently. For example, in thoroughbred racing a filly is defined as a female horse under five years (rather than under four years). See also colt and mare.
 

Foal. A horse (either male or female) less than a year old. A nursing foal is sometimes called a suckling and a foal that has been weaned is called a weanling. Most domesticated horses are weaned at 5 to 7 months of age, although commercial breeders often wean much earlier. 
 

Gelding - A castrated male horse, regardless of age. See also stallion.

Hand -  Four inches (approximately 10cm). The term commonly used to measure the height of a horse, measured at the shoulder. For example a 14-hand horse is 56 inches high at the shoulder.

Hard Keeper. A horse which requires a lot of food, or a lot of supplements (e.g. grain) in order to maintain its weight. A horse can be a hard keeper either due to its breed or due to its individual characteristics. See also easy keeper.

Hoof Pick - An instrument for removing dirt and stones from a horse's hoof. It has a metal wedge (to pick or scrape the hoof clean) and often has a brush.

In Season - When a mare is 'in heat'. In other words, when the mare is ready to breed.

Mare - An adult female horse. Some organisations define this as being 3 years of age, others as being 4 years of age. See also filly and stallion.

Mule - The offspring of a male donkey and a female horse.

Paddock - An enclosure to hold a horse. Typically an area between the stables and the pasture.

Rails - Horizontal bars of a jump or of a wooden fence.

Ridgling (or rig). A male horse which has has an undescended testicle or has been improperly castrated. It will appear to be a gelding, but will have some of the behaviours of a stallion.

Saddle Rack - Stand to hold a saddle, when it is not in use.

Sire - The father of a horse (see also dam). Can also be used as a verb (e.g. the stallion has sired many horses).

Sound - An adjective to describe a healthy horse. Usually refers to its physical healthy, but may be used to include its behaviour as well.

Stallion - A male horse over four years old, which has not been castrated. See also gelding and mare.

Straw Horse - Can be used in the literal sense (a horse figure made of straw) or figurative (an uncertain proposal, put forward for consideration. See straw horse for details.

Stud - Informal term for a stallion.

Stud book - A list of registered breeding horses. As there are many different organisations maintaining lists for specific breeds and/or specific regions, there are many different stud books.

Tack - A general term which includes the equipment used for riding a horse (e.g. bridle, saddle) and training it (e.g. whip, lounge lead).

Unsound - A horse which is not sound.

Yearling: A horse (mare or female) that is between one year old and two years old.  See also colt and filly.