30 Must-Know Equestrian Terms, Phrases and Slang

48 equestrian terms defined, including withers, snaffle, farrier, posting trot and gelding, each explained in a single line.

Equestrian terminology comes from two directions at once: the stable, where the words describe the animal and its care, and the arena, where they describe what horse and rider do together. Below are the words related to equestrian sport that you will hear on a yard within an hour, and the equestrian glossary underneath adds the horse terms and the words associated with riding that the list does not reach, from withers and gelding to posting trot.

Must-Know Equestrian Terms, Phrases, and Slang:

Bit
Bridle
Canter
Dressage
Equestrian
Furlong
Gait
Hand
Harness
Jump
Mare
Paddock
Polo
Quarter
Rein
Saddle
Stirrup
Tack
Trot
Walk
Whip
Barn
Colt
Farrier
Foal
Gallop
Hack
Lunge
Stud
Vaulting

Equestrian Glossary: Every Term A to Z

Term	What It Means
Barn	The building horses are stabled in, with stalls, feed and tack storage. British yards more often say stables.
Bit	The mouthpiece of the bridle. Rein pressure reaches the horse through it, which is why bit choice is taken seriously.
Bolt	When a horse takes off at speed and ignores the rider's aids. Different from a planned gallop in every way that matters.
Bridle	The headgear of straps that carries the bit and the reins.
Buck	A jump with the back arched and the hind legs kicked out. Sometimes high spirits, sometimes a complaint about the saddle.
Canter	A three-beat gait, faster than a trot and slower than a gallop.
Colt	A male horse under four years old.
Dressage	The discipline of riding set movements in an arena, judged on accuracy and the harmony of horse and rider.
Equestrian	A rider, and also the adjective for everything to do with riding as a sport.
Equine	Of or relating to horses. Vets, insurers and feed labels use it where riders would just say horse.
Eventing	The three-phase competition of dressage, cross country and show jumping, decided over one to three days.
Farrier	The craftsman who trims hooves and fits shoes. The work itself is farriery.
Filly	A female horse under four years old. The male equivalent is a colt.
Foal	A horse in its first year, of either sex.
Furlong	An eighth of a mile, or 220 yards. Race distances are still quoted in furlongs.
Gait	A horse's way of going. The four natural ones are walk, trot, canter and gallop.
Gallop	The fastest gait, four beats with a moment when no hoof is on the ground.
Gelding	A castrated male horse. Most riding horses are geldings, which is why the word turns up so often.
Girth	The strap that runs under the belly and holds the saddle in place. Western saddles call it a cinch.
Groom	To clean and care for a horse's coat, mane and feet. Also the person employed to do it.
Hack	A relaxed ride out of the arena, on tracks or roads.
Hand	The unit horses are measured in, four inches, taken from the ground to the withers.
Harness	The set of straps that lets a horse pull a vehicle or an implement.
Hoof	The horned foot of the horse. Hoof care is the single largest routine expense in keeping one.
Horse walker	A powered circular pen with dividing arms that walks several horses in a ring for exercise, hands free.
Jump	An obstacle on a course, and the act of clearing it. Show jumping is scored on knockdowns, refusals and time.
Lunge	Working a horse in a circle on a long line, used for warming up, training and assessing soundness.
Mare	A mature female horse, generally from four years old.
Muzzle	The soft front of the horse's face, nose and lips. Also a guard fitted over it to limit grazing.
Paddock	A small fenced field for turnout, and at a racecourse the ring where horses are saddled and shown before a race.
Plod	To walk heavily and without energy. A horse that plods is dull to ride, and the word is mildly unkind.
Polo	A team sport on horseback in which players strike a ball towards a goal with long mallets.
Pony	A horse measuring under 14.2 hands. A pony is not a young horse: that is a foal.
Posting trot	Rising out of the saddle on alternate beats of the trot, so the rider is not bounced. Called rising trot in Britain.
Quarter	The hindquarters, from the back of the saddle to the tail. This is where the horse's power comes from.
Rein	The strap from the bit to the rider's hand, used to steer and to regulate speed.
Saddle	The seat fitted to the horse's back. Discipline decides the shape: dressage, jumping, general purpose or western.
Show jumping	Jumping a numbered course of knockable fences against the clock, penalties for faults and refusals.
Snaffle	The simplest family of bits, working on direct rein pressure with no leverage. Most horses start in one.
Stallion	An uncastrated male horse, kept for breeding and handled accordingly.
Stirrup	The foot support hanging from each side of the saddle.
Stud	A breeding male, and also the farm where breeding stock is kept. A stud is separately a screw-in shoe insert for grip.
Tack	The collective word for saddle, bridle, bit, reins, girth and the rest of the equipment.
Trot	A two-beat gait in which diagonal pairs of legs move together.
Vaulting	Gymnastics performed on a cantering horse, judged on the routine and on the horse's steadiness.
Walk	The slowest gait, four beats, each foot landing separately.
Whip	A short stick used to reinforce the leg aid. Competition rules limit both its length and its use.
Withers	The ridge between the shoulder blades. Horse height is measured to this point, not to the head.

#1 Bit

The metal mouthpiece used in horse bridles, a bit applies pressure to the horse’s mouth and is a critical tool for communication between rider and horse. It helps in directing the horse’s movement and speed during riding.

#2 Bridle

A bridle is a piece of equipment placed on a horse’s head used for directing and controlling the animal. It consists of straps, a bit, and reins and is essential for riding and driving horses.

#3 Canter

A canter is a controlled three-beat gait that is faster than a trot but slower than a gallop. This comfortable, rhythmic ride is often used in various equestrian activities, including show jumping and hunting.

#4 Dressage

Dressage is a highly skilled form of riding performed in exhibition and competition, demonstrating the training and harmony between horse and rider. It involves a series of prescribed movements known as ‘tests’.

#5 Equestrian

Equestrian refers to the rider or performer on horseback and is also used to describe the activities, skills, and sports involving riding horses, such as show jumping, dressage, and eventing.

#6 Furlong

A furlong is a measure of distance in horse racing, equivalent to an eighth of a mile or 220 yards. Historically, it was considered the length of a furrow in a common field.

#7 Gait

The specific way a horse moves, including walk, trot, canter, and gallop. Gaits are the various locomotive rhythms that show different speeds and footfall patterns.

#8 Hand

In the equestrian world, a hand is a unit of measurement equal to 4 inches, used to measure the height of horses from the ground to the withers. One hand equals 4 inches, and a horse might stand, for example, 15 hands tall.

#9 Harness

A harness is a set of straps made from leather or synthetic materials that fits on a horse’s body to allow it to pull various vehicles such as carriages or plows. Harness racing is also a sport where horses race while pulling a sulky.

#10 Jump

Jump refers to an obstacle in equestrian competitions that a horse and rider must clear without knocking it down. In show jumping, a discipline of horse riding, athletes are judged on their ability to navigate a course of such jumps cleanly and quickly.

#11 Mare

A mare is a mature female horse, typically over the age of three. Mares are known for their ability to reproduce and may exhibit unique behavioral traits due to hormonal cycles, which can include moodiness during estrus.

#12 Paddock

The term paddock denotes a small, enclosed field where horses can exercise or graze. At racetracks, the paddock is also where horses are saddled and paraded before a race, allowing spectators to see them up close.

#13 Polo

A competitive team sport played on horseback where players use a long-handled mallet to hit a ball through the opposing team’s goal, combining elements of horsemanship with strategic team play.

#14 Quarter

A term often referring to the hindquarters of a horse, which includes the region from the back to the tail. This area is critical for the horse’s power and propulsion.

#15 Rein

Straps attached to a horse’s bit, used by the rider to guide and control the horse’s direction and speed. Reins are fundamental tools for communication and maneuvering during riding.

#16 Saddle

A supportive structure for the rider, made of leather or synthetic materials, that is placed on a horse’s back. Saddles are designed to provide comfort and security for both horse and rider across various equestrian disciplines.

#17 Stirrup

A pair of devices attached to each side of a saddle, providing a place for the rider’s feet to rest. Stirrups aid in balance and stability, allowing riders to adjust their position and control the horse more effectively.

#18 Tack

A collective term for all the equipment used on a horse, including saddles, stirrups, bridles, reins, bits, and harnesses. Tack varies depending on the riding discipline and must be properly fitted and maintained for the horse’s comfort and safety.

#19 Trot

A two-beat gait of a horse where diagonal pairs of legs move together; left front with right hind, then right front with left hind. The trot is a common gait used in training and exercising horses, falling between the walk and the canter in speed.

#20 Walk

The slowest of the four main gaits of a horse, consisting of a four-beat rhythm in which each foot hits the ground independently. The walk is a key gait for warming up and cooling down, as well as for teaching young horses and riders.

#21 Whip

A tool used by riders to gently signal or prompt a horse, aiding in controlling speed and behavior. Whips are designed to extend the rider’s ability to communicate with the horse subtly and effectively.

#22 Barn

The building specifically designed to house horses, providing stalls and facilities for care and management. Barns are essential for the protection, feeding, and overall wellbeing of horses.

#23 Colt

A young male horse under the age of four, colts are often spirited and energetic, with training generally focused on harnessing their potential for racing or equestrian sports.

#24 Farrier

A skilled craftsman who specializes in equine hoof care, including trimming and shoeing horses’ hooves. Farriers play a vital role in maintaining a horse’s mobility and overall hoof health.

#25 Foal

A foal is a horse that is typically less than one year old, regardless of gender. These youngsters are known for being playful and require careful nurturing as they grow and develop.

#26 Gallop

The fastest gait of a horse, with all four feet leaving the ground together during each stride. In a full gallop, horses can reach high speeds, and the term is often associated with racing.

#27 Hack

In the equestrian world, a hack refers to a leisurely, pleasure ride outside of the arena, which can serve as a relaxing exercise for the horse and rider.

#28 Lunge

A training technique where a horse exercises in a circle around the handler, who uses a long rope called a lunge line. Lunging helps develop balance and rhythm, often used for warming up or training.

#29 Stud

A male horse used for breeding or a farm where breeding horses are kept. The term can also refer to individual metal projections on horse shoes that provide extra traction.

#30 Vaulting

Equestrian vaulting is a gymnastic and dance discipline performed on horseback, exhibiting the rider’s strength, flexibility, and harmony with the moving horse, often compared to a form of equine gymnastics.

FAQ

What is a horse rider called?

An equestrian, or simply a rider. Horseman and horsewoman cover riding and handling together, a jockey rides in races, and someone employed to care for horses on a yard is a groom.

What does plod mean in horse riding?

To plod is to walk heavily and without impulsion, foot after foot, with none of the swing a good walk has. Calling a horse a plodder is mildly unkind, though it can also mean reliably unexciting, which some riders want.

What is it called when a horse is walked in a circle?

Lunging, if a handler stands in the middle holding a long lunge line. If a machine does it, with arms turning inside a round pen, that is a horse walker.

What is the term for shoeing horses?

Farriery. The person who does it is a farrier, and the job covers trimming and balancing the hoof as well as fitting the shoe.

What is the term for a horse running?

The gallop is the fastest gait, four beats with a moment of suspension. A canter is the slower three-beat version. A horse running off with a rider who cannot stop it is said to bolt.

What does EQ stand for in equestrian terms?

Equitation. An equitation class judges the rider’s position, effectiveness and control rather than the horse’s movement or jump, which is what separates it from a hunter or dressage class.

What are some words related to equestrian sport?

They divide into the horse (mare, gelding, colt, filly, foal, withers, hoof, quarters), the tack (bridle, bit, reins, saddle, girth, stirrup) and the riding itself (walk, trot, canter, gallop, dressage, eventing, show jumping). The glossary above holds them all in one alphabetical list.

What are some Equestrian terms for beginners?

“Bit,” “Canter,” and “Trot” are some equestrian terms beginners should start with. These basics cover the horse’s equipment and essential gaits used in riding.