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Horse Smarts - Horse Terms and Definitions
Horse Terms: A- CTerms: D - FTerms: G - ITerms: J - LTerms: M - OTerms: P - RTerms: S - UTerms: W - Z

All definitions below are from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Horse Terms and Definitions

Gag Bit - The gag is a type of bit that uses leverage-cheeks (there is no curb chain, so no true leverage) to increase its severity. It works on the horse's lips and poll simultaneously. More Information

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Gait - gaits are the different ways in which a horse can move, either naturally or as a result of specialized training by humans. More Information

 

Gallop - The gallop is very much like the canter, except that it is faster, more ground-covering, and the three-beat canter changes to a four-beat gait. It is the fastest gait of the horse, averaging about 25 to 30 miles per hour, and in the wild is used when the animal needed to flee from predators or simply cover short distances quickly. Horses seldom will gallop more than a mile or two before they need to rest, though at a moderately-paced gallop can sustain it for longer distances before they become winded and have to slow down. More Information

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Gelding - A gelding is a castrated animal—in English, the term specifically refers to a castrated male horse or other equine. The word comes from the Old Norse geldr ("barren"). [1] Castration, and the elimination of hormonally-driven behavior associated with a stallion allows a male horse to be calmer and better-behaved, making the animal quieter, gentler and potentially more suitable as an everyday working animal.
 
Girth - A strap that goes around the horse's barrel that holds the saddle on. More Information
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Gogue - The Gogue or de Gogue is a piece of horse tack used for training purposes, and is very popular in Europe, with a similar place in training regimes as side reins. Its purpose is to encourage the horse to raise the neck, free the shoulders and engage the hocks, so that he may develop the correct muscles for a rounded outline. More Information
 

Hackamore - A hackamore is a type of bridle for a horse which does not have a bit. Instead, it works on pressure points on the horse's face, nose, and chin. More Information

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Half Chaps - Half Chaps are also a partial protective garment, though more of an extra-tall pair of Spats rather than true chaps. Opposite of chinks, half chaps begin at the boot and go up to end right below the knee. They are commonly used over the paddock boots of English-style riders in place of tall boots. Half-chaps are usually made of leather, and have a zip closure on the outside. They provide grip for the rider, protection from the stirrup leather and sometimes prevent breeches from riding up.
 
Halter - A halter, or headcollar, is headgear that is used to guide, train, or tie up an animal; it fits over the back of the neck and across or around the animal's muzzle so that, when a handler pulls on the muzzle end of the halter, the animal's head turns towards the handler.

The primary difference between a halter and a bridle is that the latter has a bit that goes into a horse's mouth, providing even greater control.

"Halter" is also a term used to describe a type of horse show conformation class where horses are led, not ridden.

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Hand - A hand (or handbreadth) is a unit of length measurement, usually based on the breadth of a male human hand and thus around 4 inches long (about 10  cm). When used to measure height, it is abbreviated "h" (for "hands") or "hh" (standing for "hands high")

Today it is primarily used to describe the height of horses, ponies, and other equines in a number of different countries, including the USA Australia, and the UK. In this context, one hand equals four inches (10.16 cm), and the horse is measured from the ground to the top of the withers. So a horse that is 15 hands high (abbreviated 15 hh) is 60 inches (152 cm) from the ground to the top of the withers. Instead of decimal or vulgar fractions, a hand comprises four inch-long steps, so a horse 62 inches (157 cm) tall would be 15.2 hh (said “fifteen two hands high”).

A pony is up to 14.2hh (147 cm or 58 inches). In the United States, ponies are further divided into:

  • Small Pony: 12.2 hh or smaller
  • Medium Pony: larger than 12.2 hh, up to 13.2 hh
  • Large Pony: larger than 13.2 hh, up to 14.2 hh

A miniature horse is either shorter than 9.2 or 8.2 hh, depending on the registry. The world's smallest horse, Thumbelina, is just 4.1 hh.

 
Hobbles - A hobble is a device for restricting the ability of a human or an animal to run or to walk by limiting the motion of the legs. Although hobbles are most commonly used on horses, they may also be used on dogs, especially during force-fetch training to limit the movement of a dog's front paws.
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Hollow Mouth (Bit) - A mouthpiece (usually single jointed, but not always) that is hollow in the middle, making it very light. The mouthpiece is usually thicker than average. The thick, hollow mouthpiece supposedly spreads out pressure, making it less severe.
 
Hoof Boot - A Hoof Boot is a device made primarily of plastic or rubber designed to cover the hooves of a horse as an alternative to horseshoes or as a protective device when the animal has a foot injury that requires protection of the sole of the foot or the full time application of medication. There are many different designs, but all have the goal of protecting the hoof wall and sole of the horse's foot from hard surfaces, rocks and other difficult terrain.
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Horse - The horse ( Equus caballus , sometimes seen as a subspecies of the Wild Horse, Equus ferus caballus ) is a large odd-toed ungulate mammal, one of ten modern species of the genus Equus. More Information
 
Horse Blanket - A horse blanket is a blanket that's intended for keeping a horse warm or otherwise protected from the elements. They are tailored to fit around a horse's body with straps crossing underneath, allowing the horse to move about freely without dislodging the blanket. More Information
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Horse Bridle - A bridle is a piece of equipment used to control a horse. The bridle fits over a horse's head, and has the purpose of controlling the horse. It holds a bit in the horse's mouth, or holds on the nosepiece of a hackamore and other type of bitless bridle. More Information
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Horseshoe - A horseshoe is a "U"- shaped item made of steel, aluminium, rubber, plastic, rawhide or a laminate of these, nailed or glued to the hooves of horses and some other draught animals . Like a shoe on a human, it is used to protect the animal's feet from wear and tear. More Information
 
Horseshoe Studs - Studs or Screw-in Calks are traction devices screwed into the bottom of a horse shoe. This improves the horse's balance and grip over uneven or slippy terrain, and can make him move better and jump more confidently in poor footing. More Information
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Hot Bloods - Arabian horses, whether originating on the Arabian peninsula or from the European studs (breeding establishments) of the 18th and 19th centuries, gained the title of "hot bloods" for their temperament, characterized by sensitivity, keen awareness, athleticism, and energy. European breeders wished to infuse some of this energy and athleticism into their own best cavalry horses. These traits, combined with the lighter, aesthetically refined bone structure of the oriental-type horse ( Akhal-Teke, Arabian, Barb), were used as the foundation of the thoroughbred breed.

True hot bloods usually offer both greater riding challenges and rewards than other horses. Their sensitivity and intelligence enable quick learning with greater communication and cooperation with their riders. However, their intelligence also allows them to learn bad habits as quickly as good ones. Because of this, they also can quickly lose trust in a poor rider and do not tolerate inept or abusive training practices.

 
Hunt boots - like the dress boot, except it has a "cuff" at the top. The boot is usually black, with a tan cuff (traditional for male riders). It is appropriate for fox hunting.
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Ice Tape - Reduces inflamation. Treat for arthric joints, soft tissue, tendons and ligamnets. Ice tape cools as it provides supporrt.
 

In-Hand Whip - Whips used for in-hand drving. Most are made with a fiberglass core.

The information above is provided by Wikipedia. All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License. (See Copyrightsfor details.)

Horse Smarts does not endorse or confirm accuracy of any information listed on this page. It was provided by Wikipedia. Horse Smarts does not endorse sites listed in the horse breed pages, the Horse Classified listings or link pages.

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