Chapter 19

• Equus caballus


  Horses
• Equus asinus


  Donkeys
• Equus caballus X Equus asinus


  Mules
• Equus caballus var.


  Ponies (less than 58 inches at the withers)
• Amble


  Lateral gait that is different from the pace by being slower and more broken in cadence.
• Back


  Slowly trotting in reverse
• Barrel racing


  Racing in which horses race against a timer to complete a coverleaf pattern around three barrels
• Beat


  Time when the foot (or feet if simultaneous) touches the ground
• Canter


  Slow, restrained three beat gait in which the two diagonal legs are paired
• Dressage


  Method of riding in which a rider guides (rather than uses hands, feet, or legs) a trained horse through natural maneuvers.
• English


  Method of riding in a saddle without a horn; the rider rises and sits in rhythm with each stride, and the rider uses both hands in the reins.
• Equitation


  Act and practice of riding a horse
• Fox trot


  Slow, short, broken type of gait in which the head usually nods.
• Gait


  Pattern of footfalls resulting in movement.
• Natural gait


  Movement that animals naturally perform
• Artificial gait


  Movement that the animals need to learn
• Gallop or run


  Fast four beat gait in which the feet strike the ground separately (first is one hind foot, second is the other hind foot, third is the front foot on the same side as the first step, and fourth is the other front foot on the same side as the second step).
• Gymkhana


  Racing events on horseback; for example barrel racing
• Jog


  Slow trot
• Pace


  Fast two beat gait in which the front and hind feet on the same side start and stop at the same time.
• Pointing


  Stride in which extension is more pronounced than flexion
• Racing


  Activity in which horses compete directly against one another to complete a distance in the shortest time possible
• Endurance racing


  Races up to 100 miles
• Sprint racing


  Races 1/4 mile or less
• Thoroughbred racing 


  Races from 1/2 to 2 miles
• Rack or single foot


  Fast, flashy unnatural four beat gait in which each foot meets the ground separately at equal intervals
• Rolling


  Excessive side to side shoulder motion
• Running walk


  Slow four beat gait intermediate in speed between a walk and rack
• Showing


  Any of a wide range of activities in which a horse is exhibited, either ridden, driven, or based on its conformation.
• Western pleasure


  Show class for Western riding style
• English pleasure


  Show class for English riding style
• Showmanship


  Show class that competes by how well an animal exhibits
• Stride


  Distance between successive imprints of the same foot
• Suspension


  Time in which none of the feet are in contact with the ground
• Swing

  Non weight bearing phase of a stride
• Trappy


  Short, quick, choppy stride
• Trot


  Natural, rapid two beat diagonal gait in which the front foot and the opposite hind foot take off and hit the ground at the same time
• Walk


  Natural, slow flat footed four beat gait in which each foot takes off and strikes the ground at separate intervals
• Western


  Method of riding in which the stirrup length is long, the rider rides in an upright posture, and the rifer has a one handed hold on the reins.
• Bad mouth


  Malocclusion in which the top and bottom teeth do not meet