| For readers who are not horse people here are some | | | | of Hunter, Jumper, or Dressage. They are usually |
| common terms used frequently in articles, blogs, and | | | | very athletic horses with an even temperament that |
| websites about horses. These are brief explanations | | | | can be ridden by most riders. |
| only; each could easily have an entire article for a | | | | Hunter - the sport of jumping horses over fences |
| more in depth definition. | | | | similar to those found in fox hunting, which is where |
| Stallion - An intact male adult horse. | | | | the sport came from. Horses for this sport need to |
| Mare - A female horse - a term usually used for age | | | | have very steady, rhythmical gaits with a lower and |
| 3 years and older. | | | | longer way of moving than the Jumper or Dressage |
| Broodmare - A mare used for breeding. | | | | horse. |
| Gelding - A male horse that has been castrated. (The | | | | Jumper - the sport of jumping horses over jumps |
| one preferred by most amateur riders because of | | | | that are higher and with more complicated patterns |
| the lack of hormones.) | | | | than the Hunter - also called Stadium Jumping - this is |
| Colt - A young male horse, usually age 2 or younger, | | | | an Olympic Sport. |
| and usually still intact. | | | | Dressage - this sport stresses riding horses according |
| Filly - A young female horse, usually age 2 or | | | | to a specific system to develop obedience, flexibility |
| younger. | | | | and balance. There are tests of increasing difficulty |
| Foal - A baby horse that is still nursing (at his/her | | | | for the horse and rider that are patterns ridden in a |
| Dam's side). | | | | rectangular arena. This is also an Olympic sport and |
| Dam - A horse's mother. | | | | the part that is ridden to music (called Freestyle) is |
| Sire - A horse's father. | | | | the most popular with spectators. |
| Weanling - A baby horse that is no longer at his | | | | Cross Country - this sport is like Fox Hunting without |
| Dam's side (nursing) and under 1 year old. | | | | the fox and the rest of the pack. The course is |
| Yearling - A horse that is one year old (this is usually | | | | outside and the jumps and obstacles are natural and |
| counted from Jan. 1 the year following their birth no | | | | solid. This sport requires a brave horse and rider and |
| matter when the actual date was). | | | | is the most dangerous to both. |
| Young horses are frequently referred to as 2 year | | | | Eventing - a combination of Jumping, Dressage, and |
| olds or 3 year olds, but after that they are just a | | | | Cross Country. The horses in this sport need to be |
| stallion, mare, or gelding and considered an adult | | | | very athletic and versatile. |
| horse. | | | | Sport Horse - a horse that is suitable for the Olympic |
| Gaits - the paces of a horse. Warmbloods have three | | | | sports of Dressage, Jumping, and Eventing, as well as |
| - walk (4 beat), trot (2 beat), and canter (3 beat). | | | | Hunters. |
| Warmblood - this is a term used to describe a horse | | | | There are many more terms for other disciplines like |
| that is one of the many breeds of horses from | | | | Western, Saddle Seat, Dressage, Racing, etc., but |
| various regions and countries around the world that | | | | these are the most basic in the English world. If you |
| have their own breed guidelines. All were crosses of | | | | are interested in more detailed information on any of |
| a hot blood breed (usually Thoroughbred- TB) and a | | | | these terms, you can contact the author, or search |
| cold blood breed (draft horses) somewhere in their | | | | the term on the web. |
| past. These horses are primarily used for the sports | | | | |