ANSC 160: Introduction to Animal Science Glossary of Horse Terms Breed – a group of horses selected for their common ancestry and common characteristics Canter – a three‐beat gait Chestnuts – horny, irregular growths on the inside of the horse’s legs Colic – a broad term that describes a horse showing symptoms of abdominal pain Colt – an immature intact male horse Dam – the female parent of a horse Draft horse – a large breed of horse; historically used for work or driving Dressage – French word for “training”; discipline in which horse and rider are judged against a standard while performing a prescribed pattern Eventing – a discipline that includes dressage, cross‐country jumping, and stadium jumping Farrier – a person who cares for horses’ hooves Feathering – a fringe of hair around the horse’s leg just above the hoof Filly – immature female horse Foal – a young, unweaned horse of either sex Gaited horse – horse that performs one or more gaits other than the four “natural” gaits (walk, trot, canter, gallop) Gelding – a castrated male horse Grade – an animal that is not registered with a specific breed registry Halter – placed on the horse’s head in order to lead and/or tie it Hinny – a cross between a male horse (stallion) and a female donkey (jennet or jenny) Hunters – horses that are subjectively judges while jumping fences; horses ridden on fox hunts Hybrid – animal produced from the mating of individuals belonging to two species Jack – male donkey Jennet – female donkey; also called a jenny Light horse – horse used primarily for riding, driving, showing, racing, or utility on a farm or ranch Longe – the act of exercising a horse in a circle on the end of a long rope Lope – a slow canter Maiden mare – a female horse that has never had a foal Mare – a mature female horse Miniature – a very small horse; generally not taller than 34” Mule – a cross between a female horse (mare) and a male donkey (jack) Mustangs – feral horses of the American western plains Pony – horse that is 14.2 hands (58 inches) tall or shorter at the withers Puberty – age when an animal reaches sexual maturity Saddleseat – a style of English riding that is designed to show off the high action of certain horse breeds Sire – the male parent of a horse Stallion – an intact mature male horse Warmblood – group of “breed” registries that inspect and approve animals for breeding for sport (dressage, stadium jumping, eventing, and hunters) Weanling – young horse that has been weaned from its dam but has not yet reached one year of age Yearling – horse between one and two years of age