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This Glossary contains 586 terms |
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AAEP |
American Association of Equine Practitioners |
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ab |
Antibody |
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abaxial |
Away from the central axis of a structure. |
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abattoir |
See slaughterhouse |
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abscess |
a term used to describe a localized infection often caused by a puncture wound or infection. |
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abortion |
the premature expulsion of the fetus or foal usually due to improper rations, injuries or bacillus abortus. |
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above the bit |
this is when the horse carries his mouth above the level of the rider's hand. The horse does this to evade the bit and this reduces the rider's control. |
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abscess |
A localized infection of the sensitive tissues within the hoof. |
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ac |
[Latin] Ante cibum / cibos, before meals |
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ACD |
Acid-citrate-dextrose |
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acey-deucy |
a term used in racing, when stirrups are adjusted so that the inside stirrup is lower than the outside stirrup to give better balance to the jockey around the turns. |
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ACL |
Anterior cruciate ligament |
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ACTH |
Adrenocorticotropic hormone |
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action |
The movement of the horses legs at all paces. |
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acupuncture |
a method of controlling pain by inserting needles into precise nerve points on the horse's body. |
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acute |
Coming about suddenly and severely, but persisting briefly. See also: chronic. |
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adhesion |
Sticking together. The abnormal joining of living tissues. |
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ADP |
Adenosine diphosphate |
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adrenaline |
a hormone secreted by the adrenal medulla that acts primarily as a stimulant. Synthetic adrenaline is used to increase heart rate and to dilate the airways in cases of asthma. Also called epinephrine. |
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adrenal medulla |
interior portion of the adrenal gland that synthesizes |
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aged |
A horse of seven years or more. |
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ageing |
The way in which a horse's age is estimated by the appearance of its teeth. |
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AI |
Artificial insemination |
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aids |
The way in which the rider communicates his intentions to the horse. Natural aids; hands, legs, body and voice. Artificial aids; the use of spurs, whips, martingales and other 'gadgets'. |
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airs above the ground |
high school dressage movements performed with either the forelegs, or all four feet, off the ground. |
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Akhal Teke |
an ancient, Russian breed of horse. The Akhal-Teke is commonly known for it's tall and slender conformation as well as it's shiny, copper hair coat. The Akhal Teke originates from Turkmenistan. |
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albino |
the term albino means "lack of pigment". Albino horses do not exist. See sabino white |
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alfalfa |
a legume often used for hay which is very nutrient-rich. |
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amble |
a slower form of the lateral pacing gait. See also pacer. |
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ambler |
an Old English word for a pacer. See pacer. |
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Andalusian |
an elegant, Spanish breed of horse. The Andalusian horse is commonly known for its long, abundant mane and tail, high-stepping trot and rocking-horse canter. |
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anemia |
a condition of the body resulting from lack of red corpuscles in the blood. Caused by lack of iron |
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Anglo |
Another breed crossed with a thoroughbred. (e.g. Anglo-Arab) |
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Anglo-Arabian |
a cross-breed of horse which is a cross between an Arabian and a Thoroughbred. An Anglo-Arabian should have no less than 25% Arabian blood, but no more than 75% Arabian blood. See also Arabian and Thoroughbred. |
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angular deformities |
Conformational growth problems where bones that are supposed to be in line instead form shallow angles when viewed from front or back. |
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anhydrosis |
a term that describes the condition in which the horse has limited ability to sweat. |
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animation |
high knee and hock action such as that seen in the Hackney and the Saddlebred. A horse with such movement is said to be "animated". Also seen in dressage horses riding the passage. See also passage. |
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annular ligaments |
Ligaments which form sheet-like bands to hold tendons in place. |
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ant. |
Anterior |
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anterior |
On or towards the front. See also: posterior. |
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antiseptic |
Inhibits microbiotic growth. |
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AP |
Anterior-posterior |
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arteries |
Blood vessels which carry oxygenated blood from the heart to the tissues. |
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articulation |
The range of movement of a skeletal joint. |
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articulatory cartilage |
The gristle covering the surface of the bones at the joints. |
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ATP |
Adenosine triphosphate |
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atrophy |
Shrinking or degeneration of tissues. Usually results from disuse or disease. |
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AVMA |
American Veterinary Medical Association |
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axis (axial) |
The central line of the body or any of its parts, on or close to the line about which the structure would rotate. |
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b.i.d. |
[Latin] Bis in die, twice a day |
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back |
The first mounting of an unbroken horse. |
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back at the knee |
A conformation fault whereby the forelegs are curved back below the knee. |
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backing-up the toe |
The removal of horn from the hoof wall on the dorsal surface of the toe. |
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bail |
A plank of wood. Swinging bails hung from the wall and ceiling, used to temporarily separate horses. |
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balance |
When the weight placed on each leg of the horse is distributed equally over the foot. |
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barrel |
The body of a horse between the forearms and loins. |
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bars |
Continuations of the hoof wall, which distribute stress from the heel towards the widest part of the hoof at approximately the mid-point of the frog. |
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basal |
Base or ground surface of hoof. |
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basal crack |
A crack which starts at the ground surface of the hoof and splits upward. |
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bascule |
Refers to the ideal shape of a horse when it jumps a fence. 'To round over a fence' Literal:- semi-circle. |
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basement membrane |
The thin layer of connective tissue between the horny and the sensitive laminae within the horse's hoof. |
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base narrow |
Wider at the chest than at the feet. |
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base wide |
Wider at the feet than at the chest. |
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bearing |
The horse's general carriage and balance. |
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behind the bit |
When a horse is evading rein contact by bringing his head in towards his body, with his nose coming behind the vertical. |
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bifurcate |
To separate, split, or divide. |
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bilateral |
On both sides. Usually means both hooves of a pair. |
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biotin |
B-complex vitamin, essential for the activity of many enzyme systems and found in large quantities in liver, egg yolk, milk, and yeast. Popularly believed to be beneficial to hoof growth and quality, and often included in horse feed supplements. |
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blaze |
Long white marking down the front of a horse's face. |
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blemish |
A cosmetic flaw. |
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blind obstacle |
an obstacle that the horse cannot see the landing side of, when taking off. |
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blood horse |
A Thoroughbred horse. |
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blood Spavin |
An enlargement of the saphenous vein on the medial side of hock. |
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blood stock |
Thoroughbred horses which are bred to race. |
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blood weed |
A Thoroughbred horse which is lightly built, of poor quality, lacking bone and substance. |
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blue feet |
A dense. blue-black coloring of the horn. |
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bone |
The measurement taken around the leg immediately below the knee or hock. The bone measurement determines the horse's ability to carry weight. |
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bosal |
A braided noseband used in Western riding. |
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bosomy |
Describes an over-wide and heavy chest. |
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both legs from the same hole |
When the forelegs are placed too close together because of an unduly narrow chest. |
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bottom |
Low-growing vegetation. |
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bounce |
When a horse on landing after an obstacle jumps the next one without taking a stride. |
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bowed tendon |
Tendinitis: Damage or rupture of the sheath of a tendon, most often the SDF of a foreleg. Bowed tendons usually occur in performance horses during hard exertion. |
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bow-hocks |
Outward turned hock joints. (US 'Bandy-legged') |
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bow legged |
Carpus varus. |
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boxy foot (aka 'club', 'donkey' or 'mule foot'.) |
A narrow upright foot with a small frog and a closed heel. |
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bp, BP |
Blood pressure |
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bpm |
Beats per minute |
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breaking-in |
The early training and schooling of a horse. |
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breaking out |
When a horse that has previously cooled off after exercise, begins to sweat again. |
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break over |
This occurs during that part of the stride when the limb is beginning to move forward and the anterior portion of the hoof leaves the ground. Break over point is that place on the ground surface of the dorsal wall and sole, around which the limb rotates as the hoof leaves the ground. |
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breast plate |
A strap which prevents a saddle from slipping backwards, usually part of a martingale. |
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bridal path/Bridal way |
(1) A path/right of way for horse's and riders. (2) The place on a horse where the bridal fits next to its skin. |
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broken back |
A broken back pastern axis is one where one of the phalanges is at a steeper angle than the one below it. |
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broken forward |
A broken forward pastern axis is where one of the phalanges is at a lower angle than the one below it. |
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broken-in |
Angular limb deformity where a joint is closer to the other limb than it should be. |
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broken-in (US - green broke) |
A horse that has accepted a mounted rider and is in its early stages of schooling. |
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broken-out |
Angular limb deformity where a joint is farther from the other limb than it should be. |
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brood mare |
A mare kept for breeding. |
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bruise |
The rupturing of blood vessels within sensitive structures resulting from trauma. Hoof bruises often result from the horse stepping on stones. Bruises can also occur in any sensitive structure, including the frog and the bulbs of the heels. |
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brushing |
Interference between paired hooves. |
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buck |
A leap into the air with arched back and landing on stiff legs. |
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buffer |
A tool used to withdraw nails from the shoe. |
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bulbs (heel) |
The upper and rearmost part of the frog, which hold proprio-receptors that allow the horse to know the position and placement of the foot. |
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bung tail |
A docked tail. |
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bursa |
A membrane sac that holds synovial fluid to lubricate moving parts in horse's legs. For example, the navicular bursa |
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buttress foot |
Pyramidal disease. |
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by |
Used in conjunction with the sire. |
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C-1, C-2, C-3, ..., C-7 |
the cervical vertebrae |
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cadence |
The quality of a horse's pace; showing rhythm and energy. |
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caulkin |
A raised, squared thickening on the outside edge at the heel of a horse's hind shoe, in order to increase grip. |
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camped behind |
A "camped behind" horse stands with the hooves behind the vertical. |
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canker |
Abnormal, vegetative growth of the frog. May also affect the sole. |
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cannon bone |
M3:The third metacarpal in the front leg, or the third metatarsal in the hind. Located just below the knee. |
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canter |
A gait between a trot and a run. |
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capillaries |
Tiny, often microscopic, vessels which nourish the tissues and transfer blood from the arteries to the veins. |
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capped hock |
A bump under the skin at the point of the hock. This blemish may be of any size, and is often caused by direct trauma to the hock. |
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capriole |
A high school movement in which the horse springs from his hocks and, with its forelegs raised, kicks its hind legs out before landing square. |
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capsular rotation |
The hoof wall rotates away from the P3, while the P3 remains in alignment with the pastern. |
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carpus |
The equine knee, or human wrist. Carpal, pertaining to the carpus. |
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carpus valgus |
Knock-knees. A conformation defect in which the fore limbs deviate medially above the knee, and laterally below the knee. The limbs appear to be bent inward. |
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carpus varus |
Bow-legged. A conformation defect in which the fore limbs deviate laterally above the knee, and medially below the knee. The limbs appear to be bent outward. |
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carriage horse |
A light elegant horse for private or hackney carriage use. |
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cart horse |
A large heavy Cold blood draught horse. |
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cartilage |
Flexible, somewhat elastic, skeletal structures. |
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carty |
A horse of common appearance. |
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cast |
When a horse is stuck on the ground and cannot get up or to 'lose' a shoe. |
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CAT scan |
Computerized axial tomography |
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caudal |
Towards the tail. |
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cavalletti |
Pole 10ft (3m) long, supported on cross pieces. |
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cavalry remount |
(aka Trooper) A horse used in military service. |
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Cayuse |
A tough native American Indian pony, descended from Spanish stock. |
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CBC |
Complete blood count |
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check, to |
(1) To steady a horse. (2) A short respite for the field, when the hounds lose the scent hunting. |
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check ligament |
A ligament which connects a tendon to a bone. |
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cheek |
(bit) The straight side on some bits. |
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chestnut |
(1)(or Castor) Small horny growth just above the inside of the knee and below the inside of the hock. (2) A reddish-brown coat colour. |
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chifney |
A bit used for leading horses that are difficult to control. |
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chronic |
Persistent. The long-term phase of many diseases and conditions. See also: acute. |
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clean bred |
A horse of any breed of pure pedigree blood. |
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clean-legged |
No feathering on the lower legs. |
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clench |
The part of a nail left proud when shoeing prior to being twisted off, bent over and hammered flush, to secure the shoe to the foot. |
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close-coupled |
Short back, without a hand's width between the last rib and the point of the hip. Opposite of slack loins. |
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clubfoot |
An extremely upright hoof with a very broken-forward pastern-hoof axis. In extreme cases, the digit may be folded back, with the animal bearing weight on its dorsal surface. In congenital clubfeet, the slope of the heels is usually more upright than that of the toe. |
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Coffin bone |
P3: Located in the hoof. It contains nerves and blood vessels which form the foot's sensitive structures and cushion the area between the bone and hoof. |
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coldblood |
The heavy horse breeds. |
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cold hosing |
A stream of cold water used to reduce inflammation. |
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collateral cartilages |
Lateral cartilages: Structures, which extend, one from either side, rearward from the wings of the P3. These form the internal support posterior part of the hoof. |
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collection |
The term used to describe a horse whose outline has shortened and rounded up, as its hind legs have moved further under its body, providing increased balance and energy. |
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colt |
A complete male horse under the age of four. |
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combination |
A jump made up of more than one part or element. May take the form of a double (two elements), a treble (three elements) or more. 'a combination of fences' |
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commissure |
A line or place where two things are joined. For example, where the frog meets and joins the bar structure. |
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common digital extensor tendon |
Main extensor tendon; is found in the front leg. It passes down over the front and slightly to the outside of the leg and attaches to the long pastern, short pastern and coffin bone. The widest point of attachment is at/on the extensor process of the coffin bone. It is joined on each side of the pastern by branches of the suspensory ligament. It is responsible for extending the leg. |
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compensation |
Adjustments a horse makes to try to keep an even gait despite a sore or lame leg. |
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compulsory halt |
The ten minute break taken between phases of the speed and endurance test in a 3 day event. |
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concussion |
(1) The compression or 'jar' to a horse's feet and legs when working on hard ground. (2) An injury to the brain. |
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conformation |
Physical inherited construction of a horse. |
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congenital |
A characteristic present from birth. |
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contact |
The amount of feel on the reins linking the rider's hands to the bit. |
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contracted heels |
Condition in which the posterior half of the hoof undergoes a significant reduction in width. This may result from other hoof problems, improper shoeing, or both. |
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contra limb |
Limb opposite the one that suffered the original lameness. Sometimes becomes lame from compensatory stress. |
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contusion |
Traumatic flesh injury which does not break the skin. |
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corium |
The sensitive layer of the skin located below the epidermis, containing nerve endings, sweat and sebaceous glands, and blood and lymph vessels. The sensitive laminae,live sole, live frog and coronary corium. |
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corn |
A bruise located in the corner of the heel and bar. |
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coronary |
Coronet or hair surface, upper part of the hoof. |
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coronary band |
Is the part of the hoof where the skin and hide join with the hoof wall. |
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coronary crack |
A crack which starts at the top of the hoof and splits down. |
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corrective |
Trimming or shoeing a horse's hooves to counteract flaws in stance or gait. |
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cow hocks |
Hocks that turn inward. |
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CPR |
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation |
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cracked heels |
A condition where the tissue covering the heel bulbs cracks open, leaving the heels susceptible to infection. |
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cracks |
A split in the hoof wall. |
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cradle |
A light frame fitted around a horse's neck to prevent it interfering or biting with an injury or bandage etc. |
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cranial |
(1) The front surface of the limb. Towards the head. (2) Having to do with the cranium of the skull. |
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cross-firing |
Gait fault which results in the collision of diagonal feet. Usually occurs at lateral gaits. |
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crupper |
A strap which stops a saddle slipping forwards, attached to the back of a saddle and passing under a horse's tail. |
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Curb |
Swelling of the plantar surface of the hind leg, just below the point of the hock. |
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Cushing's disease |
A thyroid tumour, which can cause laminitis and founder - particularly in older horses. |
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daisy cutting |
Describes a horse with a low action at walk or trot Personified by Arabs and Thoroughbreds |
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dam |
A horses mother |
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deep digital flexor tendon |
Originates at the deep flexor muscle of the leg, and inserts (attaches) at the semilunar crest of the coffin bone after passing over the fulcrum points formed by the proximal and distal (navicular) sesamoid bones. It flexes (folds) the leg when the deep flexor muscle contracts. |
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deep girth |
Measurement from wither to elbow The length of a horse's legs should not exceed the depth of the body from withers to breastbone |
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deep going |
Wet or soft ground into which the horse's feet sink |
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dermis |
The sensitive connective tissue layer of the skin located below the epidermis, containing nerve endings, sweat and sebaceous glands, and blood and lymph vessels. The coriums of the hoof are dermal. |
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de-rotation |
The act of realigning the P3's basal surface with the ground by trimming of the heel. |
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desmotomy |
The surgical cutting of a ligament. |
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diagonal gait |
Gait where each diagonal pair of limbs (off fore/near hind, near fore/off hind) move more or less together. A natural trot is a good example of a diagonal gait. |
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digit |
The equine limb distal to the fetlock. |
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digital cushion |
The sensitive, rubbery structure situated above the frog within the hoof. |
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distal |
In reference to limbs, distal means away from the torso, or comparatively farther from the torso or center of gravity. Opposite of 'Proximal'. |
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disunited |
A horse which is cantering with a diagonal pair of legs leading instead of the near and offside Can be disunited 'behind' or 'in front' |
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DJD |
Degenerative joint disease |
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DMSO |
Dimethyl sulfoxide |
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dock |
The part of a horse's tail from which the hair grows and also the hairless underside |
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docking |
Amputation of the tail for aesthetic reasons |
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dorsal |
(1) The front surface of the equine hoof and leg. (2) Referring to the entire animal, dorsal means the spine or center-line of the back. |
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double Bridle |
A traditional English bridle which includes two bits and two reins Today, mainly used in Showing classes |
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dropped sole |
The sole of a hoof which has become convex rather than concave. |
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dubbed toe |
A hoof which has had the dorsal surface of its toe rasped off. |
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Duckett's dot |
A point located approximately 10mm (3/8inch) back from the point of the frog, used for determining the normal position of the wall at the toe. |
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DVM |
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine |
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ECG, EKG |
Electrocardiogram |
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EHV |
Equine herpes virus |
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EIA |
1. Enzyme immunoassays; 2. equine infectious anemia |
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EIAV |
Equine infectious anemia virus (a lentivirus) |
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epidermis |
The outer, protective, nonvascular layer of the skin which covers the dermis. The hoof wall, horny laminae and other horny hoof structures are epidermal. |
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epithelium |
Skin: Thin membrane tissues covering most of the body's structures and organs, internal and external. Also describes the first layers that heal over a wound. |
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EPM |
Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis |
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ewe neck |
When the horse's neck is longer and more developed in the lower line than the top line, giving it a concave bend with the crest sloping inwards |
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exfoliate |
To shed or flake off dead tissue. The sole of the hoof normally exfoliates as it grows down. |
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expansion |
The outward movement of the quarters of the hoof which occurs during weight bearing. |
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extension |
The lengthening of the stride at the walk, trot or canter The horse should show an equal extension in both hind and fore legs |
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extensor process |
The point of insertion of the main digital extensor tendon into the P3. |
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extravagant action |
High knee and hock action |
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falling in |
Occurs when a horse is on a circle or a corner and compensates for stiffness or loss of balance, moves his shoulder inwards, coming off the true circle |
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false ribs |
The ten (asternal) ribs to the rear of the eight (sternal) true ribs |
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far or Off side |
Right side of a horse. |
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farrier |
A professional person who makes horseshoes and shoes horses |
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FDA |
Food and Drug Administration |
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feather |
Long hairs on a horse's lower legs |
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FEI |
Fédération Equestre Internationale - International Equestrian Federation |
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feral |
Animals of domestic ancestry who have reverted to the wild state. |
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Fetlock joint |
Contains the cannon bone, long pastern bone and the two sesamoid bones. |
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filly |
A female horse under four years |
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five-Gaited |
(US) Term for the Saddlebred horse which is shown at the slow gait and rack as well as walk trot and canter |
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flare |
An outward distortion of the hoof wall, especially at the ground (basal) surface. |
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flex |
To fold or decrease the angle of the bones of a joint. |
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flexion |
The movement of a horse's leg backward due to the use of flexor tendon. |
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flexor deformity |
Contracted tendon: Excessive tension on either the digital flexor tendon(s). |
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flipper (or Slipper) foot |
An extremely overgrown, toe-flared hoof. |
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foal |
A very young horse of either sex. A pregnant mare is said to be "in foal". The birth process of horses is referred to as "foaling". |
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foot |
The hoof and all the structures contained within it. |
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forehand |
The horse's head, neck, shoulders, withers and forelegs |
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forelock |
The extension of the mane between the ears and over the forehead |
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forging |
A fault in gait which results in the toe of a hind hoof striking the solar surface of its lateral fore hoof. Similar, but not identical, to overreaching. |
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forward seat |
The position adopted by a rider when galloping or jumping |
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fossa |
A pit, indention, or channel in a bone. |
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founder |
The mechanical result of laminitis. The tip of the P3 sinks downward towards the sole near the toe. Sole bruising, abscesses, and hoof distortion commonly occur. |
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founder rings |
Horizontal ridges in the hoof wall that instead of running parallel to the coronet (as grass rings do), are farther apart from the coronet at the heels than the toe. |
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founder stance |
The standing position often assumed by horses during acute laminitis. The hind feet will be placed far forward of their usual position, and will bear an inordinate amount of weight. The fore hooves will be placed out in front of the animal, and may bear weight only at the heels. |
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frog |
The rubbery, triangular pad of horn in the sole of the foot Acts as a shock absorber |
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full mouth |
A horse which at six years has a full permanent set of teeth |
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funicular ligament |
Strong cord-like fibrous materials that bind and hold the bone in place. |
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gait |
The motion or way of going of a horse. |
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gaited horse |
(US) A horse that is schooled to artificial as well as natural gaits |
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Galvayne's mark |
The groove appearing on the corner incisor at ten years of age It increases in length, reaching the bottom of the tooth at around 20yrs (named after - Sydney Galvayne, 19th century) |
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gamgee |
Cotton wool encased in gauze |
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gaskin |
'Second thigh' extending from stifle to hock |
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gelding |
A castrated horse or pony |
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general Stud Book |
(GSB 'the Book') The Book in which all Thoroughbred mares and their progeny foaled in the UK and Republic of Ireland, are entered |
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girth |
The measurement round the horse's body, taken behind the withers |
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going |
A term used to describe the nature of the ground (e.g. good, firm, deep, rough) |
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good front |
A horse carrying it's saddle behind a long, sloped shoulder and a generous length of neck |
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goose-rump |
('jumpers bump') A pronounced muscular development at the croup, where the quarters run down to the tail |
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grade horse |
(US) Common bred |
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Grand Prix |
(1) The highest form of competition (2) Big prize |
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gravel |
Abscess. |
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grease |
A disease of the lower leg |
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groom |
A person working directly with horse's |
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ground line |
The line projected or real by way of a pole at the base of a jump Used by the horse to judge its take off |
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growth plates |
Epiphyseal plates. |
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hack |
A recognised type of light riding horse |
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hacking |
A pleasure ride 'To hack' to go for a ride (also; 'hack out' 'hack on' 'hack to') |
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halter-class |
(US) Term for classes shown in-hand |
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hand |
A unit of measure equal to 4 inches, used to measure the height of a horse at the highest point of the withers. The number of whole hands is properly followed by a hyphen, then the remaining height in inches. Thus a horse who measures five feet two inches at the withers would be designated "15-2 hands". |
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hands |
The measurement of a horse's height 1 hand = 4 inches |
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hard horse |
(or 'Hardy') A tough enduring horse, not susceptible to injury or sickness (a 'good do-er') |
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harness |
The collective name for the equipment associated with that of the driven horse |
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harness horse |
(1) A horse used in a harness (2) A horse with a 'harness' type conformation or 'action' |
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haute école |
The classical art of horsemanship |
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Hb, Hgb |
Hemoglobin |
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heavy horse |
Any large draught horse |
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heavy top |
A horse with a heavy body disproportionately to light legs |
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herring-gutted |
A horse with a flat-sided, lean body running sharply upwards from girth to stifle |
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hindquarters |
A horses body from the back of the flank to the start of the tail, down to the top of the gaskin |
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histology |
Study of the microscopic structure of tissues. |
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hock |
A joint in the horse's hind leg between the second thigh and cannon bone |
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hocks well let down |
A horse with short cannon bones Considered a structure of strength |
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hogged mane |
A horse's mane clipped close to the neck (US - 'Roached') |
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hoof |
The equine foot, includes the coronary band and all parts distal. Sometimes refers to only the "hoof capsule" or horny parts of the foot. |
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hoof angle |
Toe angle: The angle at which the dorsal wall of the hoof intersects with the sole. Hoof angle can be measured with a hoof gauge or hoof protractor. |
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hoof capsule |
The insensitive, outer elements of the hoof, which function as a "wrapper, encapsulating and protecting the sensitive elements of the hoof. |
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hoof gauge |
Tool used for determining the angle of the horse's foot. |
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hoof horn |
The tough, insensitive parts of the hoof, such as the wall, are made of horn. The wall is composed of fibers which grow downward from the coronary band called tubular horn. These are cemented together by intertubular horn. |
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hoof knife |
Used for cutting excess horn from the sole of the hoof. |
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hoof nippers |
A tool used only for removing excess hoof wall. |
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hoof rasp |
Used to remove excess hoof wall. |
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hoof rings |
Growth rings: distortions on the hoof wall, roughly parallel to the coronary band, which may be caused by changes in diet, environment, season, or by illness. Uneven hoof rings, especially wider at the heel, may indicate that the horse has been foundered. |
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hoof tester |
Is a device used to locate lameness or trouble areas in the horse's hoof. |
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horny frog |
The outer, visible, non-sensate, non vascular part of the frog. |
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hot |
('Hot up') A horse that becomes unduly excited |
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hotblood |
An Arab, Barb or Thoroughbred |
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hybrid |
A cross a between a horse and another species |
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ID |
Intradermal |
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IM |
Intramuscular |
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IN |
Intranasal |
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inbreeding |
The mating of brother-sister, sire-daughter, son-dam, to fix a particular characteristic |
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in front of the bit |
When a horse hangs on the hands with an outstretched neck |
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in-hand |
A horse that is led, not ridden |
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interfere |
When a horse strikes one foot with the other. |
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ischemia |
Lack of oxygenated blood flow to the tissues. |
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itis |
Suffix meaning inflammation or disease. |
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IV |
Intravenous |
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jammed heel |
One heel appears to be jammed up into the foot, with its bulb and coronary band correspondingly distorted. |
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jibbah |
The peculiar bulged formation on the forehead of the Arab horse |
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jog-trot |
A short paced trot |
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jump off |
The final phase of a show jumping competition, usually against the clock, the fastest wins |
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keep |
Meadow forage, for grazing |
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keepers |
Fixed loops which keep the ends of straps etc in place (aka Runners) |
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keratin |
The tough protein component in horn, hair, skin, and hooves. |
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keratoma |
Keraphyllocele: a tumor of the horny laminae. Often seen as an inward distortion of the white line. |
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knee hitting |
Knee knocking: interference in which the fore hoof strikes the inside of the knee of the opposite limb. |
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knock knees |
Carpus valgus. |
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lame |
Describes a horse that is suffering sufficient pain and/or mechanical defect to interfere with normal movement and weight bearing in one or more limbs. Limping. |
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lamina (plural laminae) (lamella - lamellae) |
The tissues which attach the P3 to the hoof wall and bars. The inner, sensitive, laminae are attached to the bone. The outer, horny, laminae are attached to the hoof wall. The two sets of laminae interlock to form the P3/hoof wall union with over one square meter (9 square feet) of attachment surface while still allowing the wall to grow down in relation to the bone. |
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laminitis |
A systemic illness in the horse, which results in the damage of the laminar tissue, and causes the horse pain. Laminitis can lead to founder. |
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lateral |
(1) The outer side, away from the centerline. (2) Towards, or on, the side. Opposite of "Medial". |
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lateral cartilages |
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