CTRI STUDY GUIDE PRACTICE -
GLOSSARY TERMS - EQUINE
TERMINOLOGY CORRECT 100%
balanced seat - ANSWER That position of the mounted rider that requires the minimum
of muscular effort to remain in the saddle and that interferes least with the horse's
movement and equilibrium.
bight of the reins - ANSWER The part of the reins passing between thumb and fingers
and out the top of the hand.
blemish - ANSWER A defect that hurts an equine's appearance but does not hurt its
working ability (e.g., a scar).
bolting - ANSWER An animal breaking out of control or trying to run away.
broke - ANSWER 1. Tamed and trained to a particular function, as halter-broke. 2. To
leave or alter gait (e.g., the trotter broke stride).
canter/lope - ANSWER A three-beat gait in which the first and third beats are made by
two legs striking the ground independently and the second beat is made by two limbs
striking the ground simultaneously. In the left lead, the sequence of beats is (1) right
hind leg, (2) left hind leg and right foreleg, and (3) left foreleg. The reverse applies for
the right lead.
cavesson - ANSWER Headstall with a noseband (often quite large) used for exercising
and training horses.
change of lead - ANSWER Change of leading leg at the canter.
cinch - ANSWER Girth of a Western Saddle.
cold-backed - ANSWER Describes a horse that humps its back and does not settle
down until the saddle has been on a few minutes. Some "cold-backed" horses will
merely tuck their tails and arch their backs when first mounted, but others will take a few
crow hops until warmed up.
collected gait - ANSWER Remaining on the bit, the horse moves forward with its neck
raised and arched as a result of energetic impulsion. Lightness of forehand,
engagement of hindquarters are called for. Shorter strides, but lighter and more mobile.
conformation - ANSWER Conformation is the way the horse is put together, its
physique. Good conformation is beautiful, but more important, it makes a horse able to
, work well and stay sound even with hard work. Conformation defects can make a horse
weak in a particular part or they can just make it less handsome.
counter canter - ANSWER A suppling movement deliberately asking for the opposite of
the normal lead, such as right lead on a circle to the left.
crest release - ANSWER A way in which riders in the jumping position can maintain
balance and control by placing each hand firmly on top of the crest approximately one-
third the way up the horse's neck.
crop - ANSWER A riding whip with a short, straight stock and a loop.
cross-firing - ANSWER A gait defect that occurs when the inside of the hind foot strikes
the diagonal foreleg.
curb bit - ANSWER A type of bit designed to exert a leverage type of action in the
horse's mouth.
forward seat - ANSWER Style of riding that permits the rider to sit closer to the forehand
and permits adjustment of the center of gravity forward to negotiate obstacles and
remove the weight (seat) from the saddle when necessary.
free walk - ANSWER A relaxed gait in which the horse is allowed complete freedom to
stretch out and lower its head and neck.
girth - ANSWER The strap or webbing that holds the saddle in place.
half-pass - ANSWER A variation of travers, executed on the diagonal instead of along
the wall. The horse, slightly bent round the inside leg of the rider, should be as
close as possible parallel to the long sides of the arena, the forehand slightly in advance
of the quarters.
hand gallop - ANSWER An extended canter, but the horse remains collected, unlike the
flat-out run when the horse's gait almost returns to a four-beat status.
head carriage - ANSWER Refers to the position in which the head and neck are carried
relative to the parallel. An ideal head carriage should have the neck parallel to the
ground to slightly above the parallel.
headset - ANSWER Refers to the amount of flexion at the poll. An ideal headset should
be perpendicular to the ground to slightly forward of the vertical.
horse leader - ANSWER Horse Leader/Horse Handler is the person responsible for
controlling the equine during an EAA lesson/session.
GLOSSARY TERMS - EQUINE
TERMINOLOGY CORRECT 100%
balanced seat - ANSWER That position of the mounted rider that requires the minimum
of muscular effort to remain in the saddle and that interferes least with the horse's
movement and equilibrium.
bight of the reins - ANSWER The part of the reins passing between thumb and fingers
and out the top of the hand.
blemish - ANSWER A defect that hurts an equine's appearance but does not hurt its
working ability (e.g., a scar).
bolting - ANSWER An animal breaking out of control or trying to run away.
broke - ANSWER 1. Tamed and trained to a particular function, as halter-broke. 2. To
leave or alter gait (e.g., the trotter broke stride).
canter/lope - ANSWER A three-beat gait in which the first and third beats are made by
two legs striking the ground independently and the second beat is made by two limbs
striking the ground simultaneously. In the left lead, the sequence of beats is (1) right
hind leg, (2) left hind leg and right foreleg, and (3) left foreleg. The reverse applies for
the right lead.
cavesson - ANSWER Headstall with a noseband (often quite large) used for exercising
and training horses.
change of lead - ANSWER Change of leading leg at the canter.
cinch - ANSWER Girth of a Western Saddle.
cold-backed - ANSWER Describes a horse that humps its back and does not settle
down until the saddle has been on a few minutes. Some "cold-backed" horses will
merely tuck their tails and arch their backs when first mounted, but others will take a few
crow hops until warmed up.
collected gait - ANSWER Remaining on the bit, the horse moves forward with its neck
raised and arched as a result of energetic impulsion. Lightness of forehand,
engagement of hindquarters are called for. Shorter strides, but lighter and more mobile.
conformation - ANSWER Conformation is the way the horse is put together, its
physique. Good conformation is beautiful, but more important, it makes a horse able to
, work well and stay sound even with hard work. Conformation defects can make a horse
weak in a particular part or they can just make it less handsome.
counter canter - ANSWER A suppling movement deliberately asking for the opposite of
the normal lead, such as right lead on a circle to the left.
crest release - ANSWER A way in which riders in the jumping position can maintain
balance and control by placing each hand firmly on top of the crest approximately one-
third the way up the horse's neck.
crop - ANSWER A riding whip with a short, straight stock and a loop.
cross-firing - ANSWER A gait defect that occurs when the inside of the hind foot strikes
the diagonal foreleg.
curb bit - ANSWER A type of bit designed to exert a leverage type of action in the
horse's mouth.
forward seat - ANSWER Style of riding that permits the rider to sit closer to the forehand
and permits adjustment of the center of gravity forward to negotiate obstacles and
remove the weight (seat) from the saddle when necessary.
free walk - ANSWER A relaxed gait in which the horse is allowed complete freedom to
stretch out and lower its head and neck.
girth - ANSWER The strap or webbing that holds the saddle in place.
half-pass - ANSWER A variation of travers, executed on the diagonal instead of along
the wall. The horse, slightly bent round the inside leg of the rider, should be as
close as possible parallel to the long sides of the arena, the forehand slightly in advance
of the quarters.
hand gallop - ANSWER An extended canter, but the horse remains collected, unlike the
flat-out run when the horse's gait almost returns to a four-beat status.
head carriage - ANSWER Refers to the position in which the head and neck are carried
relative to the parallel. An ideal head carriage should have the neck parallel to the
ground to slightly above the parallel.
headset - ANSWER Refers to the amount of flexion at the poll. An ideal headset should
be perpendicular to the ground to slightly forward of the vertical.
horse leader - ANSWER Horse Leader/Horse Handler is the person responsible for
controlling the equine during an EAA lesson/session.
