CTRI Study Guide Practice - Glossary Terms
- Equine Terminology Questions and
Complete Solutions Graded A+
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.
direct rein steering - Answer: The direct rein puts pressure on the bit, directly back toward the rider. It
works in opposition to the horse's forward motion. The direct rein makes the horse shorten its stride for
the turn, so it works best where you need more control or a tight turn.
dressage - Answer: A time-tested, methodical progression of exercises designed to increase a horse's
muscular capabilities and degree of suppleness, allowing it to perform increasingly difficult movements
under saddle.
- Equine Terminology Questions and
Complete Solutions Graded A+
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.
direct rein steering - Answer: The direct rein puts pressure on the bit, directly back toward the rider. It
works in opposition to the horse's forward motion. The direct rein makes the horse shorten its stride for
the turn, so it works best where you need more control or a tight turn.
dressage - Answer: A time-tested, methodical progression of exercises designed to increase a horse's
muscular capabilities and degree of suppleness, allowing it to perform increasingly difficult movements
under saddle.
