Horse & Pony Terms Simply Explained With Photos and Diagrams

A swelling found on the limbs of the horse - Most commonly found in the fetlock area Caused by wear and tear and can be caused/worsened by poor confirmation A form of Bursal enlargement

The Ass or Donkey, Equus Africanus Asinus, is a domesticated member of the Equidae or horse family...

This is a rubber device that runs from the headpiece down the front of the horse's face where it is attached to each side of the bit, it's purpose is to keep the bit high in the mouth, mostly used on racehorses...

An Australian breed of pony that is similar to the Welsh Pony

An American term used to describe a horse with a mostly white face

A tail that is trimmed level at the bottom

An American feral pony that lives on the islands of North Carolina's Outer banks...

Horses that are reluctant to leave the barn or their field companions

The area between the forelegs and the loin of a horse

An event in Western riding where the horse and rider race around three barrels

The fleshy area between front and back teeth, this is where the bit in a horse's mouth rests

Used to describe the arc that a horse makes as it jumps a fence

A horse coat colour - dark brown with black mane and tail

When the horses head is tucked too far down to avoid contact with the bit

The initials of the British Horse Society , this is a charity set up to promote the welfare and use of the horse and pony, and is now internationally recognised as the premier riding, training and examination organisation in the UK...

Buy New & Used BHS Books

Straps used to attach the girth to the saddle

The illicit practice of attempting to make an older horse appear younger by filing his teeth and creating a false mark in the centre of the table...

Mouthpiece made of metal or rubber, attached to the bridle and used by the rider to convey instructions to the horse

Long white marking down the front of a horses' face

A permanent mark or scar

A Thoroughbred horse

Thoroughbred horse bred for racing

Same as livery, a facility where horse owners pay to keep their horse or pony

Swelling of the Tibiotarsal joint of the horse's hock

Location Of The Tibiotarsal Joint

Measurement used to determine how much weight a horse can carry , taken around the leg just below the hock or knee

A braided noseband used with a bitless bridle

These horse flies lay eggs on the hairs of the horse's legs, the larvae is then transferred to the horses stomach when it tries to remove them by licking...

Where the hocks turn outwards - causing a horse to be bandy legged

The process of applying a brand mark to a horse to denote breed or ownership using a hot branding iron...

When a horse is taught the skills and behaviour to be ridden or driven

A group bred selectively for the same characteristics

When the hoof or shoe hits the inside of the opposite leg at or near the fetlock

When the horse leaps in the air with the head down and back legs kicked out

A tool used by a farrier when shoeing a horse, it has one blunt chisel end for cutting clenches and a pointed end for punching out broken nails...

The three beat gait of the horse, following on from the trot

The back ridge part of the seat area of an English saddle

Swelling or puffiness on the point of the hock

A taught movement where the horse leaps with all four legs and strikes out with the back legs in mid leap

A horse used for carriage driving

A cold blood heavy weight draft horse used traditionally for pulling heavy laden carts in farming and industry

If a horse rolls over too close to the wall of his stable and has insufficient room to right himself, he may become cast, more likely to occur at night...

These are long hairs which can grow a week or so after a horse has been clipped, more likely to occur in January and February...

A set of low wooden jumps used to school horses

There are two types | One is a noseband fitted to a bridle, the other is a leather or nylon headgear with attachments for side reins and lunge line - used for lunging a horse

A type of horse bit that is usually used to lift the horse's head up as it raises the bit up in the horse's mouth

Also known as an anti-rearing bit, used for leading horses with a tendency to rear

An American term used to describe the white markings of a horse

The strap used to secure a Western saddle to the horse, called a girth in English riding

A horse without feathering on the lower legs

A breed originating from North east Yorkshire, always bay in colour with no white , apart from a small star...

A powerfully built horse capable of pulling a heavy coach

A type and breed of horse that is of stocky appearance and is well adapted to weight carrying, used extensively for riding and driving

Meet Aberaeron Alys | Stunning Cob Foal

A Blood Test To Detect Equine Infectious Anaemia (EIA)

When a horse tenses or sinks the back when being tacked up or mounted

The name given to abdominal pain suffered by a horse, there are many kinds of colic with varying causes and severity...

A condition that causes abdominal pain in a horse , can range from mild to life threatening

Where the horse lowers its hindquarters increasing the bend in the leg joints with a shorter stride length - this would be necessary in order for the horse to move more athletically when carrying our more advanced movements or jumping

A general term used to describe horses that are black and white or brown and white (also known as Piebald and Skewbald)

A young male horse up to the age of four that has not been castrated (gelded)

An American term used to describe a horses age, if a horse is approaching three - it is said to be "coming three"

The way in which a horse is put together - and the relationship of particular parts of the horse in relation to its proportions

A pony native to Western Ireland , known for their good temperament and jumping ability...

The band around the top of the hoof

A dressage movement performed after the levade, the horse hops forward on bent rear legs

Where the hocks of a horses leg are turned in - like those of a cow

Inflammation of the heels causing infection and cracked skin, also known as Mud Fever and Greasy Heel

The mating of different breeds or types of horses together

One way of tethering a horse using two ropes, one on each side connected to something solid like a wall

The top of the hind quarters of a horse, from the point of the hip to the tail

A piece of tack normally worn by small, fat ponies or donkeys to stop the saddle from slipping forward, it is attached to the saddle with the other rounded end placed around the tail...

When a strain causes a thickening of the tendon or ligament below the point of the hock

A Bit fitted with cheeks and a curb chain which lies in the chin groove, it works on the leverage principle acting on the lower jaw

A short chain used with a curb bit

A particular type of shoe offered by some farriers, the foot is trimmed slightly differently and the show has a very pronounced 'roll' at the front...

These originate from the North East of England and are now quite rare - a well built cob type pony always referred as 'Dales' and not 'Dale'...

The mother of another horse

A stiff long bristled brush used to remove dried mud, sweat and dust from a horse's coat...

Wet or soft ground causing the hooves of a horse to sink into it

A type of bedding system, horse droppings are removed but the wet bedding at the bottom is topped up with clean straw or shavings on a regular basis

The measurement from the withers to the elbow of the horse

Horses bred from or in dry, desert conditions such as the Arab and Akhal Teke

When the horse's legs move in pairs at the trot

A hollow back between the withers and the croup, often caused by old age in a horse

A Dished Face Is a Feature Of Some Horse Breeds Like The Arab Who Have a Concave (Dips In) Head Profile

A Dished Face Is A Distinguishing Feature Of The Arab Horse

Occurs when the hoof of the back leg is thrown outward in a circle as the horse moves , a faulty action

A canter in which the horse's legs are out of sequence

An illegal practice in the Uk that involves amputating the dock of a horse for the sake of appearance

Also called the Eel stripe - it is a continuous stripe of black or brown hair from the the neck to the tail, a characteristic of some breeds like the Exmoor pony

Traditional English bridle with two bits - a snaffle and a curb Designed to give the rider more control than a single bit...

A horse used for pulling heavy loads

This is attached to the girth, then passes through the rings of the bit and back to the rider's hands Designed to increase rider control and improve the horse's head position

Competitive Sport Using A Set Of Series Tests Designed To Assess The Horse's Movement And Level Of Training Against Predefined Standards

Dressage In The Real World :)

Part of the bridle which buckles up beneath the bit to stop the horse from opening it's mouth

Yellow or sandy horse colour with black points, often with a dorsal strip

A type of horse bit that works by causing a nutcracker action on the bars and roof of the horses mouth

Connected with or relating to horses, ponies, donkeys, mules and zebras

The art of horse riding and horsemanship...

Refers to the horny growth at the back of the fetlock joint

Competition riding held over one to three days and involves Dressage, Cross Country and Show Jumping

When the neck appears to be upside down, concave at the top and bulging muscles at the bottom - a conformation fault in the horse

A native breed of the Uk, hardy small pony still semi wild on the Exmoor moorland in Devon

The opposite of Collection - and is the lengthening of the horse's frame and stride

High Knee and Hock Action Much Admired In Breeds Such As The Hackney and American Saddlebred Horses

Stepping Out In All His Glory | Hackney Horse In Action

Scroll Down To Read About The Future Of The Hackney Horse

Long hair on the lower legs and fetlocks, normally seen on the heavier horses

Stunning Example Of Some Beautiful Horse Feathers

The process of mixing your own horse feed from various cereals such as oats, barley and maize with other ingredients such as sugar beet , chaff and vitamins, more commonly done before the introduction of factory made mixes...

Another native breed of the Uk - originating from the Pennines and Cumbria and at risk of dying out...

The lowest joint on the horse's leg

A short boot worn by the horse to protect just the fetlock joint...

Part of the bridle - with thin leather straps which cross over at the front Also called a Grackle noseband

A female horse under four years old

One tenth of a traditional small oblong bale of hay...

Normally Contains 10 Flakes

The area below the loin, between the last rib and the muscles of the thigh

This is when the horse gives it's lower jaw to the bit with it's neck bent at the poll
It also means
The full bending of the hock joints and is used by vets to diagnose lameness in a horse

The action created by the trotting gait of an Arab
Also
An American term for rasping a horse's teeth

Any horse up to the age of one year

A method of applying heat or cold to areas which cannot be poulticed using Epsom salts dissolved in hot water, cooled and applied to the affected area or for cold fomenting - two buckets of water , one cold and one warm are used alternately on the affected area...

The upper part of the horse's front leg, above the knee

The head, neck,shoulder, withers and front legs (forelegs) of a horse

The mane between the ears which hangs forward over the horse's forehead

When the back shoe of a horse hits the shoe of the front foot

An American term referring to the Foundation Quarter Horses - These are horses whose bloodlines have not had any Thoroughbred blood added since 1940 and who have less than 10% Thoroughbred blood

A team of four harness horses

A triangular rubbery pad on the sole of the horse's foot - this acts as a shock absorber

A six year old horse with all of his permanent teeth

The paces at which horses move which are usually:- Walk Trot canter Gallop Some breeds such as the American saddlebred and the Icelandic Pony can also move at different paces to the above

The area between the stifle and the hock

A male horse that has been castrated

A rare breed of horse from Hungary, originally bred from the Arab but is now only chestnut in colour...

Canvas, leather or cotton straps that hold the saddle in place, in Western riding it is called a cinch

Used to describe the condition of the ground - examples include good, rough, soft and deep

Used to describe a horse that keeps good condition on small rations and is generally easy to keep

Also known as "Jumper's Bump" as it is sometimes seen in jumping horses - pronounced muscular development at the croup

Part of the bridle - thin leather straps that cross over at the front , also called a Figure of Eight Noseband

This term is used to describe a horse that is not registered with any breed association

An condition normally found around the coronet, heels and pastern but can spread further up - skin becomes inflamed with cracks and sores which can lead to infection, also known as Mud Fever and Cracked Heels

A horse in the early stages of learning

An inflamed and swollen condition in the fetlock joint of young horses

An American term regarding a horse that has got accustomed to the tack and rider in the early stages of training

A horse coat colour ranging from pure white to dark grey

A general term used to describe the various brushes and equipment used to keep a horse clean and groomed

A pole placed on the ground in front of a jump or fence to help judge the take off point for jumping it...

A general term used to describe the behaviour of a horse while being handled on the ground - while being groomed or shod or examined...

An event where horse and pony riders compete in speed games and races

Combination of fences placed at relative distances to each other - normally used for training jumping horses...

Traditional clothing worn by side saddle riders...

General term for a pleasure ride where no competitive sport is involved

Dressage movement that involves the horse moving sideways and forwards at the same time

Set of muscles at the back of the hock...

The measurement used to measure how high a horse is, one hand is 4 inches...

Measure from The Floor To The Withers

A warmblood breed of horse that comes, originally, from Germany ...

Term for the equipment worn by a horse that is driven rather than ridden...

A horse used for driving or pulling heavy loads

The classical art of advanced riding...

Vacuum packed grass that comes in sealed plastic bags, different to hay and silage...

Any large draft horse such as the Shire or Clydesdale

A horse that is judged capable by its bone and substance and can carry weights of more than 196lbs...

The classical art of advanced riding...

The back of the horse from the rear of the flank to the top of the tail down to the top of the gaskin | Also called the Quarters...

Also called a 'Jennet' - this is a cross between a horse or pony stallion and a female donkey...

The joint halfway up the back legs...

"Hock The hock is the joint between the gaskin and the cannon bone, in the rear legs of a horse... The bony protuberance at the back of the hock is called the point of hock"

Sometimes called Hock Caps, these are designed to protect the point of the hock when travelling...

Used to describe a horse that has short cannon bones that give the horse strength in the legs | Long cannons are regarded as bad conformation...

A mane that has been shaved short for it's entire length

A conformation fault in the horse where there is a curve of the spine , causing a dip, between the withers and the loins...

A small metal tool used to pick out mud, debris and stones from the hoof of a horse...

The hard, insensitive covering of the hoof...

Happy Horses Need Healthy Horns

Horse passports are small booklets that contain details about your horse, including: Micro-chip details Age Breed/type Medications it has been given (if it hasn't been declared ‘not intended for human consumption’)

Never Sell Or Buy Without One

A vehicle used to transport horses...

The art of equitation or riding...

A general term used to describe a horse that is excitable...

Horses of Arabian or Thoroughbred breeding...

In the Uk this refers to a type of horse, rather than a breed, which is suitable for being ridden to hounds

A Traditional Hunt Out In The English Countryside

In America it normally means a well mannered and smooth gaited jumping horse...

A cross resulting of the mating of a horse or pony with one of the other equids such as a zebra or an ass

A strong but controlled forward movement in a horse...

A term that describes a horse which pulls or hangs heavily on the rider's hand...

When a horse is controlled from the ground rather than being ridden...

The close breeding of family members to fix or accentuate a particular trait or characteristic...

The opposite rein to the direction in which the horse is moving...

The legs of both the horse and rider which are on the inside of a circle being ridden around...

Used in competitive training - rest and exercise periods are controlled and alternated

The foot pieces of a saddle where the rider places their feet, normally made of metal...

A male donkey...

The term given to a slow trot in Western riding...

A method of getting the horse's attention when using the Monty Roberts training process...

While tracking wild mustangs in Nevada as a boy, Monty observed a non verbal communication between the horses, a silent language he would later call “Equus.” Monty incorporates “Equus” into his non violent training approach called Join-Up Monty first developed Join-Up to stop the cycle of violence typically accepted in traditional horse breaking. Convinced there must be a more effective and gentle method, Monty created these consistent set of principles using the horse’s inherent methods of communication and herd behaviour The result is a willing partnership in which the horse’s performance can flourish to its full potential, rather than exist within the boundaries of obedience. These principles are valuable tools to understanding what motivates horse behaviour and increasing effectiveness in any application Join-Up training methods are most simply expressed in the process of starting raw horses. Without the use of pain or force the trainer persuades a raw horse to accept a saddle, bridle and rider. Working in a round pen, one begins Join-Up by making large movements and noise as a predator would and begins driving the horse to run away. She then gives the horse the option to flee or Join-Up Through body language, the trainer will ask, “Will you pay me the respect due to a herd leader and join and follow me?” The horse will respond with predictable herd behaviour: by locking an ear on her, then by licking and chewing and dropping his head in a display of trust The exchange concludes with the trainer adopting passive body language, turning her back on the horse and without eye contact, invites him to come close. Join-Up occurs when the animal willingly chooses to be with the human and walks toward her accepting her leadership and protection. This process of communication through behaviour and body language and mutual concern and respect, can be a valuable tool to strengthen all other work with horses

Also referred to as 'Plaiting' - occurs when the horse at walk and trot places one of the back or front pairs of feet in front of the other, may cause the horse to stumble or fall if excessive...

A foot condition often suffered by smaller ponies who are overweight and fed too much lush grass...

Laminitis | A Painful Condition

Occurs when the horse goes sideways at the instruction of the rider...

A term used to indicate the horse's leading leg when cantering...

Either of the two horse's leading in a team of four or a single horse that is harnessed in front of other horses...

Assisting someone to mount a horse to ride...

A controlled half rear in classical riding...

The fibrous bands that attach bone to bone...

A horse that is suitable for riding or driving but is not heavy in weight or appearance...

A conformation fault in a horse where there is insufficient bone below the knee making it a strain to support a rider...

The Lippizzaner Horse

The breed of horse normally associated with the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, Austria although the first stud farm for the breed is in Slovenia...

Truly Beautiful

A British term used to describe an equestrian facility where horses are kept for a fee...

The back area just behind the saddle and the weakest part of the horse' back...

A small and hardy breed of mountain horse from the country of Tajikistan...

A name give to yellow leather , occurs during the tanning process of leather when dye is used...

This is the muscle that the rider sits on as it runs along the back of the horse...

An almost extinct breed of horse from Northern Spain...

The method of training a horse by working it on a circle using a long rein...

An internal parasite more commonly suffered by donkeys...

A breed of horse that originates from Portugal...

This is Semoto Admiring His Brand New Stable Perfect Example Of The Luistano Horse

An enclosed area used for training and schooling horses...

Lovely Brand New Horse Manege

A female horse aged four and over...

This is a type of running martingale and is used as a training device designed to stop a strong ridden horse from pulling...

A neck strap that is attached to the girth and either the noseband or reins - used to stop the horse raising his head above the level of the rider's hands...

An oatmeal coloured muzzle seen in some breeds such as the Exmoor pony...

Refers to a Hackamore rein and lead rope...

A raking device to clean grooming brushes of dirt and hair, must not be used on the horse...

Any horse that can carry weights of up to 196 lbs...

A condition that causes severe inflammation within the eye, it can occur for several reasons - bacterial or viral infection and or injury...

Another name for the native horses and ponies of the Uk which include the New Forest, Shetland and the Welsh, to name a few...

An infection usually found in the coronet, heels and pastern but can spread higher - the skin becomes inflamed with cracks and sores, also known as Greasy Heel and Cracked Heels...

A cross between a donkey stallion and a pony mare...

The nose of a horse...

This occurs when a farrier accidentally drives a nail into the sensitive laminae area of the hoof, will often result in causing an infection...

The breeds indigenous to the British Isles such as the Shetland also known as Mountain and Moorland breeds...

The left hand side of the horse...

The art of turning the horse by using the opposite rein against the neck...

A native breed of the UK that originates from The New Forest in Hampshire - semi wild ponies still breed there...

A breed of pony from Newfoundland in Canada - It's origins lie with the British native ponies imported there...

The division and re-setting of the muscles under the tail to give an artificially high tail carriage...

The smallest native breed of Japan standing at approximately just 10.1 hands high and is now extremely rare...

A soft material pad that goes under the saddle to cushion the horse's back...

The right hand side of the horse...

When a horse carries his head in a near vertical position and is in calm acceptance of the rider's contact on the reins...

Commonly known as OCD - This is the Latin name for a joint disease...

A term that describes the obvious forward direction of the horse's knee...

When the hocks are set wide apart and the toes are turned in - in a person it would be called bow legged...

An injury caused by the toe of the back shoe striking the heel of a front foot...

When a horse tries to evade the rider's control by tucking his head close to his chest...

This occurs when a horse is presented with a fence or jump beyond it's capability...

A spread fence - An ascending oxer is when the front rail is lower than the back rail A square oxer have the front and back rails at the same height...

A horse that moves it's legs in lateral not diagonal pairs...

Horses, ponies and often mules and donkeys used to carry goods in saddle packs on either side of it's back...

More often called a field in the Uk - a grassed enclosure in which horses can graze...

A horse coat colour - the body can be different shades of gold with a silver or white mane and tail...

The bones on the top of a horse's skull...

When the horse has an overbite caused by the top jaw extending forwards over the lower jaw...

A horse that has been bred with a Thoroughbred and another breed...

The act of giving birth...

A rare breed of pony from the Peloponnese area of Southern Greece...

A Dressage movement where the horses trots on the spot with forehand elevated and croup lowered...

A term for a horse coat colour of white with black patches...

A conformation fault in which the feet are turned inwards...

Where the sire and the dam ,ie: both parents, of a horse are 100% graded warmblood...

An American term for a horse coat colour of white with patches of another colour, in the Uk the terms 'Piebald' and 'Skewbald' are used...

Dressage movement in which the front legs of the horse complete a small circle, the back legs stay in place, one of them acting as a pivot...

When the mane of a horse is plaited to show off the neck and crest, it also helps the mane to fall to the preferred off side (to the right) of the neck...

One Example Of Plaiting

The external features of a horse that makes up its conformation, it also refers to the markings of the coat colour...

The highest point on the top of the horse's head...

The centre front of an English saddle...

The Pommel Is The Raised Area At The Front

A small horse standing 14.2 Hands High or less...

Raised section in the centre of the mouthpiece on some curb bits, the higher it is the more severe the bit is...

More commonly known as the 'Rising Trot' - it is the action of the rider rising from the saddle in rhythm with the horse's trot...

The ability to consistently pass on character and type to the offspring when breeding horses...

The early sub species of Equus Caballus - the horse Some examples of primitive breeds include the Asian Wild Horse and the Tarpan...

Asian Wild Horse aka Przewalskis Horse

This is a natural occurring indentation in the neck and thigh muscles which only appear at birth of the foal...

A method of thinning out an over thick or long mane...

A horse with both parents of the same breed...

An American breed very like the Quarter Horse but is 14.2 hands high or under...

Refers to the horse's body from the rear of the flank to the top of the tail down to the top of the gaskin, also called the 'Hind Quarters'...

A horse bred specifically for racing - including the Thoroughbred, Quarter Horse, Arab and Standardbred...

The fifth gait of the American Saddlebred - a showy four beat gait...

A term used to describe a horse with size and scope of movement...

The action caused when using a rasp to file the teeth of a horse...

When a horse due to injury, accident or illness is unable to rise...

A Recumbent Horse Being Lifted Using A Sling

One of several internal parasites that horses suffer from that unless treated will cause severe ill health...

Rhinopneumonitis In Horses

A highly infectious cough caused by the herpes virus, horses are often vaccinated against it...

Poor Boy But Better Than A Contagious Cough Caused By The Virus

The name given to a braided rawhide rope...

A fungal skin condition which can be transmitted to humans, often found on the horse where he has rubbed against gates or posts...

A British term used to describe the age of a horse, in America the term 'Coming' is used...

Also called the 'Posting Trot' - the action of the rider rising from the saddle in rhythm with the horse's trot...

This is a conformation fault in the horse when there is an upward curve of the back and loin...

A horse coat colour in which white hairs are mixed with the base coat colour...

This is a padded belt and has several uses which include keeping a rug in place, when lunging and to stop a horse getting cast in a stable...

The convex facial profile found in heavy breeds such as the Shire Horse...

An internal parasite most commonly found in foals and yearlings...

Good for removing dried mud and sweat, also used for stimulating the circulation bringing grease and dirt to the surface of the coat which can then be removed with a body brush...

A hollow ring which is fastened around the horse's pastern or above the fetlock joint to protect from knocks...

The original breed of horse used by the Cossacks as cavalry horses, it is bred in the Steppes area of Russia close to the river Don...

The Russian Don Horse As A Cavalry Horse

One method of plaiting a horse's mane which generates a trellis effect...

The prominent pommel at the front of a Western saddle and is used by the rider to secure a rope when a steer has been roped...

A general term given to a horse suitable for riding...

White hairs in the saddle area usually caused by galls, these are normally caused by a poorly fitted saddle and or girth...

An enclosed and marked out area used for training and exercising a horse, is also called a 'Menege'...

The training exercises normally performed in the school or menege...

A term used to describe a horse that has particular potential and ability...

A schooling movement in which the horse moves down the centre of a school in a series of equal sized loops, it can be done at any pace...

A Series Of Half Circles Connected By Straight Lines

A horse tail that has been broken or nicked to produce a higher tail carriage...

The hind cannon bone of a horse...

The metal shoe that is fitted to the horses' foot by a farrier...

A schooling exercise in which the horse is evenly bent along the length of its spine away from the direction in which it is moving, designed to help increase suppleness and strength...

Refers to bent hocks in a horse causing the hind legs to be too far under the body...

Training aid to help position the horse' head, they are attached to the bit and girth or surcingle...

The father of a horse...

A horse that has brown patches in a coat of white, called 'Pinto' in America...

A narrow ribbed horse...

This refers to the angle between the withers and the top of the chest and base of the neck...

One of the five main families of horse bits, has many variations including:- Eggbutt Fulmer or Australian Cheek Flat Ring D-Ring Hanging Cheek Dr Bristol Cherry Roller Dutch Gag To name but a few, they all work with varying degrees of severity...

Just Ten Examples | Snaffle Bits

A design of bit that acts on the corners of the horse's mouth, may be jointed or straight...

White markings below the knee or hocks, markings above are called 'Stockings'...

An illegal practice which causes walking horses to lift their legs higher for shows

More Commonly seen In The USA | The Walking Horse In Action

A Tennessee walking horse trainer has been sentenced to three years probation and fined $75,000 (£47,070) for “soring” horses — an illegal practice which causes walking horses to lift their legs higher for shows. Jackie McConnell was charged with 52 counts of violating of the Horse Protection Act (HPA) on 18 September at a federal court in Chattanooga, Tennessee. “I take responsibility for what I’ve done,” he said. In May, McConnell, 60, pleaded guilty to conspiring to violate the HPA after a video filmed undercover by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) — showing him abusing the horses — was broadcast on ABC News. The maximum possible sentence for the crime was five years in prison and a $250,000 (£156,805) fine. "It was our hope that McConnell would do prison time for these terrible crimes but there are gaps in the federal law that need to be strengthened," said Keith Dane of the HSUS. “[McConnell] has shown no remorse. For decades his income was based on the torture of horses." The HSUS's footage showed the horses being beaten with wooden sticks and poked with electric cattle prods at a stable outside Memphis. The organisation also said that the horses’ coronet bands and pasterns were slathered with chemicals then wrapped in plastic to make them hyper-sensitive.

A breed of horse indigenous to Portugal, now very rare...

A horse that is free from lameness or injury...

This occurs when a horse is galloping and cuts into the leg just below the knee or hock with the opposite foot...

Occurs when the inside edge of a horse's foot strikes against the inside of the opposite knee...

These are bony enlargements found on the splint bones that occur when the bone membrane is damaged...

These are small metal items worn on the rider's boots to enforce the leg aids...

The term for the care given to stabled horses...

A male horse that has not been castrated (gelded), also known as 'Entire'...

Any white marking on the forehead of a horse, a small marking is referred to as a 'Snip'...

The stifle joint is found close to the top of the hind legs and is a particularly complex joint, can be compared to the knee in a human...

Any white markings on a horse's legs above the knee or hock, markings below are called 'Socks',,,

A long white marking down the front of a horse's face, also called a 'Blaze'...

A term used to describe a stallion or colt, is also a breeding establishment...

A record kept by a breed society or registry in which the pedigrees of eligible horses are kept...

Used to describe a horse that possesses a quality build and musculature, weakly built horses are said to 'Lack Substance'...

A British breed of draft horse, always Chestnut in colour...

A belly belt, band or girth used to secure horse rugs and blankets and as a training aid...

When a horse has a dip in the top line of the neck in front of the withers, it causes difficulty for the horse in raising it's neck in order to go correctly...

When a horse's back dips significantly in the middle...

Used to remove excess sweat and water when the horse has been washed...

This is the condition caused by an allergic response to the bite of midges, the horse will rub away at the affected areas until they become raw...

The surface of the horse's tooth which bites and grinds his food...

The general term given to the equipment needed for a riding horse - saddle, bridle etc...

An extremely rare breed of Japanese horse that has existed since the 8th century...

A breed of horse from Sudan, very little is known about this particular breed...

a substitute stallion used to test the mare's readiness for being covered (mated) by the stud stallion...

Tendons attach muscles to the bones...

A traditional method of using hay or straw to dry off wet, muddy legs by wrapping it around the horse's leg before bandaging, after about 30 minutes the bandage can be removed and the leg brushed off...

Occurs when the Tarsal Sheath (part of the tendon) above the hock swells...

An internal parasite that lives in the small intestine, often transferred to a foal from it's mother'milk...