Arena/Ring - An enclosed riding area with either sand or grass footing. Rings can be indoor or outdoor.
Bell Boots - A sole-free rubber boot that is placed around a horse's front hooves.
Bit - Part of the bridle; a metal or plastic piece that goes in a horse's mouth and is used for steering and control.
Breeches - A stretchy, legging-type pant that is part of the English riding ensemble. Typically tan or beige in color with suede reinforcing for grip around the inner knee, thigh and seat area. Worn with tall riding boots.
Bridle - A harness that is placed around a horse's head when ridden. Includes a bit and reins.
Canter - A three-beat gait of the horse. Riders usually keep their horses at a canter when jumping a course of fences in a ring.
Crop - A shortened version of a whip carried by the rider, used on the horse's shoulders or hindquarters for training reinforcement.
Cross-Country - The third phase of eventing, where horse and rider complete a course of natural fences (logs, stone walls, hedges, water jumps) out in the open, usually through open fields and wooded areas.
Dressage - A concentration within the English riding discipline, dressage is performed as a series of movements and transitions that are executed through a memorized “test,” or set pattern of movements. Tests become increasingly more difficult as a horse and rider progress through the levels of dressage.
Eventing - Formerly known as Horse Trials or 3-Day Eventing, eventing is a three-phase concentration within the English riding discipline that includes dressage, show jumping and cross-country in one competition.
Gallop - A gallop is the fastest gait of a horse, at four beats. Riders usually keep this pace during a cross-country course.
Girth - A strap used to keep a saddle secure and in place during riding.
Halter - The bit-less harness placed around a horse's head for ease of handling and leading.
Hand - Approximately four inches, this unit of measurement is used to determine a horse's height.
Jodhpurs - Similar to breeches, these pants are made to be worn with short riding boots (called jodhpur boots). Jodhpurs are most commonly worn by children.
Martingale - A type of tack that is used to control a horse's head carriage during riding or training.
Rail - The part of a stadium fence that the horse jumps over and attempts to clear.
Refusal - The term used for whenever a horse refuses to jump a fence it is presented with.
Show/Stadium Jumping - Both horse and rider complete a course of fences in an enclosed arena. To avoid penalty points, horse and rider must complete the course as quickly as possible without knocking down any fence rails.
Snaffle - One of the most common types of bits, usually rubber or metal and jointed in the center.
Tack - Equipment placed on the horse that is used for riding and training. Includes saddle, bridle and girth.
Trot - A two-beat gait of the horse where English riders “post,” or gently rise and fall in the saddle to the horse's rhythm.
Compiled by Danielle Bennicoff | photo by Alison Conklin
