A School Horse Legacy, Volume 1: ...As Tails Go By. Anne Wade-Hornsby

      These are terms as I use them in the stories. They are arranged by category. All of my students knew these terms pretty quickly after starting lessons. We would discuss, illustrate, and use most of the techniques and ideas you see. They were given text readings and worked on terminology during rainy day classes. Any of my students could discuss any of these with each other.

      Breeds and Size

      Andalusian –

      Horses originally of Spanish and Mexican breeding. The “Pura Raza” registry makes sure the lineage goes back to Spanish forbears. Mexico has some nice purebreds as well. These are well-built, versatile horses known for long flowing manes and tails. They are comfortable riding horses. Some have also become good jumpers and dressage horses. They are generally intelligent with a desire to please their rider. I am a fan of the breed.

      Appaloosa – (see also colors and markings)

      A color breed with an American Indian history in the U.S., but the spotted or roan horses are found throughout the world, called by different names.

      Azteca –

      A one-half registered Lusitano or Andalusian, and the other half, registered Quarter Horse. Amistad, Alae, Centurion, and Sailor were/are Aztecas. I love this breeding. It has produced horses that have won at top levels in eventing, driving, jumping, and endurance for me.

      Hand –

      Four inches. Horses are measured from the ground to the withers, which is the top point where the neck joins/becomes the body. Horses are measured by “hands” to determine height and to some extent, size.

      Horse –

      Equine more than 14.2 hands

      Morgan –

      A versatile American breed. These have been willing, enjoyable, capable mounts for the riders at my school .

      Lusitano –

      This Portuguese horse breed split with Andalusians ages ago,and are sometimes called “Portuguese Andalusians.” These are the types of horses ridden by the Romans in ancient times. Like Andalusians, they range in size from 14.3 hands and up. My Lusitano stallion was a super-comfortable riding horse.

      POA –

      Pony of the Americas. Appaloosa colored ponies, as opposed to horse size.

      Pony –

      Equine 14.2 hands or under

      Quarter Horse –

      A registered American breed known for versatility. I looked for them for students who wanted a solidly built horse with the commonly expected trait of consistent, calm temperament.

      Quarter Pony –

      A registered breed for small Quarter Horses (under 14.2) as well as Quarter Horse stock raised to be ponies. Great for kids and petite adults.

      Thoroughbred –

      A breed registered through the Jockey Club noted for speed and sportiness. I looked for these for riders who wanted competition horses and maybe a step up from school horses.

      Warmblood –

      Mixed breeds of horses from all over the world. Usually some sort of draft breed (cold-blooded) mixed with the Thoroughbred and/or Arab breeds (hot-blooded). There are a lot of these: Dutch, German, Danish, Swedish, many also with regional names of origin, like Holsteiner or Westphalian thrown in. They are basically big horses bred for jumping or dressage. I showed these horses for owners and found them to be over-priced and trendy. They were usually pretty enough, but my personal preferences were the Quarter Horses, Thoroughbreds, Andalusians, Morgans, and crosses – known qualities at a decent price. Today, Quarter Horse people can claim they also raise “American Warmbloods” and my own Andalusian crosses are also registered Iberian Warmblood,which they can be with only one-quarter Lusitano lineage. That is my take on Warmbloods. I think the registration does give the buyer some clue as to the background of the horse being purchased.

      Colors and Markings

      Appaloosa –

      Coat is usually a basic color (white, black, brown, red) with roaning or spots of white on dark, or dark on white. Pink, mottled skin around the eyes and muzzle is common, as are striped hooves. They can have sparse manes and tails, though I did not find this to be the case with my Appys.

      Bay –

      Shades of brown from light to nearly black, with black on the legs, black mane and tail.

      Black bay –

      The darkest of the bay horses.

      Blood bay –

      Bright, solid reddish coat with black mane,tail, and legs.

      Chrome –

      White on head, legs. On paints and pintos, can mean lots more white than other colors.

      Cremello –

      All over off-white to pearl-colored to pale gold. A sort of washed out, not quite Palomino.

      Dun, buckskin –

      Can range from pale gold or red or light brown with any shade of brown or black points to cocoa brown with darker brown or black points. Often includes stripes on the legs and a dark dorsal stripe down the back, but not necessarily. Yellow duns have a golden base coat, red duns have a reddish base coat. I love this color. For whatever reason, I have never met a dun that wasn’t a pleasure to work with.

      Gray –

      From white to steel gray to “flea-bit” gray which is grey with blackish specks all over the coat.

      Grulla –

      A special kind of buckskin/dun with a taupe, mousy gray or even a bluish base coat with darker points. These horses are legendary favored