A School Horse Legacy, Volume 1: ...As Tails Go By. Anne Wade-Hornsby
Ewe-neck –
Horses usually carry themselves with a straight or slightly arched neck. When collected, the horse can have its nose vertical to the ground and the neck flexed and arched convex. A ewe-neck is just the opposite. The bottom surface of the neck is basically concave. This is an indication of off balance movements. Plus, it is ugly!
Jaw –
The lower, underneath part of the horse’s head, mouth area. “Relax the jaw” generally means “keep the horse responsive to the bit”.
Poll –
The area on the top of the horse’s neck, right behind the ears.
Poultice –
Anything thick and soothing to help relieve pain and swelling of my horses’ legs.
“Waxing Up” –
When a mare is due to foal, colostrum may begin to appear and even drip from her teats a few days before the event. It has a diluted milky look and waxy feel, hence the term.
Show Terms and Techniques
Bend –
The ability of the horse to flex around its rider’s leg. In dressage competition, the bend through the arena corners, around various sized circles, and higher level exercises, is important.
Catty –
The horse in question has the ability to move and turn smoothly, quickly, and seemingly effortlessly. It can jump, turn and spring over a course of obstacles without wasted movement, completely aware of where it needs to be next. This is a great talent to have in a competition horse.
Cavaletti –
Small portable jumps. The ends could be cinder blocks or “X”s or plastic “Blocs” manufactured specifically for use with poles and rails. I used them all. Cavaletti are used at ground level, and can be raised by two or three increments to maybe 24 inches. They can also be stacked much higher. I used these to add variety to ring work, to introduce jumping, and to create “grids’ to improve balance, strides, and athleticism.
Collection –
Think deep knee bend, touching your toes, even just good posture. Horses were meant to work in balance. Most do when working freely. When you add something up to twenty percent of its weight for it to carry around, that balance is affected. Suppose you weigh 130 pounds, and were told you had to carry a backpack around whenever you wanted to take a walk or a hike. And that backpack wiggled and was often unbalanced and even kicked you for no reason! You would find yourself walking differently and perhaps apprehensively, worrying about what was going to happen next. Or, you would trust that the creature in the backpack would be as helpful and balanced as could be, and even help you along. You find that if you keep your back strong, and your head just so, and your legs striding just so, your job is much easier. You collect your thoughts and actions into the most efficient way of going. When that happens, both horse and rider are aware of it.
Cross-country –
The phase of an event that includes natural obstacles, water, ditches, whatever the course designers can dream up. It is the most point-laden phase of the 3-Day Event. And the most fun, according to the majority of participants!
Dressage –
The arena discipline that is judged on the quality achieved by horse and rider in each movement of each level attempted on a flat surface. Riders start with walk/trot and go as far as they can. This may take a lifetime.
Driving –
Work is done by one or more horses pulling a vehicle of some sort and the driver, rather than the rider, asks the horse(s) to move.
Flexion –
The elastic bend through a horse’s neck, back, and barrel.
Four-in-hand –
Four horses pull the vehicle, controlled by one driver.
Gait –
Walk, trot, canter. Further, there are variable speeds or forms of each: the collected, working (medium) and the extended (lengthening of stride)in all the gaits.
Gymkhana –
Originated in India and England, but in the U.S. is generally a Western tradition of various games and races with barrels, poles, and timed events.
Hunt (or Hunt Meet)–
A social and sporting event supported by members’ dues. Usually the members meet regularly at pre-determined locations – fixtures – together with Hunt staff and the hounds. Hunt staff usually includes the Master of Hounds, the Whips, who keep the hounds in as orderly a pack and going in the correct direction after the chosen quarry as possible, and the Field masters. There are usually three Masters: first, second, and third. First field is fastest and jumps any obstacles that may come up. Second field follows first, but does not choose to jump. They will go through gates provided for that purpose. Third field may not even be mounted, but choose to view from a following vehicle, or meander along from height to height. These are called “hill-toppers.” The etiquette of hunting is a story unto itself. My students and I participated in, and found Hunting to be great fun. In Southern California, coyotes rather than foxes are hunted. In the nearly twenty years we hunted, the dogs managed to kill one old, probably sick and blind coyote. The equestrian experiences, including sportsmanship, were valuable for my students. The social aspect after the Hunts was important, too. Networking, etiquette and manners all came into play and we were better for it.
Hunter –
A type of horse and type of class where consistency and evenness over relatively lower obstacles are most valued.
Jumper class–
Class where what matters is going over obstacles with the fewest faults, i.e. refusing, knocking down a rail, incurring time faults.
Roads and Tracks –
In 3-Day Events, this timed phase may come after the dressage test and before the cross-country event. It was used to warm one’s horse up for the jumps to come, but is not part of the competitions at the lower levels.
Scope-y –
The horse in question jumps well, carries itself with spring and loft over an obstacle and makes jumps appear to be easy to deal with. Wide or high jumps are well within its “scope” of competence and it makes jumps appear smooth and effortless.
Steeplechase –
An event that includes natural brush and wood fences on a track or course. Speed is of the essence; it is a race over obstacles. This event used to be included in the higher level of 3-Day Events as a timed event before cross-country.
3-Day Event –
A competition that can take up to three days to complete, composed of dressage, cross-country jumping, stadium jumping. The steeplechase and roads and tracks are being phased out.
Transition –
The change of gait “up”(faster) or “down” (slower), or the change of stride, shorter or longer, within the same gait.
1
HASHISH
A Great Beginning
I met my first husband when he was riding Hashy at a huge picnic during “Scots on the Rocks” week in 1970 at the University of California,