English Horse Riding Terminology 

 

Bit - A metal bar placed in the mouth of the horse attached to the  bridle and used with reins to direct and guide the horse. 

 

Bridle - See diagram above. Placed around the head of the horse and used to guide and direct.

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Girth - Wide, flat strap used to secure the saddle to a horse's back.

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Saddle - A device placed on the back of a horse where the rider sits. Designed to support and stabilise a rider. See diagram. 

 

Stirrup - A pair of light frames that are attached to the saddle by the stirrup leathers. This is where the rider places their feet to ride. 

 

Tack - The term for all the equipment that horses wear and use. 

 

Crop - A short whip. 

 

Gait - The way a horse moves its legs. The natural gaits are walk, trot, canter and gallop. 

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Diagonal & Trotting - The set of legs that move forward at the same are the diagonal pair. When a rider posts (moves up and down)  while riding at the trot, they can rise either matching when the left or the right foreleg and opposite hind leg hits the ground. When riding a circle in rising trot, the rider sits when the outside front and inside hind legs are on the ground.

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Trot - A diagonal, two-beat, intermediate-speed horse gait.

 

Canter - A three-beat horse gait, with both front and rear legs on one side landing further forward than those on the other side.This gait begins with the outside hind leg, followed by the simultaneous landing of the outside front and inside hind, finished by the inside front. It is at a higher speed than trot but at a lower speed than the gallop. 

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Walk - A four-beat gait, the slowest of the natural horse gaits.

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Gallop - The fastest natural horse gait.

 

Hack - An informal ride. Often out on roads and countryside lanes. 

 

Mout/ Dismount - Getting on the horse/get off the horse.

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Change the rein - Change the direction that you are riding in.

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