Horse Management and
Stable Vocabulary Terms

What is Horse Management?

Horse management is everything that has to do with caring for horses and their environment. This includes veterinary knowledge, stable supplies, grooming, feeding, and more. Since this is such a large topic, here is a list of important terms and supplies that every equestrian should know or learn. In this list, we will go over: Grooming Terms (including supplies and clipping), Veterinary Terms (including general terms and conditions, lameness and blemishes, farrier terms and hoof anatomy, and parasite and fly terms), Stable Terms (including stable vices, mucking and stall terms, and blanketing terms), and Feeding Terms.

This list is extensive and should help make you and your barn mates as confident and knowledgeable as possible when it comes to taking care of your horse. Check out our full glossary for even more helpful terms and vocab words!

Grooming Terms

Grooming Supplies

• Body Brush / Soft Brush - Used after the hard brush and is often called a finishing brush. It collects any straggler loose hairs and spreads natural oils, leaving a shiny coat.
• Curry Comb - Loosens dead hair and dirt, and massages muscles to increase blood flow. To use it, hold the brush and work it in small circles to bring debris to the surface.
• Dandy Brush / Hard Brush - Used following the curry comb, the dandy brush is great for removing debris loosened by the curry. It can be effective against hard mud clots and stains, especially on the legs. Plus, it can be used for manes and tails in conjunction with a detangler.
• Hoof Pick - Used to remove rocks, dirt, and anything else from the horse's feet. Hoof picks often feature a stiff-bristled brush that can be used to clean the inside and outside of the hoof.
• Mane and Tail Brush - A hair brush used to detangle the mane and tail. It should always be used with a detangler or conditioner.
• Rub Rag - A washcloth that can be used to clean sensitive areas or for other uses like applying fly spray to a spray-shy horse.
• Sweat Scraper - Used after bathing or hosing, it takes off excess water, allowing the horse to dry and thermoregulate.
• Thinning Comb / Pulling Comb - A small metal comb that is used to pull a horse's mane by removing the hair at the root.

Clipping Terms

• Blade Oil - Lubricant applied to clipper blades that extends the life of the blades.
• Blanket Clip - A clip pattern that leaves hair on the legs, half the face, and the back extending toward the hind quarters.
• Bridle Path - A common practice of clipping or cutting a small portion of the horse's mane at their poll, leaving a bare spot for the bridle and halter to lay.
• Chaser Clip / Irish Clip - A clip pattern that leaves hair on half the horse's face, the top of their neck extending to their stifle and down the back legs, as well as the front legs.
• Clippers - Electric tool used to remove hair from a horse's body, mainly for winter.
• Clipper Blades - Sharp blades that are used in conjunction with an electric clipper. They come in different sizes allowing for various lengths of hair.
• Cooling Spray / Coolant - A spray that is applied to clipper blades while clipping to help keep the temperature of the blades lower.
• Full Body Clip - A clip pattern where no hair is left.
• Hunter Clip - A clip pattern where the hair on the legs and a saddle patch are left unclipped.
• Roached Mane - The practice of clipping the horse's mane down to the crest of the neck.
• Strip Clip / Bib Clip - A clip pattern where a strip of hair from the horse's throat latch to the horse's groin is removed.
• Trace Clip - A clip pattern where hair is removed from either the face or throat latch along the bottom of the neck, the side of the barrel continuing to the hindquarters, and the bottom of the barrel. A trace clip includes a clipped arch over the horse's flank.

Veterinary Terms

General Terms

NOTE: * indicates an acute condition that requires immediate veterinary attention

• Abscess - A painful anaerobic bacterial infection in the hoof capsule that causes a buildup of pus. Often relieved via the sole of the hoof or through the coronet band.
• Acute - Severe and sudden condition, opposite to chronic.
• Aerobic - Reactions that require oxygen to happen. Aerobic bacteria require oxygen to survive and grow. Examples: Salmonella, Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, E. Coli.
• Anaerobic - Reactions that don't require oxygen to happen. Anaerobic bacteria can thrive in conditions with no oxygen like deep soils and biological tissues. Examples: Clostridium Tetani (tetanus), Clostridium Botulinum (botulism).
• Anemia* - A condition where the body doesn't have enough healthy red blood cells. Effects include weakness, loss of appetite, fever, depression, and more.
• Antibodies - Proteins that the body makes to neutralize harmful substances called antigens.
• Bean - A buildup of debris and smegma in the horse's sheath that needs to be removed.
• Bilateral - Having or relating to two sides, affecting both sides. For example, bilateral lameness is when a horse is lame in both front legs or both back legs.
• Blemish - A growth or deformity that doesn't cause pain or lameness.
• Bloat* - A condition that occurs when a horse's stomach fills with gas or fluid, causing the abdomen to expand, putting pressure on vital organs. It often restricts breathing.
• Capillary Refill Time (CRT) - A timed measurement to assess blood flow and hydration. Tested by pressing a thumb against the horse's gums above their front teeth for 1 to 2 seconds or until the tissue turns white. After releasing your thumb, it should take 1 to 2 seconds for the tissue to return to its normal pink color.

• Choke* - A condition where the esophagus is plugged, often by food. Signs include discharge from the nose and a rattling sound when breathing.
• Chronic - Persisting for a long time or constantly reoccurring conditions, the opposite of acute.
• Coggins Test - A test to identify whether a horse is a carrier of Equine Infectious Anemia, a viral disease that can spread rapidly. This test is often required before travel over state lines.
• Colic* - A general term for abdominal pain that can become very serious, and potentially deadly. It can be caused by stress, gas, sand ingestion, and impaction. Symptoms include disinterest in eating or drinking, looking at their flank, wanting to roll, increased heart rate, increased breathing rate, and discoloration of the mucus membranes (gums).
• Cushing's Disease - A hormonal disease, also referred to as PPID (pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction), that occurs when the pituitary gland produces too many hormones, primarily cortisol. Effects include long curly coats, delayed shedding, weight loss, increased sweating, excessive drinking, a cresty neck, high insulin levels, and lethargy.
• Dental Float - The process of filing down a horse's molars to maintain an even grinding surface.
• Edema - A condition where fluid abnormally builds up in tissue causing swelling. Commonly seen in legs and referred to as stocking up.
• EHV-1 and EHM* - Also called equine herpes virus and equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy, this is a very contagious virus that can cause neurological disease, respiratory disease, newborn death, and abortion.
• Electrolytes - A group of minerals needed to maintain healthy hydration levels and nerve function. These minerals carry an electric charge in blood and other body fluids.
• Enetrolith - Minerals that have cumulated into stones in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This can cause impaction and dehydration.
• Founder* - When the coffin bone rotates downward and potentially through the hoof sole as a result of the laminae in the hoof separating. The separation is due to chemical imbalance, often from diet or genetic predisposition.
• Gelding / Castration - The practice of removing a horse's testicles.
• Heat - The period during a mare's reproductive cycle where it exhibits readiness for mating.
• Heaves - A chronic respiratory disease that causes a cough, difficulty breathing, wheezing, nasal discharge, and flared nostrils. Similar to asthma in humans.
• Hives* - Raised, sensitive welts that appear on the horse's skin as a result of allergens, heat, stress, and other causes.
• Insulin - A hormone that helps regulate blood sugar levels. Insulin resistance in horses leads to an increased risk for obesity, laminitis, and foundering. Horses who are insulin-resistant need to be on a lower starch and sugar diet.
• Kissing Spine - A condition where the horse's vertebrae touch or overlap, caused by conformation issues, genetic predispositions, poor form, and too early under-saddle training.
• Lame - Used to label a horse who is injured in a limb (or the body) enough to cause a gait alteration.
• Lameness Grade - A scale created by the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) that aids vets and owners in assessing the severity of a horse's lameness.
  • Grade 0 - No lameness is perceptible.
  • Grade 1 - Lameness is difficult to see and is not consistent.
  • Grade 2 - Lamness is hard to see at a walk or trot in a straight line, but consistent in certain circumstances (such as on hard ground or in a tight circle)
  • Grade 3 - Lameness is consistently observable at a trot.
  • Grade 4 - Lameness is obvious at a walk.
  • Grade 5 - Lamness results in minimal weight bearing or the horse being unable to move.
• Laminitis* - The acute version of foundering, laminitis refers to the separation of the laminae prior to the rotation of the coffin bone. The separation is due to chemical imbalance, often from diet or genetic predisposition. It often causes equal discomfort in both front feet.
• Lethargy - A symptom that shows as decreased energy, reluctance to move, depression, and excessive sleeping.
• Ossification - The process where cartilage solidifies, turning into new bone tissue. Easily seen as growth plates close in a maturing horse or in the collateral cartilages in the horse's feet known as sidebone.
• Pigeon Fever* - A very contagious bacterial infection that causes swelling in the horse's chest muscles or under the belly. Other symptoms include fever and lethargy.
• Record Book - A paper record of any veterinary event, farrier event, or important information that would be useful for tracking the overall health and trends of the horse. It often includes identification, feeding schedules and diet, vaccinations, deworming, dental care, hoof care and shoeing, riding and training, and auxiliary medical treatments.
• Roaring - A breathing condition that causes a whistling or roaring sound to be emitted while riding or working. It is also referred to as laryngeal hemiplegia which is paralysis of the larynx.
• Shoe Boil - A fluid-filled swelling on a horse's elbow due to repeated pressure, trauma, or interference to the area. Commonly due to lying on hard surfaces or the interference of the horse's front shoe while lying down.
• Strangles* - A highly contagious bacterial disease caused by streptococcus equi. Symptoms include swollen lymph nodes and abscesses on the head and neck, fever, thick yellow nasal discharge, lethargy, loss of appetite, and cough.
• Stringhalt - Also referred to as equine reflex hypertonia, it is a neuromuscular condition that causes involuntary exaggerated upward movement of one or both hindlimbs.
• Teeth Hooks / Teeth Points - Caused by an uneven chewing pattern, they are sharp edges or protrusions that can harm the surrounding cheek and gums.
• TPR / Temperature, Pulse, & Respiration - The three easy vital signs that can help to determine if a horse is healthy or if health problems are occurring.
  • Temperature normal range: 99-101°F / 37.2-38.3°C
  • Pulse normal range: 28-44 beats per minute
  • Respiration normal range: 10-24 breaths per minute
• Tying Up* - A condition that causes dark urination and painful and extreme muscle spasms and contractions in a horse generally caused by the strenuous activity of an unfit horse, dietary imbalances primarily with electrolytes, and extreme heat and humidity. Usually an acute condition, though when chronic the horse generally has an underlying muscle disorder called Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy (PSSM).
• Ulcerative Colitis* - A general term for the inflammation of the large intestine often resulting in diarrhea and dehydration. It can be caused by parasites, bacteria, viruses, and more.
• Ulcers* - Glandular or stomach ulcers are sores that form in the stomach lining due to unbuffered acid. This causes include irregular feeding schedules, high grain and low forage diets, strenuous exercise, stress, and limited access to water. Signs of the presence of ulcers include reluctance to move forward while riding, picky eating, decreased weight or muscle mass, and girthyness.
• Unilateral - Affecting one side of the body. For example, nasal discharge from one nostril is unilateral.
• Uveitis* - A group term for eye diseases that can be caused by trauma to the eye, a corneal ulcer, bacteria, viruses, parasites, or genetic factors. Symptoms include a cloudy cornea, squinting, eye discharge, light sensitivity, and a constricted pupil.
• Wave Mouth - An irregular wear pattern of the horse's molars where the grinding surface of the teeth rises and falls in a wave shape.
• Weaving - A stable vice and repetitive behavior where horses sway their head and neck from side to side while shifting weight from one front leg to the other. Often caused by stress or boredom.
• White Line Disease - Separation of the hoof wall due to bacterial or fungal infection.
• Wind Sucking / Cribbing - A stable vice and repetitive behavior where the horse arches their neck while grabbing something solid with their top front teeth and then sucking air into their cranial esophagus, making a grunting sound when blowing the air back out. Often caused by stress, boredom, or gastrointestinal discomfort.
• Wobbler Syndrome - Also known as cervical vertebral malformation (CVM), this is a neurological disease that affects the spinal cord and causes poor balance, coordination, and an unsteady gait. Can be caused by confirmation or by trauma to the neck.
• Wolf Tooth - Small vestigial teeth in (usually male) horses that sit just in front of the molars. They are often removed while the horse is young.

Lamenesses and Blemishes

You should contact your vet for any of these.

• Abscess - A painful anaerobic bacterial infection in the hoof capsule that causes a buildup of pus. Often relieved via the sole of the hoof or through the coronet band.
• Bone Spavin - When cartilage in the hind leg joints breaks down, and in severe cases, bone formation fuses the joint. If the fusing occurs in a low-flexion area, soundness is achievable, though if it occurs in a more frequently flexing joint, the horse will likely remain permanently lame.
• Bowed Tendon - An overextension or tear of the deep digital flexor tendon or superficial flexor tendon that leads to a bowed-out shape from swelling. This injury can also be caused by a wrap that is applied too tightly, called a bandage bow. These injuries should be treated with cold therapy and stall rest.
• Bucked Shins - Microfractures to the front of the cannon bone, most commonly seen in young racehorses. This is considered a blemish as long as the horse is not lame or sore on palpation.
• Curb - Inflammation of the plantar ligament that causes mild intermittent lameness. Most frequently found in Standardbreds or stall kickers.
• Founder - When the coffin bone rotates downward and potentially through the hoof sole as a result of the laminae in the hoof separating. The separation is due to chemical imbalance, often from diet or genetic predisposition.
• Laminitis - The acute version of foundering, this refers to the separation of the laminae prior to the rotation of the coffin bone. The separation is due to chemical imbalance, often from diet or genetic predisposition. Often causes equal discomfort in both front feet.

• Navicular Disease - When a horse's navicular bursa (the pillow in between the navicular bone and the deep digital flexor tendon) becomes inflamed and can eventually rupture the deep digital flexor tendon.
• Osselets - Any bony growths or bone chips around the fetlock joint. Chips should be removed surgically. Generally causes lameness.
• Ringbone - Excessive bone formation due to trauma or concussion around the joint that appears as a hard lump on the front of the pastern. It can be on the pastern (high ringbone) or on the coffin joint (low ringbone). High ringbone is more common and has more treatment methods while low ringbone results in a worse, often permanent, lameness. High ringbone is more common in horses with upright and short patterns.
• Sidebone - Bone formation of the collateral cartilages that are located in the bulbs of the heel. Generally not associated with lameness but can affect surrounding structures and lead to lameness. More common in draft breeds or horses with short and upright pasterns.
• Splint - Bone formations on the interosseous ligament which connects the splint bone to the cannon bone caused by trauma and interference. When formed, splints cause a lameness but subside to a blemish once inflammation subsides. They can cause further issues if they interfere with the suspension ligament.
• Thoroughpin - Inflammation in the hock, specifically in the tarsal sheath which houses the deep digital flexor tendon, that shows as a soft cool swelling just above the point of the hock. This is usually caused by excessive strain or poor confirmation. It is usually a blemish but may lead to lameness if there is damage to the associated structures.
• Thrush - An anaerobic bacterial infection on the sole of the hoof that results in a foul odor and black or whitish discharge. This is more common in wet environments and can be prevented by routine cleaning.
• Windpuff - Increased synovial fluid in the digital flexor tendon sheath and the fetlock joint. Results from strenuous activity or age and usually doesn't cause lameness unless there is an associated injury to one of the flexor tendons.
• White Line Disease - Separation of the hoof wall due to bacterial or fungal infection. Can cause lameness if the deterioration is advanced enough.

Farrier and Hoof Terms

• Bar Shoe - A type of horseshoe that is connected at the heel to provide more support. Different variations are offered for more support or more localized support, such as a heart bar.
• Buffer / Clinch Cutter - A farrier tool used to wedge under the cinches and raise them up to remove shoes.
• Club Foot - A hoof deformity that causes the horse to have a more upright angle and long contracted heels.
• Clinchers - A farrier tool that bends and flattens clinches into the hoofwall.
• Clinches - Horseshoe nail tops that are bent downward to secure the shoe onto the hoof.
• Clips - Metal tabs on horseshoes that help keep the shoe in place. They are added depending on the discipline and build of the horse and are most commonly placed with a single in the front or with one on each side, called quarter clips.
• Coffin Bone - Also called the pedal bone or third phalanx, this is the major bone of the foot and supports the weight of the horse.
• Cold Shoeing - Using pre-made, also known as "keg," shoes that are shaped and nailed on without being heated. This is the opposite of hot shoeing, which uses a forge to heat the shoe iron to make or modify shoes.
• Coronet - The junction of hoof and skin.
• Deep Digital Flexor Tendon - A tendon that runs along the back of the leg and is responsible for picking up the horse's leg. It starts behind the knee, travels down and underneath the navicular bone and bursa, and reaches down to the toe of the coffin bone.
• Digital Cushion - A spongy structure that is above the frog inside the horse's hoof and expands and contracts as the horse steps, helping to pump blood up the horse's leg.
• Farrier - A trained professional who shods and shoes horses according to their conformation, discipline, workload, and specific needs.
• Frog - A soft rubbery structure in the horse's hoof that appears triangle-shaped on the bottom of the hoof. The frog absorbs shock and pumps blood back up the leg by compressing the digital cushion at each step.
• Hammer - Farrier tool, a specially shaped hammer for driving nails into the hoof.
• Hoof Knife - Farrier tool, a sharp hook-shaped knife used to gently cut away excess sole or frog material.
• Hoof Stand - A farrier tool used to raise a horse's hoof and allow for work to be done to all angles of the hoof. It allows the horse to put some weight on their leg without the farrier having to hold that weight while trying to work.
• Hoofwall - The hard outer shell of the hoof that helps to support most of the horse's weight and absorb shock.
• Hot Shoeing - Using a forge to heat the iron to make or modify shoes. This is the opposite of cold shoeing, which uses pre-made shoes.
• Insensitive Laminae - The Velcro-like layer connected to the hoof wall that interlocks with the sensitive laminae. The interlocking of the two layers suspends the coffin bone within the hoof wall.
• Navicular Bone - A small rectangular bone that lies under the coffin bone, closer to the heel than the toe.
• Navicular Bursa - A fluid-filled sac that acts as a cushion between the navicular bone and the deep digital flexor tendon.
• Nippers / Hoof Trimmers - Farrier tool, a sharp plier-like tool designed to nip off excess hoof wall. Shaped similarly to a shoe puller.
• Pads - Shoeing additions that can be made out of plastic or leather and are designed to provide extra comfort or support for horses who need it. They can be made in different shapes to provide different support such as rim pads, frog cutout pads, and wedge pads.
• Periople - A thin varnish-like layer on the outside of the hoof wall that helps to keep moisture in.
• Pincers / Shoe Pullers - Farrier tool, specially shaped pliers that grip the shoe and help pry it off without cutting off hoof material. They are also used to remove nails.
• Pritchel - Farrier tool, a metal spike used to hold hot shoes and make nail holes in shoes.
• Rasp - Farrier tool, a sharp, heavy file used to rasp and smooth hooves and to smooth clinches.
• Sensitive Laminae - The Velcro-like layer that is connected to the coffin bone and is interlocked with the insensitive laminae. The interlocking of the two layers suspends the coffin bone within the hoof wall.
• Shod - When a horse is shod, it has a farrier attend to its hooves and is fitted correctly with horseshoes.
• Sole - The ground surface of the hoof that supports the internal structures. There is the insensitive layer that comes into contact with the outside world, and the sensitive sole that is inside the hoof and underneath the coffin bone.
• Studs - Metal additions that screw into horseshoes to provide extra grip and traction for certain events. They come in different shapes and sizes depending on the terrain that the horse will be riding in.
• Unshod / Barefoot - When a horse is attended to by a farrier but doesn't wear horseshoes. Their hooves are still shaped and maintained similarly to shod horses, but with the intention that they won't have the addition of a shoe.

Parasite and Fly Terms

Consult your veterinarian if you suspect any parasites, especially before treatment.

• Bot Flies / Bot Eggs - Adults do not live inside the horse, instead they look like small honeybees. Larvae look like prickly red maggots, and eggs are yellow/cream and are small but still clearly visible to the human eye. CYCLE: Adult botflies lay eggs on the horse's shoulder, leg, or belly. The eggs are ingested by the horse when scratching or grooming. When the eggs are in the horse's mouth they hatch and burrow into the tongue and gums for ~3 weeks. Then they are swallowed and attach to the stomach lining where they live for ~9 months before passing through manure. Then they pupate for 5-6 weeks before turning into an adult fly and repeating the cycle. HARM: Usually causes little damage, but heavy infestations may cause colic and mouth sores. PREVENTION: Bots are easily controlled by ivermectin (and secondly moxidectin). It should be given at the end of the adult fly season which is usually after the first frost, and administered 6 months later usually in the spring.
• Bot Knife - A tool used to gently scrape bot eggs off of a horse's hair.
• Bloodworms / Large Strongyles - Large worms (up to 2" long) that travel through arteries that supply the GI tract, as well as the liver. CYCLE: The adults live in the cecum and large colon where they produce eggs, the eggs then get excreted. The eggs hatch and the larvae crawl into the stems of grass and are ingested during grazing. They burrow into the walls of the horse's arteries, starting the cycle over again. DAMAGE: Can lead to portions of the intestine dying (which can be fatal), anorexia, fever, chronic mild colic, and diarrhea. PREVENTION: Due to the 6-month cycle of the bloodworm, deworming twice a year with an ivermectin product can effectively control this parasite.
• Dewormer - A treatment and prevention method that is given orally to horses, usually on a 6-month schedule to target different types of parasites.
• Fly Boots - Breathable mesh boots that horses wear to prevent flies and other pests from landing on their legs, laying eggs, and bothering them.
• Fly Mask - Breathable mesh masks that often cover the horse's ears, eyes, and nose, preventing flies and other pests from landing on their face, laying eggs, and bothering them.
• Fly Sheet - Breathable mesh or lightweight fabric blankets that horses wear to prevent flies and other pests from landing on their bodies, laying eggs, and bothering them.
• Fly Spray - A spray that contains ingredients that deter flies and other pests. It is sprayed on horses to prevent pests from landing on them.
• Pinworms - Small worms (1-2") that are seen around the horse's anus when they are laying eggs and look like white rice. The eggs dehydrate quickly, so pinworms are more common in stabled horses. CYCLE: Adults live in the large intestine and females crawl out to lay eggs on the anus and perineum. Larvae develop within the egg while still attached to the horse and then hatch when the egg finally falls off the horse. The horse ingests the larvae from eating off the ground. Larvae travel into the large intestine where they turn into adults and the cycle repeats. HARM: Local irritation to the anus, causing them to rub their tails. They cause little to no intestinal damage. PREVENTION: Susceptible to common dewormers, though ivermectin is the dewormer of choice.
• Roundworms / Ascarids - Large, white, spaghetti-like worms that are 6-8 inches. Horses are essentially immune as adults so roundworms usually infect young horses. The eggs can survive up to 15 years in an outside environment and are becoming resistant to ivermectin and moxidectin. CYCLE: Adults lay eggs in the small intestine that are then passed in manure. Eggs are ingested while grazing and hatch into larvae in the small intestine. The larva penetrates the intestine wall and migrates to the liver and the lungs via the bloodstream. They are coughed into the pharynx where they are swallowed and back into the small intestine where they become adults and repeat the cycle. HARM: Young horses may have rough hair, pot belly, and sometimes diarrhea. Following a deworming, dead worms can become impacted in the small intestine causing serious colic. Additionally, they can cause summer colds which lead to coughing, fever, and nasal discharge. PREVENTION: Foals should be dewormed four times during the first 15 months of life to prevent a heavy infestation that would cause colic. They should be dewormed with ivermectin and fenbendazole.
• Small Strongyles - 1/4-1" long worms that are the most prevalent species to infest modern horses. They are hard to detect because they can become dormant by burrowing in the large colon. CYCLE: Adults live in the large intestine and lay eggs. Eggs are passed through manure and hatch into larvae. Larvae are ingested when the horse eats off the ground and then form cysts in the wall of the large intestine. They often lay dormant until spring and develop into adults in the large intestine. DAMAGE: Can cause acute fever, colic, diarrhea, and chronic diarrhea, colic, weight loss, and edema due to protein loss. PREVENTION: Deworming with moxidectin and ivermectin is effective against the encysted stage and the larvae stage.
• Summer Sores - Sores develop when larvae are deposited in damaged skin or mucous membranes (like nostrils, lips, etc.), and cannot complete the life cycle. Instead, they cause an inflammatory reaction with lesions and surface ulcers. They are treated by debriding the wound and further fly management practices.
• Tapeworms - Segmented worms that can be up to 2 feet long and are only effectively counted by serum antibody tests rather than traditional fecal egg counts. CYCLE: Adults live in the small intestine and sections of the adult containing eggs are passed through manure. Eggs are released and ingested by beetle mites which are ingested by horses usually by grazing. Larvae develop into adults in the small intestine and the cycle repeats. HARM: Tapeworms mainly cause colic from inflammatory bowel disease or by impaction. PREVENTION: Generally horses only need to be treated once a year with a double dose of pyrantel pamoate or a product containing praziquantel.

Stable Terms

Stable Vices, Mucking, and Stall Terms

• Bank / Banked / Banking - Creating a slope of shavings or bedding against a wall to help prevent a horse from getting cast, with their legs up against the wall.
• Cast - When a horse is lying against a wall or other immovable structure that prevents them from positioning their legs to stand up.
• Cribbing / Wind Sucking - A stable vice and repetitive behavior where the horse arches their neck while grabbing something solid with their top front teeth and then sucking air into their cranial esophagus, making a grunting sound when blowing the air back out. Often caused by stress, boredom, or gastrointestinal discomfort.
• Dry Lot - A fenced-in dirt or bare paddock area where horses live or are turned out.
• Grazing Muzzle - A wearable tool that prevents horses from eating too much grass. The horse can still breathe and drink normally and is removed for normal feedings.
• Hay Net - A device used for feeding hay that, based on design, can slow down the eating process (such as a slow feeder), or keep the hay off the ground and within easy reach of the horse.
• Muck Bucket - A tool used to clean a stall or paddock that is large enough and strong enough to hold horse manure. If clean or new, one can be used for the horse's water.
• Pawing - A stable vice and repetitive behavior where horses use their front hooves and dig at the ground in front of them making a hitting sound. Often caused by stress or boredom.
• Pitchfork - A tool used to clean a stall or paddock and is designed to pick up manure or soiled bedding.
• Rake - A tool used to clean a stall, paddock, or ground surface. It is designed to gather loose materials like shavings or leaves to be picked up.
• Rice Hulls - A bedding type made from rice shells during the food production process. They produce little to no dust.
• Round Bale - A type of large hay bale that is common for large pasture feeding due to its longevity. An entire round bale is often placed in a pasture to be eaten down rather than being fed in traditional flakes.
• Shavings - A bedding type made from wood shavings that can come in different flake sizes. They are very absorbent and are offered in plastic bagged "bales."
• Straw - A bedding type made from the hard coarse stalks of cereal grains. They come in bales similar to hay and produce little dust.
• Weaving - A stable vice and repetitive behavior where horses sway their head and neck from side to side while shifting weight from one front leg to the other. Often caused by stress or boredom.

Horse Blanket Terms

• Belly Surcingle / Belly Strap - The part of a blanket that goes underneath the horse's barrel and keeps the blanket close to their sides and body. There are two or three straps sometimes accompanied by a belly flap to enable more warmth.
• Cooler - A type of blanket that is put on damp or sweaty horses to help dry them.
• Day Sheet / Stable Sheet - A blanket that is not waterproof and has no fill, suitable for stalled horses who need a light layer, and popular for keeping horses clean at shows.
• Denier - The measurement of banket material that determines the strength of the weave. Aspects include the thread count and how tight the weave is. A higher denier equates to a stronger, more durable blanket.
• Front Buckles / Chest Buckles - The part of a blanket that properly adjusts the length of the blanket on the horse. It can be buckles, surcingles, snaps, or a combination.
• Leg Straps - Optional on a blanket, leg straps are elastic straps that get intertwined with each other and help to keep the blanket centered. Commonly used instead of a tail cord for more stability.
• Liner - An extra non-waterproof blanket worn underneath the main layer to provide extra warmth.
• Neckpiece / Neck Cover - An optional piece on a blanket that attaches at the withers and provides warmth to the neck.
• Quarter Sheet / Exercise Sheet - A blanket that only covers the hind end and connects to the saddle to provide extra warmth or water protection.
• Shoulder Gusset - A pleat-like section of fabric that allows for uninhibited movement in the horse's front leg and shoulder to provide more comfort.
• Tail Cord - An optional strap on a blanket that connects the back end of the blanket and goes under the horse's tail. Tail straps are commonly used instead of, or in addition to, the tail cord.
• Tail Flap - A piece of fabric on the back end of the blanket that covers the top of the horse's tail preventing a wind chill.
• Weight / Fill - The measure denotes how heavy and warm the blanket is. This is categorized into light weight, medium weight, and heavy weight.
  • Light Weight - 0-150g fill
  • Medium Weight - 180-250g fill
  • Heavy Weight - 275-450g fill

Feeding Terms

• Anti-Inflammatory - An anti-inflammatory diet includes foods that help to reduce inflammation in the body, like fibrous foods.
• Antioxidants - Foods that contain natural compounds that help protect the body's cells from damage.
• Beet Pulp - A common feed that is high in digestible fiber and very beneficial to the horse's hindgut. It is low in protein and fat but due to the high content of digestible fiber, it provides more energy.
• Biotin - A supplement that helps support hoof and coat growth and quality.
• Concentrate - A general term for a supplement or solution that has one substance present in a higher proportion relative to other substances.
• Creep Feeding - A method of weaning foals that includes feeding solid food prior to being weaned, allowing foals to get used to solid food, thus reducing stress.
• Easy Keeper / Hard Keeper - When a horse is an easy keeper it means they hold weight easily and don't need to eat a high-calorie diet in order to stay at their weight. A hard keeper is a horse who loses weight quickly and needs a high-calorie diet in order to stay at a healthy weight.
• Electrolytes - Essential minerals that help carry energy through blood and other bodily fluids in order to maintain key functions in the body. Salt is an electrolyte.
• Forage - Refers to hay or the edible parts of a plant. Forage should account for the majority of a horse's diet.
• Grazing Muzzle - A wearable tool that prevents horses from eating too much grass. The horse can still breathe and drink normally while wearing a muzzle. The muzzle is removed for feedings.
• Hay Net - A device used for feeding hay that, based on design, can slow down the eating process (such as a slow feeder), or keep the hay off the ground and within easy reach of the horse.
• Metabolic - A horse with metabolic syndrome cannot regulate blood insulin levels, often has fat deposits, and has a reduced ability to lose weight.
• Muscle Recovery - Supplements that support muscle recovery aid in growth and strength while preventing lactic acid accumulation and improving oxygen utilization.
• Omega 3/6 - Essential amino acids that help to control swelling, inflammation, and clotting. Often seen in joint supplements.
• Quidd - Quidding is when a horse drops partially chewed food from their mouth often due to dental issues or foreign objects.
• Ration Balancer - A nutrient-dense feed that provides essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals that may be lacking in their normal diet.
• Round Bale - A type of large hay bale that is common for large pasture feeding due to its longevity. An entire round bale is often placed in a pasture to be eaten down rather than being fed in traditional flakes.
• Salt / Salt Block - Salt is an essential electrolyte and should be available 24/7 in the form of a salt block or fed in appropriate amounts in grain. Salt helps the horse stay hydrated and helps carry energy through blood and other bodily fluids in order to maintain key functions in the body.
• Supplement - A concentrated feed add-on that provides lacking vitamins, minerals, and substances to a horse's diet.
• Treat - Delicious small bites that can be given to horses as rewards. Some treats feature other health benefits like containing extra nutrients, while others are natural treats like carrots.

Thanks for using the Horse Management and Stable glossary! We hope this page can serve as a resource you can refer back to whenever you run into an unfamiliar term; we know there can be quite a bit of jargon in the equestrian world! If you have any terms that you think would be useful to add to this list, let us know at info@ridingwarehouse.com. If you want to learn more about a specific topic, check out our complete Learning Center for more info. Ride on!