Equine Terminology

Kevin H. Kline, PhD

Professor of Animal Sciences

Department of Animal Sciences Online Programs

Copyright 2008 by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. All rights reserved.
Learning objectives
Learn equine terms to gain a better
understanding of equids as related
to:
scientific nomenclature
breeding
identification
use
registration
Department of Animal Sciences Online Programs
Copyright 2008 by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. All rights reserved.
Species of Equines
(Equids)
Zoological Genus is Equus, including several
species:
Caballus horses with 32 pairs of chromosomes
Asinus donkeys with 31 pairs of chromosomes
Przewalskis horse - 33 pairs of chromosomes
Zebras (Grevys, 23 pairs; Plains, 22 pairs;
Mountain, 16 pairs)
Some species can interbreed, but unequal pairing
of chromosomes leaves offspring infertile (ie:
mule)

Department of Animal Sciences Online Programs

Copyright 2008 by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. All rights reserved.
Equine Breeding Animal
Terms
Stallion a fertile male horse (Equus
caballus)
The term Stud can refer to either the
stallion or the breeding farm
Jack a fertile male donkey or ass (Equus
asinus)
Mare a fertile female horse (usually more
than 3 years of age by common usage)
Jennet a fertile female donkey

Department of Animal Sciences Online Programs

Copyright 2008 by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. All rights reserved.
Identification terms -
young horses
Foal the offspring of stallion and
mare could be either sex
Filly a female foal and so called
until 3 years of age
Colt a male foal and so called until
3 years of age

Department of Animal Sciences Online Programs

Copyright 2008 by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. All rights reserved.
More Equine
Identification Terms
Gelding a castrated male equid
Mule progeny resulting from crossing a Jack
donkey with a mare (Male = John, Female =
Molly)
Hinny progeny resulting from crossing a
stallion with a jennet
Mules and hinnies are usually incapable of
reproducing because of unequal pairing of
chromosomes in sex cells. However,
offspring of Caballus and Przewalski may be
fertile.
Department of Animal Sciences Online Programs
Copyright 2008 by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. All rights reserved.
Measuring height in
horses
Hand is a unit of measurement of four
inches determining the height of a horse at
the withers.
Why? Just tradition! Ancient horse traders
needed a quick way to estimate the height
of a horse, hence the hand which in most
people averages about 4 inches wide.
14.0 hands = 56 inches, 14.1 = 57 inches,
14.2 = 58 inches, 14.3 = 59 inches, and
15.0 = 60 inches, 16.0 = 64 inches

Department of Animal Sciences Online Programs

Copyright 2008 by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. All rights reserved.
Measuring height in
horses (cont.)

Measure from the ground to the top of the withers

Department of Animal Sciences Online Programs
Copyright 2008 by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. All rights reserved.
Horse tack
Tack is the
equipment used
to ride or drive a
horse including
saddles, bridles,
harness and
other
miscellaneous
pieces.
Department of Animal Sciences Online Programs
Copyright 2008 by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. All rights reserved.
Appointments

The required and

specified tack and
wearing apparel
(helmets, jackets,
breeches, boots,
etc.) for
sanctioned horse
shows

Department of Animal Sciences Online Programs

Copyright 2008 by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. All rights reserved.
Handling/positioning
terms
Near side the left side of the horse,
where the rider routinely mounts and
dismounts. Medieval knights,
because of their swords attached on
the left, needed to mount from the
left or near side.
Off side the right side of the horse.

Department of Animal Sciences Online Programs

Copyright 2008 by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. All rights reserved.
 Conformation - physical make-up
of a
Proportio horse Long,
Short
nal, Long, lean
lean strong
clean- neck
neck back and
chiseled High
High loin
head wither
witherEvenly
turned
croup
(not too
Clean
steep or
throatla Well- Well- too
tch sloped
sloped Powerfull
level)
shoulder
shoulder y muscled
through
arm,
forearm,
stifle,
gaskin,
and
quarter
Quality of underpinning means that the legs have correctmuscles
conformational angles and well-defined joints such as knees,
hocks, and fetlocks (ankles)
Department of Animal Sciences Online Programs
Copyright 2008 by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. All rights reserved.
Horse registration terms
Stud book the record book (database) of a breed
association. Purebred horses are registered by
name and I.D. number, usually linked to DNA as
well.
The sire (father) and dam (mother) are listed in
the stud book along with the get (offspring
listing) of sire and produce (offspring listing) of
the dam and performance records of all horses.
Grade horse a non-registered horse. Not meant
to be derogatory; many are intentional crosses
between purebreds to produce offspring with the
best traits of both breeds.
Department of Animal Sciences Online Programs
Copyright 2008 by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. All rights reserved.
Horses are
both
livestock
and
companions
!

Department of Animal Sciences Online Programs

Copyright 2008 by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. All rights reserved.
Summary
Learn equine terms to gain a better
understanding of equids as related
to:
scientific nomenclature
breeding
identification
use
registration
Department of Animal Sciences Online Programs
Copyright 2008 by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. All rights reserved.