The world of equestrianism can be full of sometimes strange and often confusing phrases and terms. The terminology used when talking about horses and ponies ranges from the type of equipment needed when around horses to the types of riding activities you can participate in, with all kinds of other very specific language in between.

If you are just beginning your relationship with equines, there could be many horse-related words which are unfamiliar to you. Perhaps your horse has been diagnosed with a specific equine illness or a condition which you don’t really understand. Or maybe you are considering a career among equines and would like to know what the different jobs with horses involve. Even the most experienced horse riders, breeders and caretakers will sometimes need to consult a reference book or website to discover the meaning of a particular term.

That’s why Animal Friends have created this section – a quick and easy reference guide to some of the many words and phrases you will come across when talking about anything to do with horses. We aim to create a valuable resource for horse lovers everywhere, and welcome any comments you have while we are doing so. If we have missed something off the list Contact us and we will gladly include it. Each of the links on the right will take you to a different category of horse and rider terminology. We hope that you find them useful.