Horse Play
Definitions, Explanations &
Miscellaneous Information You Always Wanted to Know!
Miscellaneous Information You Always Wanted to Know!
- Arabian Horse Month
The month of May was deemed ‘Arabian Horse Month’ beginning in 1992. Arabian Horse Month was started as an initiative to help bring awareness to the Arabian horse breed and give Arabian horse enthusiasts an opportunity to share their passion with others. During the month of May, AHA challenges Arabian horse enthusiasts and AHA members to host outreach events in the form of an open house at the barn, kid’s program at the barn or any other special event designed to introduce the Arabian horse breed to the public.
- Beat a dead horse
A ‘dead horse’ was the seaman’s term for the first month at sea, a month for which he was already paid and spent the money soon afterwards. To the seaman, with his money gone, he was working that first month “for free.” To mark the end of this “dead horse” month, the crew would make an effigy of a dead horse, beat the thing, and dump it overboard in celebration. To officers on the ship, beating a dead horse described the difficulty in getting the crew to do any extra work during this first month at sea.
- Campdraft
Campdrafting is a unique Australian sport – involves a mounted rider riding into a “camp” (corral or yard) which has six to eight head of cattle in it. The rider (cuts out) one steer or heifer from the cattle in the camp and brings that beast to the front of the camp and block and turns that beast at least two or three times to prove to the judge that they have the beast under control. The rider then calls for the gates to be opened and proceeds to draft (work) the beast around a figure of eight course in a larger arena.
- Caparison
a cloth covering laid over a horse or other animal for protection and decoration. In modern times, they are used mainly in parades and for historical reenactments
- CashJumping™
CashJumping™, a new showjumping formula, has taken the UK by storm and is now moving to Ireland.
- Catch Ride
A catch ride or rider is one that rides other people’s horses in shows. Usually they are very good and capable riders that often show and are noticed in the ring. Some get paid some don’t. A catch ride is when a rider has never met a horse before but shows the horse (usually in an A show) with little to no familiarity with the horse.
- Charlie Horse
“Who is Charle? What was the deal with his horse?” There are a few theories, but it’s generally believed to have originated with baseball.
1) A baseball player in the 1880s is said to have originated the name because the way injured ball players limped around reminded him of an old horse a he once owned named Charley.
2) Baseball players attending a horse race betted on a horse named Charley who was practically guaranteed to win. The horse stumbled and injured himself going around the last turn and lost causing a player to remark “Look at your old Charley horse now!”
3) Injured baseball players would compare their limping to the gate of an old horse named Charley dragged equipment at the ballpark.
- Combined Driving
Although they share essentially the same heritage, combined driving differs significantly from carriage pleasure driving.
- Competitive Trail Rides
Judged rides over a set course done at an average speed of about 6 miles per hour. All riders and horses are expected to take about the same time to complete the ride. These are not races nor are they obstacle courses. The horses are examined from nose to tail at both the start and finish of the course. The horse who completes the course and has the least amount of physical and metabolic change over the course of the ride will be the winner. For all of the riders “to finish is to win”.
- Cowboy Mounted Shooting
A competitive equestrian sport involving the riding of a horse to negotiate a shooting pattern. Mounted contestants compete shooting trgets in a timed event using two .45 caliber single action revolvers each loaded with five rounds of specially prepared blank ammunition - Donkey Basketball
a variation on the standard game of basketball, played on a standard basketball court, but in which the players ride donkeys. A donkey basketball game is usually staged as a one-shot fundraising event, typically in public schools.
- Eclipse Awards
Established in 1971, the Eclipse Awards are bestowed upon horses and individuals whose outstanding achievements in North America have earned them the title of Champion in their respective categories. Awards given to the winner of the National Horseplayers Championship, to recognize members of the media for outstanding coverage of Thoroughbred racing. Awards are voted by NTRA, Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters (NTWAB)
- Endurance Riding
Endurance riding is an equestrian sport based on controlled long-distance races. It is one of the international competitions recognized by the FEI. from Wikipedia
- Equestrian Yoga
a Hatha Yoga practice that addresses the specific postures and movements of the horseback rider’s body. It focuses on balance, flexibility, core strength, lower back, shoulders, and hips. SEE ALSO: “Horse Yoga”.
- Equicaching
Geocaching* on Horseback – an adventure game / treasure hunt / high tech came of hide and seek. With the help of a GPS you search for caches (usually a small container with a little trinket inside) that have been hidden throughout the world. When you find the cache you record your name and time of the find on a piece of paper inside of it. You can take the trinkit but must replace it with something of equal or higher value.
- Equine Comeback Challenge
a program designed to help provide rescue horses with a solid start in training and subsequently the opportunity need to receive a new job and a chance at a forever home. Rescue horses attend full time training with trainers from all over the country showcasing the ability of rescue horses in a 90 day transformation process.
- Equus Coaching
combines the practices of equine therapy and life coaching to create a space where clients enhance their leadership, communication, and relational skills through working with a horse.
- Eventing
Eventing (“horse triathlon” or “combined training”): a grueling event designed to test the training, ability, & strength of a horse, along with the connection between horse & rider. - Extreme Mustang Makeover
Tevis Cup, aka The Western States Trail Ride
- Horsebox
A British van or trailer used for carrying horses
- Horse Yoga
a meditative practice that incorporates breathing exercises, Native American wisdom and equine connection
Yoga is an ancient Indian practice that originated thousands of years ago to involve your mind, body, spirit soul.
- Horse-Face
1) in Chinese mythology a guardian of the Underworld having the body of a man and the face of a horse
2) a face that is long and ugly, with coarse features
(Don’t know about yours but my horse has a beautiful face!)
- Horsefeathers
1) a three-syllable explosion of derision usually followed by an exclamation point
2) in early building-trade use refers to the tapered boards laid to provide a flat surface for asphalt roof shingles, also called ”feathering strips”
- Hunter Pace
A hunter pace is a low-key competitive event derived from foxhunting. Teams of two or three riders follow an outdoor course laid out over terrain which is meant to simulate the riding conditions encountered during a foxhunt – that is… - Jumper Derby
A Jumper Derby tests the willingness of both horse and rider to jump a mix of stadium jumps and solid cross country obstacles over varied terrain
- Mounted Orienteering (Competitive)
CMO is like a mounted treasure hunt, which tests your horsemanship, your map reading ability, and your compass skills – all while having great fun with your horse!
- Para-Equestrian
The primary focus of para-equestrian sport is to provide educational and competitive opportunities for athletes with physical disabilities. - Poker Ride
One of the most popular types of group trail rides, the poker ride, is nearly always held to raise money, whether for the club itself or for a local charity. Participating riders are given playing cards as they pass designated… - Ranch Hand Sorting
It is known as the #1 Equine Family Sport, is fairly easy to learn the basics and is a great way to build or maintain the skill level of your cow horse - Ride Trec
Randonnée Equestre de Compétition gives us the abbreviation “TREC”. The original concept of Le Trec was to test the expertise of professional equestrian trekking guides yet it also appeals to the everyday grass roots rider who enjoys the thrill of riding….
- Spark Plug
Barney Google’s beloved “brown-eyed baby” from the 1922 comic strip “Barney Google and Snuffy Smith.” A bow-legged nag who seldom raced, and typically seen almost totally covered by his trademark patched blanket with his name scrawled on the side.
- Sport Horse Show
Horses are shown “In-Hand” (from the ground being lead) for two different purposes: -it encourages and provides breeders of horses suitable for the different sport horse uses (dressage, eventing, or jumping) a place to demonstrate the effectiveness of their breeding… - Stadium Jumping
The American Gold Cup, founded in 1970, is one of the most prestigious and iconic equestrian sporting events in the world of International Show Jumping. Highlighting the event, the American Gold Cup Grand Prix showcases world-class equestrian competition’s sheer equine… - Trail Trials
Trail Trials, in existence for over 20 years, consists of a trail ride, of approximately 5 miles, with 8-12 judged obstacles that may be encountered along the trail. Horse and rider are measured against a set standard as they negotiate… - Vaulting
Equestrian vaulting, or simply Vaulting is most often described as gymnastics and dance on horseback, which can be practiced both competitively or non-competitively.
- War Horse
An off-track Thoroughbreds with 50 starts or more.
“They are hardy, tougher mentally and they know the gig – they can read people a mile away.” “The majority of the time we have found war horses to be some of the sounder horses, If they can run 50-plus races they should be pretty sound. Of course, they do tend to have some wear and tear, but most are very manageable with some maintenance.”
- White Turf
A thoroughbred race on the frozen lake of St. Moritz, Switzerland
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