Glossary

Don’t be daunted by the lingo of the horsy set. There are only a few terms you’ll need to understand to enjoy the weekend’s events. (See graphic on page 11 for illustration of some of the following):

* ORDER OF GO--The order in which each horse-and-rider combination jumps the course. The order is determined in a drawing before the class, so all riders have a chance for a later starting position (advantageous because they can see how the course rides for others).

* THE FIELD--All the horse-rider combinations entered in the event; for the grand prix there are usually 20 to 25. A rider may enter more than one horse.

* ROUND--A complete section of rides by the entire field (all entries have had their turn on the course). There are generally two rounds in a grand prix event, the first round and the jumpoff.

* CLEAN (or CLEAR) ROUND--When horse and rider complete all obstacles on the course without a fault or penalty.

* FAULTS--Penalty points incurred on the course for knocking down an obstacle or some other infraction.

* JUMPOFF--A timed tie-breaker against the clock; generally the final round.

* DISOBEDIENCE--A refusal or inability to jump a fence; generally when the horse stops before a fence or runs out to the side of it. A penalty results.

* FENCES--Generic term for the obstacles a horse jumps. There are many varieties.

* COMBINATION--A series of fences set within a stride or two of one another; also called a DOUBLE, a TRIPLE or an IN-AND-OUT, depending upon the number of elements. If a horse REFUSES (stops at) a fence at any part of the combination, the rider must start over from the first fence of the combination.

* LIVERPOOL--A water jump with a POLE or RAIL (a wooden bar) over or beyond it.

* VERTICAL--A fence that tests a horse’s ability to jump height.

* OXER--Two or more vertical jumps placed several feet apart. Oxers test a horse’s ability to jump height and width, the latter referred to as a SPREAD.

* GAITS--The paces at which a horse travels: walk, trot, canter and gallop. Show jumping is mainly done at a gallop (fast canter), particularly in the jumpoff.

* STRIDE--The amount of ground a horse covers in each step. At a canter, the average stride is 12 feet. Distances between fences on a grand prix course are set accordingly, although some horses will have to adjust their strides.

* HANDS--A horse’s height, measured in four-inch increments from the ground to the top of the horse’s withers (the highest point on the back at the base of the neck). Show jumpers are generally 16 to 17 hands, although some are a few inches shorter or taller.

* GELDING--A neutered male horse; STALLIONS are not neutered. A female is a MARE.

* BAY, CHESTNUT, ROAN, BUCKSKIN--Various colors of horses, most in shades of brown, some with black mane and tail.

* TACK--The equipment that goes on a horse, such as the saddle and bridle.