10 Words You Need to Know on a Horse Ranch

Nothing outs a greenhorn like their vocabulary. If you are planning on spending any time in a barn or horse ranch, there are 10 words you need know.

Whether you are trying to connect with an important horse person in your life, you’re learning to ride yourself, or you’re off to a dude ranch for vacation, knowing these 10 words will keep you safe and in the know in the stable. And hey, if you happen to be a non-horsey parent of a horse crazy kid, we have a resource you might find extra helpful. Check it out here.

1. Mare

   A female horse over the age of 3. If she is under 3 years old she is considered a filly.

2. Gelding

   A male horse that has been “gelded” over the age of 3. If he is under the age of 3 he is considered a colt.

3. Stallion

   An intact male horse over the age of 3. Stallions are also often called studs. In any case, there are many that are perfectly safe, however many can be unsafe and unpredictable. If you don’t know a stallion or stud, it’s best to keep your distance.

4. Halter

   This is the piece of equipment that goes on a horse’s head when leading. a lead rope is attached and is held by the handler. This is not to be confused with a harness, which is a piece of equipment used in driving horses for pulling carriages and wagons.

5. Spook

   This is what we call a startle or jump from a horse. Anything, truly anything, can cause a horse to spook. It is important to move slowly, quietly, and predictably when around horses, and be aware of things like umbrellas and car horns that could set off a spooky horse.

6. Green

   This doesn’t have anything to do with the color of a horse, but rather the level of training he’s had. A green horse is untrained. A green broke horse is a horse that may be rideable in the most rudimentary sense, it is safe to sit on their back, but the horse doesn’t have any real knowledge or skillset yet.

7. Stirrup

   This is the piece of equipment that your foot sits in while you are riding.

8. Mounting Block

   The steps you use to mount your horse.

9. Fresh

   This is the term we use to describe a hyper horse. A horse can be fresh due to inactivity, boredom, a spook, or cool weather.

10. Mouthy

    Not so much about back-sass as actually using their mouth (and maybe teeth) to interact. Watch out for the mouthy ones, they may be prone to bite.