Grit

Horsey Lingo to Learn

This glossary will have you sounding like a ranch hand.

Horse21
A field of Standardbred trotters
courtesy The United States Trotting Association
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A horse is measured in “hands,” a term developed from the width of an average man’s hand. One hand is 4 inches, and the height is taken from the bottom of a front hoof to the highest part of the horse’s withers  (the bone at the base of the mane). Animals shorter than 14 hands and 2 inches (14.2) are considered ponies, unless they are registered with a horse breed that accepts smaller animals.

Driving  horses are hitched to carts, wagons, buggies, carriagesand sulkies. The straps that secure them to the cart comprise the harnesses. It’s not necessary to have an expensive wagon to take family and friends for a drive, but there are those who enjoy perfecting elaborate turn-outs of correctly appointed gleaming carriages and horses in a patent-leather and brass harness.

In the equine world, drafthorses are to saddle horses as Peterbilts are to Porsches. Long ago they carried armor-laden knights to battle. More recently, they partnered with farmers to till the land and worked alongside lumberjacks hauling timber. Often worked in teams, pairsand hitches(4-8 horses), modern draft horses can provide fun and valuable labor on today’s small farm.

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