Ekidemy

Here are the essential words of Galop 1, sorted by theme. Most of them have been explained along the way; the others are used mainly in group lessons, when the instructor gives instructions to the whole ride.

The horse

Equid

An animal of the horse family, such as the pony, the donkey or the zebra. The word horse also covers the whole species, ponies included.

Forelegs, hind legs

The front legs and the back legs. A horse has legs, never paws, and a mouth, not jaws.

Forehand, hindquarters

The part of the horse in front of the rider, and the part behind.

Gregarious

Living in a group. The horse is a herd animal by nature.

Coat colour

The colour of the horse: his coat, his mane and tail, and his skin.

Mane and tail

The long hair on the top of the neck and on the tail.

Gait

A way of moving: walk, trot or canter.

Stride

One complete movement of all four legs, repeated for as long as the gait lasts. To canter a few strides is to take a few “steps” of canter.

Tack

Tack

All the equipment a horse wears: headcollar, bridle, saddle…

Headcollar and lead rope

The headcollar goes on the head, without a bit, for holding and tying up; the lead rope is the rope clipped on to it.

Bridle, or snaffle bridle

The headgear for riding, with a bit and reins.

Saddle, unsaddle; bridle, unbridle

To put on or take off the saddle; to put on or take off the bridle.

Girth up, tighten the girth

To do up the girth; to take it up again once you are in the saddle.

Take, quit your stirrups

To put your feet into the stirrups, or to take them out.

Near side, off side

The horse’s left side, the one you mount from; his right side.

Bight of the reins

The part of the reins beyond your hands.

In the school

The ride

A group lesson, and the group of riders who work together in it under an instructor.

Track

The path that runs round the edge of the school or arena.

Right rein, left rein

You are on the right rein when you go round clockwise, your right hand on the inside of the school; on the left rein the other way round. To change the rein is to change direction.

On a contact, on a long rein

Reins just taut, to feel the mouth without pulling; or left loose, so that the pony can relax.

Transition

The change from one gait to another, or from halt into a gait.

Distance

The space to leave between two horses following each other: room for an imaginary horse, at least.

Make much of

To stroke the horse as a reward.

Give

To soften the action of a hand or a leg as soon as the horse has answered.

Aids

The means of communicating with the horse: natural when they come from the rider’s body; artificial when they are pieces of equipment.