Tag: Word of the Week

THROUGHNESS/THROUGH - An equestrian term which means the supple, elastic, unblocked, connected state of the horse’s musculature and a willing mental state that permits...

DOWNHILL - Poor longitudinal balance, with failure to elevate the withers and/or lower the haunches. Full glossary: http://bit.ly/2019USDFGlossary

AMPLITUDE - Magnitude of range of motion. Same as Scope. Full glossary: http://bit.ly/2019USDFGlossary

RELEASE - As used in the tests, the brief release of the contact, wherein the rider in one clear motion extends the hand(s) forward...

PUSHING OUT - Hind legs operating too far behind the horse, which favors pushing at the expense of carrying. Full glossary: http://bit.ly/2019USDFGlossary

GAIT - Characteristic limb coordination pattern recognized by the sequence and timing of the footfalls. Gaits used in dressage are walk, trot, and canter. Full...

ACCEPTANCE - Used in reference to the horse’s willingness to allow the maintenance of a steady contact, the application of the aids, and/or the...

CLOSED HALT - A posture at the halt in which the horse is secure in balance with a shortened base of support achieved by...

LIGHTNESS - Refers to one of the following: 1) Horse’s lightness on its feet. 2) Lightness of the rider’s aids/horse’s responsiveness to light aids. 3) Lightness/lift...

ON THE FOREHAND - Poor longitudinal balance, with failure to elevate the withers and/or lower the haunches. Full glossary: http://bit.ly/2019USDFGlossary