Equine Sports: English Vocabulary List

a team sport played on horseback where players use mallets to hit a ball into the opposing team's goal

"Polo players hit the ball with mallets from horseback."

"Polo players rode horses while using long mallets to hit a small wooden ball into goals."

a competitive equestrian sport that includes dressage, cross-country jumping, and show jumping phases

"Eventing combines dressage"

"Eventing combines dressage cross country and show jumping over three days of competition."

special moves that a horse is trained to perform by receiving particular commands or body signals from its rider or a competition in which these moves are done

"Horse dressage sport."

"Dressage is an equestrian sport where horses perform precise movements in response to subtle rider cues."

the horse racing over level ground without obstacles

"Flat racing has no obstacles."

"Flat racing has no obstacles and horses run on a level track at various distances."

a competitive event where horse and rider navigate a series of obstacles

"Showjumping scores knockdowns and refusals."

"Showjumping scores knockdowns and refusals and riders aim to complete the course with zero faults."

a competitive event where horse and rider cover long distances, typically 50 to 100 miles or more

"Endurance riding covers fifty to one hundred miles."

"Endurance riding covers fifty to one hundred miles and horses are monitored for fitness at vet checks."

to control or guide a horse using reins, which are straps or ropes attached to a bit in the horse's mouth

"Rein the horse gently."

"The experienced rider began to rein in the spirited horse as they approached the jump."

a rodeo event where horse and rider race around barrels in a specific pattern

"Barrel racing is a rodeo event for time."

"Barrel racing is a rodeo event for time and riders race around three barrels in a cloverleaf pattern."

a form of amateur horse racing over natural terrain between designated points

"Point-to-point is steeplechasing for amateur riders."

"Point to point is steeplechasing for amateur riders and races are held on temporary courses."

a competitive event where riders and horses participate in a series of speed and skill-based games or races

"Gymkhana includes games on horseback."

"Gymkhana includes games on horseback and riders perform patterns like pole bending and keyhole races."

a discipline where gymnastic exercises are performed on the back of a moving horse

"Vaulting performs gymnastics on a moving horse."

"Vaulting performs gymnastics on a moving horse and the horse is lunged in a circle with a long rope."

a type of equestrian sports designed specifically for athletes with disabilities

"Para equestrian has different grades for different impairments."

"Para equestrian has different grades for different impairments and riders compete in dressage events."

a high-jump competition in equestrian sports

"Puissance tests jumping height progressively."

"Puissance tests jumping height progressively and the wall is raised after each round of jumping."

a young male horse under the age of four which is not castrated

"The colt runs beside its mother across the open field."

"The frisky colt ran around the pasture kicking up its heels and testing its newfound speed."

a horse that is female and young, particularly one that is younger than four

"That filly will grow into a fine mare someday."

"A young female horse under four years old is called a filly before she becomes a mare."

(of a horse, etc.) to ride as fast as possible

"The horse gallops across the meadow."

"The horse galloped across the open field at full speed with its mane flying wildly in the wind behind it."

the activity or sport of riding on a horse

"She loves horseback riding."

"Horseback riding helped him feel calm and connected to nature."

a sport in which riders race against each other with their horses

"Horse racing is exciting."

"Horse racing is a popular sport in many countries and the Kentucky Derby is the most famous race."

a horse bred and trained specifically for racing

"That racehorse won its first competition last spring."

"The thoroughbred racehorse can reach speeds of forty miles per hour during a sprint on the track."

a horse that competes in steeplechase races, which are long-distance horse races over varied terrain featuring obstacles such as hurdles and water jumps

"The steeplechaser jumps over barriers on a track."

"The steeplechaser jumps over barriers on a track and also runs through water jumps."

a horse that shares a stable or a horse that is kept in the same stable as another

"The stablemate travels to competitions together."

"The stablemate travels to competitions together and horses share the same barn and trainer."

a mechanical device used at the beginning of horse races to ensure a fair start

"The starting gate opens simultaneously for all horses."

"The starting gate opens simultaneously for all horses and prevents false starts."

the odds or price at which a horse or other competitor is valued at the start of a race or event, as determined by the bookmaker or betting exchange

"The starting price was 5 to 1 when the race began."

"The starting price of the horse was ten to one meaning a ten pound bet would return one hundred pounds."

a horse that excels in long-distance races, particularly those requiring stamina and endurance

"The stayer has stamina for long-distance races."

"The stayer has stamina for long distance races and excels at distances over a mile and a half."

a bet in horse racing where the bettor must predict the first three horses to cross the finish line in exact order

"Trifecta picks first three."

"The trifecta bet in horse racing requires predicting the first three finishers in the exact order."

to assign weights to horses in a race based on their perceived ability, in order to equalize their chances of winning

"They handicap the horses."

"The race organizers decided to handicap the favorite to give the other horses a better chance."

to take part in games of chance or betting, involving money, hoping to win more in return

"Do not gamble your savings away."

"It is very risky to gamble your entire life savings on the outcome of a single horse race."

a form of horse racing where horses pace while pulling a two-wheeled cart and guided by a driver

"Harness racing is fast."

"The crowd cheered as the horses thundered down the track in the exciting harness racing event."

an athletic race, usually 3000 meters, run on a track with barriers and water jumps

"The steeplechase is tough."

"The steeplechase runners had to jump over thirty five barriers and seven water jumps during the race."