USHJA Horsemanship Quiz Challenge Study Guide Flashcards

A comprehensive collection of vocabulary terms based on the USHJA Horsemanship Quiz Challenge study guide, covering horse anatomy, health, tack, and stable management.

Abaxial

Used in describing where something is on a limb; describing something farther away from a line dropped dead center down the inside of a limb, or to the outside of the limb.

Axial

Used in describing where something is on a limb; describing something near a line dropped dead center down the inside of a limb.

Rostral

Referring specifically to locations on the head that are in front of the cranium, such as the nostrils or mouth.

Palmar

The back surface of the front legs.

Plantar

The back surface of the hind legs.

Epiphyseal plates

Plates located at the ends of each bone where the process of remodeling occurs via reabsorption and regeneration.

Periosteum

A thick layer of connective tissue that covers the bones.

Desmitis

An injury to a ligament.

Stay apparatus

A system of muscles, tendons, and ligaments that allows a horse to lock all four limbs and remain upright while asleep.

Erythrocytes

Red blood cells produced in the bone marrow that are responsible for carrying oxygen to the body.

Leukocytes

White blood cells responsible for fighting infections in the event of injury or disease.

Alveoli

Air sacs at the end of the bronchioles responsible for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide.

Peristalsis

Muscular contractions that move food along the digestive tract.

Duodenum

The first part of the small intestine that receives secretions from the pancreas and liver to change food to a more basic form; most chemical digestion occurs here.

Cecum

A four-foot long pouch in the large intestine where roughage is broken down by fermentation.

Endocrine glands

Glands that secrete hormones directly into the blood.

Exocrine glands

Glands that secrete products into ducts which lead directly to the external environment.

B lymphocytes

Immune cells responsible for producing antibodies that coat invading organisms or foreign substances for easier identification.

T lymphocytes

Immune cells responsible for producing antibodies to viral infections and cancer.

Pressure bandage

A bandage used to control swelling after acute injury, stop bleeding, or inhibit the formation of proud flesh.

Spider bandage

A many-tailed bandage used to stabilize a joint for the first 24 to 48 hours after an injury.

Parrot mouth

A genetic trait considered an unsoundness where the horse’s upper jaw extends well past the lower jaw.

Ewe neck

A conformation fault featuring a short crest resulting in an upside down appearance to the neck.

Bog spavin

A blemish occurring when fluid builds up in the hock joint as a result of inflammation.

Bowed tendon

A blemish resulting from a tendon and its surrounding tissues stretching too far and failing to return to their original length.

Club foot

A hoof condition characterized by a hoof angle usually greater than $61^{\circ}$ with a high heel and short toe.

Interval training

A conditioning method based on progressive loading, which typically uses small, measured increases in exercise.

Anaerobic conditioning

Brief and intense exercise that occurs above the aerobic threshold, using oxygen more quickly than it is replenished and producing lactic acid.

Anhidrosis

A condition where the horse has a decreased ability to sweat in response to increased body temperature, primarily in hot, humid climates.

Spasmodic colic

Abdominal pain caused by spasms of the smooth muscles of the intestines, often linked to intussusception.

Strangles

A highly contagious infection caused by Streptococcus equi, causing swelling of lymph nodes that may drain thick, creamy pus.

Equine Protozoal Myelitis (EPM)

A disease caused by parasitic migration in the spinal cord resulting in nerve damage, usually from sporocysts found in opossum droppings.

Febrile

A term describing a horse that has a fever, typically requiring active cooling if the temperature reaches $103.5^{\circ}F$ or higher.

Proud flesh

The common term for exuberant granulation, an angry-looking tissue that bleeds easily and can inhabit wound healing.

Coggins test

A diagnostic test used to detect antibodies formed when a horse is infected with Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA).

Laminitis

A metabolic and vascular disease involving the sensitive structures of the hoof where deprived blood and oxygen causes the laminae to swell and potentially die.

Breakover

The phase of the stride that occurs between the heel leaving the ground and the toe leaving the ground.

Cribbing

A stable vice where a horse grabs a hard object with its teeth, arches its neck, and pulls back while often grunting.

Anti-cast roller

A device, usually made of leather with a steel piece above the withers, designed to stop a horse from rolling over and becoming trapped against a wall.

Pica

A behavior where a horse licks the ground or eats dirt, often due to a fiber deficiency.

Bascule

The natural arc the horse’s body makes as it jumps.

Half-halt

A signal made by the coordinated action of seat, legs, and hands used to increase attention, decrease speed, or regulate rhythm.

In wear

A dental term meaning that the occlusal surfaces are touching on both the upper and lower incisor.