Comprehensive Equine Breeds and Terminology

Vocabulary flashcards covering the key terms, genetic disorders, coat patterns, foundation horses, and distinctive gaits of major horse breeds.

Sabino

A white patterning on the skin and coat that is recognized as the only spotted pattern present in pure Arabian horse lines.

Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID)

A fatal genetic disorder in Arabian horses where a foal is born without an immune system and generally dies quickly from infection.

Lavender foal syndrome

A lethal genetic disease occurring in Arabian foals that causes multiple severe neurological issues.

Cerebellar abiotrophy

An often fatal genetic neurological disorder that impairs balance and coordination in Arabian foals.

Cow sense

An instinctive aptitude for anticipating, maneuvering, and herding cattle exhibited by the American quarter horse.

Hyperkalemic periodic paralysis (HYPP)

An inherited genetic condition in horses that causes uncontrollable muscle twitching, muscle weakness, or paralysis.

Polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM)

A metabolic muscle disorder that prevents muscles from properly storing glucose, damaging muscle tissue and causing cramping, stiffness, and pain.

Malignant hyperthermia

A genetic condition making horses susceptible to an abnormally high metabolic rate, producing dangerously high body temperature, elevated heart rate, and rapid breathing.

Reining

A rodeo competition in which a rider guides a horse through an exact pattern of circles, spins, and precise movements.

Team penning

A rodeo event in which horseback riders work together to separate and herd designated cattle into a pen.

Figure

A compact stallion owned by Justin Morgan in the late 1700s that served as the founding sire of the Morgan horse breed.

Foundational Thoroughbred Stallions

The Byerly Turk, the Darley Arabian, and the Godolphin Arabian—three stallions imported to England in the late 1600s and early 1700s from which all modern thoroughbreds descend.

Off-the-track thoroughbred (OTTB)

A retired thoroughbred racehorse that has transitioned into a second career such as general riding, jumping, or driving.

Exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH)

A condition seen in racehorses involving bleeding inside the lungs brought on by strenuous physical exertion.

Congenital stationary night blindness

An inherited condition carried by many Appaloosa horses that deprives the animal of night vision starting at birth.

Equine recurrent uveitis

An inflammatory infection of the uveal tract of the eye causing puffiness, redness, and squinting that can lead to permanent retinal damage.

Amble (Rack)

A natural, smooth four-beat lateral gait where at least one foot remains in ground contact at all times, keeping the rider nearly motionless over uneven terrain.

Tobiano

A pinto coat pattern featuring color across one or both flanks, rounded white markings across the withers and tail, and a colored head with common facial marks.

Overo

A coat pattern characterized by irregular white body patches, a dark solid-colored back, colored legs with potential stockings, and a mostly white head.

Tovero

A Paint horse pattern displaying a predominantly white body combined with dark coloration across the flank, chest, and upper head.

Lethal white syndrome

A fatal congenital defect in Paint horses where foals inheriting two copies of the gene are born all-white with blue eyes and undeveloped intestines that cause rapid colic and death.

Feathering

Long, silky hair extending down the lower legs, knees, and hocks characteristic of draft and heavy breeds like the Gypsy Vanner, Clydesdale, and Shire.

Chronic Progressive Lymphedema (CPL)

An incurable condition common to heavy draft breeds marked by progressive lower-leg swelling, lymph fluid buildup, and thickening skin.

Malleanders and Sallenders

Thick, crusted skin growths on the front and rear legs of horses caused by excessive keratin production related to heavy feathering.

Hambletonian 10

The foundational sire of the American standardbred breed, foaled in 1849, known for having longer hind legs and a rump standing slightly taller than his withers.

Pacer

A standardbred harness horse that moves its lateral legs on the same side forward in unison, reaching speeds higher than traditional trotters.

Trotter

A standardbred harness horse that moves its diagonal legs forward in unison (front left with rear right, and front right with rear left).

Degenerative suspensory ligament desmitis (DSLD)

A progressive, incurable disorder in Paso Finos and other breeds where the suspensory ligaments break down, allowing the fetlock joint to sink towards the ground.

Classic Fino

A slow-traveling, collected four-beat gait executed by Paso Finos where the hooves take rapid, short steps that resemble dancing in place.

Five-gaited horse

An American Saddlebred trained to execute five specific gaits: the walk, trot, canter, slow gait, and rack.

Single-foot

An energy-conserving, four-beat ambling gait innate to the Rocky Mountain Horse that maintains continuous single-hoof ground contact to replace the trot.

Old Tobe

A famously surefooted and calm gaited stallion owned by Sam Tuttle who lived until age 37 and served as the foundation sire of the Rocky Mountain Horse.

Running walk

A fast, gliding four-beat lateral gait characteristic of the Tennessee Walking Horse capable of reaching 10 to 20 miles per hour, accompanied by head bobbing.

Overstride

A gait characteristic where a horse's hind hooves step forward and land well in front of the ground track left by the corresponding front hooves.

Pure Spanish Horse (PRE)

An alternate official designation for the Andalusian horse, an ancient, agile breed originating in the Iberian Peninsula of Spain.

Baroque build

A classical conformation type defined by dense muscularity, an arched neck, strong hindquarters, and a full mane and tail, as seen in Friesian Sporthorses.

Jean Le Blanc

A French stallion foaled in 1823 considered the founding sire of the modern Percheron draft horse breed.

Laminitis

A severe, painful hoof inflammation that can lead to permanent structural damage, frequently triggered by obesity or overconsumption of rich pasture and grain.