Prevents the headpiece from slipping back down the horse's neck. It should not pull the headpiece forward, where it will rub, but keep it in place just behind the ears.
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Jan
Brown
The skin is dark and the hair, mane and tail are evenly dark brown. A brown horse is similar to a bay but does not have black points.
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Jan
Brumby
An Australian term. In the early days of the first settlers several of their horses wandered off into the wild scrub country and they and their offspring became entirely wild and became known as Brumbies. Though some have proved to be excellent, most are considered to be of very little use (even when broken-in) owing to their wild natures. On Australian racecourses, a wild and uncontrolled horse is sometimes referred to as a Brumbie.
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Contributors:
Jan
Brush Fence
A jump, either natural or man-made, composed of brushwood or some other suitable hedging plant.
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Contributors:
Jan
Brushing
When a horse strikes into the fetlock joint or coronet joint of one leg with the shoe/hoof of the opposite foot.
Colloquial term referring to grooming a horse/pony.
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Contributors:
Jan
Brushing boot
Boot that goes on the fetlocks of the horse who brushes (knocks himself with his hooves). Prevents injuries.
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Contributors:
Sarah
Brute
An old term applied to the horse, but not by horsemen/women, except in the case of an animal justifying such an derogatory term.
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Jan
Bucephalus
The horse of Alexander the Great, his father, Philip of Macon bought this for thirteen talents, but no one could break or ride him except the young Alexander. Bucephalus carried Alexandra through his Asian campaigns, dying in India, 326 BC and was buried by the Jhelum River.
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Jan
Buck
When an over-fresh horse kicks both hind legs into the air.
The action of a horse or mule when intending to get rid of a rider or a saddle. The animal leaves the ground suddenly with his head between his forelegs and has all four legs off the ground at once.
Knee is a deformity of the knee (carpal) joint resulting in a permanently flexed joint. Usually seen in foals, the condition usually improves by 6 months.
Shin is an inflamed lining of the cannon bone, common in Thoroughbreds under 3 years old. Usually in one or both front legs caused by galloping on firm ground.
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Contributors:
Jan
Buck Eye
A term applied to a prominent eye. At one time, the phrase referred to a small-eyed horse/pony.
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Contributors:
Jan
Buckets (Stable)
These are of oak or teak, grained, varnished or painted. Sadly these days they are made of plastic, rubber, or metal.
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Contributors:
Jan
Buckjumping
The action of a horse in trying to unseat his rider by arching his back like a spring and jumping into the air with all four legs at once, the complete action is done in one violent motion and repeated with great rapidity. Not to be confused with pig jumping (leaping and kicking) the term is of American origin. True buckjumpers are generally found only among the ranch horses of America and Australia.
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Contributors:
Jan
Buggy
In England, a horse-drawn two-wheeled gig-like vehicle. Abroad, various four-wheeled traps are called buggies.
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Contributors:
Jan
Bulb of the Heel
Back of the hoof formed by a digital cushion. Prone to bruising by an over-reach from the hind foot.
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Contributors:
Jan
Bull
An old tern for a horse, which grunts when, tested for wind soundness by threatening a blow across the ribs. (Also, see Grunting)
