Characterised by slowly enlarging open sores and crusts on the back of the heels and pastern, this condition may spread to the coronet band and even further up. The sores are usually painful. Usually found on horses standing in wet or unsanitary conditions for long periods of time or those with feathers.
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Contributors:
C. Beauvais
Great Saddle
Was originally the saddle used by men in full armour, weighing as much as 60 lb., used in very limited numbers in the armies of the Civil War and as late as 1664.
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Contributors:
Jan
Green
A horse that is ridable but not fully trained.
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Contributors:
Alan
Grey
Generally quite dark in colouring as youngsters, greys gradually turns white with age. Their skin is dark and the coat contains a mixture of black, grey and white hairs. Very dark greys are called iron grey, those with circle-like patterns in their coats are called dapple-grey, and those with a freckled appearance are called flea bitten grey.
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Contributors:
Jan
Groom
The person who looks after the daily welfare of a horse.
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Contributors:
Jan
Grooming Kit
Various brushes and other tools used for 'grooming' the horse.
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Contributors:
Jan
Ground Line
The base of a fence from which the horse and rider judge the point of take-off
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Contributors:
Jan
Grunting
An old way of testing horses wind.
Where, owing to the breed, such as a heavy drought, or lack of opportunity, a horse cannot be galloped for a wind test.
Horses with big bellies sometimes emit grunts, very similar to those given by roarers when threatened with a blow, especially by those just taken up from a straw yard. The cause in such cases may be sudden pressure on the diaphragm from the stomach. Horses also, which have been long in dealers’ yards and have been frequently examined as to their wind, will sometimes grunt on being approached on account of fear of a blow.
Such grunts have often no connection with roaring; but the horses, which emit them, should be examined as to their wind with more than ordinary care. Grunting and roaring usually go together, though as above stated, they might be unconnected.
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Contributors:
Jan
Gullet
Oesophagus - through which food travels from the mouth to stomach.
The design of the swell/fork, as well as the angle of the bars, help to determine the width and height of the saddle gullet. This, in turn, affects how well a saddletree fits the horse's withers. The saddle must clear the withers. Too low a fit in this area and the horse can become sore quickly.
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Contributors:
Jan
Gymkhana
Mounted games and races, usually performed as part of a show.
