Help with lingo!

[christinarina]

Been checking out the various boards here for riding tips but getting stuck with the lingo. I know there's a glossary but doesn't include all terms just abbreviations really.

So what do you mean when you talk about "on rein" and "on leg" and stuff??

CHristinaX

[missmagnum]

What rein your on is which direction your going, if your left hand is nearest the middle you are on the left rein and vice versa with the right.
The right leg is the same as the rein. if the leg on inside of the arena is streching out further than the outside leg you are on the correct lead/leg.

[Julz]

when you are asked to get horse going "off the leg" the instructor is referring to how well the horse is or isnt moving from the amount of pressure you are using.. hence why we should squeeze with the legs, and not simply kick it

[LindaAd]

Just to confuse you, a horse that's responsive to its rider is also described as being 'on the aids'. Then there's 'on the bit' - there's endless argument about that one, but I'd describe it as a horse that's balanced and working well, with the energy coming from its back end and soft and responsive in the front end ...

[Julz]

Just to confuse you, a horse that's responsive to its rider is also described as being 'on the aids'. Then there's 'on the bit' - there's endless argument about that one, but I'd describe it as a horse that's balanced and working well, with the energy coming from its back end and soft and responsive in the front end ...


then there's "working into the bridle" "behind the bit"

I imagine the lingo OP is after is things, like.. "go large" this is when you have been doing a movement like a 20m circle, then asked to "go large" which simply means, dont do another circle but carry on going round the rest of the school.

"change of rein" is changing the direction you are going in. you have tworeins that is connected to the bit which is in the horses mouth. the left rein and the right rein. the rein you are on is the rein that is closer to the centre of the school. so, changing of the rein means, change direction. to do this you usually choose a point (letter) in the school, that enables you to come off the track, and head towards another letter, but will also change the direction too (sorry if im babbling) usually its F-H or M-K going along the diagonal. this will have you both going in a striaght line, and keep you both flowing forward, without having to do tight turns.

[Kate F.]

Been checking out the various boards here for riding tips but getting stuck with the lingo. I know there's a glossary but doesn't include all terms just abbreviations really.

So what do you mean when you talk about "on rein" and "on leg" and stuff??

CHristinaX

It's horribly confusing, isn't it? :D I think you're best off asking in the specific context of the post, rather than looking for general definitions - because it gets more and more confusing the more you get into it. ;)

You see, when the horse is "on the leg" it means is is moving properly "off the leg", but when it's "on the bit", it's actually more to do with it's hindquarters than anything to do with the bit. It can even be "on the bit" without a bit in its mouth! You can be "on THE rein" - the horse responding well to the hand aids - or "on the LEFT/RIGHT rein" which is about which direction you're going. And so it goes on!

Then, in a forum, you're also confronted with the transatlantic differences. In Britain, you usually have an "inside" rein, and an "outside" rein. (Now we're talking about inside and outside of the bend of the horse, not the direction, so not to be confused with left and right reins!:p). Cross the atlantic, and it may well turn into "direct" and "indirect" rein, or "leading" and "supporting" rein. In Britain, a "livery" is a privately owned horse for which the owner pays for stabling facilities. In the US, a "livery" is a horse is hired out - such as a school horse, and they call the British "livery" a "boarder". In the UK, the "barn" is where you keep the hay, and you keep your horse at the "yard". In the US, the "barn" is where you keep the horse, and the "yard" is where you sit outside at home.

Of course, I may have all this upsidedown, because you don't say which continent you're on! Maybe you are familiar with the US expressions, and not the UK ones! Either way - however many you learn, there'll be plenty more to confuse you around the corner!

Even for those of us who've been around it all for a long time, we all come across expressions and jargon we've not met before almost every day - so there's no shame in asking! If you don't understand what someone has posted, but are interested in the topic - just ask. There'll probably be at least another 20 or so people who are wanting to know too, but are too shy to ask!

[mogadoga]

You even had my head baffled there KateF...but i do understand so not as baffled as the poor OP is :p hehe