BARN ETIQUETTE
When around other horses and riders at the barn, you should avoid sudden movements, loud noises, or running because you could cause a horse to do this.
What is spook?
In English riding, this strap runs from the saddle around the horse’s barrel to keep the saddle secure.
What is a girth?
This is the long hair that grows from a horse’s neck.
What is the mane?
This Spanish word means “horse” and is commonly heard in Mexican ranching and equestrian culture.
What is caballo?
Each polo team typically has this many players on the field at one time.
What is four?
If two horses are approaching each other head-on in an arena, both riders should pass this way to avoid a collision.
What is left shoulder to left shoulder?
This Western saddle strap attaches to the cinch and helps secure the saddle from shifting forward or backward.
What is a latigo?
This small, rough, callus-like patch of skin can be found on the inside of a horse’s legs and is sometimes called a “night eye.”
What is a chestnut?
This Spanish-derived term, from vaca meaning “cow,” traditionally refers to a Mexican cattle worker whose horsemanship influenced ranching throughout Mexico, California, and the American West.
What is a vaquero?
This piece of equipment is the long-handled wooden or composite stick a polo player uses to strike the ball.
What is a mallet?
Offering to do these these things helps keep the facility clean, organized, and safe for everyone.
What are barn chores?
These protective boots are commonly used on a horse’s legs to help protect the tendons and fetlocks from injury caused by the horse striking itself with a hoof.
What are splint boots?
This is the area on a horse’s back where the neck meets the body, just in front of the saddle.
What is the withers?
This Mexican breed was developed by crossing the Andalusian, American Quarter Horse, and Mexican Criollo.
What is the Azteca?
In polo, this term describes changing direction across the ball’s path while maintaining the right of way?
What is the line of the ball?
Good barn etiquette means avoiding this behavior about other riders, horses, or their abilities because it creates a toxic barn environment.
What is gossip?
This English-style bit has multiple rings or attachment points that create leverage, making it more severe than a standard snaffle and requiring experienced hands.
What is an elevator bit?
This part of the horse’s lower leg is sometimes called the “shin.”
What is the cannon?
In this Charrería event, women riders perform synchronized horseback patterns, traditionally riding sidesaddle in colorful, traditional dresses.
Escaramuza Charra
In polo, this foul occurs when a player strikes an opponent’s horse or rider with the mallet.
What is a dangerous play foul?
Expecting trainers and barn staff to be available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for little or no pay.
What is unrealistic expectations (and/or entitlement?)
This material is traditionally stretched over the wooden tree of a Mexican saddle to create a strong, durable framework.
What is a rawhide?
This joint, located between the horse’s cannon bone and pastern, acts as a shock absorber and is especially important in running and jumping horses.
What is the fetlock?
Mexican horse culture was heavily influenced by horses brought to the Americas by the Spanish in the 16th century. This breed, developed in Spain and particularly important to the early colonial horse population, is often considered an ancestor of many American horse breeds.
What is the Spanish Barb?
Polo is believed to have originated in this region more than 2,000 years ago before spreading across Asia and eventually to Europe and the Americas.
What is Persia (now Iran)?