So, You Think You Love Horses?

Some Reflections on the Nature of Horses and Man

In Ireland

Glossary of Equestrian Terms Words
Beginning with I

• Icelandic Horse

  [Horse Breed] Icelandics are small, generally pony-sized animals, established in Iceland, having been brought there by Viking settlers. They are said to be 5-gaited and have developed a two layer coat, found in other horse breeds adapted to cold, harsh climates.

• Indian Relay Racing

  [Equine Competition] Indian relay races are competitive events featuring teams in Native American dress drawn from various tribes. The competitors ride mostly Thoroughbreds bareback and when they complete one lap around the half-mile track they handoff to the next horse at speed leaping on its back. Each team has specialists that work together to catch and hold the incoming mount and position the following one. The competition features both male and female racing events. All in all, it may be the most action packed form of any type of horse racing.

• Impulsion

  [Locomotion Characteristic] Impulsion is the forward movement energy generated by the horse's hindquarters.

• Impulsion

  [Locomotion Characteristic] Impulsion is the forward movement energy generated by the horse's hindquarters.

• Inbreeding Coefficient

  [Equine Pedigree] The inbreeding coefficient is a measure of the average amount of inbreeding in the pedigrees of particular domestic animals (even humans). As a problem it arises when there is a restricted pool of sexual partners available for breeding. With horses there is a tendency to restrict breeding to champions for economic interests at the expense of genetic diversity. Among humans the highest inbreeding coefficient was likely to have been the Ptolemaic dynasty of Egypt and yet Cleopatra did not have two heads. For humans in general it is estimated to be about 1%. Most of us are unaware of the distant cousin marriages in our own pedigree, but any genealogist will tell you they were not uncommon.. For Thoroughbred horses it is about 13% and having an inbreeding coefficient approaching 5% or above is considered to be a marker that they are closely inbred to an ancestor that itself is inbred.

• In-and Out-Jump

  [Jumping] An in-and-out jump is a combination of two fences set one cantering stride's distance from each other.

• Independent Seat

  [Basic Riding] An Independent seat once perfected allows the rider not to depend on the reins for balance. A horse's mouth should be respected and developing an independent seat is an important first step.

• Infield

  [Horse Racing] The infield is the oval central area of a race tract that the horses are running around but cannot pass through because of the inner rail. Some infields are open areas and others contain structures or ponds. Perhaps, the best known infield is that of Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. During the Preakness Stakes, the second of the Triple Crown series of U.S.Thoroughbred races, spectators are admitted to it and it has the reputation as being the scene of ruckus partying.

• In Hand

  [Training] A horse is in hand when a horse is being worked from the ground.

• Inner Rail

  [Horse Racing] The inner rail is the rail fence that circles a tract's infield. A position on the inner fence is desired because it is the shortest run around the tract and can be the difference between winning and losing.

• Inside Leg

  [Schooling] When doing ring work or riding in a circle the rider's inside leg is closer to the center of the circle. The point is that it might be your right or your left side depending whether or nor you are going clockwise or counter-clockwise. It is not your basic port and starboard dilemma. When picking up a lead and impelling the horse into a canter you may be going straight but the term is still used and the circle more imaginary. It also may not be all that important to the effort expended by the horse which lead it is on when going straight.

• Interference- See Gait Interference

• Irish Draught Horse

  [Horse Breed] Irish Draught horse is the national horse breed of Ireland which developed primarily for farm use as a draft horse. The horse was originally bred as a cross between the Irish hobby and larger stock descended from war and draft animals. The horses have a powerful well-muscled, warmblood build to them.

• Irish Hobby Horse

  [Horse Breed] The Irish Hobby Horse breed is now extinct but was an ancient breed mentioned in medieval sources in the British isles. They were a relatively small breed known for their speed and agility. They are part of the foundation stock of several modern breeds and the source of the name of the children's toy.

• Irish Martingale (Semi-Martingale)

  [Equine Equipage] The Irish martingale is not a true martingale, but a simple strap with rings at either end. One side is treaded through a ring and the strap is passed under the horse's neck and then through the other ring. The reins are then buckled together at the top as usual. It prevents the reins from passing over the horse's head when a rider falls off and the horse then taggling in them.

• Irish Sport Horse (Irish Hunter)

  [Horse Breed] Irish Sport Horse is a recognized breed of warmblood sporting horse, used mostly for dressage, eventing and show-jumping.