So, You Think You Love Horses?

Some Reflections on the Nature of Horses and Man

Glossary of Equestrian Terms Words Beginning with O

• Off Side

  [Basic Horsemanship] The off side is the right side of a horse. By custom a horse is mounted and dismounted from the near side (left side) and the other side was called the off side.

• Off Stride

  [Harness Racing] A horse that is off stride has broken into a gallop during a harness race run at a trot or pace. It must be slowed to a trot or pace within several strides or face disqualification.

• Off the Pace

  [Racing] An off the pace horse is following the leader in the early part race.

• Off the Track (Off-Track)

  [[Equine Situation]] Horses that have been used for racing, in the U.S. Arabians, Quarter Horses, Standardbreds and Thoroughbreds and once retired are reproposed for other types of riding.

• Off-Tract Thoroughbred (OTTB)

  Off-Tract Thoroughbred Shirt

  
  [Equine Situation] Every year the Thoroughbred racing industry produces thousands of hopeful, future champions and also every year the industry must repurpose an equal number of animals. In the past some of these animals found a good home, some were tragically slaughtered and others neglected by owners who bought them cheaply at auction. The picture is much better today. A coalition of industry and equine welfare groups are rehoming large numbers of beautiful horses in the prime of their lives. I can talk knowledgeably about this in that both my wife and self rode off-tract Thoroughbreds. However, I should caution that they initially can require an experienced rider.

• Old or Aged in Horses

  [Equine Characterization] As a general rule a horse over 15 is seen as being old. In fact, a horse is serviceable way beyond this age, particularly if given good care and exercise. The average domestic horse has a lifespan of 25 to 30 years. Interestingly enough a race horse over 4 years of age is considered in the industry as being aged, even though it has not reached its adult age yet. If we look at the ages of measured peak performance in human sports, this is understandable.

• Oldenburg (Oldenburger)

  [Equine Breed] An Oldenburg is a German, warm blooded, sport horse. They were bred purposely for size and now make very good jumpers. Historically, they were bred as carriage horses, artillery horses or general farm horses by aristocratic breeders. Those in the farm horse category were likely held by a large land owner, whose tenants were granted shared use of them. The result was better supervision of the breeding, despite the lack of a centralized stud book or stud farm. In more modern times they have been successfully repurposed as a sport horse.

• Olympic Games Equestrian Events

  [Equestrian Competition] The Olympic Games of ancient Greece featured equestrian events, such as chariot racing. When the first modern Olympics were held in 1896 there were no equestrian events included. In 1900 several equestrian events were featured, but the following Olympics omitted them again. In 1912 they were again included and have continued since then. Olympic equestrian events are the only ones featuring a partnership between a human and an animal. At present the events are show jumping, dressage, three-day eventing and the riding phase of the pentathlon. We Americans should not forget that the United States holds the most gold medals in Olympic history, winning more than 1,000 gold medals since 1900. After an unfortunate 2024 video emerged of a competitor repeatedly whipping her horse, the animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) demanded that the International Olympic Committee remove equestrian sports from the Olympics. Considering that equestrian competition is not inherently cruel and this was the action of an individual, banning equestrian events sounds like a cheap fundraising stunt on PETA's part.

• Onager (Equus hemionus)

  [Equine Species] An Onager is an Asian species of wild ass. The onager has never been domesticated.

• One Rein Stop

  [Emergency Halt] A one rein stop is an last-ditch, emergency measure to stop a horse that is running away with you. Since we mostly rode on narrow trails, I was always reluctant to use it in confined spaces. Firstly, sit down in the saddle. You reach down the reins as far as you can and pull the horses neck around toward your hip and away from the direction it is headed. The horse will begin a circle and hopefully be brough under control. Once the horse stops release the pressure. Some recommended that a rider practice this so that the horse understands it and your muscle memory is established to quickly perform it. Others said it should never be used during training. The reason that the technique is considered last-ditch is that it suddenly throughs a speeding horse off balance and may cause it to fall. A related maneuver is the use of a pulley rein, which is harsher.

• On the Bill Daly

  [Horse Racing] A racing stratagem in which the jockey keeps his mount in the front of the pack for the entire race. It can be successful if the horse as the necessary initial speed at the start the then the stamina to hold the lead. In most races I have watched the horse that had the initial lead was unable to keep it.

• On the Bit

  [Basic Riding] A rider always wishes to be what is called "on the bit." This is maintaining proper contact pressure with the reins and bit so as to effectively use the them as an aid in communicating the rider's intentions to the horse. Contact pressure with a horse's month should be neither too firm (too hard) nor too loose (too soft). Just like in the story "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" it should be just right. When learning riding this is something you get a feel for over time and I hate to see a novice rider intentionally hank some poor horse in the mouth. When a horse either raises or lowers its head and breaks this contact it is called being above the bit or being behind the bit and the rider then has lost any leverage on the horse's mouth. Neither of these situations is desirable.

• On the Buckle

  [Basic Riding] A horse is said to be ridden on the buckle when the reins are long and the degree of contact is limited. I often chose to trail ride on the buckle when at a walk, my horse is calm and going down a straight path. It allows him to know the pressure is off and he can drop his head and relax a bit. If things change you can always gather the reins quickly.

• Opening Circle

  [Jumping] An opening circle is a circle made on entering the ring and approaching the first jump as a warm up. In timed events the clock starts when the horse's chest passing the starting line and the time doing an opening circle does not count..

• Opening Rein (Leading Rein)

  [Basic Horsemanship] An opening rein is done when the rider is turning the horse. The rider moves the inside rein out to the side of the horse's shoulder and in the direction of the turn, maintaining a steady contact with the other outside rein and a slight pressure with the inside leg aids to support the turn. I always add a very slight tug and release on the inside rein to focus the horse's attention just as I begin doing it.

• Open Up

  [Fox Chasing] Hounds are said the be opening up when they first beginning vocalizing (speaking or crying) that they have scented a fox (discovered a line).

  Orlov Trotter

  Horse Breed] Orlov Trotters are an uncommon breed that originated in Russia during the latter 18th century. They are said to combine of speed, strength, stamina, agreeable temperament. They are cold weather adapted and are useful in both in harness and under saddle. They lack the speed of the Standardbred and are not typically raced.

• Out of

  [Equine Lineage] The term "out of" is paired with "by" to indicate a horse's parentage. For example, the legendary Native Dancer was by Polynesian out of Geisha.

• Out of Hand Release (Automatic Release)

  [Equine Jumping] The out of hand release is a jumping technique in which the rider hands move alongside your horse's neck maintaining slight pressure from the reins on the bit, but not jerking the horses mouth with the bit or trying to balance using the reins (something you should not doing in any case). It requires a strong, well coordinated rider with a absolutely secure seat.

• Outrider

  [Horse Racing] An outrider is one of several mounted individuals charged with maintaining a safe environment on the tract and responding to on field emergencies. They are most visible when running down a loose race horse and escorting the winning rider at the end. They also ride to the aid of any fallen jockey and summon paramedics if necessary. They are well-mounted on a fast horse, carry a radio and generally wear a red coat and riding helmet. The term was originally used for the mounted escort of a royal person in a carriage. They rode around the carriage, providing security and clearing the way, The term is also used for a cowboy who rides away from the main herd as a scout, collecting strays or for some other reason.

• Outside Leg

  [Schooling] When doing ring work or riding in a circle the rider's outside leg is closer to the outer fence or wall rather than the center of the circle. The point is that it might be your right or your left side depending whether or not 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.

• Over, Under or Through

  [U.S. Cavalry Motto] "Over, under or through" is the motto of the 104th Cavalry Regiment. It implies a willingness to be up to the challenge of never going around a problem. It also describes a cross country riding game Theodore Roosevelt played with his children. However, in practice I have discovered that going around may be the only sensible thing to do.

• Overbent

  [Basic Riding] A horse is overbent when it is moving forward with too much sideways arc or is overly flexed. The rider needs to straighten him out.

• Overface

  [Jumping] A horse is said to be overfaced when a riders presents a jump to him that is advance beyond the horse's ability and training. The results are generally problematic and a setback to the horse's schooling to that point.

• Overgirth (Surcingle)

  [Equine Equipage] A surcingle is strap, usually made of leather, that that fastens completely around a horse's girth. There are several different types of surcingles depending on the purposes for which they are employed. Surcingles are used for securing packs on pack animals, in schooling with long reins, in vaulting and it also is a component of harnesses

• Overmounted

  [Basic Riding] An overmounted rider is attempting to ride a horse that demands abilities that he does not process at that point. Needless to say, always a recipe for disaster.

• Overo

  [Equine Coat Color] Paint or pinto horses are overo if they have a dark color with white patches.

• Overreach Boots (U.S. usage Bell Boots)

  [Equine Equipage] Overreach boots are used to prevent injuries from gait interference.

• Overreaching

  [Gait Problem] A horse that overreaching is moving in such a way that that the parts of the forelimbs are being struck by the hind hooves (interference), resulting it minor injuries. Protective coverings (boots) can be fitted to prevent the injuries.

• Override

  [Fox Chasing] A rider overrides when he allows his horse to come too close to the hounds or when he rides in front of the field master.

• Override

  [Basic Riding] A horse that is ridden with unnecessarily strong aides is said to be overridden.

• Oxbow Stirrup

  [Equestrian Equipage] An oxbow style stirrup is narrow with a rounded base.

• Oxer

  [Show Jumping] A jump construction that has two elements of supports and poles set apart. There are several sub-types of oxers. These are more difficult and force the horse to stretch out his jump.