Walk
[Equine Gait] The walk is the slowest of the three common natural gaits of horses: walk, trot, canter. A gallop might be said to be a fourth. It is the most frequent gait that a turned out horse will do on its own and requires the least energy. A rider impels a standing horse into a walk by easing pressure on the bit and gentle squeezing the horse's sides with both legs. A well-schooled horse should immediately begin a forward walk. Novices often forget to relax the hands and at the same time spread their legs and literally punch the horse in its sides with their boots. The horse is confused and unhappy with being punched as a result. This is what you call getting off to a very bad start and may end badly as well.
Ware Hole
[Fox Chasing] "Ware Hole" is called by a hunter, who has spotted an animal hole in the area and warns riders not to let their horses step in the hole and potentially injure themselves.
Warm-Bloods
[Horse Breed Category] Warm blooded breeds are breeds said to be intermediary between hot-blooded (fast, energetic, flighty, relatively poor keepers) and cold-blooded (slower, even tempered, good keepers). Many of them have been used as dressage, military or sport horses.
Weaving
[Equine Behavior] Weaving is a vice seen among some horses in which the animal repetitively moves its head and shifts its weight from side to side. This is common seen while standing in a stall.
Welsh Pony
[Equine Breed] Welsh ponies are a breed of small horses that are native to Wales. Those that exceed 42 inches in height are called Welsh Cobs rather than ponies. They have small heads with large eyes, are strong and generally even -tempered. They are used mostly as a children's mount or as a driving animal.
Western
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[Riding Style] A popular style of riding emblematic of the American West and practiced by ranchers and cattlemen. The term is often used in contrast to the English riding style in North America. Western riding equipment and the manner of riding is distinct from other riding styles. An individual horse may be taught any style of riding but those practicing various styles often tend to favor certain breeds. Even though most people may wish to believe Western riding originated in the Western United States, in point of fact nearly all characteristics were developed by and imported from Mexican ranchers.
Whinny
[Equine Vocalization] A whinny is the most familiar of the sounds that a horse can make. It is a rather long, high pitched "he-he-he" sound. A horse that sudden finds that it is alone in a field will whinny to locate and attract the attention of its herd mates. They will answer him. They will also whinny to humans as if it say, "Hey you, come down here and feed me." A whinny that is higher pitched, shorter and more urgent sounding can indicate distress. Like a mother can tell which of her children is crying, a horse owner knows, which of his horses is whinnying. I always investigate if I hear repeated whinnies coming from the horses. They do not whinny nearly as often as portrayed in movie sound tracts.
Whipper-In
[Fox Chasing] The whipper-ins are members of the hunt staff or other designated hunt members (honorary whippers-in) who assist the huntsman in conducting the hunt and controlling the hounds.
Willingness
[Equine Characteristic] A horse is said to be willing if it willingly meets the expectations of its rider when faced with challenging training or adverse situations.
Winged Hussars
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[Military] An elite branch of Polish cavalry originally light cavalry comprised of exiled Serbian warriors. Later they evolved into heavy cavalry units. An unusual feature of their dress was the large wooden frames worn in their backs to which feathers were attached. These created a sound when they advanced in a body and served to announce their arrival on the field. Historically, they were instrumental in lifting the 1683 siege of Vienna with the largest single cavalry charge in military history. Had Vienna fallen Islam would have dominated central Europe as well as the Balkans.
Withers
[Equine Anatomy] The withers is a prominence at the beginning of a horse's back, located above and just behind the horse’s shoulders and formed by the 3rd to 11th long thoracic vertebrae. This is the highest stable point on a horse's profile, excluding the head and head, which might be raised or lowered. Horse's heights are measured to the withers as a reference point. Withers are also important in fitting and positioning a saddle, which should ride above the withers and not make contact with it.