What is Ground Work or Groundwork?

Whether two words or one, groundwork is working with a horse without riding or driving it. Anything we do to handle a horse is considered to be groundwork - grooming, leading in hand, etc. A rider might also talk about "on the ground." For example, "One of the worst accidents I had was on the ground." (Which is true of somebody I know - horses can still be kind of dangerous at times).

A mare being ground driven, also a subset of groundwork.

What is a curb?

A curb is a chain or strap that runs from one side of the bit to the other under the horse's chin.

Curbs are used on leverage bits, which are used by most western riders and at higher levels in dressage and hunting. Some driving bits also have curb chains.

A true leverage bit cannot function correctly without a curb. The curb chain is often seen as making the bit "stronger" but it also serves the purpose of stabilizing the bit in the mouth and preventing the bit from rotating excessively, which can injure the roof of the horse's mouth. The shanks should never rotate more than 45 degrees. Mechanical hackamores also have a curb chain.

The thinner the chain, the more intense the action on the horse's chin. For this reason, a lot of people use a much milder curb strap, normally leather. English riders often use a curb liner - the chain is threaded through a leather or rubber strip.

This is a western curb bit with a leather strap. Source Montanabw via Wikimedia Commons.

Would An Opponent Really Cut The Saddle Girth?

You see this a lot in fantasy battles. A fighter on foot manages to cut a mounted warrior's girth, usually without injuring the horse.

Okay, how about a realism check here.

Here's a saddle attached to a horse. It's an English saddle because it's easier to see. The black strap at the bottom, not many shades darker than the horse, is the girth. As you can see, the girth fits snug to a horse. When riding, an English girth should be snug enough that you can insert your fingers between girth and horse but not your hand. It's literally right against the animal's body. Now, try to imagine cutting that with a knife or, worse, a sword, without injuring the horse. While the horse is moving.

Now, add this. Here the horse has a rider. You can just see the girth here...it's that dark stripe just behind the horse's shoulder. What is between any assailant and the girth? Yup. The rider's leg. Which in a battle situation would probably be armored. In order to get to the girth, the assailant would have to go under the horse - and a trained war horse would promptly kick them in the head.

Cutting the saddle girth in the heat of combat is simply not feasible unless your assailant is practically superpowered or just that insanely lucky.

Reins are more vulnerable, but losing a rein on a very well trained warhorse would not be an issue - they would almost certainly be trained to ride mostly off of the legs and seat to free up the rider's hands to fight.

What is a girth or cinch?

Sometimes I use terms so basic to me that I forget to define them. Oops.

A girth (English) or cinch (western) is the broad strap that goes under the horse's belly and holds the saddle in place. It's one of the most important pieces of tack - if your girth breaks you're in a lot of trouble.

The English girth buckles under the saddle strap. The saddle is supplied with three girth straps or billets, of which two are used (the other is a spare, in case one of them breaks).

Western cinches are secured with a single latigo - I guess cowboys are less worried about the girth separating from the saddle (and thus the saddle and rider from the horse).

Front and back cinches can be seen on these western trail horses.

What is a furlong?

A furlong is 1/8th of a mile. Traditionally flat races for Thoroughbreds and Arabians are measured in furlongs. (Those for stock horses are generally measured in yards).

The overall distance, for example, might be given as 1 1/8 mile OR 9 furlongs, and the track is generally marked for timing purposes with furlong poles.

What Is Feather?

Yes, horses have feathers. No, they can't fly with them.

Feather or feathering is long hair that grows from a horse's fetlocks. Light horses generally produce very little feather, which is normally trimmed off for neatness. Most draft horses (some, like the Suffolk, are clean-legged) and some pony breeds grow extensive feather that may cover the feet and extend up the rear of the legs.

This Appaloosa mare is "clean-legged" and in her summer coat. She has almost no feather.

This Clydesdale, on the other hand, has fairly full feather. (Source: Kersti Nebelsiek via Wikimedia Commons).

It is not acceptable to trim the feather when showing on draft and pony breeds known for having full feather. In the pony world this is part of showing "au naturel" - that is to say, the pony should be shown looking like the only thing you have done is brush it.

What is equitation?

"Her equitation sucked."

"Gaming always makes my equitation go downhill."

Equitation is a somewhat fancy term for the actual skill of a rider in handling the horse, keeping correct form, etc. At a show, equitation classes are judged entirely on the ability of the rider with the horse, in theory, not being taken into account. (Equitation horses are chosen to be quiet, not particularly flashy, and easy to ride).

In most cases, if a horseman is criticizing somebody else's equitation they refer to such things as the posture in the saddle, position of the hands, etc - you can still ride effectively but not have the best equitation.