Horse English Quiz 2: At the Stable

1A stiff brush used to remove dried mud from a horse’s coat is a ___.

The dandy brush is stiff. The softer body brush is used to finish.▶ Hear it

2A rubber or plastic tool moved in circles to loosen dirt and hair is a ___.

Use the curry comb in small circles, especially when the horse is moulting.▶ Hear it

3You use a ___ to clean mud and stones out of the hooves.

We say you pick out the feet with a hoof pick.▶ Hear it

4Cutting a horse’s winter coat short so it doesn’t sweat too much is called ___.

Horses are clipped. Sheep are sheared.▶ Hear it

5In British English, you plait a mane for a show. In American English you ___ it.

British plait /plæt/, American braid.▶ Hear it

6Cleaning out the dirty bedding and droppings is called ___.

Mucking out – usually done every day.▶ Hear it

7In Britain, a horse’s individual room in a stable is often called a ___.

A loose box or simply a stable. In the US: a stall.▶ Hear it

8The straw or wood shavings on the stable floor are called the ___.

Good bedding keeps the horse warm, dry and comfortable.▶ Hear it

9A small fenced field where horses graze or are turned out is a ___.

Horses are turned out in a paddock or field.▶ Hear it

10A horse kept at someone else’s yard, where the owner pays for care and space, is ___.

A livery yard. Full livery means all care is included.▶ Hear it

11Dried grass fed to horses is ___.

Hay is food. Straw is mostly used for bedding.▶ Hear it

12A large net bag of hay hung in the stable is a ___.

Fill the haynet and tie it up safely.▶ Hear it

13Horses often eat their hard feed from a ___ fixed to the stable wall.

A manger or a feed bucket.▶ Hear it

14Horses in a field drink from a water ___.

Trough rhymes with off: /trɒf/.▶ Hear it

15A horse that eats too quickly and greedily is said to ___ its food.

Bolting food can cause choke. (A horse that bolts also runs off in panic.)▶ Hear it

16All the riding equipment – saddle, bridle and so on – is called ___.

Tack. A harness is for horses that pull carts or carriages.▶ Hear it

17The leather headpiece with the bit and reins is the ___.

Bridle sounds the same as bridal (for a wedding). A halter is for leading, without a bit.▶ Hear it

18The strap that goes under the horse’s belly to hold the saddle in place is the ___.

Girth /ɡɜːθ/ – no R sound in British English.▶ Hear it

19The metal bar that goes in the horse’s mouth is the ___.

The bit is attached to the bridle and the reins.▶ Hear it

20When you ride, your feet go in the ___.

Stirrups /ˈstɪrəps/ – “STIR-ups”.▶ Hear it

21The person who trims hooves and fits horseshoes is the ___.

A farrier /ˈfæriə/. A saddler makes and repairs tack.▶ Hear it

22“My horse was ___ yesterday” – the farrier fitted new shoes.

Irregular verb: shoe – shod – shod. (Shooed means chased away!)▶ Hear it

23A horse that is limping is ___.

If your horse is lame, call the vet or the farrier.▶ Hear it

24Serious stomach pain in horses, which can be an emergency, is called ___.

Colic /ˈkɒlɪk/ – always call the vet quickly.▶ Hear it

25Giving horses regular medicine against internal parasites is called ___.

In Britain: worming (also deworming).▶ Hear it