Icetail: refers to a tail that has many short hairs at the base that stick out; most natural tails do have these, but very fuzzy tails are called "icetails"

Impaction: blockage of the digestive tract with food material (usually in the large intestine)

Impost: weight carried or assigned

Imprinting: training a newborn foal. Usually the foal is handled and petted all over at birth, the feet are picked up and tapped on, the mouth and inside the ears are pet, and sometimes the foal is exposed to loud noises. All of this 'imprints' the foal so that when it is older it will not be afraid of these things. Usually this training is done within an hour of birth, then the foal is left to bond with and nurse its mother

Impulsion: the energy and thrust forward characterized by a forward reaching rather than a backward pushing motion.

In The Hole: third in line to enter the pen; after "on deck."

In-and-Out: combination fence

Infield: the area within the inner racing surface

In Hand: an animal being led as opposed to driven or ridden

In Hand: running under moderate control, at less than best pace

In-hand Class: a class in which the horse is led by the exhibitor

In heat/in season: a mare who is in her oestrus cycle; it is at this time that she is likely to be receptive to a stallion

Inquiry: investigation by officials to determine if a race was won fairly and without interference

Inside: in a pen or riding ring, the side of the horse toward the center

Interdental Space: the space on the horse's jawbone between the incisors and pre-molars where there are no teeth, making room for the bit.

Intestinal Flora: the normal bacteria found in the intestine

Intramuscular (IM): in the muscle

Intravenous: in the vein

Intussusception: telescoping of the intestine

Inversion: a dangerous condition where a horse's respiration rate is higher than its pulse rate.

Invitational: a stakes race open only to horses who are invited to enter. Generally no entry fee is charged

Irons: stirrups on an English saddle

Isoerythrolysis: a condition in which antibodies in the mare's colostrum destroy the foal's red blood cells

Return to Glossary page