Rabies: usually fatal virus
disease of warm-blooded animals causing paralysis, convulsions, and
inability to swallow; usually spread by bites from infected animals
Racehorse: a horse bred for racing. Racehorses are
mostly Thoroughbred, although other breed are used
Race Sulky: light two-wheeled vehicle used in
Standardbred racing
Racing Secretary: the official who writes the
conditions of races and assigns weights for handicap races
Rack:
the fifth gait of the American Saddlebred. It is a four beat gait, somewhat
fast and flashy
Radiograph: X ray
Rail: the fenceline, as in a "rail" class. Also,
Western term for a flat class
Rating: means of classifying the size of a show,
sometimes done beforehand according to prizes offered, and sometimes after
according to number of entries
Reabsorb: possible absorption of an early embryo
back into the mare's system
Rearing: a bad habit in a horse, of raising up on
his hind legs when he is being led or ridden. An extremely dangerous habit
that should be dealt with by a professional only
Reata: a braided leather rope; coiled and fastened
to a Western saddle
Red Roan: a mixture of red and white hairs all
over a horse's body, with red, black, or flaxen mane and tail. Also called
strawberry roan Recoil Test: on a healthy horse, if you pinch the
skin of the neck and then release it, the skin should recoil, or go back to
the way it was, immediately. If the skin takes longer than normal to recoil,
it is an indication that the horse is not well and can in some cases
indicate dehydration
Refinement: quality appearance,
indicating good breeding
Registered: a horse of purebred parents that have numbered certificates
with a particular breed organization
Rein-Back: to back up; a two-beat diagonal gait in
reverse Rein: the long strap
that passes from the bit to the riders hands, by which the rider maintains
control of the horse Renvers:
haunches-out. The opposite movement to travers, with the tail instead of the
head to the wall Respiration:
normal adult respiration rate varies among horses but is usually twelve to
fifteen breaths per minute. One breath consists of an inhalation and an
exhalation Retained Placenta:
afterbirth that has not been expelled in first three hours after foaling
Rhino: short for rhinopneumonitis
Rhinopneumonitis: Herpes, a viral disease of horse
causing respiratory problems ("snots") in young and abortion in pregnant
mares Ridden Out: finishing
a race without rider urging him to do his utmost Riding Horse: a horse used for riding; a saddle horse
Rig:
a horse with undescended testicle(s), capable of mating and reproducing.
Often sold as geldings, when they can prove dangerous in inexperienced hands
Rigging: on a saddle, straps that connect the
cinch and the saddle tree
Ring Bone: arthritis of coffin joint and/or
pastern joint causing excessive bone growth
Ring Sour: a poor attitude in a horse who does not
enjoy working in an arena and looks for ways to leave the arena or quit
working
Roached Mane: a mane that has
been shaved off, usually referred to as 'hogged' and commonly seen in both
polo ponies and cobs Roadster: now a term used only in
showing classes, a roadster was a stylish, cob-type of horse able to trot
fast for long periods Roan:
a horse color resulting from a mixture of white and black or white and red
hairs all over the body Roaring:
a breathing disorder Rolled
Heels: hoof abnormality in which low heels or too-small shoes cause the
wall to bend under at the heel
Rolled Toes: an upward bend in the leading edges of a horseshoe
Rolling: a horse lying down and rolling over, may
be normal or result of pain; possible sign of colic
Romal: a leather quirt, attached to braided
leather or rawhide reins, or "closed" reins Roman Nose: a convex profile to
the head, often associated with the heavier breeds
Rompun: brand of xylazine, an analgesic sedative
mixture used as a painkiller, pre-anesthetic, etc.
Rope: a running noose. To catch a cow with the
noose
Route Race: a race run at a mile or longer,
generally around two turns
Rowel: a small wheel with points, attached to the
shank of a spur
Rug: horse blanket, most times describing winter
blankets
Ruminant: animal with four-chambered stomach (cow,
sheep, goat, deer)
Run: a long, narrow fenced-in area usually
attached to a stall
Rundown Bandages: bandages on the hind legs, usually with a pad inside,
to keep a horse from scraping his heels when he runs
Runners: leather loops which slide up and down and
are used to keep the straps of a bridle in place
Running
Horse: the early English horses used for raving, which influenced the
development of the Thoroughbred
Running Walk: like the flat foot walk, the running
is a four-beat gait in which each foot is picked up and set down in an even
cadence. The rear end movement should be smooth and close to the ground
without any snap or pop. Each stride should reach forward and slide in as it
is set down, over striding the track of the front foot. The head shake is in
time with the rear feet and should be smooth. The tail should set still and
flow. The flat foot walk and the running walk have the same general
movements and look alike in many ways. In a true flat foot walk at least one
front foot is touching at all times, and as a flat foot walk is pushed
faster, the front end of the horse will leave the ground for a split second
each step. At that point it has become a running walk
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