Equestrian expressions

There are moments when you feel a bit lost with a riding friend who comes out with "odd" expressions that you still don't understand. Every discipline has its own jargon, and people from the same world find it easy to understand one another when they talk among themselves. The same goes for the horse world. Today we'd like to introduce you to a few expressions that belong to riding and riding alone.

Making firewood for the winter

The expression "making firewood for the winter" might make you think of a woodcutter stocking up before the cold season. That isn't it at all. In the horse world, when someone says a rider is making firewood for the winter, it means that the rider and horse knocked down every wooden pole on their round. The expression is used to paint that picture and to make it clear that the round was anything but clear. To stop making firewood for the winter, stock up on kit at La Sellerie Française. Your pony or horse will then have the best possible conditions for producing excellent results.

Having your backside in the wheelbarrow

When someone says a rider has their backside in the wheelbarrow, it means that they frequently struggle to lift their seat out of the saddle. To everyone else, though, having your backside in a wheelbarrow suggests a little-known activity down at the yard: wheelbarrow racing.

Putting the kennel on the dog

"Putting the kennel on the dog" is an expression describing a pair that has parted company at a fence. It's usually delivered with a slight country accent that turns "on the dog" into "on th' dog".

Putting the ganache on the inside

Keeping the bend is essential when you're working on the flat. Even so, it's sometimes hard not to make an unconscious link with the world of pâtisserie and start drooling in the middle of your session.

Having the thong on your cross-country course

The thong is a very tricky fence profile. That said, it's very funny once you recognise it on the course. Unless, of course, you're the one who has to jump it the next day and your pony clearly prefers boy shorts.

Tighten your pins

No need to worry: you don't need walking sticks or crutches at the riding school. When a rider is told to tighten their pins, they're being asked to close their calves instead of flapping them about. A trip to the gym is often recommended for such riders, too.

Having a good seat

In equestrian circles you can quite rightly boast about having a good seat. Say it in other company, though, and people will think you're a bargain hunter who picked up a nice plate at a country car boot sale.

So there you have a few equestrian expressions you'll no longer get wrong in future.