Horse ‘vetting’ has been around for centuries, and as a result, many veterinary conditions, anatomical and other terms have colloquial or common language names. This language may seem like second nature to those of you that have experience of working with horses or have grown up immersed in the equine industry, but it is less obvious if you’re newer to the ‘horse world’.

The use of industry-specific language will vary between equestrian disciplines and sports, from racing to rodeos…and everything in between! There are also regional and international differences in terminology. However, wherever you are in the world, horse owners and horse-lovers often have a wealth of knowledge about their chosen sport or discipline and generally love to talk about horses! This guide aims to help veterinary students to become familiar with the kinds of terms you might get used to hearing and using when conversing with equine veterinary clients.