Mastering the Basics: A Useful Classical Riding Glossary

The horse world is its own world, full of all kinds of words and phrases that are unique to just the horse world. Within this world are many nations, each with their own dialect (if not language). The classical world probably has one of the most complicated vocabulary. For people with a regular dressage background, many of the terms are familiar, even if not used frequently, but for those who come from other backgrounds, it can be daunting. So, here is a short list of the most common terms that people tend to struggle with (more will be added as requested). This is not a comprehensive list of all the terms, but this is a useful quick reference for riders who are starting their classical journey so that they are better prepared and can get the most out of their early lessons.

Navigating the Arena

“Go large/whole school” – Ride around the entire arena. Fun fact: “school” is an old term for riding arena.

“Half-school” – Half of the arena when cut down the short axis (halfway down the longside). In a competition arena, the half-school is the line from E to B. If you remember your elementary school days of folding paper, this is “hamburger” style.

“Centerline” – Half of the arena when cut down the long axis (halfway down the shortside). In a competition arena, this line runs from A to C. This is folding the arena “hotdog” style.

“Diagonal” – Riding from one corner to the opposite, cutting a diagonal line across the arena. For this to work, you have to start it as you begin to come onto the longside of the arena. There are many diagonal lines, but the most common is corner to corner.

“Change rein” – Change directions. Usually, the instructor will tell you how; if not, you get to choose.

“Inside” – Definition 1: The side that is closest to the center of the arena; Definition 2: The side that is more contracted in a bend. This is important in movements that turn away from the center of the arena, as “inside” shifts to be the inside of the movement or horse’s bend, not the inside of the arena.

“Outside” – Definition 1: The side that is closest to the outside of the arena; Definition 2: The side that is more stretched in a bend.

Movements

Volte – A small circle with a diameter of 10m or less. It is really useful to be able to gauge your distance so that you have an idea of the size. 10m is about 33 feet, and in a standard 20x60m arena or 20x40m arena, it is the distance between the longside and centerline. The Old Masters used to measure them by counting the horse’s strides in every half or quarter; this is very useful if the arena is not a standard size

Leg-yield – The horse “yields to the leg” of the rider and moves forward and sideways (diagonally) with a relatively straight spine ears to tail. The legs should cross, and the horse should stay mostly parallel to a wall while they move diagonally.

Bend – The curve of the horse. The horse can either be straight or slightly crescent-shaped. The crescent can be away from the direction of travel (so they move toward the stretched out part, like the back of a spoon pushing down on something, less demanding of flexibility) or toward the direction of travel (so they move toward the more contracted part, like a spoon scooping something, more demanding of flexibility). On a circle or curved line, they can bend along the arc or bend away from it, which is “counter-bent.”

Full-pass/side-pass – The horse moves completely sideways. They can either bend away from the direction of travel, have no bend, or bend toward the direction of travel.

Shoulder-in – The horse moves in a slightly sideways movement with its shoulders to the inside of the arena but hind legs still on the original line. The bend is away from the direction of travel.

Counter-shoulder-in – Shoulder-in but in the “wrong direction,” taking the shoulders toward the rail.

Haunches-in/travers – The horse moves in a slightly sideways movement with its rear end (haunches) to the inside of the arena but the front legs still on the original line. The bend in this case is toward the direction of travel.

Renvers – Haunches-in but reversed, haunches brought toward the rail with the shoulders to the inside of the arena. Some ride it like shoulder-in with the “wrong bend.”

Half-pass/traversale – The horse moves in haunches-in on a diagonal line. It looks like leg-yield but with bend going toward their destination

Turn on the forehand – The horse moves its haunches around its shoulders. It can also move like the hand on a clock around a point just in front of its nose so it doesn’t pivot on the shoulders. They can either bend away from the direction of travel, have no bend, or bend toward the direction of travel.

Turn on the haunches/passade – The horse moves its shoulders around its haunches. It can also move like the hand on a clock around a point just behind its tail so it doesn’t pivot on the hind legs. While it is similar to a pirouette, it is much larger.

Pirouette – Similar to a turn on the haunches but bent in the direction of the turn and somewhat more like riding haunches-in on a tiny circle. It is much smaller than a passade.

Reverse pirouette/Pirouette renversee – Similar to a turn on the forehand but bent in the direction of the turn, more like riding renvers on a tiny circle.

Other terms

Reprise – A set of three repetitions

Cavesson – A specialized headcollar with one or three rings on the top of the noseband. Usually, the noseband has a solid metal core and is wrapped and padded with leather. It can be used for groundwork or as a bridle either without a bit or in conjunction with a bit