Andalusian: A name given to a Spanish bred horse, the descendant of the Barb.

Appaloosa: These horses are bred selectively for a spotted coat pattern by the Nez Perce: they are larger than most Indian horses and recognized as a breed.

   

Arabian: Regarded as one of the oldest breeds, and the foundation stock of the Thoroughbreds. These horses are noted for their stamina and speed, having the finer characteristics of a concave head with small muzzle with large expressive eyes.

   

Bachelor Band: A grouping of young stallions, in a temporary status, who have been pushed out of the harem band upon reaching sexual maturity. In some cases, the older unsuccessful stallions also seek out these bands for occupation.

   

Barb: A North African horse as a breed, the major foundation breed in Spanish horses and the Mustang. Characterized as hardy, with a long, straight or convex head.

Bay: These horses appear reddish brown in coat color, also having black points (mane, tail, and legs).

Breed: Horses that share a characteristic category of size, color, and conformation regarding a common ancestry. Domestic breeds are registered through a governing society.

Bunchgrass: A semiarid, native perennial of the grassland ecosystem. Dominant grasses like grama, buffalo, or little blue stem are adapted to the dryness, and are nutritious foraging plants. In some areas, overgrazing has destroyed these native grasses.

   

Cheatgrass: An imported but opportunistic annual grass, that has substituted for those native grasses throughout the West.

Colt: A young male immature horse, from less than a year and up to sexual maturity.

   

Conformation: A special way to describe an animal, concerning shape, size, and the proportions of that horse.

   

Dorsal Stripe: A distinct stripe of dark hair from neck to tail, and regarded to be a primitive color pattern of the horse.

   

Draft Horse: A descendant of heavy northern horses, whose body build allows for the exertion of great strength. Examples would be the Clydesdale, the Belgian, etc.

Dun: A distinct color pattern found among mustangs, usually with a dorsal stripe, black points, and some with zebra stripes on their legs. Basic colors vary from Buckskin (tan or yellow) to Grulla (bluish gray) to red.

   

Ecosystem: A system of linked plants and animals that have evolved together in a certain environment. Most all the elements of the ecosystem are mutually dependent for survival.

   

Equus: Known as the modern horse (Equus caballus) evolved in its recognizable form one million years ago. They migrated from North America to all the world's grasslands and developed into many different breeds.

   

Filly: A young female horse, from less than a year old until sexual maturity.

Foal: A young horse, up to one year in age.

   

Forbs: A perennial herb with a broader leaf than grass, drought resistant, to include sunflowers, goldenrod, loco weed, and clover.

   

Gaits: Those natural paces, speed, and the pattern of movement. The four gaits are the walk, trot, canter and gallop.

   

Gelding: A castrated male horse, the surgery usually done before sexual maturity to help gentle a horse colt, or for population control.

Gene Pool: The genetic heritage of an individual or group; the governing code of life, and the mapping of the basic structure of an organism.

   

Grooming: One of the many social behaviors of the mustang, whereas the member uses their teeth to clean and rub one another. It is also used for courtship displays by stallions and a bonding ritual between the mare and newborn foal.

   

Grulla: The primitive dun color, dark or light blue-gray with black points. The Pryor Mountain mustangs have many grulla horses, and thought to be the closest to the original Spanish horses. The Grulla coloring can include black points, zebra marking on the legs and a dorsal stripe.

   

Habitat: The place where both animal and plants live and grow. Harem Band A mustang family group, made up of a stallion, mares and juveniles. This being the basic social unit of the mustang.

Harem Band: A mustang family group, made up of a stallion, mares and juveniles. This being the basic social unit of the mustang.

   

Height/Hands: A unit of measurement based on the width of the hand; equals four inches. A horse's height is measured from the withers (highest point on the horse's back) to the ground. A mustang will vary in size, but averages only 14 hands.

   

Herd: A group of grazing animals that occupy the same habitat. Mustangs only form herds when under pressure from weather or forced by crowded conditions. Traditionally the mustang is not territorial but nomadic and usually found in family units called bands.

   

Horse Culture: This period of time in the American History from 1500 to the 1900s. In the West we had the mounted Indians, cowboy, soldiers, and those settlers that lived in that era.

Longevity: A mustang life's span will vary, but rarely exceeds 20 years of age. In comparison to the domestic horse to the age of 25. Mare A fully mature female horse, fully capable of reproduction, and of 4 years old and older.

   

Mare: A fully mature female horse, fully capable of reproduction, and of 4 years old and older.

   

Muzzle: This being the soft mouth and nose of the horse, whereas the size and shape of the muzzle can denote its ancestry.

   

Paints or Pinto: A two colored horse, white and black or brown. It was thought the paint or Pinto was one of the original colors of the 16th Century Spanish horses. It was among the Plains Indians of the 19th Century these horses were prized for the color and hardiness of the animal. Palomino A gold colored horse with a white mane and tail. This coloring is found in many of American breeds, particularly in Quarter Horses.

   

Palomino: A gold colored horse with a white mane and tail. This coloring is found in many of American breeds, particularly in Quarter Horses.

Quarter Horse: The oldest recognized American breed. First breed in the 17th Century in Virginia for versatility, and prized for their ability to sprint over short distances. They were originally bred from English running horses and the descendants of Spanish horses.

   

Roman Nose: The head of a horse having distinct convex curves, characteristic of the Barb and various heavy horses. Stud or Stallion The description of a sexually mature male horse, usually three years or older. In most cases the mustang reach full maturity later than most domesticated horses.

   

Stud or Stallion: The description of a sexually mature male horse, usually three years or older. In most cases the mustang reach full maturity later than most domesticated horses.

Teeth: A horse has twelve molars and six incisors; the males have an additional tooth located behind the incisors. The permanent teeth form by six years of age. The teeth continue to grow throughout the lifetime of the horse, and the crowned teeth are the mark of a grazing animal.

   

Thoroughbred: A breed developed in England as a race horse. In this selective breeding process, the result became a reliable size, speed, intelligence and courage. The head is refined, with a long graceful neck.