- G
- Gait
- The way in which a horse moves - walk, trot, canter, gallop. Harness horses are divided into two distinct groups, pacers or trotters, depending on their gait when racing. The gait is the manner in which a horse moves its legs when running. The pacer is a horse with a lateral gait, whereas a trotter or square gaiter has a diagonal gait.
- Gallop
- The gallop is a three-beat gait ridden at various speeds. Most horses like a fast gallop. For harness see break.
- Gear
- Any of the equipment used on or to care for horses or greyhounds.
- Gelding
- Most male horses in racing are geldings. This means they are castrated to make them easier to handle and so they can concentrate on racing. Castrated means the testicles are removed to make the horse infertile and stop them producing the more aggressive hormones required for breeding. Geldings can be any age.
- Gig
- See sulky
- Girth
- A strap which keeps the saddle in place.
- Gooseneck trailer
- Gooseneck trailers can be set up in straight, angle or side-load positions; the main difference is the type of hitch that attaches the trailer to the vehicle.
- Grade
- Used to describe the classification of a specific race, and / or the classification of a greyhound at a specific racetrack and distance.
- Grader
- The official who determines the rating for each greyhound so that greyhounds in a given race are of roughly the same ability or have the same potential to win.
- Grey
- A horse body colour in which there is an uneven mixture of coloured and white hairs. The foals show one of the basic colours at birth but with increasing age, white hair gradually develops and eventually the whole coat appears white
- Greyhounds Australasia
- Greyhounds Australasia Ltd is a body constituted in September 2003 (and formerly known as the Australia and New Zealand Greyhound Association or ANZGA) to provide an efficient forum to facilitate a uniform, responsive and binding decision making process that maximises returns to the greyhound industry and ensures the integrity and fair conduct of greyhound racing throughout Australia and New Zealand.
- Greyhounds Australasia Rules
- These rules were formerly the Australian Greyhound Racing Rules, commonly known as the National Racing Rules. These Rules are acknowledged and adopted wherever possible by the various Greyhound controlling authorities throughout Australia and New Zealand in recognition of the need for uniformity and the ever increasing accessibility and transportability of Greyhounds nominating and racing outside their registered jurisdiction.
- Greyhounds Australasia Stud Book
- The Australian and New Zealand population of racing greyhounds is managed through this national Stud Book.
The Keeper of the Stud Book means the person appointed by Greyhounds Australasia who is responsible for: (a) compiling of all information relative to the whelping of greyhound litters; (b) monitoring, approving and where required naming greyhounds admitted into the studbook; and (c) publishing, revising and updating the studbook.
- Greyhound birthday
- Is the whelping date which means the day a greyhound is born
- Greyhound Naming and Registration Certificate
- The document that shows the colours, markings and ear brands for a specific animal to confirm its identification. Under the Greyhound Australasia Rules: rule No. 31 "...a greyhound may not be permitted to compete in an Event to be conducted by a club unless the certificate of registration of the greyhound, or, where such certificate of registration has been lost or destroyed, such other proof of registration to the satisfaction of the Stewards... are produced to the Stewards for the purpose of identification at the time of kennelling
- H
- Hackles
- A feeling of anger and animosity; "having one's hackles up". In a dog hairs on its neck and back raise involuntarily either in fright or anger.
- Hair set
- The direct that hair lays on the body or head. Sometimes the hair will part in an unusual way, for example Rhodesian Ridgebacks have a distinctive hair set down the middle of their back.
- Half mast
- A happy and relaxed horse may have its ears at half mast, which means the horse is feeling relaxed and confident with its current surroundings.
- Halter
- A piece of equipment that fits over the head and nose to control and / or lead the horse. It is often made of soft material such as rope or cord.
- Hand
- Height measurement for a horse. 10cm (or about 4 inches) from the horse's wither (shoulder top) to the ground.
- Handicapper
- Official who handicaps races by allocating certain weights to horses in a race that will give each horse a winning chance.
- Hanging
- The inclination to run in (or out) during a race. When hanging in a horse will have a tendency to veer towards the inside running rail or fence. When hanging out a horse will have a tendency to veer towards the outside running rail. A horse that is hanging will often check other runners which happen to be in its path.
- Harness
- The gear which is used to attach the sulky to a horse, to carry the hopples and to enable the driver to steer the horse.
- Hazard
- An item, material, area or activity that potentially could cause illness or injury to a person or animal.
- Headcollar
- A piece of equipment that fits over the head and nose to control and or lead the horse. It is often made of stiff material such as leather or webbing. The noseband has a separate method of adjustment top the headpiece. A special ring is included as part of the design to attach the lead.
- Headshy
- A horse that is reluctant to allow you to touch its head or ears is said to be head shy.
- Heat in the legs
- See filling.
- Height
- A horse's height is measured in hands - one hand is 10 centimetres and is suppose to represent the width of a man's hand. The height is taken from the top of the withers to the ground. Thoroughbreds and standardbreds range in height on average from 14.2 hands to 16.2 hands. You can buy a horse measuring tape which shows the hand measurement as well as centimetres.
- Hendra virus
- A disease that is passed from bats to horses then humans. It causes acute respiratory symptoms and can quickly lead to death in both horses and people.
- Herd instinct
- The need for horses to stay with other horses. Safety in numbers was an important method of protection in the days when horses were hunted for food. This trait is still very strong even though domestic horses no longer have to worry about predators.
- Hierarchy
- A system that ranks everyone in a herd or pack from the leader to the followers. This system can determine who leads the group to food, who eats or drinks first and who is allowed to mate in the group.
- Hierarchy of Control
- The Hierarchy of Control requirement of OH&S regulations outlines the types of risk management controls that can be taken and the order in which they must be applied. Your employer will use the Hierarchy of Control to develop a Risk Control Plan to identify how to eliminate or minimise the risk of injury or illness.
- High energy food
- See energy.
- Hindquarter
- The rear end of the horse.
- Hitch
-
- A place to tie-up a horse or greyhound.
- The coupling that attaches the trailer to the tow vehicle.
- A type of knot, a slip knot can be referred to as a hitch.
- Hoof colour
- The colour of the hooves is used as a method of identification. Hooves can be black, white (usually a pale cream colour) or striped black and white.
- Hopples
- The straps which connect the front and rear legs on the same side of a horse when the horse is tacked up for pacing. Most pacers wear hopples to help balance their stride and maintain a pacing gait. The length of hopples is adjustable and a trainer registers the length that best suits his or her horse. No alteration to this length can be made without permission.
- Horse
- A male horse four years or older, also known as a stallion or entire.
- Horse truck
- Trucks to transport horses are usually set up in angle or side-load positions for three or more horses. The width of the floor will usually determine the set up inside. Generally the angle of 60cm off 90 degrees will allow the best ride for horses.
- Horses' birthday
- 1st August – Thoroughbred
1st September – Standardbred
- Hydration
- Providing fluid that is used to allow all body cells to function.
- I
- Icon
- See symbol
- Induction
- An introductory process that aims to provide important information to new workers before they start a new job.
- Inquiry
- Stewards may conduct an inquiry as a result of any incident which may have occurred during a race to determine whether or not certain drivers and / or horses were responsible for the incident and whether they should receive due punishment.
Inquiries are also conducted if a horse or greyhound returns a positive drug swab, or if a licensed person does not conduct themselves in a manner which brings credit to the industry.
- Instincts
- The natural, automatic reactions of an animal / or human.
