W

Walk
A four beat flat-footed gait.

War bridle
A restraining rope on the horse's head. Some war bridles run from poll to the gums of the mouth.

Wean
To permanently separate the mare and foal.

Weanling
A foal that has been separated from the mare.

Weaving
When a horse sways from one side to the other. Caused from boredom, confinement and stress.

W.E.E.
Western equine encephalomyelitis.

Western Banding
A western grooming technique using braid binder elastics to make many tiny pony tails in the mane.

Western
Term referring to riders who use western tack and equipment and train for western disciplines: reining, cutting, roping, pleasure and recreation.

Whippletree
A wooden device with metal rings or hooks to which the traces attach.

White line
The thin white border on the bottom of a horses foot, between the sole and wall.

Wind Sucking
Cribbing; where the horse takes hold of an object with his teeth, pulls back and takes in air, making a 'gulping' sound.

Withers
The arch of the horse's spine where it enters from the back and joins into the neck.

Wolf teeth
Small peg like teeth at the front of the mouth.

Wood chewing
A vice where the horse consistently eats anything wood: fences, stalls, trees.

Working Gait
A dressage term for a gait that is free, elastic, calm, energetic and unconstrained.

Worms
Internal parasites.