Horse Racing Glossary and Terms

Health and Veterinary Terms

Medications and health problems race horses may have

BLEEDER:   Horse who had pulmonary bleeding during or after a workout or race due to ruptured blood vessel.

BOWED TENDON:   Rupture of the sheath enclosing the tendon from the knee to the fetlock joint.

BREAKDOWN:   When a horse suffered an injury; lameness. Commonly used to refer to a catastrophic or fatal breakdown.

BUCKED SHINS:   Inflammation of the shin to which young horses are particularly susceptible. Usually treated by pin-firing.

BUTE:   Phenylbutazone, a commonly used analgesic for horses.

LAMINITIS:   Inflammation of the soft tissue inside the wall of the hoof.

FUROSEMIDE:   Lasix, the medication used to treat of bleeders.

QUARTER CRACK:   Crack in wall of hoof.

RUNDOWN BANDAGES:   Bandages on the hind legs, usually with a pad inside, to keep a horse from scraping his heels when he runs.

WASHY:   Horse breaking out in nervous sweat before race, sometimes to the point it will be dripping from his belly.