Aggregate - The total gross takings of a thoroughbred sale

 

Bid-spotters - Staff at the yearling sales placed around the sales ring to take the bids of potential buyers

 

Bidder - Someone who intends to buy at a horse sale

 

Black Type - A horse that wins a Group or Listed races earns “black type” i.e. this achievements will be noted in the pedigree page in BOLD or “black” type for any progeny of this horse

 

Broodmare - A mare used for breeding

 

By - A term used to refer to the sire of a horse. For example, is horse is said to be “by” Zabeel if Zabeel is its sire

 

Clean Legs - Legs that are free of swelling, deformity or conformation faults

 

Colt - A young male horse (3 years and under)

 

Confirmation - A horse’s anatomical make-up

 

Dam - A horse’s mother

 

Draft - Horses presented for sale by a stud or vendor

 

Fetlock - The leg joint that is the equivalent of the human ankle

 

Filly - Female horse (3 years and under)

 

Foal - A baby horse still suckling its mother

 

Gavel - The auctioneer’s hammer

 

Gelding - A male horse that has been castrated

 

Halter - A bitless bridle used for leading a horse

 

Hand - The form in which horses are measured from the ground to the top of the wither (shoulder). One hand is equivalent to 10cm

 

Horse/Stallion - A male horse (4 years and over) that is used or will potentially be used for breeding purposes

 

Knocked down - The term used to describe that the horse has been sold on the fall of the auctioneer’s hammer

 

Lot number - The thoroughbred sale catalogue number allocated to each horse

 

Median - The middle price of the sale i.e. where 50% of the catalogue is sold for more and 50% is sold for less

 

Near shoulder - The horse’s left shoulder is referred to as the near should as this is the shoulder nearest to the rider when mounting on the traditional left side

 

Passed in - If the horse has failed to reach its reserve price at auction

 

Pedigree - The family history of a horse

 

Reserve - The minimum price set by the vendor for the sale of the horse at auction

 

Rig - An abnormally developed or improperly castrated male horse

 

Service - The mating of a mare by a stallion

 

Sire - The horse’s father

 

Stud - The property where the broodmare and stallion are mated

 

Studmaster - The person in charge of the stud