Confessions Of A Nitpicker

Bill Steinkraus, 1968 Olympic individual gold medalist, describes five equestrian terms that rankle him.

- Bill Steinkraus

Being a word lover, a seasoned nitpicker and something of a curmudgeon, it is not surprising that I find certain present-day usages of equestrian terminology mildly rankling. I will pass on five of them just to get them off my chest and not expect any sudden adoption of my preferred terms.

To start with, I’ve never liked the “two-point” and the “threepoint” to describe the half-seat and the full-seat. What are the two “points”—my knees? They’re not pointed, and in the half-seat, the calves are also very much involved. As for the “three-point”—presumably my seat bones and my sacroiliac—they’re not pointed either, and the full seat also involves the thighs and the back very conspicuously. I rest my case.

Next I would like to consider the