Dobbin vs. Horse — What's the Difference?

A reliable farm horse.

A large, solid-hoofed herbivore (Equus ferus caballus).

A sturdy horse for general purposes.

A vital part of human history and culture.

A term of endearment for any horse.

A creature known for its speed and strength.

An older horse with a calm temperament.

A symbol of freedom and power.

A gentle, older horse typically used for work.

An animal bred for riding, racing, or work.

A horse, especially a working farm horse.

The horse (Equus ferus caballus) is a domesticated one-toed hoofed mammal. It belongs to the taxonomic family Equidae and is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus.

An old jaded horse.

A large plant-eating domesticated mammal with solid hoofs and a flowing mane and tail, used for riding, racing, and to carry and pull loads.

Sea gravel mixed with sand.

A frame or structure on which something is mounted or supported, especially a sawhorse.

Synonym of horse}} {{gloss

A unit of horsepower

An old jaded horse.

Heroin.

Sea gravel mixed with sand.

An obstruction in a vein.

A quiet plodding workhorse

Provide (a person or vehicle) with a horse or horses

A large hoofed mammal (Equus caballus) having a short coat, a long mane, and a long tail, domesticated since ancient times and used for riding and for drawing or carrying loads.

Any of various equine mammals, such as the wild Asian species Przewalski's horse or certain extinct forms related ancestrally to the modern horse.

A frame or device, usually with four legs, used for supporting or holding.

(Sports) A vaulting horse.

(Slang) Heroin.

Often horses Horsepower

Mounted soldiers; cavalry

A block of rock interrupting a vein and containing no minerals.

A large block of displaced rock that is caught along a fault.

To provide with a horse.

To haul or hoist energetically

To be in heat. Used of a mare.

Of or relating to a horse

Mounted on horses

Drawn or operated by a horse.

Larger or cruder than others in the same category

A hoofed mammal, Equus ferus caballus, often used throughout history for riding and draft work.

Any member of the species Equus ferus, including the Przewalski's horse and the extinct Equus ferus ferus.

(zoology) Any current or extinct animal of the family Equidae, including zebras and asses.

Cavalry soldiers (sometimes capitalized when referring to an official category).

A component of certain games.

(slang) A large and sturdy person.

(historical) A timber frame shaped like a horse, which soldiers were made to ride for punishment.

Equipment with legs.

In gymnastics, a piece of equipment with a body on two or four legs, approximately four feet high, sometimes (pommel horse) with two handles on top.

A frame with legs, used to support something.

(nautical) Type of equipment.

A rope stretching along a yard, upon which men stand when reefing or furling the sails; footrope.

An iron bar for a sheet traveller to slide upon.

A jackstay.

(mining) A mass of earthy matter, or rock of the same character as the wall rock, occurring in the course of a vein, as of coal or ore; hence, to take horse (said of a vein) is to divide into branches for a distance.

(US) An informal variant of basketball in which players match shots made by their opponent(s), each miss adding a letter to the word "horse", with 5 misses spelling the whole word and eliminating a player, until only the winner is left. Also HORSE, H-O-R-S-E or H.O.R.S.E. (see H-O-R-S-E).

(uncountable) The flesh of a horse as an item of cuisine.

(prison slang) A prison guard who smuggles contraband in or out for prisoners.

A translation or other illegitimate aid in study or examination.

Horseplay; tomfoolery.

(slang) Heroin drug.

(intransitive) To frolic, to act mischievously. (Usually followed by "around".)

(transitive) To play mischievous pranks on.

(transitive) To provide with a horse; supply horses for.

(obsolete) To get on horseback.

To sit astride of; to bestride.

(of a male horse) To copulate with (a mare).

To take or carry on the back.

To place (someone) on the back of another person, or on a wooden horse, chair, etc., to be flogged or punished.

(by extension) To flog.

(transitive) To pull, haul, or move (something) with great effort, like a horse would.

(informal) To cram (food) quickly, indiscriminately or in great volume.

To urge at work tyrannically.

To charge for work before it is finished.

A hoofed quadruped of the genus Equus; especially, the domestic horse (Equus caballus), which was domesticated in Egypt and Asia at a very early period. It has six broad molars, on each side of each jaw, with six incisors, and two canine teeth, both above and below. The mares usually have the canine teeth rudimentary or wanting. The horse differs from the true asses, in having a long, flowing mane, and the tail bushy to the base. Unlike the asses it has callosities, or chestnuts, on all its legs. The horse excels in strength, speed, docility, courage, and nobleness of character, and is used for drawing, carrying, bearing a rider, and like purposes.

The male of the genus Equus, in distinction from the female or male; usually, a castrated male.

Mounted soldiery; cavalry; - used without the plural termination; as, a regiment of horse; - distinguished from foot.

A frame with legs, used to support something; as, a clotheshorse, a sawhorse, etc.

A frame of timber, shaped like a horse, on which soldiers were made to ride for punishment.

Anything, actual or figurative, on which one rides as on a horse; a hobby.

A mass of earthy matter, or rock of the same character as the wall rock, occurring in the course of a vein, as of coal or ore; hence, to take horse - said of a vein - is to divide into branches for a distance.

A translation or other illegitimate aid in study or examination; - called also trot, pony, Dobbin.

Heroin.

Horsepower.

To provide with a horse, or with horses; to mount on, or as on, a horse.

To sit astride of; to bestride.

To mate with (a mare); - said of the male.

To take or carry on the back; as, the keeper, horsing a deer.

To place on the back of another, or on a wooden horse, etc., to be flogged; to subject to such punishment.

To get on horseback.

Solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times

A padded gymnastic apparatus on legs

Troops trained to fight on horseback;

A framework for holding wood that is being sawed

A chessman in the shape of a horse's head; can move two squares horizontally and one vertically (or vice versa)

Provide with a horse or horses

A Dobbin is a gentle, typically older workhorse known for its reliability and calm demeanor.

Durability, reliability, and a calm temperament are highly valued in a Dobbin.

While less common than in the past due to mechanization, Dobbins are still used for certain types of work and as gentle companions.

Traditionally, the term is reserved for workhorses of a certain temperament and age, but it can be used affectionately for any reliable horse.

Care for a Dobbin includes proper nutrition, grooming, and regular veterinary check-ups, similar to other horses but with potentially less emphasis on appearance.

Yes, training for a Dobbin focuses on work-related tasks and obedience, while a racing horse's training is centered on speed and performance.

A good Dobbin is sturdy, has a calm and gentle nature, and is capable of performing work tasks reliably.

There are many breeds of horses, each bred for specific traits such as speed, agility, strength, or appearance.

Horses are used for a variety of purposes, including sports, leisure riding, therapy, and in some places, work.

Horse breeding is crucial for producing animals with specific traits desired for various activities, such as racing, showing, or work.

A Dobbin is specifically characterized by its use for work and its typically older age and gentler nature, unlike horses that may be bred for a variety of purposes including racing, riding, or showing.

Choosing a Dobbin involves considering the horse's age, temperament, physical condition, and ability to perform the required tasks.

While not common, Dobbins can participate in certain classes at horse shows, especially those focusing on work abilities or temperament.

Horses have played a crucial role in transportation, agriculture, warfare, and as symbols in many cultures, significantly influencing human history.

While the role of horses has evolved, they remain integral to sports, recreation, therapy, and in some areas, work, indicating a lasting presence in society.