What’s A Jibe Ho… Duck?
No, it’s not today’s special on the Chinese takeout menu.
If you have been sailing, you might recognize Jibe Ho! as sailing jargon warning that the boom is about to cross from one side of the boat to the other with strong head knocking force and keeping your head low is good for your health.
Sailors love jargon. It’s part of the tradition of the sport. And when around other sailors, the language of sailing is efficient for saying much in just a few words. Jargon in any sport or industry is the vernacular that helps identify you as a member of the community.
And in the world of horses, there is no shortage of jargon and horseman’s parlance: warmbloods, hacking, barn sour, martingales, reiners, leg yield and bar shoes. Seasoned horsemen have no problem understanding your choice of words and terms, but for the inexperienced group who are entering the world of horses, your sentences may include words that might as well be Sanskrit for a newcomer to comprehend.
As you speak to the beginners, scan faces for signs of understanding. Many people are too embarrassed to ask a question when they hear a word or phrase they don’t understand. When you use specialized terminology, rephrase it and say it again in basic terms. Beginners feel awkward enough without having to feel intimidated by the foreign language of the horse world.
When you take the time to translate, trust builds.
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