Meaning & use
stockings for horses
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Meanings
phraseplural
The white markings on a horse's lower legs, running from the hoof up toward the knee or hock.
Grammar: Always plural in this sense: a horse has stockings, not a stocking.
Patterns
- a horse with stockings
- white stockings on a horse's legs
- have stockings
The bay mare has four white stockings, which makes her easy to pick out in the field.
Judges often look at the shape of a horse's stockings as part of its overall marking pattern.
He bought a dark gelding with two white stockings and a small star on its forehead.
phraseplural
Long close-fitting coverings worn on a horse's lower legs for warmth, protection, or show.
Grammar: Also plural; use it when talking about items you put on the animal, not markings.
Patterns
- put stockings on a horse
- wear stockings
- a set of stockings for horses
Before the parade, the groom pulled the stockings for horses up over each leg and fastened them neatly.
These padded stockings for horses keep the legs warm after a hard workout in cold weather.
She washed the stockings for horses by hand so the elastic would not lose its shape.
Common combinations
- white stockings
- The judge noted the white stockings on all four legs.
- front stockings
- Only the front stockings are visible from this angle.
- a horse with stockings
- They were looking for a quiet pony with stockings and a kind eye.
- high stockings
- High stockings that reach the knee are common in some breeds.
- put on stockings
- The handler put on the stockings before leading the horse into the ring.
Synonyms and how they differ
- socks
- Used for the same kind of white leg markings, but usually for shorter ones that stop below the knee or hock.
- leg wraps
- Refers to protective cloth or bandage material you put on a horse; it never means a natural marking.
- markings
- A wider word covering all white patches on a horse, including the face and body, not only the legs.
Word family
- stocking noun
- A single close-fitting covering for a human foot and leg, or one such item for an animal.
- stockinged adjective
- Wearing stockings, used mainly of people or of legs with white markings.
Commonly confused: stockings for horses or socks? stockings for horses or bandages?
stockings for horses vs socks
In horse talk, socks and stockings both mean white leg markings, but socks are the shorter ones. In clothing, socks cover the foot and ankle while stockings cover more of the leg.
stockings for horses vs bandages
Bandages are wrapped on for support or protection and are removed; stockings as markings are permanent and part of the horse's coat.
Practice
Which sentence uses "stockings for horses" in the natural-marking sense?
Choose one answer.
Only option 2 describes markings the animal was born with, which is the marking sense. The other three all describe items that are put on, washed, or stored, which fits the equipment sense.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “stockings for horses”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.