Salem's Riverfront
Carousel

Back To:
Carousel
History

Carousel Glossary

Armored Horse: This horse represents medieval horses used by knights and may show various styles of armor. Examples are Woodlands' Crusader and Brown Beauty.

Cantle: The raised back of the saddle.

Chariot: A stationary, carved unit containing a benched seat allowing people to ride a carousel without climbing onto a horse. On Salem's Riverfront Carousel, the Conestoga Wagon represents the Oregon Trail, and the Chuck Wagon represents cowboy life in Oregon.

Chip Carved: This is an illustration of actual texture which encourages touching. Dave Walker often uses it. An example is found on Morning Glory.

Cinch (also girth): The leather or cloth strap, which goes under a horse's belly, holding the saddle in place.

Finial: A crowning ornament or detail to be found at the top of Salem's Riverfront Carousel mechanism.

Foal: A baby horse up to about 6 months of age.

Hub: The center of the carousel containing the motor and mechanism used to turn the carousel.

Jumper: A horse with all four feet off the ground. The Peace Pony and Rosinante are good examples.

Latigo: A type of leather and the name of the strap used to tie the cinch tightly to the saddle.

Lead Horse: There is usually only one per carousel and it is in the outer row. There is frequently a flag on it. The "lead" horse on Salem's Riverfront Carousel is The General.

Mechanism: The metal framework that supports the horses and wooden platform, moves the horses up and down, and rotates the carousel.

Organ: The musical instrument used to produce the music heard during the carousel ride. The organ may include brass instruments and drums (or other additional instruments) to add to the musical quality.

Platform: The wood floor or deck below the horses.

Prancer: A horse, which has its rear legs on the ground and its front legs in the air. Thunder is an example of this style.

Relief Carving: A type of carving on a flat surface so that it seems to be 3-dimensional and appears to have more depth than the actual carving penetrates the surface. It is usually meant to be places against a flat surface.

Romance Side: The side of the horse facing out, away from the hub or center of the carousel, is called the "romance" side and is usually the most detailed.

Rounding Board: The top decorative outer part of the carousel forming the edge of the roof. On the SRC, each of the 12 rounding board sections contains irises, cherries, swashes and mirrors. At the junction of each rounding board is a shield.

Shield: A symbol of a family, used in ancient times to identify a family or group, now often used as a logo. There are shields included in the trappings of several horses. Examples are Woodlands' Crusader the The General. Shields are also used to join the 12 sections of the rounding boards.

Snaffle Bit: A gentle bit commonly used on horses. The mouthpiece is joined.

Stander: A horse with 3 or 4 feet on the ground and is usually stationary. The General, Woodlands' Crusader, and Stardust are good examples.

Stargazer: A horse with its head back and eyes looking skyward. Examples are Cloud Walker and Jazz.

Swash: A Baroque style shape used to tie elements of the rounding board together.

Sweeps: The beams that come out from the center of the carousel.

Trappings: The decorations found on each of the carousel giving each its distinctive look and character. Examples are the unique saddles, bridles, straps, buckles, animals, and flowers found on the horses.

***Special thanks to and in memory of Demaris Koontz for her hard work on researching and preparing this useful information***

International Museum of Carousel Art
History

Wikipedia
About Carousels