Dictionary Page D

Dallying Off (Dally)

This is the action of wrapping a rope around the saddle horn while mounted on a horse. [23] One end of the rope is held taut to keep the it from coming unwound while the other end is secured to an animal. This provides an anchor for the rope, which the rider could never hold otherwise, when the restrained animal struggles to free itself. [ Rodeo ]

Dam

This is a female horse who has bore children. [40] The non-speciesist term would be "mother." [ Equine ]

Declawing

Process by where a cat’s claws are removed along with some of her bone structure so as to prevent re-growth. This procedure is preformed with a laser. [65] Generally this procedure is not considered compassionate among the animal rights community. Some veterinarians will not perform this surgery. [ Companion Animal ]

Demo

Short for demonstration; this is what is commonly known as a protest. [ Animal Rights ]

Doe

Pronounced “dough” this is a term used to designate a female deer. [ Hunting ]

Dog Fall

In chute dogging the steer is supposed to fall on his side with his feet facing the same direction as his head is forced. It is termed a “dog fall” if the steer falls opposite the direction his head is forced. The contestant must then either turn the steer’s head the other direction or let the steer get up and then force him down again the proper way. [60] [ Rodeo ]

Dogging

Used as slang this term means to wrestle, such as in chute dogging. [60] [ Rodeo ]

Down

Newly born chicks have a yellow colored covering over their bodies called down. Eventually they will grow feathers to replace the down. [66] [ Pigeon ]

Downers/Downed Animals

Animals raised in intensive confinement are often injured to the point that they cannot walk or stand. This term usually references mammals such as cows, pigs, and horses. Often these animals are injured during transport to slaughter and are consequently tied to a stationary object while the truck pulls forward, dragging them off the truck and onto the ground. If they become lame at the farm they are either drug off to be slaughtered or left to die. Some states do not allow downed animals to be slaughtered for food while others have no legislation against such practices. [ Factory Farming ]

Draft Horse

This is a type of horse characterized by a large frame and muscular physique. These horses have long hair on their legs and weigh between 1200 and 2000 lbs / 545 and 909 kg. [25] [34] An example of a draft horse would be the ever popular (and exploited) Clydesdale used by Anheuser-Busch. [ Equine ]

Drag Hunting

Often recommended as an alternative to fox hunting, drag hunting involves a volunteer human runner with around a 1-2 hour head start along a designated course. The runner often carries a rag with scent so that the hounds are able to follow. Traditional attire remains for the riders, but the pace of the hunt is faster, covering more distance, and incorporates jumps and individual stages. During long runs horses are replaced between some stages. [8] [ Hunting ]

Draize Test

This is a test where 100 milligrams of a given substance is placed in the eye of rabbits to attempt to determine an effect in humans. The deterioration of the eye is then recorded for an average of 72 hours (some studies last over two weeks). Though companies are not required to perform these tests many view it as a way to minimize liability because even if a product causes eye damage there are tests results to fall back on incase of a lawsuit. [49] Rabbits are chosen as test subjects because of their relative inability to cleanse their eyes of foreign substances. They are often restrained with eyes held open to further the ease of the experiments. [ Experimentation ]

Dress(ing)

To dress a animal is to prepare its body for a purpose which is usually storage but sometimes includes consumption. [ Hunting ]

Dressage

This is mainly a show event (think pomp and circumstance). Riders don luxurious or “proper” apparel and mount a horse that has what they view as superior dressage characteristics such as body stance, lines, and breed attributes. There is contemporary dressage and classical dressage. Contemporary dressage involves more modern attire, while classical dates back to the Baroque period in Europe and was started by the aristocracy. [42] It is thus modeled after the dressage look during that period. [ Equine ]

Drive

A drive is a concerted effort on the part of hunters to expel their prey from hiding in an attempt to kill them. For instance, when deer hunting, a drive is conducted by a number of hunters (drivers) entering a span of timber at one end while other hunters take positions at or near likely escape routes that the fleeing animals will use. While walking through (driving) the timber, the hunters make no effort to silence their movement because the intent is to scare the animal out to the awaiting shooters where it can be killed. Some hunters use this as a supplemental tactic when normal animal movement is low on a given day, or as a primary tactic practiced regardless of animal movement. Sometimes all terrain vehicles are used to scare out animals but this varies according to the governing laws and hunter ethic. [ Hunting ]

Driving

This is where a horse is driven as opposed to ridden. Driving horses pull a driver behind them in a variety of ways such as in carriages and coaches. [ Equine ]

Drag

The area where most of the lofts are concentrated for each race is referred to as the drag. [66] [ Pigeon ]

Dropper

This is a pigeon that is used to bring other pigeons back to the loft. When released the dropper flies across the keeper’s yard and onto the landing board. The pigeons flying above see the dropper go to the landing board and follow her. Because the birds aren’t free to come and go as they please, this is a way for the keeper to get the pigeons back in the loft when he wants. [66] [ Pigeon ]

Droppings

Bird excrement. [66] [ Pigeon ]

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Posted/Updated: 7/09/04