Animated horse-drawn wagon Equinality Lexicon

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lad (a) a boy or stableman who works in stables of any kind; (b) a girl who works in racing stables; known as a groom in the US
laminitis inflammation of the sensitive laminae which lie between the horny wall of the hoof and the pedal bone; it is a very painful condition
lateral aids combinations of hand and leg aids on the same side used to control the horse; used in early training as they are more readily understood by the horse
lawn meet any meet of a hunt held at a private house by invitation of the owner
length one of the measurements of distance by which a horse may be saud to win a race; the length of a horse's head and body
levade a high-school movement in which the horse rears, drawing its forefeet in, while the hindquarters are deeply bent at the haunches and carry the full weight
lighta term meaning to dismount
light horse any horse, except a Thoroughbred, used or suitable for riding such as a hack or hunter
line the direction in which a fox is travelling with hounds in pursuit
line breeding mating of horses that have one of more common ancestors, but are some generations removed
linseed the seed of flax generally used in the form of linseed jelly, oil or tea, both as a laxative and to improve the condition and gloss of the coat
livery stablean establishment where privately owned horses are kept, exercised and generally looked after, for an agreed fee; called livery in the US
long-distance riding a major sport in the USA becoming popular in other countries
  • Endurance riding held in 1919 as a series of test by the US cavalry to compare quality of Thoroughbreds with Arabs.
  • Each horse required to cover 300 miles, averaging 60 miles/day, carrying weights of 200-245 lbs.
  • annual Vermont One Hundred Mile Three-Day Competitive Trail Ride
  • The North American Trail Ride Conference in the west covers a similar series overshorter distances of twenty to thirty miles.
  • Championship is at the Tevis Cup Ride from Taho City, Nevada to Auburn, California.
  • Founded in 1955, the Tevis Cup follows the same steep trail used by Wells Fargo express riders.
  • Conditions range from snow and icy winds at Squaw Pass to 100-degree heat in El Dorado Canyon; of 175 to start, 40 percent usually drop out.
  • Rules govern rides to ensure as much protection for the horses as possible
  • Entrants finishing early are often eliminated and horses frequently examined for condition and soundness.
  • Condition judged on:
    • Recovery of pulse and respiration after a climb
    • The horse's willingness to eat
    • Signs of dehydration
    • Quality of sweat - profuse lathery sweat, as opposed to clear sweat, is an obvious sign of unfitness.
  • Penalties given for horses with sore backs, stiffness, filled legs, and nicks or cuts due to tiredness or faulty action.
loriner a person who makes the metal parts of saddlery and harness such as bits, curb chins and stirrup irons
lower aids means of transmitting instructions to the horse with legs to produce forward movement, and shift ot hold the haunches in the same manner
lunge rein a piece of cotton or nylon webbing, usually about 2.5 cm (1 in) wide and 7.5 m (25 ft) long, which is attached by a buckle and leather strap to one of the side rings on a breaking cavesson and is used in training horses; may be up to 40 feet long and enables the horse to be schooled or exercised in circles without actually being ridden
lunging method of exercising a horse using a long rein (linge rein) that is attached to a cavesson (a padded, tightly fitting form of halter) or to the bit of a bridle; the horse performs circles around the trainer, who stands in the center holding this rein

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This article was not published in the North West Breyer Horse Club newsletter. (em)
Equinealities in place since 1997, Section in place 2001, Updated 1/27/2019
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