Lameness
[Veterinary Medicine] Lameness is described as a sudden change in a horse’s gait. Mostly it is recognized when a horse is limping or when a rider mounts and notices that the horse is not moving out well. The causes of lameness are legion, but fortunately most of the common causes are minor and self limited. If you own a horse or ride one, it is a safe bet that at some point, it will come up lame. Many times this occurrence has been a source of disappointment to me personally. There are those riders who keep a second horse as a hedge against missing an important event due to a lame horse. I would advise, any rider if you believe your horse might be lame; for heavens sake, stop immediately and do not ride him. We usually call a veterinarian, but with mild lameness initial watchful waiting is not inappropriate.
Laminae
[Equine Anatomy] The laminae are key structures within a horse's hooves that interlock the distal phalanx of the 3rd digit (coffin bone) to the inside of the hoof wall.
Laminae
[Equine Anatomy] The laminae are key structures within a horse's hooves that interlock the distal phalanx of the 3rd digit (coffin bone) to the inside of the hoof wall.
Lark
[Fox Chasing] Member of the field, who unnecessarily jump fences or otherwise move around while the hunt is in progress, are said to be off on a lark. The practice is particularly frowned upon and not just a venial sin.Lateral Patellar Luxation
[Veterinary Medicine] Congenital lateral patellar luxation is an outward displacement of the patella (knee cap) present at birth. Surgical management is generally successful.
Leadline Class
[Horse Show Category] Leadline classes were traditionally included in horse shows as a young child's introduction to showing in a ring. The event was noncompetitive and there was a ribbon for all. More recently a second kind of competitive leadline class has come into being and this one attempts to judge the entries competitively. An adult should investigate the event and decide which type the show is and what kind would be in the child's best interest. During the show an adult holds the pony with a leadline. Generally, the child will be holding reins. A brief trot may be requested. Dress requirements will vary according to the rules of the show.
Lead Pony
[Horse Racing] A lead pony and its rider conducts a race horse from the paddock to post by walking along side of it.
Levade
[Dressage] The levade is a classical dressage exhibitionary movement in which the horse stands on bent hind legs with its body at about 35 degrees to the perpendicular. This pose is only held for seconds but requires much training and strength on the part of the horse. It might be done with or without a mounted rider. This can be seen during exhibitions by the Spanish Riding School of Vienna but is not commonly done by ordinary dressage riders, given its difficulty and the strain placed on the horse. My gray did very nice levades when we would try to load him on a trailer.
Life Guards
|
[Military] The Life Guards are the senior the cavalry regiment of the British Army, part of the Household Cavalry. The regiment maintains a mounted troop, which conducts a colorful mounted changing of the guard ceremony in the courtyard in front of the Horse Guards building.(facing Whitehall). This ceremony is less well-know than the foot ceremony at Buckingham place but is a must see by any horse lover when visiting London. You are likely to get a front row seat without the mass of usual tourists. They wear a scarlet tunic, a metal cuirass and a matching helmet with a white plume.
Light Brigade
|
[Military] The famous charge of the Light Brigade was a British military debacle that occurred during the October 25, 1854 Battle of Balaclava during the Crimean War and the subject of a poem by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. Due to a confusion of orders, several regiment of British cavalry made a suicidal attack against an artillery position that had been recently captured by the enemy. The attack was gamely carried out, unsuccessful and the resulting casualties heavy.
Light Cavalry
[Military] Light cavalry were a class of cavalry units intended to function for scouting, escorting, skirmishing, screening, foraging and acting as couriers but not as a main battle element. Cavalry in the Americas were for the most type of this type.
Light Seat
|
[Basic Riding Positions] The light seat is one of three principle riding seats (rider's positions in the saddle) and the one most commonly used. Many riders are not even aware of it having a name, but naturally develop it when learning to ride. This position is intermediate between the forward leaning (hunter or jumping) seat and the slightly backward (dressage or classical) seat and only slightly forwards. The name comes from the fact that the position is very light on the horses back and spine. The knees are somewhat bent with the stirrups worn two holes shorter than one might for the dressage seat in which the leg is relatively straight. While balanced in his seat position the rider’s weight should be carried by his thighs and knees. The rider is seated in the saddle, but does not carry his weight in the saddle. A beginning rider who allows his lower legs to slip backwards of the center of gravity will quickly notice that all balance is lost and a fall possible. In this position hands are held still and just above neck with the reins, the back of the hand, the lower arm forming one straight line. This is much different than in Western riding. A veteran English rider automatically does all these things, but for the beginner they all must the learned and practiced.
Limited Distance Ride
[Equine Event] Categories of beginner endurance trail riding competitions are defined in terms of a limited distance, starting at 25 or 35 miles achieved in a prescribed period of time. Advanced competitions are set at 50 or 100 miles. The limited rides allow horse and rider to discover if they can truly go the distance.
Line
[Fox Chasing] The line is the scent trail of the fox that the hounds are following.
Lipizzaner
|
[Equine Breed] Lipizzaners are a breed of horses established under the patronage of the Hapsburg dynasty of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The name comes from the original stud farm at Lipica in Slovenia. They are the breed employed by Spanish Riding School of Vienna, Austria and are exhibited preforming the difficult haute école (high school) movements of classical dressage. Although adult Lipizzaners are generally gray in color, like other grays they are born bay or black and lighten as they age. Lipizzaners are muscular, mature slowly and live relatively long lives. These are good traits to have in that classical dressage requires a long training period and a strong animal to master.
Long-Coupled
[Equine Body Type] The term long-coupled refers to a horse with a relatively longer back that typical of other horses. Certain breeds are characteristically long-coupled, such as the Thoroughbred, where a longer back contributes to longer strides better for racing. Many riders prefer short-coupled horses, such as Arabians or Quarter Horses, with the idea they are more maneuverable and quick during show jumping, barrel racing or cutting. Short-coupled horses are generally believed to be much more successful in bucking their riders off than long-coupled ones. Long-coupled horses may be more likely to suffer soft tissue back trauma.
Long Reining
[Schooling] Long reining is a schooling technique in which the horse is controlled by a pair of long reins (often lunge lines) passed through a special training surcingle (also called a roller) on the horse's body or a saddle's stirrup leathers, hanging just below the flap and then attached to a bridle less its normal reins. The horse is worked using voice commands and signals via the reins. Long reining more closely simulates the experience of aids for the horse but without a rider on its back. The trainer is at a distance behind the horse, often over 9 feet and standing slightly to the side, so as not to be in the horse's blind spot. If done for the first time, it would be good to get instruction in using the technique from a person experienced with it. .
Loose Ring Jointed Snaffle Bit
|
[Equine Equipage] A loose ring jointed snaffle bit is a single jointed, non-leverage bit ending in loose rings that hold the reins. It has a mild pinching and gagging action when applied.
Lope
[Equine Gait] The term lope denotes a type of slow canter that is preferred in Western style riding. It is easy on the horse over longer distances and allows the rider to sit comfortably down in the saddle, something more difficult to sustain during faster canters.
Lungeing
[Schooling] Lungeing refers to exercising a horse in a wide circle without a rider and while attached to a long line and having a special halter on its head, called a lungeing cavesson. The horse is impelled by the human's voice, body movements and the use of a special lunge whip, which mostly does not touch the animal and never used to actually strike a horse, which would be counter productive . This is a means of schooling the animal and is very useful. I found I needed to receive instruction from a trainer in lungeing techniques. My horse had a tendency to come straight to me and stand there rather than proceed around the circle as it should and thereby defeat the purpose of the exercise. It really is much harder to learn to lunge properly than you might think. You not only need to know basic technique but also have a clear sense of what you are trying to teach the animal in doing it. Any kind of training can sour an animal if not properly done with clear goals and a cut off point in mind.