156 HANDBOOK OF THE TURF. 



seen men go out to lay up a heat and lay it all up in the first 

 half mile, and then have to drive the last half as fast as they 

 could, and in that way make the heat as hard on the horse as 

 though they had tried to win the heat with him." 



Lay Over Him. To have more speed than an oppo- 

 nent ; to hold over him. 



Leaded Saddles. Weighted saddles for use when 

 dead weight is to be put on ; or for trials when the trainer 

 does not want his jockeys to know more than he can help. 



Leading" Horse. The pace-maker in a heat. Such 

 horse is entitled to any part of the course, in a heat, with the 

 exception of the homestretch. See Homestretch. 



Leap. The projection of the body off the ground by 

 means of the hind limbs, after the forehead has been raised. 

 As the horse approaches a barrier at a run, the instant it is 

 observed he begins to shorten his steps, and, apparently, meas- 

 ure its distance, preparatory to taking it. The leap cannot be 

 considered as a pace ; for although it is a mode of progression, 

 it is not a continuous one. 



Leg", A Good. Indications of a good leg are : The 



shape of the bone should be broad and flat; good size below 



the knee ; large sized cannons, with strong, clean, back sinews 



and suspensory ligaments. They should be firm and hard, 



smooth to the touch, indicating an entire absence of adipose 



tissue; the joints large and well defined, entirely free from 



abnormal appendages ; firm, elastic cords ; a short pastern, and 



short from hock and knee to pastern. 



The ordeal of the race course, and mox-e especially the trotting coursef 

 is very trying upon the legs and feet, and here soundness and 

 quality of tlie higliest order is essential. The turf horse that is 

 always troubled with" a leg" is a nuisance. — Horse Breeding, J. 

 H. Sanders. 



Leg's. Swollen legs, from whatever cause, are an 

 unsoundness until cured. 



Leggins. A part of a jockey's rig ; also worn in hunt- 

 ing and when riding. Of various patterns and styles, both 

 full length and short or half-size, the former extending above, 

 and the latter fitting below the knee. 



Lesion. Any wound or injury to the physical system ; 

 a morbid change in the structure of the bodily organs, not 

 outward changes only, but those which are indicated by an 

 interruption of any of the normal functions of the system. 



Let Him Out. To give a horse his head ; to let him 



go at speed. 



Wlien I gave Kansas his head he went to them without an effort, and 

 won tlie heat by a neck with something to spare.— Life with the 

 Trotters, John Splan. 



