HANDBOOK OF THE TURF. 161 



Loops. Keepers attached to a bridle, or other part of 

 the harness, used with buckles to retain the ends of the billets 

 and straps. 



Lope. A long stride; loping gait; a leisurely canter 

 with a somewhat long, easy stride ; the gallop slowed down. 



Losing" Horse. A beaten horse in a performance ; a 

 horse that is not a winner. 



Luck. The origin of the superstition that a horseshoe 

 brings good luck, can be traced back to the thirteenth century. 

 It is left on record by the monk, Gervaise, of "Tillbury, that at 

 that time there was a kind of demon in England, which 

 appeared as a horse rearing on his hind legs, and with spark- 

 ling eyes, whose presence foretold conflagrations and disaster. 

 As a charm to allay his fearful deeds, a horseshoe nailed 

 against a building prevented it from catching fire ; and the 

 finding of a horseshoe was regarded as a sign of good luck. 



Lu^. When a horse is heavy-headed, drives on one rein' 

 bears down or pulls, he is said to " lug," or to " lug on the bit.' 



Whenever Siiiiol showed an indication to hig I would let her have her 

 head, talk to her, and have her go along as easily as possible, with- 

 out being hard held, and she gradually forgot to pull. — Training 

 the Trotting Horse, Charles Marvin. 



Lug's. Straps attached to each side of the saddle of a 

 single harness, having a strong loop near the end to receive 

 and hold in place the thills of a sulky or carriage. 



Lugging. A term used to denote that one of the horses 

 in a span or double team, which does not do his share of the 

 work, is being lugged, or pulled along by his mate. 



Lunette. A tip, or half-shoe, claimed to have been 

 invented by Lafossepere, the great French veterinary authority, 

 in 1756, but which, it is said, he really derived from Fiaschi, 

 his great Italian predecessor, who devised it so early as 1556. 

 It is a tip, or plate, ending at the quarters, where it is drawn 

 thin, leaving the wall, bars and frog at the heel to bear upon 

 the ground. 



Lunge. A quick stride ; a plunge ; to dash off in a 

 frantic, unmanageable way; the plunging or jumping of a 

 horse held by a long rein for training or exercise. 



Lungs. All diseases affecting the lungs of the horse 

 are causes of unsoundness. 



Lunk-head. An ignorant, awkward, stupid horse ; one 

 incapable of being educated or taught, having a dull eye, big 

 belly, banged tail, and no spirit; with a large head, lolling 

 tongue, and an aimless, lazy gait. 



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