V 



Valve-stem. A small metal tube inserted through the 

 felloe of a bicycle sulky wheel through which to pump air into 

 the pneumatic tire by means of an air pump. 



Van. A large covered, or enclosed wagon. The first 

 recorded instance, in the history of the English turf, of a race 

 horse being transported to the course, was in 1836, when Elis, 

 owned by Lord Lichfield, was safely conveyed from Danebury 

 to Doncaster in a large van which had been constructed for the 

 purpose of carrying show cattle, the wheels of which were 

 about eighteen inches high. It was drawn by four fast horses. 

 The horse won the St. Leger the odds being ten thousand to 

 one. In 1837 Crucifix and San-volatile were vanned from 

 Danebury to jSTewmarket. About 1840 horses first began to be 

 conveyed by rail in England. 



Vaniier. [Eng.] A term used to describe the van, or 

 express horse of London and other large English cities. A 

 horse weighing 1,300 to 1,400 pounds, and standing 15.3 to 16 

 hands high, strong built, with good flat bones and sound feet, 

 having bold, free action. A near approach to the standard 

 van horse would be a cross between a Cleveland Bay, or Coach 

 stallion, and a cross bred, or grade draft mare. The vans used 

 in London, Liverpool and Glasgow are two-wheeled spring 

 wagons, used where the dray is regarded as too slow or cum- 

 bersome. Van horses take a load of a ton to a ton and a half, 

 trotting with it at a fair trot most of the time, unless the 

 grade is very heavy. 



Vault. To vault into the saddle is a feat often per- 

 formed by skillful riders who have long practiced it. Stand- 

 ing on the ground facing the near or left side of the horse, the 

 left hand is placed on the pommel of the saddle, and with a 

 single leap or bound the rider gains his seat in an instant. 

 See Stirrup. 



Vehicle. Any carriage moving on land by means of 

 horses, either on wheels or runners. 



V. S. These letters, after the name of a person, mean 

 that the man whose name is given is a veterinary surgeon, 



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