a kind of iron shoe, which is placed under the rear-wheel of a wagon to curtail motion when going downhill. (See Skid-pad) (Pen and ink picture)
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Wain
A wagon.
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Wainwright
A wagon maker.
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Walk
A pace of four-time, the sequence of hoof-beats being left rear, left front, right rear, right front.
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Walk-Over
If only one horse should arrive at a race meeting to run for a certain race, it is allowed to 'walk-over'. But in order to receive the prize money, both horse and jockey must conform to the orthodox procedure, weigh-out, mount at the appointed time, canter past the stands and return to the un-saddling enclosure, be unsaddled and weigh-in.
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Wall Eye
Is a lack of pigment in the iris of the eye, showing more white than usual around the pupil.
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Wall of Hoof
The portion, which is visible, when the foot is placed flat on the ground.
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Wanting a Sack
An old coachman's term for after a crash.
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Wap-John
An old stage-coachman's term of contempt for a gentleman's coachman.
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Warble Fly
Occasionally live in horses (cattle are the natural hosts). They are large flies resembling a bee laying their eggs on the horse's coat and these stick to the base of the hairs. They crawl down the hair and burrow into the skin and migrate through the host's body. In February they migrate to the bask of the host causing a swelling with a small hole through which the maggot breaths. The maggot forms a small abscess feeding on the matter. After 30 days, they leave through the hole in the skin. As horses are not the natural host, they may behave unusually, migrating to the flank or failing to break through the skin. The larvae should never be squeezed; a warm poultice will encourage them to emerge.
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Ware Wire
A warning (pronounced 'wor wire') flung over the shoulder by one hunting man to another on sighting loose wire in a fence.
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Warranty
When buying a horse a warranty may be requested from the vendor covering: -
Exact height
Freedom from vices
Non-administration of drugs prior to examination
Alternatively, the animal's performance as a hunter, show-jumper, riding pony, eventer etc
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Water Brush
For damping down the mane and tail to encourage them to lie flat.
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Weaning
as soon as a foal starts to masticate and supplement their milk diet with grass. The time for weaning is to some extent governed by circumstances, such as the condition of the mare and foal, quality and nutritive value of the grass, but it usually takes place between the fourth and fifth month after the birth of the foal.
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Weaving
A nervous habit. It is sometimes caused by boredom. The horse rocks from side to side and may be seen lifting each foot in turn as he does so. It is most frequently seen when a horse is looking of the door of his box and swinging his head from side to side. Other horses tend to acquire the habit from observation.
