The term lance originally referred to spear wielded by footmen and cavalry. It now refers only to cavalry spears. Lance designs vary between cultures and eras. Generally, a lance is a long shaft of tough wood, usually ash, with an iron head in the shape of a laurel or willow leaf, with cutting edges and a sharp point meant to penetrate armor. Lances are built to be gripped close to the bottom, putting a great distance between the wielder and the target. As a rule, the lance is aimed diagonally above the horse's neck. Two opposing lancers would face each other with their right sides facing.