I found this great article on Yahoo. news today about where theThoroughbred horse got his speed and how it may hope find the genetics to diseases. Really cool. Thank you Mr Potter.
J
All Thoroughbreds Have Same Ancestor
By Ned Potter | ABC News – 8 hrs ago…
“The Bazzani Scully Brand Lawyers Handicap race, Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 26, 2012. Scott Barbour/Getty Images
All the great names in thoroughbred horse racing – from Secretariat to Man O’War, from Seabiscuit to Seattle Slew – they’re all related, and a team of geneticists has now traced their talent for speed back to a single ancestor. The “speed gene” that made them all so fast was apparently a genetic aberration, and it probably started with one British mare who lived in the mid-17th century.
Emmeline Hill of University College Dublin led a team that analyzed DNA in 593 horses from 22 modern breeds, as well as museum specimens from 12 historically famous stallions. Modern genetics have become sophisticated enough that they could tell, with considerable precision, what the horses had in common.
“The results show that the ‘speed gene’ entered the thoroughbred from a single founder, which was most likely a British mare about 300 years ago when local British horse types were the pre-eminent racing horses, prior to the formal foundation of the thoroughbred racehorse,” said Hill in a prepared statement.
She and her colleagues published their findings in the journal Nature Communications.
Lest this seem like some arcane animal study, it does involve a big-money sport and, more important, questions about how genetic characteristics can be inherited and traced. If you can decipher the genes that make thoroughbreds so fast, say the researchers, you can also find clues to genetic diseases in people. Thoroughbred horses are useful for study because the records of their ancestry are – forgive the pun – really, really thorough, going back centuries.
The great speed horses all shared two genes associated with muscle development. The combination did not show up in regular farm horses, or donkeys, or zebras.
Horses with the two genes were consistently top sprinters. It’s no accident that the Kentucky Derby is a mile and a quarter, usually won in just more than two minutes. Other genetic combinations were found in horses that were slower but able to run longer.
“LAFAYETTE, N.J. (AP) — Authorities say a fast-moving fire destroyed a barn, killing 22 show horses owned by a noted New Jersey equestrian family and worth tens of thousands of dollars each.
State Police Sgt. Brian Polite says the barn was engulfed in flames when troopers arrived around 2 a.m. Saturday in Lafayette. The blaze was soon extinguished, but all the horses inside were killed.
Polite says the animals were valued at $10,000 to $60,000 apiece.
Betty Hahn, whose family owns the horses, tells a local newspaper that no hay or fuel was stored in the barn, so she’s baffled about how the blaze began. Hahn says her family has competed and won awards in equestrian competitions along the East Coast.”
Man of Integrity…the Big Horse.
Man of Integrity aka 'the big horse'
A horse I owned died in a barn fire like this one. His papers said his name was Man of Integrity. We called him ‘The Big Horse’ because when he put his head up I think it towered over the Eiffel Tower. He was fifteen hands tall, chestnut, an American Saddlebred gelding. But boy could he lift his head to the clouds.
I remember trying to clip the winter hair out of his ears once. Footstool or no, couldn’t reach them. You know that thing race horses wear that covers their face and cups the eyes so they can’t see behind them? Well I had one and for some odd reason I thought about using it that day. Oh, ‘The Big Horse’ let me put it on. No problem…no buzzing clippers. So, I put this racing mask on and had to sit on the ground to clip his ears. Yes, he thought up was down. I’ll never forget that. I still laugh thinking about it.
Before me, most of The Big Horse’s training was in harness. Slap a saddle on the ol’ boy and he was miserable. He loved harness. Even my mother, who feared horses, could drive ‘The Big Horse’. But here’s the thing, Fine-harness show horses are not allowed to break into a canter. They get disqualified in the class for that. So, for at least ten years ‘The Big Horse” was never allowed to canter.
He didn’t make it in the show ring as the Fine Harness , so they clipped his mane and made him a Three-gaited show horse. That meant cantering. He was all screwed up now. And yeah, I bought him…cheap.
He and I struggled with canter leads. He just didn’t know how to break into one. He always hesitated like he would be punished or something–a back lash from his harness days. Once he even reared up and fell over on me . He reared. I lost balance. Over we went. I survived by the grace of God. We both saw stars.
So, I figured out the real problem. You see, one winter I decided to turn the Val and ‘ The Big Horse” out for the winter instead of working them out in the cold. Brilliant idea huh? I brought ‘em in at night, fed ‘em, let ‘em out each morning.
Day One: I let Val out. He took off lickety-split down the lane to the pasture, took the right angle turn like a barrel horse, and off he went kicking and bucking like a spring colt.
I took The Big Horse out. Let him go. He stood there. Didn’t know what to do. Saw Val. Wanted to join him. He wanted to hurry. Tried to canter. His legs were as stiff as toothpicks. He bounced down that lane like a cartoon character. Came to the turn. STOPPED. WALKED AROUND IT. And peg-legged it out to the pasture.
I was totally dumbfounded . He couldn’t remember how to canter!!
Spring: Both horses raced around the right angle turn to the barn at a neck breaking speed like teenagers in a car race. Yeah, The Big Horse had figured out what he had forgotten. And the canter became easier between us.
I had another great moment with him happened in a Three-Gaited Class. Here we were, a girl against a bunch of trainers. Four of them. Three showing and one judging the class. The Big Horse and I had all the applause all through the class and took fourth. Real shocker here isn’t it? The crowd booed first place, second and third, then cheered when I left the arena. hee hee
And then my parents and I sold him to a lady in Chicago. I had decided to marry and move on. And her trainer’s barn went up in smoke. Other horses besides The Big Horse died that night.
You see, horses won’t leave their stalls even if the stall doors are open. Smoke is out there. Flames are out there. Won’t go. That’s why you have to blindfold them. And usually a barn is wood and the floors are covered with straw or wood chips. In some cases, hay is kept in the loft too. So please, keep anything like cigarettes away from a barn, any barn.
It still breaks my heart that I sold The Big Horse. He was a beautiful, wonderful, kind animal with more integrity than most people.
Well, we made it. A new year is here with all the plans for an even better year than last. And I hope it is for everyone who stopped by and all who left a note and said howdy. You are all appreciated for sure.
My goals here is to continue to help those of you who write using horses. That’s my goal. Horses are such wonderful creatures and my adventure in helping you has only made me even more aware of how this is true.
I miss having that ‘dialogue’ with a horse . I was raised, “You don’t have a horse unless you can take care of it.’ To my dad, that wasn’t just leaving a horse in the pasture. It was training, riding, and caring everyday. Boy do I miss that.
For me that is the perfect workout. Think about it. Twice a day. Morning and Evening. You move at least for one hour if you just clean stalls, groom, feed, carry water, sweep floor. Now add exercising the horse…who also gets exercised? Every day.
That’s the glitch for me around here. Joe and I have dogs and that alone is a responsibility. Fortunately, when we have to go outta town, we have friends who can come out and stay here. But to expect them to care for horses…a bit too much to ask. And we don’t have a barn or the money to build one. On top of that, just dogs alone are expensive. Horses can be as expensive as kids. That’s not adding to the expense of showing. That can add up quickly enough to a college education in time.
So I live through you and your stories. So thank you. It means a lot. If you EVER have any issue in your story regarding horses. Let me know. I’ll do what I can to assist.
Also, this year I plan to publish a pictorial guide to Writers Riding. I hope to make your research easier and more accessible. I’ll keep you posted on how it’s coming along. I know this stuff but getting the layout right, wow. Not easy.
And I’ll keep coming up with connections for you to check out as it interests you orf something ‘horsey’ that maybe you can use in your stories maybe. And I’m planning on helping you connect with horse people too. You’ve helped me discover a bunch that you should know too.
Well, keep writing and riding,
My best to you all and again, thank you for a wonderful year
And it was well worth it. Lovely story of loving horses and horses loving back. And they do.
There was little I failed to like. Barbwire is always bad. And how could you not have death scenes in a war movie and it was WWI. “War is Hell”
But then as life, there is lots of beauty. A mother’s love of family…a father’s, son’s and friends’. There will always be beauty in that. Beauty between enemies even. There is the beauty of horses both young and old. Both playing together and working together. Beauty and friendship between horses. And they do have friendships as we do.
And the surprised beauty in how life comes in circles by some miracle or divine right. So, be sure to go see this heart warming story of a boy and his horse.
I will never get tired of seeing horses. Enjoy and may you be able to capture some of this animals beauty in your stories.
Have the best of Christmases and may your new year be beyond your dreams
J
I have no doubt that I am gonna cry in this movie. WWI was a horrible affair and there were so many horses left behind and so many people starving. It is any wonder horse meat is treasured. This animal did more than help win this war.. It also kept it alive.
Now I just learned Congress is going to use tax dollars to slaughter horses in the USA again. I agree with the anti-slaughter in the way of…just put the horses down. Don’t slaughter. It is cruel and heartless. And don’t use my tax dollars for this without any profit return. Their meat will be sent overseas and sold there for profit. It’s wrong all the way around. Obama has okayed this bill. Now it’s before Congress. Please write them.
According to Luigi Gianoli, Horses and Horsemanship through the Ages, about 60 million years ago horses roamed the western plains of the North American continent. They “became extinct in the wake of cosmic upheaval, so that when the Spaniards arrived in the New World, they could find no trace of a horse.” These little guys were about the size of a little dog and ran in herds. Back then, man hunted them for food and drove these little creatures over cliffs. Then, in 1882, professors of Columbia University found the bones of these mini horses “in the Mississippi Basin and at the foot of the Rocky Mountains.” So horses were here.
Then, around the 1600′s, when the Spaniards met the Aztecs, they brought horses with them. When the conquistadors left to return to Spain with the Aztec’s gold, they left their horses behind. Once again, the horses gathered in herds and became the stock of the American mustang.
So, if you are writing a story before the Spaniards arrived in the Americas, remember, the Native Americans did not ride horses back then. Native Americans walked everywhere they went, carrying their belongings or using the domesticated wolf as a pack animal.
Eventually, the Navajo, Pueblo and Apache heard of these “great dogs of the white man” through the trader’s stories or from the few who managed to actually see this animal. By this time the horse had evolved to the size of a large pony and now had a hoof instead of four toes. The Native American tribes had no idea how this curiosity would impact their future.
But the horse did.
From 1600 to today, the horse has been and is revered by all the tribes of the Native Americans. Some came to believe that the sun had herds and blessed earth with them. They were associated with the moon. Or, according to Laverne Harrell Clark in her book ‘They Sang for Horses,” these magnificent creatures have gods riding them or being gods themselves. (I can’t say enough about Ms Clark’s book if you want fantastic details about the coming of the horse to the Native American Indians.)
Young braves soon became adept at stealing horses anywhere he could find them. This theft gave this young men status in the tribe because when they returned home with their prizes, they gave these stolen horses away to tribe members. Imagine a father approached by a successful brave seeking the man’s daughter as his woman. If the young man presented him with many horses, the father would know the young brave could care for his daughter and the father could now give these away as gifts.
The tribes swiftly incorporated the horse into their lives as quickly as we have computers. Horses provided better hunting as well as protection and the tribes could travel farther distances for shelter and food because they ride and could use these ’big dogs’ as pack animals. Needless to say the Native Americans quickly came to love and honor this animal in their ceremonies as well as become experts on riding bareback (No stirrups !) That is until they met the American cowboys and they learned of saddles and such.
Put all this on a time line of American history. By the time of the Westward Expansion and the Civil War–barely two hundred years, the tribes had just mastered horses. Then, the automobile was invented, changing lives for everyone.
You know the history from here. But regardless of whether the truck or car have replaced the necessity of horse, the horse is still revered by the Native Americans. To own one is to have a gift from heaven.
Things are gonna change around here. Just letting you know up front. The plan is…for the better.
Yeah, I’m very frustrated with my blog and appreciate how patient all of you have been with me. Thank you for sticking in there with me. I realllllly need to figure out WordPress and make it work better. I bought a book on WP “WordPress for beginners.” And I’ve learned so far what I know, what I don’t know and remain sufficiently confused. You will see some changes. I know that. I would love to get your blogs on horses up on my blogs. I would love to do interviews with you. I would love to have my site link to yours so my guest discover you and become friends. And that’s just the beginning of figuring this WP out. And I want to make it nicer for you to enjoy. I promise to keep up the horse blogs too. I will do better.
Exciting news too. My plan is to also publish a book based off this blog…A writers pictorial reference guide. Let me know if there is anything extra special you would like me to include. Your advice would be greatly appreciated. Really. This is gonna happen.
The American Saddlebred is an American made, American bred, American through and through. I hope you enjoy this video that explains why this horse if amazing…
I wish every child had the chance to experience this horse or any horse. What a wonderful blessing…I know…Valjean was an American Saddlebred and the best friend anyone could ever have.
<a href=”http://” title=”Dancing with Horses” target=”
Well, it’s been a few months since we met here and I am so very grateful for you coming here to help your stories just get better and better.
Thank you!!!!
Now, I need to know what you want, what you need. I do have more blogs in mind but YOU come first. Let me know what you want to know about horses. I’ll do the digging for ya and please know…I love this.
Future topics???
Native Americans and their horses.
Historical breeds
More interviews with equestrians
More links to sites
Just let me know what you would like to read and need.
J
oh and I think some of my videos aren’t working…I’ll be checking on those to get them back in order. I bet its updates and all. Hang in there with me.
Let’s lift a toast to the world of racing…to the jockeys, owners, trainers, fans, and of course the beautiful Thoroughbred horses that have qualified to run in
The Triple Crown.
A toast can be anything from water to wine, but each race of the Triple Crown has its own specialty drink that has been enjoyed during all the years of these races. As a writer, you may want to use these traditional drinks, songs and flowers to add a bit of fun in your horseracing stories as a character sensory detail.
Dawn your hat, smell the thick scent of roses, hear voices singing “My Old Kentucky Home” and lift your Mint Julep to the Kentucky Derby. Here’s the recipe for this traditional drink:
The Kentucky Derby Mint Julep 2 C Sugar
2 C water
6-8 sprigs of fresh mint
crushed ice
Kentucky Whisky as Maker Mark or Early Times
Silver Julep cup
Make a syrup by boiling sugar and water together for five minutes. Cool in covered container with 6-8 sprigs of fresh mint and refrigerate overnight. Fill a julep cup with crushed ice, add one tablespoon mint syrup and 2 oz of whisky. Stir rapidly to frost cup and garnish with a fresh sprig of mint.
(Approximately 120,000 mint julep are served on Derby day, using 10,000 bottles of Early Times Mint Julep cocktail, 1000 pounds of fresh mint, and 60,000 pounds of ice.)
The Preakness, the second race of the Triple Crown, has the fragrant summer flower, the Black-eyed Susans, even though they aren’t blooming at the time of this race. Spectators sing “Maryland My Maryland” and lift this traditional drink. Here’s its recipe:
Preakness- Black-eyed Susan Cocktail
3/4 C orange juice
1/2 C pineapple juice
3T vodka
3T light rum
2T orange liquor as Gran Marnier
Crushed ice
Garnish with lime slices and/or fresh cherries
Stir together first five ingredients. Fill 2 (12 oz) glasses with crushed ice. Pour orange juice mixture over ice and garnish.
Now, to the Test of Champions- the longest and most difficult of the three races- The Belmont Race. This final race of the Triple Crown has the the sweet-scented flower of the Carnation for ‘love and luck’. If the favored horse has won the two previous races, heart and voices lift to sing ‘New York New York’ and then toast with The Belmont Breeze. Here’s the recipe for:
The Belmont Breeze
1 1/2 oz Kentucky Bourbon or American blended whiskey or 3/4 oz of Harvey’s Bristol Cream Sherry
1/2 ox fresh lemon juice
1 oz simple syrup
1/ 1/2 oz fresh orange juice
1 1/2 oz of cranberry juice
Shake all ingredients with ice and top with half 7-Up and half soda, approx 1 oz of each. Garnish with strawberry, mint sprig, and lemon piece.
So, when you are enjoying these races or using them in your stories remember, a toast is always more from the heart more than the glass. But a beautiful moment is always created.
Here’s to this years Kentucky Derby 2011 and Mucho Mucho Man and Ms Kathy Ritvo’d dreams.
I’m also reposting my blog on the Kentucky Derby history that is so much richer than I can ever touch.
For horselovers, spring holds a special excitement…the running of the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing or as we know it…The Triple Crown. Each yearl we wonder, will we have a triple crown winner this year or not? Hearts soar just thinking of another Secretariat. I still can see that horse making the last turn at the Belmont and heading for the straightaway to the finish line. I also remember actually going to Calumet Farms in Kentucky and seeing this animal grazing in his acre pasture alongside other great horses from that farm. Wow, just to touch the same turf that horse had.
I’ve never been to any of the race tracks during the Triple Crown but Joe and I have gone to a few famous ones a time or two. We’ve been to Churchill Downs, Del Mar, and Aksarben and Kansas City’s own Woodlands. (The last two are no longer running.) Now, I’m not a gambler so I enjoy these races in a different way…I just love watching the horses run and watching how the jockeys work the track. My hubby likes the clubhouse with its air conditioning, nice tables, delicious buffet, fancy drinks, and a better view of the finish line. I love being in what I call the ‘Kentucky Fried Chicken Section’ or down by the fence with the local folk eating Kentucky Fried Chicken, drinking sodas or a beer or two at the finish line, and feeling the dirt filter over the fence as the horses race past. The thunder of their hooves is music to me.
Now, if I had my way, I’d even be down in the barns cleaning the stalls, scrubbing tack or, if really trusted, walking one of the thoroughbreds after a race. That ain’t gonna happen. These animals are more valuable than my house on any given day. And the horses running during the Triple Crown, well, that’s no cheap change either. So I got to thinking about how much I really knew about this jewel of the thoroughbred racing world and I thought’s I’d share what I found out…and it’s no way near everything about this fascinating event. That would take volumes.
History of the Triple Crown
The Triple Crown Stakes did not always happen in the order of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and finally the Belmont. That’s only been that way since 1931. Prior to that date, the Preakness ran before the Derby eleven times. And, on May 12, 1917, and on May 13, 1922, the Derby and the Preakness ran on the same day. In 1919, Sir Barton won all three races thus making him the first winner of all three races in one year. However, Gallant Fox created the first recognition of the Triple Crown title by being the “superhorse that could win the Triple Crown in 1930.Thus, the journalist of the Daily Racing Form, Charles Hatton coined the title and only eleven horses have one this crown.
History of the Kentucky Derby
Let’s start with the important stuff….traditions and facts. The Derby or as it’s known as ”the most exiting two minutes in sports” or ‘the fastest two minutes in sports’ is one and a quarter-mile long or ten furlongs. The horses are three years old and is run at Churchill Downs Racetrack in Louisville, Kentucky. This track is still ranked the most attended race in North America including the Preakness and Belmont. Here, the wealthy purchase seats in the Millionaires Row and the ladies wear lavish outfits and very large elaborate hats. Everyone sings “My Old Kentucky Home” while the horses parade onto the track while they drink sip a drink that has graced this race at Churchill Downs for nearly a century–the Derby’s Mint Julep.
The Kentucky Derby Mint Julep
2 C Sugar
2 C water
6-8 sprigs of fresh mint
crushed ice
Kentucky Whisky as Maker Mark or Early Times
Silver Julep cup
Make a syrup by boiling sugar and water together for five minutes. Cool in covered container with 6-8 sprigs of fresh mint and refrigerate overnight. Fill a julep cup with crushed ice, add one tablespoon mint syrup and 2 oz of whisky. Stir rapidly to frost cup and garnish with a fresh sprig of mint.
Approximately 120,000 mint julep are served on Derby day, using 10,000 bottles of Early Times Mint Julep cocktail, 1000 pounds of fresh mint, and 60,000 pounds of ice.
The Derby’s nickname is the “Run for the Roses” because in 1883, E. Berry Wall presented roses to all the ladies at the Post Derby party and the tradition of the roses began. However, it wasn’t until 1896 that the first drape of 554 roses covered the withers of the winning horse, Chant ridden by Frank Goodale won in 2:41.00.
The Derby is one of the oldest Thoroughbred races in America–the Travers Stakes being the oldest, 1864. In 1872, Col. Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr (grandson of William Clark of the Lewis and Clark team) traveled to England and was there for the Epsom Derby and later to Paris for the Gran Prix de Paris. He came home with the idea of such a race for America thus the Louisville Jockey Club was built at Churchill Downs named after John and Henry Churchill who provided the land for the first race that was a mile and half long like the Epsom and Gran Prix. $10,000 was the first winning purse and fifteen horses ran. Aristides won in 2:37.75. (1875) Super Savor won 2:04.45. (2010) with a winning purse of $1,425,000. The first televised race was in May 3, 1952 with a purse winnings of $100,000. Secretariat still holds the records for the speed record 1:59.40.
Let me introduce you to Claire Ashgrove, a mother, a rider, writer and a lady who is wild about horses. She has also spent a lot of time and money on rescuing these beautiful animals on her farm. As a writer and a rider she knows the challenges of owning, caring for, breeding as well as writing about them. So I hope you enjoy getting to know her and her horse world both in reality and her stories….
Hi, Judy! Thanks for having me on your blog today!
About me, huh? I really hate talking about me. Let’s see, I’m a former sport horse breeder who lives on a small farm in Missouri . I’ve always written, although I didn’t always know I wanted to write professionally. I wrote for entertainment and to live out girlhood fantasies about being a rock star. Even had my own band in my books who I knew by heart – talk about bonding with characters! Now I write romance. All kinds of romance. As Claire Ashgrove I write steamy contemporaries (most often involving horses in some way) for The Wild Rose Press, paranormal romance for Tor, and historical romance. I also write erotic romantic suspense as Tori St. Claire. Why do I write? To answer the question, What if?
What brought me to horses… well, that’s easy. I was not paying attention in Nobel Lit my Junior year of High School and browsing the school’s job listings. A local stable advertised help in exchange for riding time or riding lessons. I was suckered from there. Shortly after I purchased my first horse, an Arabian gelding. And, as with every horse owner, from there it was all downhill! For the first five or six years of my horse involvement I learned about show life for Arabians and Saddlebreds, I went on to compete in jumping and dressage, and I sucked up every bit of knowledge I could find on a lot of other breeds and disciplines. After college and family I began raising and training sport horses, primarily Arabians, Thoroughbreds and Oldenburgs . I still dabble occasionally – this year I have one foal expected any day now – but the business end of horses is pretty much part of my former life.
What’s my favorite? That’s hard. Very hard. I would have to say above and beyond, the Arabian is. However, many of the Arabians I have loved, worked with, and owned weren’t physically able to do some of the sports that are my passion – such as cross country jumping. (In particular, water jumps. And anyone who’s had an Arab ought to understand that remark!) Which pushed me into bigger, more powerful movers, such as the Warmbloods. I’m pretty partial to the Hanoverian breed – and my Oldenburgs are founded on Hanoverian lines.
As to how I incorporate them? Pick a way. Really. I’ve written on the racing lifestyle, on a breeder’s struggles on pursuing the Arabian dream. You won’t see horses so much in the background, but as key elements to the plots in the stories I put them in.
What do I like to see in books with horses… accuracy. Not so much technical accuracy (although that’s important) but behavioral accuracy. For instance, historical romances, where the hero on his mighty stallion goes for an afternoon jaunt with the heroine and her pretty mare. Then, the mare and stallion are tied nose to nose, or wandering around loose. Drives me crazy. It’s very common, but the natural behaviors there aren’t going to allow for the hero/heroine to have an intimate moment under the tree while their horses pretend each other doesn’t exist. Or if a horse is acting up and someone is in danger, that the “savior” comes rushing in yelling, and doing things that puts the possible victim in more danger, because that seems logical to a non-horse person – also drives me crazy. I’m not such a huge stickler on having the appropriate parts of a bridle listed off, but the logical interaction between human character, horse character, and authorial control needs to be logical. Otherwise, I toss the book aside.
Gosh horse books. Honestly, I can’t answer this question. My reading time is so limited that the books with horses that stand out to me are often the ones with bad horse depictions. However, I can say that movie-wise two of my favorite portrayals are in Lord of the Rings – Shadowfax and the Ring Wraith’s horses. Both of those, although fantasy completely, were very awe-inspiring when on the screen / in the text. And Tolkien built the world so believably that Shadowfax and Gandalf’s relationship was completely plausible. Gladiator also has a very powerful, very realistic cavalry scene in the opening.
I have three books, presently, that incorporate horses.
The first: Waiting For Yes, just released on April 20th. This book is very special to me as it was inspired by my former Straight Egyptian stallion’s bloodlines. And he’s on the cover! If you like beautiful horses, I have some very nice critters in the book trailer on my website.
Gabrielle Warrenton gave up everything to pursue her dream of a first-class Egyptian Arabian breeding farm. Her future lies in her new stallion’s success. Though she possesses an exceptional eye for horseflesh, she lacks the training knowledge, and Bahadur Mamoon has a date with the nation’s most affluent show in three weeks. Nothing that would present a problem given his previous credentials. Only, the sellers disguised one critical fact—he’s crazy. Jake Lindsey-Sullivan was once part of an exceptional Arabian training team. Under his mother’s guidance, he developed an instinctual talent, but she was the star, the cornerstone of his life. Until she met a premature death. Grief-stricken and plagued by guilt, Jake abandoned the world of horses. Now an over-the-road truck driver, he evades the memories. When a snowstorm throws two Arabian professionals into close-quarters, they discover an engulfing passion. But will Mamoon rip open emotional scars, or forever seal them shut?
The second: A Christmas To Believe In, released November 2010. This book pulls on the dream of horses that so many of us hold dear to our hearts.
Struggling Thoroughbred breeder, Clint King, hasn’t been home for Christmas in five years. This year, his prize mare’s due to foal any day, and in the wake of his father’s death, Clint can’t stand the idea of returning. Except, Alex is getting married on Christmas Eve, and their mother’s put her foot down. With his mare in tow, Clint prepares to meet a sister he’s never known, and Alex’s unexpected triplets. The one salvation he looks forward to is childhood companion, tomboy Jesse Saurs. Yet when he reunites with Jesse, he uncomfortably discovers she’s become all woman. Jesse Saurs has everything she needs – financial security, a home, and a foster child who’s about to become her son. With Ethan’s final hearing scheduled just before Christmas, her dreams will come true. When she learns Clint and his brothers are returning, she anticipates a holiday reunion that’s sure to entertain Ethan. But on the night of Clint’s return, the ‘brother’ she expected leaves her trembling after a hug. Even worse, Ethan makes it clear Clint’s not welcome. Will Christmas destroy hopes and dreams, or will it become the gift they’ve all been longing for?
The third: Seduction’s Stakes, released October 2009. This was my first book, and is a very unique view on the world of elite horseracing.
McCleery Racing didn’t become a Thoroughbred racing powerhouse by betting on longshots. Maddie McCleery made it a multi-million dollar player through hard work, logical decisions, and a commitment to never involve herself with men who lived on the sport of kings. But when she sets her sights on a two-year-old colt her rival owns, she never imagines the lengths she’ll go to, to bring the future champion home. Riley Jennings wants unobtainable Maddie almost more than the Triple Crown. After his Kentucky Derby win, however, he sees a way to sure-fire victory. His proposed wager stacks the odds in his favor – if her horse wins the Preakness, he’ll accept her terms. If his horse comes in first, they’ll negotiate his way. When the dust settles on the wire, will love claim final victory, or will unexpected tragedy stop them in the gates?
For more information, and the other titles I’ve written with horses – including what’s coming down the pipe – please drop by my website: www.claireashgrove.com
Claire Ashgrove
Dark, Sexy, Timeless RomanceComing To TOR Books January, 2012! — Immortal Knights Templar,Waiting for Yes – April 20, 2011A Christmas To Believe In — OUT NOW!Seduction’s Stakes – 2009 LASR Best Book of the Year Nominee, Night Owl Romance “5 Stars”www.claireashgrove.com
Once upon a time a million years ago, I attended the most wonderful horse school in Columbia, Missouri, and was a member of the most outstanding group of girls in the best horse club anywhere. That school was at Stephens College and that horse club was the Prince of Wales Club. What is most exciting is that both have endured time and are still the premier places for horselovers to learn more about these magnificent animals at this lovely campus…okay I admit, Stephens offers a lot more than horsemanship but that’s secondary to us horse girls.
Let me introduce one of these PWC members Anastasia Dryjanski, a kindred spirit who has been willing to share her thoughts about riders, writers and riding….
Tell us a bit about yourself and the Prince of Wales Club, where you enjoy horses, what you do that involves horses. YOU, Stephens, PWC and horses
- My name is Anastasia Dryjanski and I am a senior at Stephens College. I am from Melrose Park, Illinois (Chicago-land area). I have forever been in love with horses and reading. I enjoy horses here at Stephens College, at the stables located on campus. I currently ride hunter/jumpers and have found a new love for reining. I also love volunteering for the therapeutic riding center back home. The Prince of Wales Club is the oldest riding club in the United States. It all started when girls fell off their horses they called it a Prince of Wales. This is because the actual Prince of Wales constantly fell off his horse. Any woman who fell off was inducted into the Prince of Wales Club. Later on, each member had to take a written and riding test to get into the club. This allowed only the best and most dedicated women to be inducted. The Prince of Wales Club today allows any person to be inducted and are officially a member for as long as they wish.
How did you get into the horse world, where has this taken you in life, and why do you stay? Tell us about your horse world and your dreams of the future
-When I was six years old, I asked my mother every day for about 3 months if I could have riding lessons. When she finally got tired of me asking, she told me “When you turn 10 we will think about it”. On my 10th birthday I asked “So can I have riding lessons now?” and later that year I got my wish and have been riding and dealing with horses ever since. Working with horses and fellow equestrians has allowed me to grow and has shown me that I would work hard and get dirty rather than sit in an office and make loads of money. I stay with the horses because they are always there for you and will always humble you when you need it, but can make you happy with a nicker in the morning to say hello.
What books do you read that you particularly feel were well written that involved horses? What ‘charmed’ you and what have you read that was well done with horses.
- There have been a couple of series of books that have done particularly well involving horses. The Heartland series by Lauren Brooke is a particular favorite of mine. The Heartland series did particularly well showing “problem” horses and that there is no such thing as a “bad” horse. The author did her research into alternative medicines and working with “problem” horses.
What frustrates you when you read a book with horses? What makes you want to scream when an author has done something wrong?
What makes me mad when I read a book about horses is when authors make them seem like dumb brutes who can be “broken” or are just servants to us humans. Horses for the longest time have been our companions, a means of working, partners, and team mates. It frustrates me to read a book with a war in it and the king or hero rides boldly into battle on a horse he has never ridden, when in reality that horse was probably bred and raised just for him/her and that was the only horse he ever rode. Also, when characters just magically know how to ride when they have never ridden before. It takes years to learn how to ride well, maybe with talent and riding every day months. But still, it takes a while.
What is your all time favorite horse book or books? What books authors can learn from
-I think that the Heartland series is a great set of books. They show both that horses are not stupid dumb animals and that it takes a while to learn just a fraction about riding and horses.
To learn more about horses, what would you recommend for writers? Nonfiction books, magazines, blogs, etc you think would assist authors in using horses better in their stories.
-Magazines are a great way to learn about horses. There are ones about riding, like Practical Horseman and Horse & Rider, and ones about care and horses in general like Equus. There is even one for kids- Young Rider. But I think the best way to learn about horses is to ask people actually in the industry. Usually people are so willing to give their opinions and if you go to someone in the industry who is very well respected, like George Morris for hunter/jumper riders, you know you get good information.
Is there anything more you want to share regarding your practice, shows, or promotions Share information about the Prince of Wales, the upcoming show, Stephens College, and you
- PWC is hosting this years show at Stephens College on April 15th and 16th. April 15th is the Western and Saddleseat part of the show. April 16th is the hunter/jumper portion, and will be an open show, which means that the community can compete in the show. We are really hoping to have a good turn out and invite the community to come and watch! Also, the Equestrian Department is hosting the state FFA Judging Contest on April 14th. On April 2-3, another student and I are going down to Carthage, MO to compete in a local reining show. This is our first reining competition and we are really excited! We just enjoyed a clinic with Melanie Smith-Taylor over Mar. 12-13 and learned a bunch.
If you are in the middle of Missouri on about this time, come by and enjoy this horse show. It’s just plain fun. Or stop by Stephens College when in Columbia and meet the most wonderful staff and students anywhere in the world….and I’m not prejudice at all.
I knew I liked this guy. Jonathan is a great writer and an even better rider. though we’ve never met other than the internet and our blogs. I did enjoy Walls of Jeriicho- a great read! I hope you enjoy meeting him too. His blog is a tremendous amount of horse information…. heeeeerrrre’s Jonathan
Jonathan Hopkins
About me. Talking about oneself is always difficult. Perhaps it’s a peculiarly British thing, but I’ve never been very good at self-promotion. Or it could be that I count myself as pretty average, really.
I’m lucky enough to have a great family, which is a big help. Wife plus one daughter – both into horses. Maybe it’s just as well we didn’t have more children! And I’ve always worked, in a wide variety of jobs, so even though our small saddlery business fell victim to the recession I found things I could do to get by. Writing is just one of them.
A past employer of mine once suggested that when money was tight perhaps we ought to get rid of the horses. I told him I’d rather lose an arm. Kept that job for sixteen years!
About Horses Ah…horses: the finest form of life on the planet.
I learned to ride when I was five years old. My parents weren’t ‘horsey’, but my younger sister was into ponies so when she started to have lessons I sort-of tagged along. The riding school closed a couple of years later and apart from the odd beach pony I didn’t ride again until I was twelve. I can’t remember what rekindled my interest but it must have been something pretty spectacular because I’ve been involved with horses ever since.
I bought my first horse at fourteen, much to my mother’s disgust. She’d unwisely offered to fund half the cost, should I find a suitable animal. Provided I saved the rest, of course. Knowing I could never keep money in my pocket for very long, I suppose she thought she would never have to keep her promise, but I found an evening and weekend job delivering groceries. Within a year I’d saved enough.
After six months of trundling around looking at unsuitable horses, my parents had just about given up hope. ‘Well – I couldn’t see anything wrong with that one,’ was the grumble after yet another wasted journey. But find one we did, stabled in a garage in the South Wales valleys. I tried him out on the only patch of ground we could find: a rubbish tip. He was worth the wait, that horse; I had him for twenty-three years.
About Writing Writing about horses is difficult, even for people who know them. It depends on the audience. Specialist equine non-fiction ought to be fairly straightforward; readers can be expected to have a certain, if variable, level of knowledge. But what if you’re writing fiction? How much detail should you put in, so those totally ignorant of horse-culture are entertainingly informed, whilst those who know what you’re on about are not bored rigid? Unfortunately, I’ve not found a straightforward answer – I just stick to two, simple rules
(a). Don’t treat your readers as idiots
(b). Make sure of all your facts.
It’s really obvious to me when writers know very little about horses, especially in Historical Fiction, which I tend to read a lot of. Now, less knowledgeable readers may not notice errors. So as long as they enjoy the story, do these really matter? As the writer, that’s your decision.
I started to write thanks to a woman. Actually, that’s not strictly true: I’d written a novel in my teens, but it was never good enough to be published. I started again because….because wives sometimes nag. Mine told me I wasn’t romantic enough, we never did anything different, I never bought her flowers etc. etc. I’m sure you know what I mean. So for some reason I can’t work out I decided I would deliver her flowers on our anniversary as a 19th century Hussar and take her out to lunch in a carriage. What could be more romantic than that?
I soon found I’d bitten off a bit more than I could chew. I’m a stickler for accuracy, so the cavalry uniform and saddlery had to be period correct. The uniform I could source but saddlery? I made it all myself but there were no patterns available, so I had to troll through non-fiction histories (ugh – I hate history!) to find as many descriptions and pictures as I could. And the more I read about British cavalry in the Napoleonic period, the more frustrated I got about the criticisms heaped upon them. They couldn’t have been that bad, could they?
It seemed just about every historian and his dog disagreed with me, and that’s what eventually prompted me to start writing about the cavalry. To try to give a more balanced picture of what life was really like for these men, and why their efforts and sacrifices were, and have never been, truly appreciated.
The anniversary? That went off without a hitch Except that the restaurant staff had a good laugh when I turned up for lunch wearing the uniform!
About Horse books Picking a list of favourite horse books is a nightmare, so I’ve kept it short:
Novels:
Black Beauty – Ann Sewell The book that started it all, Sewell’s story of a horse’s treatment in Victorian England is as powerfully evocative today as when it was written, made even more poignant by the fact that she was ill when it was published 1867 and just lived long enough to see its huge success.
War Horse – Michael Morpurgo The story of a farm horse purchased by the army and sent to France during WWI. Written originally for a young adult audience, it is recommended reading for anyone keen to find out how horses fared during that conflict.
Horse Biography:
Red Rum - Ivor Herbert Red Rum won the Grand National three times – an unequalled record. But he was a poor racehorse on the flat and suffered from crippling pedalostitis.
Eclipse - Nicholas Clee The 18th century racehorse that sired a dynasty, yet was owned by an Irish rogue and a brothel madam.
Biography:
Champions Story – Bob Champion with Jonothan Powell Jockey Bob Champion survived cancer, and partner Aldaniti a serious leg injury, to win an emotional Grand National in 1981
General Equine:
Saddlery – Elwyn Hartley Edwards A fellow Welshman, the late Capt. Hartley-Edwards wrote numerous books. He was (and still is) the God of commonsense horsemanship in my view.
Training the Event Horse – Sheila Willcox. This was the horse-fittening bible in my teens. Most of the interval training techniques pioneered by Ms Willcox are still in common use today.
About my novels
Walls of Jericho is the first book in a series featuring two young cavalrymen during the Peninsular war, when the British joined Portugal and Spain to fight Napoleon. The second story, Leopardkill is currently in progress and takes place during the horrendous British retreat across the Spanish mountains in the middle of winter.
A preview of Walls of Jericho is available to read for free on the website www.cavalrytales.co.uk and I also blog about horses and cavalry on http://cavalrytales.wordpress.com.
Thank you for reading, and I wish you all the best with your own writing.
Jonathan
See I told you he was a cool dude. Thank you Jonathan.
As a lover of American Saddlebreds, I can’t tell you how wonderful it was to read Jan Scarbrough’s books. To me, it was going back to some of my best memories. Jan also does an exceptional job of including horses in her stories as well as writing a wonderful story around them. I’ve also learned she is a sweet person…but hey….she loves horses.
· Biography: Tell us about yourself, who you are, live around where, what got you into writing, what you write, and maybe why you write.
As my Facebook Fan page says, I’m a technical writer by day, romance novelist by night! I live in Louisville, Kentucky, with my husband of eleven years, two geriatric cats and two frisky dogs. My writing dreams started in the ninth grade thanks to a very special English teacher. I actually reported on freelance writing for my career project that year. However, I didn’t seriously pursue my dream until after a life threatening illness when I was 38.
I write because I love it. I feel it’s one of my God-given talents. I write mostly about what I know—books set in Kentucky with recurring themes such as single moms, reunions, and horses, if I can fit them in the story.
· What brought you to horses and how do you like to include them in your stories? Do you own a horse, wish you did, plan to someday?
Reading the Black Stallion books brought me to horses, although a psychic medium I know tells me I’ve been around horses in many past lives. <g> I took riding lessons for a while as a child, but there was never any thought that my parents would get me a horse. That had to wait until I was all grown up.
One day my nine-year-old daughter said she wanted to take riding lessons. That sounded great to me, so I looked in the Yellow Pages (this was before everything was online) and found a riding stable. Fortunately for me, I picked an American Saddlebred stable. About six months after my daughter started taking lessons, I began taking them too.It’s been a twenty-six year love affair. I continue to get my “horse fix” once a week by taking a riding lesson.
I’ve owned three horses in my lifetime—all American Saddlebreds. The first one was a pleasure pony named Mr. Too Little. My daughter showed him. We graduated to a pleasure horse named Royal Tierra that we both showed. Finally, I owned a retired equitation horse named Starhart’s Heritage. I don’t know if I’ll own another horse. It will depend on money, of course, and maybe whether one of my grandchildren take to the sport.
· What horse books are your favorites and why? What did you enjoy most?
The two books I’ve enjoyed most are Seabiscuit: An American Legend by Laura Hillenbrand and Secretariat by William Nack. Both were made into movies. I like to read about famous horses and the people around them. I’ve recently started reading about Zenyatta. She has a website (http://www.zenyatta.com/) where “she” posts diary updates daily and a Facebook page.
· What have you written that has a horse galloping across the pages?
I write romance. When I started my first book, Kentucky Flame, I knew I wanted to write a book with American Saddlebreds in it. You can find out about all of my books at my website. They are in e-book formats and print books.
The following books from my Bluegrass Reunions Series from Resplendence Publishing contain horses.
Kentucky Groom,
Kentucky Bride
Kentucky Flame
Kentucky Woman
I’ve also included horses in Tangled Memories and My Lord Raven. When I was writing my latest book, A Father at Last, I needed a first kiss scene. How romantic is a first kiss on horseback? I think it is.
Disney’s Maximus is everything a horse should be and exaggerated to an adorable fault. I absolutely fell in love with this cartoon horse the first time I saw him in a commercial when ‘Flynn elbowed Max and Max shoved back. I remembered instantly the time Val, my American Saddlebred and best friend, placed his hoof on top of my foot and pretended to put weight down on my instep, of course trapping me then and there. I pushed back and he lifted his foot like a ‘gotcha’ moment. And the wild rides through the movie…brought back memories of Val wanting to race. Me not wanting to race. But I gave in and he took off after a friend and his mare running down a power lane in a cornfield. Suddenly I was airborne, flying over the tops of the half-grown corn. How we got up there I do not know. But I do remember the fear of coming down. However, it was light as a feather and Val shot after the other two. Like Max and Flynn jumping between buildings etc. And the attitude Max has…the cute little nickers I remember at feeding time.
I LOVE THIS HORSE.
Be sure to go see him. YOu will love him too
Oh and I apologize for not posting over this summer. I can not say this has been my best year for keeping up with things. Life has been very demanding. But I promise to return as often as I can…thinking maybe monthly or every few weeks. I’m also considering posting reviews of books that have written horses well. I have a few in mind already. Gotta figure out how to do this as in getting betting the cover art etc. If you would like me to review any scene you may have or would like me to check out your book for a review, I would be honored to do so. A contest may be in the works as well. But first the holidays and then the new year. Hang in there with me. I promise to get back into this saddle.
Here’s to a wonderful Christmas and an even better new year. God bless ya all,
I’m so excited and so jealous of all the spectators at the Alltech Equestrian Olympics 2010. Just watching the riders and seeing the beautiful animals working, simply takes my heart. I have thought of all of you writers out there using horses in your stories. If you want your hero to ride, just watch a few of the dressage riders. Want action for a hunt, watch jumping. Just listen to the MC and you’ll get some ideas of what you’ve picked up here.. Or be like me and just enjoy every moment of this historical event occurring HERE in the USA in Lexington KY for the very first time and it won’t happen again for four years. Tune in to NBC for showings in your area . Don’t miss it.
Enjoy the video and see what’s happening in Kentucky.
Sorry it’s been a while since I blogged…this summer has been crazy…but fun.
I was feeling rather down one day as teenagers are at times and went into Valjean’s stall. The overwhelming need to hug him hit me. So, I wrapped my arms around his beautiful neck, knowing he didn’t like thatm and would break my hold. But today, he knew I needed him and he didn’t break the hug. Instead, he bobbed his head over my shoulder as if to say, “I understand. I care. It’s okay.” A thousand years later, I still feel that pat on my back. He was the best friend I ever had and I still love him and miss him daily.
Horses are like that. As you can see in the video, horses love freedom. They love to play, kick up their heels, run, tease and just plain be lazy. Give them a warm summer day and they love to just stand next to another horse and swish at flies. And, like dogs, they can be your best friend. They have been the kid’s best toy or playmate.
Like people, horses can love or hate accordingly. And like people, it’s usually because of some tragedy that has happened in their life. Another story I once heard was about a stallion that only trusted women. This large stallion become violent if a man tried to handle it. Why? It was told to me that its trainer once pulled this stallion’s wolf-teeth (misplaced teeth) without anesthetic. Therefore all men were associated with this abuse. Women didn’t carry this association so he preferred them. Haven’t we all seen the horrors man is capable of toward any animal or children. So it’s not unusual that horses should react any differently.
I’m sure there are statistics out there about the age and IQ of horses; however, today I’m going by what I have seen and dealt with in pastures, stables, during riding lessons, at shows, and first hand experiences. First of all, horses are social animals, herd animals, loving companionship be it another horse or human. They can be playful and teasing. Val occasionally would set his hoof on top of my foot as if to press on it. He didn’t.He simply expected me to fuss at him and push back. Then, he’d step away. If I rode him bareback, he was sure to ‘stiff leg’ me at a canter. Stiff-leg is to do just that– jar me off. He’d only do this while we out bareback–never under saddle But I could count on him doing it soon after we started cantering. In fact, one time I caught the teasing gleam in his eyes seconds before he stiff-legged me. “Val, don’t…don’t you…” He did. I laughed and I’m sure he chuckled quite proud of himself.
Horses nip butts, yours or another horse to aggravate and cause a reaction. They swish tails into your face when you are cleaning the rear hoof. They nudge you off a fence rail and laugh… that is…stretch their upper lip way out and up. (see video again) And sometimes, they’ll eat something sour and make this funny face. Snorting is another way to pester you…right in your face. Rub or lean on you is always a possibility. Well, anything for attention because they love attention.
But we all know there are some horses that frighten us for fun. Usually there is a reason for this as the stallion I mentioned earlier. I was once told about a mare with a new foal and was told to not go near them. Well, I saw the foal and totally forgot. “Oh look!” I said.Well, I did look…right down the throat of the mama mare. Her teeth snapped inches from my nose. I didn’t forget the next time or I was far enough from the mama when I watched her foal.
And there was Pat, my uncle’s mare who ran away with me because she had been separated from her yearling foal…for the first time. Yes, she ran off with me. But when the saddle slipped too far to the side, she halted long enough for me to reset it. She wheeled about and took off again back to the barn, racing into the feed lot, stopped long enough to let me vault off, and off bolted off bucking and breaking the saddle.
Of course there are warning signs of their attitude. Best known is the flat ears or ears plastered back on the neck. And there are rolling eyes, snorting and tossing heads,pawing or angrily swishing tails. And of course kicking and biting. And they aren’t stupid. they know how and when to use these defense measures. Banjo, a friend’s horse, knew that he could scare you off by trying to bite at you. Well, he scared me; I didn’t want anything to do with him. However, my friend thought it was funny, ignored him. He never bit her either. If a horse can figure out a way to get the best of you, they will and use it often. Fidgeting,nipping, or whatever innocent game they can play on you will be used against you until you ‘pull their card’ –gently is best–on them and usually they give up. Horses like dogs are great at reading nonverbal cues as fear.
As with runaways, horses can be selfish and belligerent, so you have to know how to deal with the situation. Or the bad behavior can be caused by simply as a burr under a saddle blanket, torn muscle in a back or leg. They can’t tell you it hurts; they can only show you by resisting. It’s up to you to figure out the reason and sometimes that is next to impossible. I think this was Big Deal (my second horse’s) problem….now I think that anyway. This horse could work like a fine tuned engine one day and the next refuse to move forward. There was no reasoning with him then. I have horror stories about this horse or rearing, whirling left and right, running backward, bolting forward. However, I also have the story about him almost eating the lid to the apple cider vinegar bottle. He’d eat anything. Now I wonder if there was a pinched nerve or something.
And there was The Big Horse (Big Deal’s replacement) who hadn’t cantered for at least nine years because he’d been worked in harness and they aren’t allowed to canter in harness. So,he’d forgotten how to canter. This sounds unbelievable but it’s true. I couldn’t figure out what his problem was when it came to simply ‘taking’ a canter lead/breaking into a canter . In fact, one day he panicked and reared. I was tossed backward, accidently snatching on the curb bit, and brought him back over on top of me. Miracles of miracles, we were both fine…seeing stars though. That winter, when I turned The Big Horse loose in the pasture and saw that he didn’t know how to even run down to Val already cavorting in the pasture. By spring, cantering had all come back to him and he and Val were racing to the barn.
There are stories upon stories about good horses and bad, gentle horses and mean. So when you write horses into your stories remember, horses are like people and come in all varieties: :loving, honery, serious, fun-loving, timid, very brave or just plain goofy. And like you and me, the way they are treated and trained has a big effect on how they treat you…or your characters.
So you may want to even do a character sheet on a special horse in your story.
Somewhere in time’s own space
There must be some sweet pastured place
Where creeks sing on and tall trees grow
Some paradise where horses go,
For by the love that guides my pen
I know great horses live again.
~Stanley Harrison
I remember my horse Valjean racing off lickety-split out into the pasture. Show horses have shoes like models have long fingernails, so I had decided that winter to remove his show shoes. I took him out of the barn, undid his lead line, and off he bolted like any race horse. He raced down the lane to the pasture and rounded the corner fence pole like any barrel racing horse. What a beautiful site to see!
Man of Integrity, my three-gaited horse, was next to let go. I realized then that someone had decided to make him a three-gaited show horse instead of remaining a show harness horse. Problem was for all those years he he was in harness, he wasn’t allowed to canter and he’d forgotten how. I led him out of the barn and took the lead line off and he just stood there…nickering for Val cavorting out in the pasture. He wanted to go but he’d never been turned loose since he was a foal. His instincts drew him to race as fast as he could out to join Val. However, he trotted. He peg-legged..that is canter stiff-legged. He came to the same fence pole and stopped…walked around it…and peg-legged it out to Val. I stood there stunned.
The beautiful thing was that spring when Val and ‘the big horse’ as I called him raced neck and neck, speeding around that fence pole to be the first to the barn for dinner. Horses love to race. They love to run. And they are good at it. For thousands of years, man has had the pleasure of watching them run, race, and win. But as life has it…tragedy happens and we cry. And we remember. I think that is our nature to honor and remember and then hopefully make something good come out of this tragic happening. Thus, this blog is a tribute to favorite Thoroughbred horses who have captured the hearts everywhere at one time or another and changed the world.
Preakness
As I said in my blog on the Preakness Stakes,it got its name from a three-year old colt named Preakness who won the Dinner Party Stakes race at Pimlico in 1870. Preakness was a born winner, enjoying a winning career for eight years. His owner sold him to Duke of Hamilton who lived in England. Over the next years, Preakness developed a temper and attitude. Unfortunately, the duke also had an attitude and temper. (This causes me to think where Preakness developed this new personality) Anyway, the Duke shot and killed Preakness. So, not only did this fine colt name the Preakness Stakes but he also “touched off a reform in English law which governs the handling of animals.” (www.gohorsebetting.com/preaknessstakes/history) Good for you Preakness.
Ruffian
Seal brown and almost black, this seventeen hand filly stole the hearts of the racing world In fact, she won the nickname as “Queen of the Fillies” in 1975, and winning the Triple Tiara- the triple crown race for three-year-old fillies. She went undefeated in her first ten races, setting new records and stakes for years to come. Then came her eleventh race at Belmont Park on July 6,1975. It was a match race between Ruffian and the Kentucky Derby winner of that year Foolish Pleasure. The race was dubbed as the ‘equine battle of the sexes” and was run before 50,000 spectators and 18 million television viewers.
At Belmont Park, Ruffian slammed her shoulder into the gate when she bolted from the starting gate. At the first furlong, she was ahead by a half-length and then both bones in her foreleg snapped. Her jockey Vasquez tried to pull her to a stop but she refused. She fought him and continued on, pulverizing her legs, ripping skin from her fetlock, and driving bones through her skin. Sand from the ’Big Sandy” racetrack stung into the raw skin, tearing her ligaments and leaving her hoof flopping. Handlers immediately raced to her, managing to get her into the hands of four veterinarians and a equine orthopedic surgeon. The surgery lasted three hours. When Ruffian came out of anesthesia, she went nuts as if she were still running in the race, spinning in circles on the floor, destroying all that the surgery had accomplished as well as the plaster cast. The cast slipped. allowing her to break the rest of her legs. She was ultimately euthanized.
The result of her death caused a change in treatment for horses that undergo surgery. Ruffian’s behavior is common for horses coming out from anesthesia. Thus, the ‘recovery pool’ was developed so horses will awake in warm water and won’t re-injure themselves. Thirty four years later the Ruffian Equine Medical Center opened. Here, specialists work to solve ‘horse’ problems in particular for future horses.
Ruffian is buried near a flag pole in the infield of Belmont Park with her nose pointed to the finish line.
Barbaro
Ever watched Olympic events and the contestants jump seconds before the start. then they have to get back into place. Well, on May 20,2006, Barbaro broke from the starting gate at the Preakness Stakes before he should have. Going into the Kentucky Derby, this bay stallion was undefeated and was the favorite to win the Triple Crown. He was one of the only six undefeated winners of the Derby. So, he bolted out too soon from the starting gate at the Preakness. Why? No one knows. Did something snap in his leg and scare him? We’ll never know.
The race was restarted and his start from the gate was clean. He was in contention to win as he rounded the last turn and headed for the finish. No one knows what happened there either but suddenly Barbaro apparently broke his right hind leg in twenty places: a cannon bone, a broken leg bone, his pastern, the fetlock was dislocated and his hoof was left to dangle. His jockey, Edgar Prado immediately brought Barbaro to a stop, letting the others pass. Prado then vaulted off, and leaned into Barbaro’s shoulder to support him. Track attendants arrived and they managed to get Barbaro safely into the Equine ambulance and taken to Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center.
Unlike most animals, a horse can not survive on three legs because the horse tries to carried its weight on three legs. Well, Ruffian’s recovery pool was well used because Barbaro underwent many surgeries and showed the promise of possible recovery. Of course, he would never run again but maybe sire a future Triple Crown winner and just enjoy grazing in his pasture. That wasn’t meant to be.
By July, Barbaro developed a severe case of lamintis (inflammation of the hoof) in his other hind leg. This was because it had carried the weight from the other healing leg. Surgery was again and half of Barbaro’s hoof was removed. Now, both hind legs are in casts and the boy was left hanging a sling. Still, Barbaro seemed determined to win this race. Mares were waiting for him. In fact, in August, he was taken out to graze for the first time.
August, September, October, November, December 13, Wednesday…Barbaro had his casts removed. However, his front legs developed lamintis. His removed hoof wasn’t complete. His fractured leg wasn’t developed enough without the cast. Now, the old boy had no legs to stand on at all. January 29, 2007, Barbaro was euthanized because his pain was no longer manageable. He was later cremated.
A statue of Barbaro created by Alexa King was unveiled April 26, 2009 at Churchill Downs one week before the Kentucky Derby. This statue was placed atop part of his ashes outside one f the entrances to Churchill Downs adjacent to the Kentucky Derby Museum so the public that followed Barbaro’s struggle can pay their respects without paying an admission feet to the race track.
University of Florida was the recipient of $30,000 from Gulfstream Park for scholarships for two senior veterinary students and one graduate student in equine veterinary research. And the New Bolton Center received a large anonymous donation, creating the established Barbaro Fund to aid treatment and care for large animals. In 2006, the Preakness Stakes established the NTRA’s charities Barbaro Memorial Fund for Equine Health and Safety that will look for a cure of lamintis. This had gone on around the world…check this out http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/health/110-laminitis.shtml
Eight Bells
How many of us have stumbled and fallen? I know I have a time or two. Well, it is possible this is what led up to this last catastrophe. According to the trainer of this grey thoroughbred filly. Eight Bells had a habit of stumbling over her hoofs. Her trainer said she wouldn’t pick her feet up high enough, which was one reason she could run so fast and far. Once going, she had perfect motion that was effective and efficient, however at times, she would stumble.
Eight Bells was on the tail hairs of Big Brown, the winner of the 134th running of the Kentucky Derby, when they passed the finish line. As the horses were slowed from their neck-breaking speeds, she collapsed, suffering compound fractures from both front fetlock joints. Her legs were lacerated, absent of joint fluid to these areas, and her lungs congested. The fall she took bruised her head and hemorrhagde her thyroid gland. She had to be ’ put down’ on the track. Eight Bells is buried at Churchill Downs Kentucky Derby Museum and a race that is run on the day of the Derby has been named in her honor.
Eight Bells was a winner. She came to the Kentucky Derby with a proud winning record. She was a filly with Native Dancer’s bloodline and her mother was from Northern Dancer also a descendent of Native Dancer’s bloodline. Sally Jenkins of the Veterans Washington Post wrote, “She ran with the heart of a locomotive on champagne-glass ankles.” Thus raising the question of whether these thoroughbred horses have become too strong bodied on bones too fragile to hold them up. This controversy is still in question. Her legacy to the racing world maybe to strengthen bloodline for more stamina. It is yet to be seen.
But Preakness, Ruffian, Barbaro, and Eight Bells have given the world a better place for horses and those who love them. “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” And their lemonade will forever be remembered as sweet. I believe all these horses are racing about in Stanley Harrison’s ‘sweet pastured place” with my Val and Man of Integrity and free of pain, frolicking and playing with all the other greats.
Thank you for joining me on this wild race through the world of the Triple Crown. I’ve enjoyed it. I hope you have as well.
And thank you to wikipedia/Ruffian/Barbaro. Eightbellslegacy.net
We’ve all been to Belmont Park one time or another. Okay, maybe not physically but virtually because The Belmont has been the site for many radio broadcasts, television programs, photo shoots, and motion pictures. We’ve watched movies and television shows featuring a lot of actors who have been in pictures here. But, I bet only a few of us have ever had the Belmont’s featured cocktailcreated by Dale DeGroff in 1977. I know I just learned they even had one. So, On June 5,2010, we can all enjoy a toast to the 142nd running of the Belmont Stakes. Here’s how to make the traditional Belmont Park cocktail….
The Belmont Breeze
1 1/2 oz Kentucky Bourbon or American blended whiskey or 3/4 oz of Harvey’s Bristol Cream Sherry
1/2 ox fresh lemon juice
1 oz simple syrup
1/ 1/2 oz fresh orange juice
1 1/2 oz of cranberry juice
Shake all ingredients with ice and top with half 7-Up and half soda, approx 1 oz of each. Garnish with strawberry, mint sprig, and lemon piece.
And together, we’ll sing ‘New York New York’ (or maybe hum) as the horses parade onto the track. Maybe we’ll bet between ourselves on who we think will win, who we want to win, and then watch who does win and walk away with the garland made with 700 white carnations. This is the official flower of the Belmont stakes race that stands for ‘love and luck,’ a perfect symbol for the ‘Test of Champions’ as this race is nicknamed.
The Belmont Park was named after August Belmont, one of the main financiers of the Old Belmont–the oldest race of today’s Triple Crown races. This race started at Jerome Park Racetrack in the Bronx in 1867. The original site stretched a bit into Queens from Nassau county. Since bookmaking was illegal, the bookies could escape from being arrested by crossing this line. It was even believed that horses rounding the far turn crossed into Queens for a few strides and then returned to Nassau County in the final stretch. This site near Elmont, New York, is also near the first racing meet ever officially held in North America in 1665.
On May 4, 1905, the first Belmont Stakes race was run and the first winner of the Belmont Stakes was Ruthless. For fifteen years, the race was run in the fashion set in England…clockwise ending in front of the clubhouse. In 1880, the first post parade, bringing the horses out in line, was held at the 14th running of the Belmont race.
There are a few unique features of this Park. First is the the origin of the corporate insigna…the White Pine Tree. A mansion once set here. The owners had planted trees that predated this white pine. As the trees were lumbered for the construction of the track, August Belmont saved the pine tree. Now, this 184 year-old tree, older than the track itself, stands in the paddock .
Four stone pillars from the entrance of the Washington Course of the South Carolina Jockey club are now found at the clubhouse entrance at Belmont Park. Along with the stone pillars are a set of wrought iron gates with a racing motif that came from Jerome Park. They were salvaged during the 1963 demolition by Perry Belmont, Belmont II’s son, and he donated these wrought iron gates that now border the walking ring .
The Belmont Stakes weren’t always held at Belmont Park. While the stands at Belmont Park were reconstructed, the stake races were held at Aqueduct.
The quest for the Triple Crown ends on the dirt course known as the ‘Main Track’ and nicknamed ‘Big Sandy.” In 1973, Secretariat set the world record for one and a half mile on ’Big Sandy’ (2:24.00)and his record still holds. And, Secretariat’s thirty-one length victory clinched the first ’Crown’ in 25 years- dating back to Citation 1948. Thus, a statue of Secretariat graces the center of the Belmont paddock near the beloved White Pine.
Some unique events besides horseracing have also happened at the Belmont Park:
When the state of New York banned gambling from 1911-12, the Belmont didn’t run However the Wright Brothers International Aerial Tournament did. This ten-day event on October 30, 1910, happened before some 15,000 people. It included aerial time and distance races over the course of ten days. The last race of the day flew from the Belmont Park to the Statue of Liberty The American pilot claimed to win; the English pilot contested the win; so the prize was presented to the French pilot.
Eight years later, on May 15, 1918. Belmont Park became the origin and destination of the first Air Mail flown between New York and Washington D.C. The 4000 letters were transferred to a second plane in Philadelphia and flown on to DC. Flights to Boston and Chicago soon followed.
$891, 320 was raised for the American Red Cross when the Belmont Park hosted a War Relief Day in 1940.
On October 2, 1943, Belmont Park hosted ‘Back the Attack Day” when the admission to the track was exclusively the purchase of one or more War Bonds, producing the largest ‘gate’ in sports history….30,000 fans bought $30 million worth of War Bonds.
On September ll, 2001 after the terror attack on the World Trade Center, Belmont Park became the staging area for emergency vehicles and personnel.
Aside from all this history and excitement, the future of the Triple Crown appears in jeopardy. With the creation of ‘racinos’ (race tracks taking on the appearance of casinos), the growth of gambling as in New York pizza parlors,various scratch-off games,lotteries, and NASCAR’s popularity, people aren’t coming to the tracks anymore. Now add the nation’s economy hitting state revenues, the state governments that once banned gambling are now tapping gambling profits. So,the race tracks are struggling. The Pimlico and Belmont Park have filed for bankrupcy and many other race tracks have disappeared as Aksarben in Nebraska. As people get farther and farther from dealing with horses, such moments in history as the Triple Crown may possibly fade out.
But, never to be forgotten is Secretariat and his claim to the Test of Champions and the Triple Crown:
May the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and the Belmont or as we know them–The Triple Crown– never be lost or forgotten. I hope you’ve enjoyed this trek thorugh horse racing history as much as I have researching the Triple Crown. What a wonderful ride though history!
J
Thank you: Wikipedia.org/Belmont Park, Wikipedia. org/United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, Belmontstakes.com/history, newjerseynewsroom.com/Preakness-and Belmont-Stakes futures.
The northern New Jersey tribe of Native America Indians-Minisi once called this area used for the Preakness, the ’Pra-qua-les, meaning ‘quail woods.’ Even Gen. George Washington possibly called it the ‘Prekiness’ to describe where his troops were stationed during the 1776-77 winter. And the former governor of Maryland Oden Bowie named the first race at Pimlico after the colt that won the Dinner Party Stakes on October 25, 1870. The colt’s name was ‘Preakness’ from Milton Holbrook Sanford’s Stables located in Preakness, New Jersey. Well, somewhere in all this the second race in the Triple Crown got it’s name…The Preakness Stakes.
And, because the state flower of Maryland is the black-eyed susan, in 1940, the race became known as the ‘Run for the Black-eyed Susan’s. I chuckled when I learned that since this flower is not in bloom in May, no real black-eyed susans have ever been draped over the winner of the Preakness. Just yellow flowers with painted ‘black-eyes’ have been used as well as yellow chrysanthemums.
Now, the Pimlico racetrack gleaned its name when English settlers settled in this area in Colonial times. They spelled the name of this future race track “Pemblicoe” on an original settlement charter. However, they brought with them memories of a famous landmark near London (Olde Ben Pimlico’s Tavern). So, I guess Ben Pimlico won out on the last spelling. The idea of Pimlico’s began at a dinner party in Saratoga, New York, in 1868. The men present had yearlings they wanted to race. So, they agreed that in two years time they would race the three-year-olds and the winner of that race would host dinner for the losers. It was agreed. Saratoga and the American Jockey Club bid to hold this race, but the former Gov. Oden Bowie pledged to build a model racetrack in his home state and the race came to Maryland. Thus, the Pimlico racetrack was built.
At times, trainers and race enthusiasts would gather on a small rise in the infield to view a race or training run and cheer each other on. This site became known affectionately as ‘Old Hilltop.’ They say that on any given day a parade of horse-drawn carriages, four-in-hands, spikes, tandems, pairs and singles would park and the passengers gather between races for a champagne lunch on Old Hilltop. But the rise was leveled in April, 1938, for better clubhouse viewing of the back stretch The infield still retains the name ‘Old Hilltop’ even though the infield is flat.
In the first running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico, seven horses broke from the starting gate. The day was May 27, 1873. Now I ran into a bit of a problem here. My Sheba or Survivor galloped home by ten lengths–a record broken by Smarty Jones in eleven lengths in 2004. It’s not clear to me who won the first Preakness. Sources conflict. But, the owner John Chamberlain is said to own both horses…So, maybe it was…My Sheba, the Survivor.
Financial times has struck this racetrack various times during its life. In 1890, the Preakness Stakes race was run at Morris Park, New York. In 1891-93 the Preakness didn’t run at all. 1894-1908, it was run at Gravesend track in Brooklyn New York. The Preakness didn’t return to Baltimore until 1909. Even today, the track faces bankrupcy, leaving the future of the Preakness Stakes uncertain.
The Preakness is two years older than the Kentucky Derby and, as most people know, is the second race of the Triple Crown. Today, the race is run at a mile and three-sixteenths but has been run at various distances from one mile to mile-and-a-half and all other official distances in between. As I said in Part One, on occasion, this race has even run before the Derby and on two differing dates, it has run on the same day as the Derby.
So to make the confusion easier to deal with maybe, the Preakness created its own traditional drink:
Black-eyed Susan Cocktail
3/4 C orange juice
1/2 C pineapple juice
3T vodka
3T light rum
2T orange liquor as Gran Marnier
Crushed ice
Garnish with lime slices and/or fresh cherries
Stir together first five ingredients. Fill 2 (12 oz) glasses with crushed ice. Pour orange juice mixture over ice and garnish.
While these folk enjoy this cocktail, another tradition fills the air as the singing of the state’s song ‘Maryland, My Maryland’ usually led from the infield by the United States Naval Academy Glee Club from Annapolis Md. And, another tradition that developed in 1909 that happens at the end of the Preakness Stakes is the painting of the Weather Vane. ’As soon as the Preakness winner has been declared official, a painter climbs a ladder to the top of the replica of the Old Clubhouse cupola. He applies the colors of the victorious owner’s silks on the jockey and horse which are part of the weather vane atop the infield structure.” And so, it is done still today. (The old cupola was destroyed in a fire in June 1966)
The first winner in 1873, be it either Survivor or My Sheba, ran the Preakness at a mile and a half in 2:43.00 for a winning purse of $3000. The winner of 2010, Lookin-At-Lucky won running at mile and three-sixteenth, at 1:55:47 and winning $660,000. Five fillies have won the Preakness as well as three fillies in the Kentucky Derby and three fillies in the Belmont. (Only 2-3% of the Triple Crown races have been won by fillies.) Smarty Jones (2004) beat Secretariat’s record (1974) for victory margin at 11.5 lengths.
Now, Tank’s Prospect (1985), Louis Quatorze (1996), and Curlin (2007) is said to have tied Secretariat’s record at one mile three-sixteenth at 1:53 2/5…so determined by the Daily Racing Form that day. However, the official timer malfunctioned during the Preakness Stakes when Secretariat ran. So, the officials ruled Secretariat’s record at 1:54 2/5. I vote for what the Daily Racing Form says. So you decide….here’s Secretariat winning the Preakness. Enjoy and long live the Preakness and the Pimlico.
Thank you, wikipedia.org/Preakness Stakes, wikipedia.org/United States Triple Crown of ThoroughbredRacing, gohorsebetting/preaknessstakes/history, find.myrecipies.com/black-eyed susan cocktail
For horselovers, spring holds a special excitement…the running of the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing or as we know it…The Triple Crown. Each yearl we wonder, will we have a triple crown winner this year or not? Hearts soar just thinking of another Secretariat. I still can see that horse making the last turn at the Belmont and heading for the straightaway to the finish line. I also remember actually going to Calumet Farms in Kentucky and seeing this animal grazing in his acre pasture alongside other great horses from that farm. Wow, just to touch the same turf that horse had.
I’ve never been to any of the race tracks during the Triple Crown but Joe and I have gone to a few famous ones a time or two. We’ve been to Churchill Downs, Del Mar, and Aksarben and Kansas City’s own Woodlands. (The last two are no longer running.) Now, I’m not a gambler so I enjoy these races in a different way…I just love watching the horses run and watching how the jockeys work the track. My hubby likes the clubhouse with its air conditioning, nice tables, delicious buffet, fancy drinks, and a better view of the finish line. I love being in what I call the ‘Kentucky Fried Chicken Section’ or down by the fence with the local folk eating Kentucky Fried Chicken, drinking sodas or a beer or two at the finish line, and feeling the dirt filter over the fence as the horses race past. The thunder of their hooves is music to me.
Now, if I had my way, I’d even be down in the barns cleaning the stalls, scrubbing tack or, if really trusted, walking one of the thoroughbreds after a race. That ain’t gonna happen. These animals are more valuable than my house on any given day. And the horses running during the Triple Crown, well, that’s no cheap change either. So I got to thinking about how much I really knew about this jewel of the thoroughbred racing world and I thought’s I’d share what I found out…and it’s no way near everything about this fascinating event. That would take volumes.
History of the Triple Crown
The Triple Crown Stakes did not always happen in the order of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and finally the Belmont. That’s only been that way since 1931. Prior to that date, the Preakness ran before the Derby eleven times. And, on May 12, 1917, and on May 13, 1922, the Derby and the Preakness ran on the same day. In 1919, Sir Barton won all three races thus making him the first winner of all three races in one year. However, Gallant Fox created the first recognition of the Triple Crown title by being the “superhorse that could win the Triple Crown in 1930.Thus, the journalist of the Daily Racing Form, Charles Hatton coined the title and only eleven horses have one this crown.
History of the Kentucky Derby
Let’s start with the important stuff….traditions and facts. The Derby or as it’s known as ”the most exiting two minutes in sports” or ‘the fastest two minutes in sports’ is one and a quarter-mile long or ten furlongs. The horses are three years old and is run at Churchill Downs Racetrack in Louisville, Kentucky. This track is still ranked the most attended race in North America including the Preakness and Belmont. Here, the wealthy purchase seats in the Millionaires Row and the ladies wear lavish outfits and very large elaborate hats. Everyone sings “My Old Kentucky Home” while the horses parade onto the track while they drink sip a drink that has graced this race at Churchill Downs for nearly a century–the Derby’s Mint Julep.
The Kentucky Derby Mint Julep 2 C Sugar
2 C water
6-8 sprigs of fresh mint
crushed ice
Kentucky Whisky as Maker Mark or Early Times
Silver Julep cup
Make a syrup by boiling sugar and water together for five minutes. Cool in covered container with 6-8 sprigs of fresh mint and refrigerate overnight. Fill a julep cup with crushed ice, add one tablespoon mint syrup and 2 oz of whisky. Stir rapidly to frost cup and garnish with a fresh sprig of mint.
Approximately 120,000 mint julep are served on Derby day, using 10,000 bottles of Early Times Mint Julep cocktail, 1000 pounds of fresh mint, and 60,000 pounds of ice.
The Derby’s nickname is the “Run for the Roses” because in 1883, E. Berry Wall presented roses to all the ladies at the Post Derby party and the tradition of the roses began. However, it wasn’t until 1896 that the first drape of 554 roses covered the withers of the winning horse, Chant ridden by Frank Goodale won in 2:41.00.
The Derby is one of the oldest Thoroughbred races in America–the Travers Stakes being the oldest, 1864. In 1872, Col. Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr (grandson of William Clark of the Lewis and Clark team) traveled to England and was there for the Epsom Derby and later to Paris for the Gran Prix de Paris. He came home with the idea of such a race for America thus the Louisville Jockey Club was built at Churchill Downs named after John and Henry Churchill who provided the land for the first race that was a mile and half long like the Epsom and Gran Prix. $10,000 was the first winning purse and fifteen horses ran. Aristides won in 2:37.75. (1875) Super Savor won 2:04.45. (2010) with a winning purse of $1,425,000. The first televised race was in May 3, 1952 with a purse winnings of $100,000. Secretariat still holds the records for the speed record 1:59.40.
Thank you:
wikipedia.org/UnitedStates Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, wikipedia.org/Kentucky Derby, kentucyderby.com/experience/traditions
Remember my post ‘Riding like a Duck’ and the video of Stacy Westfall on YouTube. I can’t believe she’s going to ride in the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Opening Ceremonies in Lexington KY this fall. If any of you can go to this event…GO. It is the Olympics of the horse world. Riders from all over the world will be there. I’m going to really try and go and stay and stay as long as I can.
I haven’t forgotten you and am working/researching stuff to put up. It’s been crazy this spring. Hang in there with me and keep writing.
J
“Stacy Westfall to Perform in the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Opening Ceremonies
LEXINGTON, KY—Champion rider and equine competitor Stacy Westfall will entertain audiences as she performs without a saddle or bridle on her champion horse, Roxy, in the Opening Ceremonies of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.
Westfall, who has appeared on Ellen and is a YouTube sensation, will bring her champion reining horse, Whizards Baby Doll (“Roxy”), out of retirement to participate in the Opening Ceremonies for the world’s most prestigious equestrian competition.
Tickets to the 2010 Games Opening Ceremonies, held on the evening of September 25, are still available and can be purchased at, www.alltechfeigames.com/tickets.
“Stacy brings to life through her amazing performance the relationship and trust between rider and horse,” said Dr. Everett McCorvey, Executive Producer of the Opening Ceremonies. “Her remarkable abilities that help to showcase that relationship are a perfect match for what we want audience members to experience during the Opening Ceremonies.”
Learning to ride at the age of six, Westfall showed an amazing natural talent with horses. After attending the University of Findlay, OH to major in Equestrian Studies, Westfall went on to become one of the top competitors in her discipline, reining. In 2006, Westfall became the first woman to enter and win the notoriously challenging “Road to the Horse” colt starting competition. The same year, Westfall won the National Reining Horse Association Championship Freestyle Reining competition sans saddle and bridle on her horse Whizards Baby Doll—the first and only time a competitor has attempted to ride without tack.
Her champion horse, Whizards Baby Doll, affectionately known as “Roxy,” was semi-retired in 2008. Westfall will be bringing Roxy out of retirement to welcome the world to Kentucky, and to the United States.
(Photo Credit: Primo Morales)
Reining is the only western discipline recognized by the International Equestrian Federation, and of the eight disciplines, and is considered America’s contribution to equestrian sport. The 2010 Games will feature world championships in eight equestrian sports at Lexington’s Kentucky Horse Park from September 25 through October 10.
Stacy Westfall is one of many equine, musical, and cultural entertainers involved in the ceremonies for the 2010 Games. Over 200 horses are slated for the Opening Ceremonies alone. In addition to the equine component of the Opening Ceremony, the “human” component includes orchestra, choir, dancers, headline musicians, movement corps of hundreds of adults and children, as well as local and international celebrities and dignitaries.
About the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games
The Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games are the world championships of eight equestrian disciplines recognized by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI). The Games are held every four years and this will be the first occurrence in the United States.
The Games will be broadcast on NBC Sports, which has marked the largest commitment to network coverage of equestrian sport in U.S. television history. The 2010 Games are expected to have a statewide economic impact of $150 million, and current sponsors include Alltech, Rolex, John Deere, Ariat International, Inc., Meydan and the American Quarter Horse Association. For more information on the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, please visit www.alltechfeigames.com”
Well, i’m researching now for a blog on the Native American Indian and their horses. It’s awesome info.
I would like to ask you all if there is some area of horses you would like me to research for you. What do you need to know?
We’ve covered the basics, got into details, I’m working in genres, but I still need to know what you want. I’d sure appreciate hearing from you
“As a small child, Lock had been thrown up on her broad back and led around. When he was older, he had ridden bareback through the woods and meadows, fancying himself an armor-clad knight of old. In his reverie, he would charge into battle, standard fluttering from his lance, beating down enemies with a razor-sharp sword to save the lives of kings and princesses.” (Walls of Jericho. Jonathan Hopkins)
See, girls aren’t the only ones who fantasize about horses. I know I fantasized flying in the clouds on Pegasus, wind whipping my face, feeling the strength of wings pulling up, and fearing falling. So this blog is for all those who have or had fantasies of horses and who write about them.
Most fantasies seem to originate with the Greek myths and the most popular is the one about Pegasus. Medusa and Poseidon were his mother and father. When Perseus sliced Medusa’s head off, out sprang this white, winged horse and his brother Chrysaor who was not a horse but was very overshadowed by his sibling that not much is known about him. Curious things about Pegasus is the kicked Mt Helicon to stop it from grown larger and created a spring called Hippocrene. Athena granted Bellerophon a golden bridle to capture Pegasus and kill the Chimera, one ugly creäture. But Bellerophon tried to ride Pegasus to Mt Olympus without an invitation and Pegasus bucked him off because he knew to go uninvited was wrong. Thus, Pegasus was granted a stall on Olympus then while Bellerophon fell to the earth and died. Recently he is portrayed as black in the recent movie Clash of the Titans. Can’t wait to see it.
Another famous mythological horse is from Norse myths…Sleipnir a white, eight-legged horse deemed the fastest horse in the world. His name means ‘smooth or gliding.’ He has an interesting beginning. Odin and his boys were supposed to be rebuilding a wall in Asgard. As gods will, they got a giant to do it, payment…Freya. But they figured the giant would never complete the wall by the deadline of spring. But the giant brought along his stallion Svadilfarei. When it looked as if the giant would carry out this feat, and knowing Freya would never agree, they looked to Loki for the solution. After all, he’d gotten them into this agreement. Loki shapeshifted into a mare in heat and flaunted his/her wares at the stallion and off they went. The giant saw the ruse and Thor ended up killing him with his hammer. However, eleven months later, Loki appeared with the cutest foul with eight legs and presented it to Oden. www.ultimatehorsesite.com/horsemyths
Gulitpoppr, is another Norse Horse for Heimdal, guardian of the Norse gods and Asgard. Since Gulitpoppr means Gold Top or Golden Mane it’s likely this is the originator of the flaxen mane maybe? www.ultimatehorsesite.com/horsemyths
Skinflaxi pulls the morning chariot across the sky for Dayr bringing the dawn and Hrimflaxi pulls the night chariot bringing the cover of night for Nott. They are also Norse(www.ultimatehorsesite.com/horsemyths)
In Hindu myths, when the demons and devas churned the milky sea, Uchaishravas emerged…a snowy white horse with seven heads. He was ridden by Indra or lord of the devas. ” And in the tenth incarnation of Vishnu or the last world saviour is predicted to appear riding on ah white horse or in the form of a white horse.’ www.wikipedia.org/WhiteHorse.
To the Buddhist, Kanthaka was a white horse and royal servant and favorite of Prince Siddhartha who later became Gautama Buddha. He used Kanthaka in all events described in Buddhists texts before his renunciation of the world and the horse died of a broken heart when Siddhartha departed. www.wikipedia.org/WhiteHorse.
In Iranian myths, Apaosha is a ‘ demon of drought’ and a black stallion. Tishtrya is a white stallion bringing rain. The goddess Avesta, goddess of the waters has four horses named for wind , rain, clouds and sleet. www.wikipedia.org/whitehorsemythology (yasht655.120)
In Korea, during the kingdom of Silla, the people gathered to pray for a king. A horse emerged from a bolt of lightning, bowing to a shining egg. The horse flew back to the heavens and the egg popped open and the boy Park Hyeokgeose emerged and grew up to unite six warring states.
In China, Longma was very important to the Tang Dynasty and was seen as the Dragon Horse. He was a fabled winged horse with dragon scales. He was seen as ‘an omen of a legendary sage ruler for the three sovereigns and five emperors.’ www.wikipedia/longma’
Now in Celtic mythology the story is one unbelievable myth…The horse was symbolic of fertility and is considered close to the earth. There is a coronation ritual that took place in the twelfth century. when the king mates with a mare. The mare is slaughtered and the king bathes in her blood and eats her flesh without touching it. ewwwwww Victoria H. www.helium.com Horses in Indo European Mythology.
What I learned from researching myths and horses is just how important the horse was around the world and throughout history. Celtic, Greek, Hindu, Iranian, Arabian,Norse, Slavic, Buddhist Jewish, Islāmic, Christian, and and more have some story that is shared about this magnificent animal.
Again, I thank Wikipedia.org, Helium.com, GoGreece.com, for their articles and Jonathan Hopkins- www.cavalrytales.co.uk .
I hope this helps any writers interested in writing paranormal or any writing or interested in very early ancient history or even futuristic writers. Enjoy.
“For hundreds and hundred’s of years, perhaps millennia, the favorite food of man on the steppes of Asia and Europe was the horse. Expert that he had become in the herd’s migrations, man soon learned to startle a band of horses into stampeding over the edge of a precipice and to finish off the beasts by stoning them to death, then to drink their blood, suck out their brains, and devour their flesh–(You wouldn’t believe me if I hadn’t quoted this)…Then after he had mounted and become master of that back and sat high above the earth as if on a fatal throne, man discovered within himself, pride and vanity and they were never to leave his heart.”
(Gianoli, Luigi, “Horses and Horsemanship through the Ages.”New York: Crown Publishers,1967.)
But as Mr. Gianoli said, it took a millennia to do this. For starters, the early horse was barely the size of a small dog and had five toes that all disappeared over time except for the middle/third finger that grew into a hoof from the toe nail. No, I’m not kidding because the history of the horse is all but set in stone. And in some cases it really is. In 1882, Mr. William Whitney and crew discovered 800 fossils of Equidae/horses in the Mississippi Basin and at the foot of the Rocky Mountains in a perfect state of preservation. So they were here on the North America continent, but due to a “cosmic upheaval, the horse became extinct. If you’ve been reading Yahoo News lately, this cosmic upheaval did dinosaurs in too. So no more horses on this continent until the Spaniards brought them. Obviously horses survived in Europe and across that continent. By the time Rome was a power, horses were barely larger than a big pony.
In the beginning, it is believed that there were considered three strains of horses that evolved to be tall enough to ride/use.
The Mongolian strain from the steps of Siberia and was angular, thick-set, and sedate. They were the blood of horses in Hyksos, Chinese, Vandals, and Genghis Khan, Tamerlane and Muhammad II.
Another strain was the Aryan strain from steppes of southern Russia and became the horse that carried conquerors to occupy the Mediterranean, Anatolia and Mesopotamia. This horse was more agile, fine-drawn and impressive in bearing that led over time to the Arab and Thoroughbred.
The third strain is the wild horse of Europe that was sacred to the Celts, Gauls and Iberians. It was chunky , raw, heavy, and my bet is the ground stock of the draft horse and the future stead of the Knight.
“Less strong than the ox, but fleeter and more agile; less dangerous than the stag or elk the horse came into use long after the ox and ass. ” (Gianoli) But man finally figured out how to make rope via fiber cords of grass or leather. So man simply tied a cord around the horse’s jaw where the teeth aren’t and the bridle was born. However, the first Sumerians controlled their horses with a ring in the nose like the ox. A blanket was put on the back to keep the rider off sweat but staying onboard was risky if it slipped and slid about. So the next item created was a belt-like thing or longer rope to tie around the blanket to keep it in place. Voila…the saddle. Still no stirrups though. I understand those came from Asia as a leather loop for the foot.However, hitching a horse was to come much later because harness is a very complicated design. And so began the world of horse accoutraments…other wise known as ‘tack”.
Who is believed to be the first to tame the horse? The winner is the Chinese because of the statues that date back to 3500B.C. to the Fu-Hsi dynasty. Second place winners are the Mongolians, Sarmatian, Turks, Scythians. And on down it goes to history.
Over time, the horse became a symbol of wealth and power. that only the rich could ride. In Rome, the class of Equestrian were the early rich class who could afford a horse to go into battle. Later, the man who bore this title probably never sat on a horse. But nevertheless, he had acquired the image.
I think the future of the horse is to end in the zoo. Grazing land will become scarce and unless it can feed the masses. So, what use will a horse serve beyond a pet. Again, only the rich will be able to afford the joys of owning a horse. So, one day you]ngsters will gaze upon this animal and wonder how any man or woman could ride one of those creatures, much less conquer anything with it. I hope I am wrong. What a waste of such beauty, grace and friendship.
(Thank you Mr. Gianoli for your information on horses. This won’t be the last time I shall turn to you for your knowledge.)
Oh yeah, I remember the day Pat ran away with me. Pat was a brown pinto mare on my uncle’s farm. Normally, I was lucky to get her to move one step forward at a walk. But one day, my uncle saddled her for me and up I went. But, what the complicated the issue was he had separated her from her foal. I didn’t know that that wasn’t a good idea to not separate a mare from her youngun’. After all, I was only ten and a city slicker with no experience with horses.
Well, the filly got to nickering for her mama and Pat wanted to go to her. She bolted and off we went out the pig lot at a full run, through an open gate to the pasture, along the pasture fence–western saddle slipping sideways. She suddenlhy came to a sliding halt at the corner post…nickered for her baby while I frantically shifted the saddle back up so I could hold onto the horn again.She wheeled around and took off again, galloping back to the pig lot. Another sliding stop and off I jumped ship…or horse. (No I didn’t fall off). Well, she wheeled about and went to bucking rodeo style until the girth broke and the saddle went flying into a mud puddle. And to the barn the mare went. I guess my mom and dad thought I needed riding lessons and so began my riding career.
Yep, horses run away with riders. So, if you want to kill a character in your story, put ‘em on a runaway. If you want your hero to look even more dashing, put your heroine on a runaway and let him save the day.
Horses become runaway for various reasons. For one, they simply want to return to the barn. They’ve had enough of the trek and back they go. This is common with rental horses which could be used in a contemporary stories as well as historicals. Another reason they flee is because something scared them like a falling branch, a loud shot, bang, noise,a sting from a bee or horsefly (they can bite, trust me).In some cases, it can be something imaginary or predatory like smelling a mountain lion. Some horses just like to run off with the rider though. It’s a power thing. The horse knows the rider doesn’t know how to ride and it’s time to scare ‘em. Or it could be circumstantial as it was with Pat and her foal.
But, what do you do with a runaway? I would like to say it was my inborn natural ability that kept me on board but it was the hand of God that kept me from flying off Pat that day. Horses know if you don’t know how to ride. You can tell if someone get into the car’s driverseat and doesn’t know how to drive…they don’t have to say a word. Same thing with horses. Instinct, practice, or body language, but they know. I also think it’s in the touch as how the rider handles the reins, pet their neck. Nerves tremble and they feel it.
Now, some good horses are patient and kind and take care of the rider. Most school horses are like this. But there are those, like people, who are mean, take advantage and are barn runners/runaways, i.e. rental horses. What to do?
Well, keep your knees tight, hold on to the mane or saddle horn, keep a tight grip on the reins. Watch where you’re being taken and watch out for low tree limbs. (Yeah, these limbs are good ways to knock a rider off and kill ‘em or hurt ‘em.) And think…What happened? Is the horse bolting or running? Bolting means he takes off quick, goes a ways, and usually stops as if stunned. This would be a fright as in the sudden noise or sting thing. Running means the rider is going places…likely to the barn but not necessarily.
One choice here is, if you’re going off into somewhere, go with him and keep him running and running and running until really exhausted. This would be if the rider knows the area and how to ride. (for experienced riders and heroes only).
Now of course, you could simply sit back, say whoa, and pull back on the reins. Fat chance that works if he’s a runner. So, here’s something else you can do. I want you to try running forward with your upper body turned to the left or right. Can’t run very well, huh? Neither can a horse if its head is pulled to the side-back toward your knee. The problem with this is two-fold. One: this will be hard because the horse’s neck is very strong. Two: the rein could break while pulling. So pull the other rein and his head/neck toward the other knee. If that breaks too, Pray. And hold on for dear life, keeping your knees tight of course. Watch where you’re going…likely back to the ranch/barn, so all you hve to do is watch for trees and stay low.
And, if the horse is really nasty, he can rear up on his hind legs, buck like a rodeo bronc, wheel about like a top. So, your knees better be very tight in all these cases. If the horse rears, do not lean back but lean forward into the mane to use your weight to press him down. If he bucks, knees tight and hang on. If he wheels, knees tight and hang on.
Now, our heroine’s horse just bolted off with her. She screaming for help, arms flying, trees a’comin’. What’s a hero to do? He races his trusty stallion after her, runs along side her horse, grabs the cheek straps of the bridle or rein, and slows HIS stallion, slowing both horses as he turns in circles. (Now if you want to complicate things more, that nasty horse could back up out of the bridle if there isn’t a neck strap and take off again.) I would recommend the hero to hoist the heroine onto his stallion and led the bratty horse home. (Very convenient for sexual tension here or other things could come up.)
If you want to kill a character off or hurt them, here’s a scenario. First, the horse runs off by some reason you contrive.(see above) The rider loses a stirrup and the horse takes a sudden turn. His knees aren’t tight so off he goes; however, his foot could get caught in the stirrup. Thus, the horse returns to the ranch/barn with a trampled dead body in tow. Or you could ride said character into low branch and knock him silly and off. Concussion time maybe! This could be a minor injury or death as you prefer.
Another way you can hurt or kill your villan or character is to have the horse rear up and fall over on him or her. However, I’m still here even though my walk-trot horse reared up and fell over on me, I don’t recommend trying this for fun. Saw stars, I did. Wheeling like a top simply throws the rider off and is perfect for slipping the foot into the stirrup to be dragged home like a rag.
Carriage horses will also bolt for all the same reasons. So, pulling the team to into a circle isn’t gonna work here. One saving grace could be the runaway is harnessed with a good horse that won’t run. That’s an option to safety. But, horses like to run and sometimes all it takes is one to start it. Call it the herd instinct. Now, in the Celtic days, it is said that a driver could run along the wagon tongue out to the lead horses racing at a full run. But, if there is no wagon tongue, no can’t do. The dynamic stagecoach driver could vault down onto one of the runners and try stopping one animal and drag the team to a halt or he could miss the jump and get run over by the driverless stagecoach. You decide.
I hope by now you have a feel for what to do with a runaway or barn runner in life as well as your books. Remember, the best thing is to keep your knees tight, pay attention, and pray a lot. Or get a trusty horse to start with…unless you want to be saved by the hero.
Something about the outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man.
–Winston Churchill
The sensory of sight….what do horses look like? Well that is as varied as the Miss America pageant. What’s more horses vary by what you want them to do. For example, the Thoroughbred is built for racing; long, lean, and fast. The Quarter horse is built for ranch work; head low to get eyeball to eyeball with the cattle as well as a very muscled hindquarter. The fancy carriage horse will have a very high head carriage and be a very high stepper. The Draft will be like the heavy boxer of the horse world; thick muscles all over and very large splayed hooves up to 15″ across for pulling. This draft was also the early and uncomfortable charger of the knights because he could carry the weight of the knight’s armor. Ponies that were like rolly-pollies and stubborn would entertain children as well as pull ladies carts into down.
Horses come in all sizes,shapes and colorings plus markings. So here’s a paint palette for your horses:
Black: Blue-black which don’t sunburn because of their bluish skin tone. Brown-black black with brownish skin tone that does sunburn to a reddish tint, most common
Bay- brown with black mane, black tail, and black points on muzzle, ear tips, and legs; can come yellowish with black points or reddish known as “blood bay”.
Chestnut-rich golden brown/burnt-orange, usually with a creamy/flaxen mane and tail; can be light or golden like a gold coin. Red chestnut-with more red in coat,; Liver chestnut-purplish or liver colored. (I knew one of these with a silver mane and tail…beautiful!)
Roan- any color with white hair spread throughout the body. Strawberry roan- brown or bay with white hair, gray or dark points. Chestnut roan- chestnut with white hair through coat, no points. Blue Roan-black with white hair through coat, may have black points.
Buckskin/Dun/Claybank- colors from light silver to mouse-colored hair, HAS a matching strip black down back from black mane to black tail, may have a few zebra strips about shoulders and back. Very common in western horses. Claybanks have color the same all over…body, mane and tail.
Gray- born black and become lighter with age. Skin remains black though. Steel Gray- young black horse with a few white hairs through coat. easily confused with blue roan, Iron- has more white hair; Flea bitten Gray-tiny flecks of black and brown through coat
White- normal skin tone and covered with white hair, will have brown eyes. Albino- pink skin covered with white hair, has pink skin around eyes and nose with blue eyes, blisters easily in the sun.
Palomino-as golden as a new gold coin, color will vary to light to dark. Mane and tail is white, silver or ivory, skin will be darkish. Eyes are a dark hazel.
Spotted horses-Morocco-black and white usually more black than white; bay and white- Pinto or Paints- brown colors and white; Appaloosa- any color combo but usually bay and white, tiny flecks of color or spots all over the horse but mostly spread over the hindquarters.
Hooves- normally steel-gray or brownish according to coloring. If white touches hoof will have white/creamy colored hooves where touched, can be streaked even.
Leg markings:
White coronet/White pastern- meaning these parts of the horse are white around hoof
Quarter-stocking-white spreads from hoof to fetlock
Half-stocking- white has spread midway up to knee
Three-quarter stocking- yep white is spreading up three-quarters up leg, approaching knee and hock
Full-stocking- you got it…white all the way up leg
These marking are individual meaning they can vary per leg with each leg with a different marking….or they can be all the same on all four legs or any two legs.
To me, the sound of horses is the sound of music. I love the clip clop of the gaits, hearing them eating, snorting, the shish of their tail, pawing the ground. Okay, I simply love the horse for whatever it does. So, I got to thinking of what sounds a horse does make that we writers could use. I’m sure there are thousands.
So here goes. The clip-clop of a gait: The walk is single beat, one at a time sound. A trot is double, thus the clip clop. And the canter is three clops pause and three, which goes faster as the horse moves faster. (You figured that out easily enough.) They may paw the ground with one hoof when impatient or curious, throw in a snort or two especially if something is stinky. They swish tails if frustrated by flies or you for that matter. Oh and there is the thunder of a stampede. Get out of the way!!
There is the jingle of harness that is distintive and the creak or slap of saddle leather. There’s the metal jingle of bits, the clatter of wagons being pulled about amid the rattling of lines/reins, chains and jostling harness. You can hear this in the videos in my blog.
And they talk to each other usually in soft muffles, especially from a stallion to his willing mare. And then there is the opposite, if the mare is not willing, the scream of fury or pain from the stallion from being kicked. Should two stallions fight, there is the thud of hooves, the grunts and groans of muscle against muscle. Horses will greet you with happy eager nickers at feeding time that makes you smile because you know you are loved. And there is nothing more precious than a mare nuzzling and welcoming her new foal or that foal’s first whinny.
My favorite memory of sound was on a chilly autumn day when sleet began falling on the barn’s tin roof. I had just finished my chores and got to relax for a job done. I sat in a folding chair by the partially open barn door with my back side warm and my face chilled from the sleet. I still hear the Val and the Big Horse crunching the feed as they ate, then rustling the hay, stomping in the clean straw, and knocking the water bucket as they drank. I didn’t want to leave. In fact, I think I fell asleep. There was never a more perfect day than that.
So did I miss a sound? Probably. There are thousands. What sound reminds you of horses?
Boy did I have to struggle with this blog on sensory regarding taste and horses. The taste of horse sweat? yuck. Grain… good, but we all eat corn and oats. Then I realized that there is a long history of eating horsemeat. Apparently, horses have been eaten from the time man learned to hunt. Then, they discovered this animal’s strength and compatibility as a companion. From that time on, the horse was ridden and eaten usually in that order. Once they became too old to work, they were slaughtered for food. The horse is/was considered as agricultural as cattle. However, a cow produces more meat from grass than a horse, so it out ranks the horse in meat producgtion for that reason.
I do not know but the taste of horse is said to be usually slightly sweet, tender, more like a steak and doesn’t taste like chicken. Younger horses tend to be lighter in color than older horses whose meat is richer in color and flavor. (love you Wikipedia). However, horsemeat has the highest nutritional value of all meats. So let’s say it’s between a horse steak and a Dellmonico lean and fat trimmed beef steak: Calories 133/161, protein 91/89,fat 41/74, iron 3.8/2.2,sodium 53/63, cholesterol 52/59. So, horsemeat is good for you.
Once the horse was domesticated, (I guess it became ‘feral’ in Chilie after the Conquestidores went home and left them there), the horse wasn’t eaten as much as other agricultural animals. But during wars as the WWI and II when people were starving, people redeveloped a liking for horsemeat. In France, during the Revolution, horse was eaten because the horse was a symbol of the wealthy aristocrats and in some places are associated as the poor man’s food. Thus why it’s popular in Europe and Asia. Before the arrival of Christianity, the Celtic people sacrificed the horse to such pagan gods as Odin and Epona and ate the meat.
Now horse meat is referred to as ‘horsemeat’…unlike cow (beef, veal) or pig (pork, bacon, hame gammon) or sheep (lamb, hogget, mutton) which are all Anglo-Norman words. So if you wish to experience the taste of horse or avoid it as I would prefer… here are some ways to identify horse meat.
Asia: Indonesia- sate jaran..grilled meat served with spicy sauce. Japan- sakura or sakuraniku meaning ‘cherry blossum’ because of its pink color, basashi or izakaya. slices dipped in soy sause with ginger and onion, yakiniku or baniku, BBQ horse. Mongolia- kazsy,salted horsemeat sausages.
Southern Europe: Austria- leberkase-horse hot dogs. Belgium- paardenvlees or viande chevaline is steak tartare there, or potatoes are fried with horse fat. France- boucheries chevalines are the butcher shops that sell horsemeat, viande chevaline is French for horse meat. Germany- sauerbraten, marinated sweetsour braised meat dish..usually horse. Rossworst, horse sausage. Italy-..pastissada, a horsemeat stew, pezzetti di cavallo,made with horse fat, salsiccia di equino or salami or sausages, sfilacci, strips of horsemeat, carne di cavallo, horsemeat steak, panino con carni dicavallo or pezze cuadduis is a renowned horse meat sold in kiosks with bread, and stracaotto d’asino, pasta donkey.
Northern Europe: Kazakhstan- kazy and shuzhuk, horse sausage, zhaya, smoked horse hip, zhal, smoked or boiled horse neck fat, karta, smoked and boiled horse rectum, sur-yet, dried horsemeat. Malta- laham taz-ziemel, stallion meat. Netherlands- paardenrookvlees, horsemeat sliced and eaten on bread, paardenworst,sausages as fast food snacks and soups. Poland- kabano. Slovenia-zrebickovzrezek, colt steak. Sweden-hamburgerkott, horse hamburger, Gustafskory, horse smoked sausage. Switzerland- mosbrockli, specialty made with beef or horse, salmetti, sausages sometimes made with horse.
South Ameria: Chile- charqui, horsemeat.
The United Kingdom and the USA do not legalize the use of horsemeat in human food but it does pop up now and again especially in pet foods. China and Mexico rank highest in horsemeat production with Brazil and Kyrgyzstan being the lowest. Slaughtering has even been made illegal in the USA but that hasn’t stopped the thieft and slaughter of horses. I never heard if the authorities ever stopped the ring responsible for kidnapping and slaughter of show horses in Florida recently. Ferdinand, the winner of the Kentucky Derby 1986 and winner of the 1987 Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year, was believed kidnapped and slaughtered somewhere in Japan for pet food.
So, there you have it. The taste of horses…I’ll stick with beef.
Running your hands over a fine horse is about as good as your heroine running her hands over her hero…or visa versa. Ahhh yes it ,is a delight to feel all those muscles ripple beneath your palms, down a strong neck, over hard shoulders, muscled legs, a nice firm back strong enough to carry you anywhere, and a nice firm rounded butt. Is it any wonder horses enchant young girls?
The horse’s hair should feel silky and smooth except for the mane and tail which is course and thick. Their noses are velvety soft with whiskers that prickle. You run your hand down a front leg and you feel corded tendons, a knobby knee, bony cannon bone, long slender sloping pasterns and hard hooves like the hardest thumbnail ever because it is basically that. One curiosity is a crusty spot on the inside of his upper leg. I think that is a left over toe from the time a horse was as small as a dog and actually had toes. Over time they grew into a solid hoof.
You lift that hoof and find that you can run a finger over what is called a ‘frog’ the heart of the hoof that send blood back up the leg. Why that’s called the frog I don’t know but a healthy frog is ‘V’ shaped and you can run your finger along the lines. It’s not as hard as the hoof but still as hard as a the callouses of a hardworking man’s hands.
You bring your hand up along the arching neck that is supple and strong, brushing aside the mane and reach for the pointy ears the rotate to listen to your whispers. Moving slowly and carefully down, you caress his closing eyes with wonderfully long lashes, a large strong flat jaw bone that tapers to soft flesh and veins of his face tracking down to his mouth that nibbled for a treat, soft and curious. You splay your hand between his eyes across his broad forehead where the short hairs splay in different directions in the center, tracing possibly the marking usually there. You feel him nip your arm for the treat you have in your pocket because he had nestled it as if to say, “Come on. Give it to me. Please.” You give it to him and feel his lips possessively in your palm as he takes the treat.
It’s time to go for a ride and you pick up his bridle, feeling the stringy weight of the leather, the small buckles and straps and you lift it up to his ears, holding the iron cold bits between your first and second fingers. You place the bits before his front teeth and pinch with your thumb and first finger behind the teeth in the snobbery gap between his incisors and molars. You feel him open his mouth and let the bits glide in.
After attaching the proper straps you turn to the saddle. Brushing your hand along his back to smooth the velvety soft hide of any dirt particles that could rub beneath the saddle pressed down by your weight and lay a soft saddle blanket in place, feeling him shift and stomp. You lift the saddle. A western saddle (20 or more pounds) is heavier than an English saddle(10 or so pounds). You place the saddle down gently over the blanket and buckle the girth and walk around the horse with your hand dragging down his shoulder and across his chest to the other shoulder so he knows where you are, where you are going. He nuzzles you as you pass his head and reach for the leather girth and draw it up and buckle it, drawing it tight and feel his belly swell so keep it loose. Moments later you feel him take a breath and you tighten it so the saddle won’t slip down when you mount. You settled down on the saddle, feeling life between your legs,shifting with anticipation, strength as he steps forward. You pick up the reins and lacing them through your fingers. This is like touching a live nerve connecting you to your horse without the need of words.
Of course there is the wind in your hair as you ride over the moors and sunshine warms your face as you move in time with the horse. A walk is just that slow and methodical, one step at a time. A trot will bounce you because it is a two beat gait. But if you know how to ‘post’, which is rising on one beat of the trot and sitting on the next, the trot becomes almost a dance. A canter is likened to sitting a rocking chair or making love actually.As he drops back on a back leg, you draw your weight back with him; he rolls forward on two diagonal legs which brings you level and rolls onward onto the one front leg which swings you forward and then up, again and again. You lighten your touch on the reins and he moves faster and then faster, rocking you with him again and again. The speed floats across your face leaving you excited as a jump approaches. Ah yes, the lift, the climax, arching upward then downward like a ski slope. If the jump is wide, you may think you are floating before you land.
Did you know horses can dance liken to ballroom dancing? Yes Again, it is between only you two. And like dancing, you and the horse must learn the steps and become a couple reading each other’s mind.. But as a pair, move as one, turning, changing steps from walk, trot, canter, circling, crossing diagonally, going slow until you dance in place or do lifts that are heart stopping. This dance is called dressage.
When the ride or dance is over you feel his sides heaving between your legs as he gathers his breath, rejuvenated and feeling glorious as you do. You stroke his wet neck, lather from the reins rubbing there, soft, soapy and wet. You stop by the barn and dismount feeling his tail swish each direction and get stung like a bee by the long hairs. You reach up by the bit to lead him into stable and feel the slobber drip on your hand and his snort warm across your knuckles.
Ah yes, this has been a great day and you promise him and yourself that tomorrow will even be better.
Like Pepi Le Pew, the instant I smell something horsey, that mystical magical finger of perfume tucks under my chin and blissfully draws me toward any horse or horse barn, even as I hear people groaning, “That’s gross! Ewwwwww!”
As writers know, smell is one of the most powerful sensories instantly evoking a memory from a mother’s perfume or a villain’s aftershave. I learned just how powerful this is when I walked into a local feed store and the aroma of sweet feed greeted me. I was immediately transported to my feed room in my barn at feeding time. I almost cried wishing it were true.
However, have you noticed how if we are around a fragrance/odor for long we don’t smell it. A friend of mine went to Mackinaw Island in Michigan where no motorized vehicles are permitted. So, horse and buggies are a main transportation there. My friend quickly realized how the island smelled ‘kinda horsey’. I would imagine most pioneer towns and farms would have also smelled this way but the locals wouldn’t have noticed. They were too used to it. But what about that new bride from the city discovering her new hubby is a farmer?
Like all animals, horses have an odor that is unique to them. Ponies, draft (the big horses) or average horses have their own ‘smell’. I can’t describe the differences, but we’ve all smelled a horse and recognize it. When horses are worked out, they sweat and lather and this wonderful fragrance manages to get onto rider’s clothing as pant legs, hems of long draping gowns, gloves from patting or stroking a weary horse’s neck. This hefty fragrance is pungent in saddle blankets. Now, imagine a cowboy sleeping under the stars using his saddle blanket for warmth and his saddle for a pillow. But I’m sure he doesn’t even notice anything but campfire smoke and the smell of coffee. But what about a city slicker’s reaction on his first night out-of-town?
And leather, that yummy smell that we usually associate with new cars. I think car leather is more processed but still close to the smell of a saddle, bridle, halter, or lead rope. Usually these are made of leather but a lead rope or halter could also be made of a rope that would pick up this horsey, leather, dirt smell.
To clean ‘tack’ (saddle, bridle etc) you use clear glycerine soap (yep like what we use on our faces) then oil with the rich leathery scent of Neatsfoot oil. So when your rider puts a saddle on his stallion or settles down in onto the leather, he’ll know if his groom has been doing his duty by the way the saddle feels and smells clean. Or sweaty.
Instinctively, it seems, we know a healthy smell from something not right. Hooves are like that. When your hero is cleaning his horse’s hooves (which he does each night), he’ll know if all is well. Hooves have a nice, dry, musty smell. But they can rot if standing too long in too much water or muck (dirty stalls full of …you know). Then, they stink worse than old nasty sport socks.
Our hero also may notice that somewhere along the way, his limping stallion has stepped on a rusty barb, nail, or some odd metal piece and by smell alone he’ll know if it’s infected, which is a serious situation for his horse. You know the 14th century proverb:
For want of a nail the shoe was lost. For want of a shoe the horse was lost. For want of a horse the rider was lost. For want of a rider the battle was lost. For want of a battle the kingdom was lost. And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.
And an infection could have the same effect as a lost nail.
All infections are serious. And logically, horses are as capable of getting cut from barbwire, bullets, thorns , arrows, and so on just as humans. You can imagine the many things that could cut skin and cause infections especially if the horse is kept in filthy conditions as a stall, corral with other mud-covered animals. So a sick horse simply doesn’t smell right.
Now as for barns…they should also smell right. Fragrances of clean golden straw, clean fresh hay like new-mown grass, fresh grains as corn, oats, bran fill barns. And there is that heavenly fragrance of sweet feed, the mixture of oats, cracked corn other grains, tossed together with molasses. This perfume does not exist in filthy barns where odors of thick urine, wet manure, moldy hay, and dusty grain prevail.
There is also the aroma of new or old wood for the stalls and walls. The hallways can be packed dirt or, in wealthy stables, the hallway could be paved with treated wooden bricks as it was at Longview Farms in the Draft Horse barn in Kansas City. Or, the hall could be concreted and then carpeted with woven hemp for footing as it was in the Longview’s Hackney Barn.
The Hackney Barn also had a wash area much like a car wash. Bring the horse in, ‘cross tie it” (one rope or chain on either side that is attached to the halter to keep the horse in the middle) and turn on the water hose. Spray warm water over this well-worked and weary horse, and then scrape down using a ’scraper’ (long metal stirgil as the Romans would call it) to remove the watery lather and sweat. Rub down with cotton rags or straw (a poor man’s rag). Once reasonably dry, toss a ‘cooler’ (wool or cotton blanket) over the horse to keep him from chilling and start walking to ‘cool’ the horse completely down to normal body temperature. (You’ll see this after a race at the race tracks or at any horse show.) Now, of course this ’cooler’ smells wonderfully sweaty and very horsey.
So, like the buttery cinnamon fragrance of apple pie, be it from a candle, pie, or a person’s perfume, this fragrance can transport someone to that favorite dinner or season or that special place with a beloved someone. For horse lovers …the fragrance of something horsey does just the same. Enjoy making your historicals this fragrant…we horselovers will appreciate it.
Otherwise known as mounting a horse or climbing in the saddle. For me,the thought of settling down into a saddle with a live horse beneath it, picking up the reins and fingering them through my fingers is something close to heaven. But getting up there can be everything from grace to a comedy which is what feeds our stories. And mounting has a history of its own.
Prehistoric horses were small, dog-size and over eons grew to the ones we see today. So, once upon a time, mounting wasn’t so difficult. The early rider simply jumped on board by throwing a leg over a bare back. It wasn’t long before he figured out that a blanket held down with a rope, strap or whatever held the blanket in place was a great idea. After all, horses sweat and lather where rubbed as under the rider. But no stirrups were needed or even thought of. Regardless of what you may see in movies of Romans using stirrups did not happen. Yes they had a saddle but no stirrups until the Middle Ages. Until then they vaulted onto the horse or used a mounting block. In fact this feat was part of the schooling of the cavalry. However officers could use a slave or grunt soldier kneel down as a mounting block.
If you’ve ever tried to vault onto a horse, you know this can be tricky. I would recommend starting with a pony. However if you are clutzy like me even that can be difficult. This is the graceful way your hero would mount without a stirrup. While standing at the horse’s shoulder, he would grab a hank of mane, , step back, hop a few times, and in one fail swoop, fling his leg over the horse’s back and voila…he’s on.
Now, for your town mayor, secondary character you want to look like a clutz, when this character tries to mount, his leg will come short of the horse’s back and he will broadside the horse, fall flat on the ground, the horse would panic and bolt, leaving this character very embarrassed because the heroine and a crowd just saw this and can’t restrain the laughter.
Another way to board a horse is to face the horse and simply jump up, lay over the horse’s back, swing your leg over and voila, you are on board. However, your clutzy mayor may attempt this, continue on over to the other side, and land on his head on the ground. And there is every ungraceful moment imaginable between of struggling to keep on board a horse that is intent on turning the wrong way to keep the character off-balance. (Horses do this, you know.)
You may also note that I haven’t mentioned mounting on the left side of the horse. First of all, horses would rather you forget about mounting them at al and leave them grazing in the pasture. They don’t have a preference to left or right. This mounting on the left is a military thing that, I believe, originated or was formalized in the Roman legion. It could date earlier simply because swords were worn long before the legions.
Swords were usually worn on the left side, dangling down the left leg. Now try this….get a yard stick and slide it under a belt you are wearing, find a footstool or chair and try to swing your left leg over the object. Yardstick kinda gets in the way doesn’t it? Now imagine vaulting onto a horse with the left leg. The sword would and could poke the horse, hamper the vault, cause the horse to suddenly move aside and down you go. Don’t move the yardstick sword and try the same movement with the right leg….easy isn’t it. So is mounting. Sword stays out of the way, leg is free to move, horse isn’t poked. Since so much is modeled after the Roman legion I believe this is where mounting a horse on the left side began. But if the horse is always mounted on the left, he comes to prefer it as we do driving on the right or left side of a road.
Now there are other ways to mount as dropping down from a brothel balcony in a form of escape. This is no way for a Cowboy Studly to mount any horse. Think of the horse’s back. ouch. However, if he must escape this way, maybe Cowboy Studly could simply drop down beside his trusty stallion and, as the horse bolts off, he uses the momentum to swing up into the saddle. The trick here is a western saddle though. Thanks to the horn, the cowboy can do this. If, and I repeat, if our Baron von Hero grabs a hank of mane as his trusty stallion bolts off, he may be able to swing up into an English saddle but that’s pushing it. Just think of the plot twists, complications etc that you can drum up for our Baron here.
The traditional and formal way to mount is to gather the reins in the left hand, place the left foot in the stirrup, hop slightly for momentum and step into the stirrup and lift up, swing right leg over, and settle softly in the saddle. That’s the right way to do it. However, what if the horse is tall, the stirrup is long, the horse moves out, you don’t hop right? Oh the fun you can create…
Here’s another one, what if the girth is loose and the saddle comes down to you? Every rider has had this happen many times. And the reaction of your rider/hero can be very character revealing. He explodes on the groom for not tightening the girth enough. He kicks the horse. Or he could laugh at himself and simply undo the saddle, carefully slide the saddle back into place, sliding it from mane toward tail–not heaving the saddle back up the horse’s side and twisting the back hair. Our hero then tightens the girth , knowing the horse has once again taken a deep breath . He waits until the horse breathes and tightens the girth again. Up he goes this time. Or our hero could have the groom hold the far stirrup while he mounts.
Here’s another senario…the Mayor Clutz gathers the reins, places his foot in the stirrup, starts his little hop and the horse steps aside. He has to hop with him, and the horse moves and he hops, and the horse circles and he hops, hangs his foot, slips and falls and the horse stops to stare down at him, eyes gleaming with glee. (Horses do that too.)
And there is the horse that steps backward and Mayor Clutz lands on the horse’s neck that suddenly lowers and our mayor slides to the ground, horse grinning this time (They do that, I swear.) However, if the horse steps forward, the mayor gains a bit momentum and up he may go (if you want him to that is). Or the mayor simply could use a car fender, fence, stump, or the handy-dandy mounting block usually used by the ladies to mount that nag.
Ah yes, the ladies who wish to ride. The lady simply climbs the few steps as the horse is brought along side. She gathers the reins, slides into the side saddle, adjusts her skirts, straightens her bonnet, fixes the whip on her free side and nods to the groom. If this is not the heroine is less pretentious as maybe an Indian princess, Celtic warrioress, etc, she’ll show the hero how to mount a horse like air itself.
So getting on board a horse is an art that offers unlimited choices to the writer to use. Trust me , every combination that you can imagine for your hero or heroine to mount a horse has happened sometime somewhere.
Here’s a video showing the basics
Now for a few odd ways to mount: I read once where horses were trained to lay down and be quiet (probably blindfolded) for a surprise attack somewhere. On signal, the horses would rise up from the ground like specters with riders on board. Would scare me if I saw this. Lots of training going on here. Native American Indians come to mind as well as ancient Egyptians, but I’m sure others did this as well.
The one that makes me grin is when Sir Hangsalot is hoisted up in a tree and hangs there for his page to bring his charger beneath him and then lowers the knight into the saddle because the early medieval armor was just too heavy for any traditional mounting. I can still see him hanging there when an attack suddenly causes the charger to charge off with the page. And the attacking knights arrive with their long lances and just poke Sir Hangsalot until he is swinging and twirling around and around. Poor guy. But I still have to grin at the image that goes through my mind.
So, you see mounting a horse isn’t as simple as it seems. But it sure is worth the effort.
Terminology is a bummer. But then, it does make our stories a bit more realistic if you know them.For example, I”ve read where the rider may kick his horse in the ‘flank’ to get him moving. That’s a problem? Do you know where theflankis? If you do, you know that nudging or kicking a horse in the flank is darn near impossible, certainly not in proper form as you have your hero riding now. If you don’t know where a flank is, well, picture a horse and , see where the hindquarters meets the belly. It’s where the rodeo ‘flank’ strap is drawn tight to make the horse buck and kick.(The bull or horse is trying to buck that strap off) So the flank is at least 18-24″ away from the hero’s heel. Nudging that far back puts the rider way out of form, off-balance and likely to fall off because the horse will likely bolt forward. (now some horses won’t move no matter where you kick them) To nudge that old nag forward, just do so with the heel to the belly. That works just fine.
Okay another term…Did you know horses were measured by ‘hands’ from the wither to the ground? Got ya lost? A hand is literally a hand measuring four inches wide–across the knuckles, palm side. The wither is where the neck meets the back. So you start at the ground of the front hoof and go up ’hand over hand’ to the wither–counting. Ponies are 14.2 hands and under, horses are 14.2 hands (a small horse) and over, easily 15-16 hands (an average horse). Draft horses can measure up to 17 hands or more (That’s 68″ or 5’8″ just to the back of the horse…not including head and neck…now that’s big.)
And did you know that there were two kinds of western saddles–one for roping and one for cutting? You can identify them by the pommelof either. (that’s what thehorn sits on). A roping pommel will be smooth on the sides so the rope/lasso doesn’t catch when the rope goes tight. A cutting pommel is indented to catch the rider’s knees before he gets tossed off as you could see easily happening in the video on cutting horses back a few blogs. I believe the cutting saddle originated from the Roman army saddle.
Remember the Frisian horse’s mane in the sidesaddle video not main or Maine etc.
Muzzleis the velvety nose he sniffs you with, puffing air gently out of curiosity seconds before he decides to nip or taste you.
A horse’s back should be short for strength. If too long the vertebrae can easily sway thus called swayback.
Legs like humans can be knock-kneed or bowed but are prefered straight.
Hooves can pigeon-toed or splay out but neither are ideal but should point forward.
Thepasternor the joint above the hoof should be long for a riding horse, short for a draft. Why? A longer pastern is like a shock absorber thus a riding horse should have a longer pastern for a smoother ride. However, a draft horse should have a short pastern for strength but then he’s not good for riding….think solid rubber tires on a Model A . Yeah, that rough. Exception: a Percheron has a longer pastern and a straight hoof. I believe this draft horse was bred for carrying the knight-in-shining armor.
Terminology is a bummer but is always there so here are a few files that will help clarify. (Thank you Shirley Drew Hardwick for her Stephens Collage manual on Horsemanship, 1965 and Colliers Encyclopedia vol 12, 1967) Hightlight and print as needed….
“Dashing through the snow, in a one horse open sleigh, over the hills we go, laughing all the way. Bells on bob-tails ring, making spirit bright….la la la la….”
We’ve ridden and now we are riding in high class…in a coach, sleigh a barouch, brougham, calash, chaise, chariot, dray, fiacre, fly gig, hansome, phaeton, victoria wagon, stagecoach…the list is very long indeed. We’ve riddin in style and we’ve ridden rough, but we’ve ridden on something at some time or ‘nother or dreamed about it during the holidays.
I’ll admit that my time driving horses is very limited. However, I did work one of my horses to harness, which he loved. In fact he preferred harness to the saddle. My mother, who kinda avoided the horsey things, loved to drive him about the pasture. It was a wonderful experience. But, if you’ve ever seen the Budweiser Clydesdales, you can easily see that it is an art.
One of my favorite books is God is an Englishman by RF Delderfield. It is a story about a man Adam Swan becoming a rich teamster. One scene that brings tears to my eyes everytime I read it is when a coal mine collapses on a wintery sleety night. The mine was filling quickly with water, miners were trapped and the rescuers needed that pump now.
“Lovel himself backed the first of the horse into the single shafts and a great broadchested Shire the only horse present that would have caught his eyes at an auction. Then, with a volley of shouts, a snapping of leather, and the pleasant jingle of metal, nine other horses were added to the string, so children prancing in the snow forgot their grief and terror of the moment and stared wide-eyed at the cavalcade, seeing a sledge made ready for a winter journey by a warrior king Llewellyn or Arthur himself.” (Carroll & Graf Publisher, NY,p299)
The hitch ended up with twenty-four horses pulling this pump up this steep incline, struggling for footing with each attempt. This scene is one of the most powerful scenes about what a team of horses can do . It’s the beauty, the strength of men and horse working together. Be sure to also read Black Beauty by Anna Sewel, a first-person autobiography of a horse from birth to being retired to pasture.
Of course draft teams ( the big horses) aren’t all that we see harness. There are stagecoaches, wagons, and elegant coaches pulled by lighter breeds of horses. Here is a bit of lingo regarding coaching you may want to use now and again.
A carriage may be open or closed, but the cover is called a head or hood. “Draw the cover, Howard. Its going rain.” The wood or leather fore part of the carriage is the dashboard (and still is in a car and now we know why) An extended side piece is the wing and the step up into the carriage is foot iron or footplate that tears the hem of her most wonderful gown. The driver sits on a box or perch at the front is known as a dickey box and is also for seating for the servants sitting at the back. “You’ll ride in the dickeybox, Clarence,” the coachman ordered from his box. And the footman may use a small platform called a footboard or rumble seat in the rear. ”I’d rather sit in the rumble seat, thank you,” Clarence announced. The underneath is the undergear or undercarriage where the wheel axles will certainly break during a thunderstorm on a lonely muddy road late at night. The driver of a carriage is a coachman. Servant in livery is a footman or piquer. Attendant on horseback is an outrider.
Those heros and heroines rich enough to own a carriage weree referred to as ‘carriage folk or carriage trade’. (If they only knew) They may use a ‘lap robe” to cover their laps or a buffalo robe obviously from the American bison that was backed with fabric. A carriage boot was fur-trimmed winter wear. A carriage horse or roadhorse was an attractive stylish horse used on “Sunday go to meetin’ days” in the park. A dog was a carriage dog or coach dog bred to run along side the carriage or to ride up with the driver. I thank Wikipedia/carriage.
But how about driving these horses…sit back and enjoy this amazing video about what a great coachman can do with
Now enjoy dashing through the wintery wonderland with the Budweiser Clydesdales and Miller Highlife…\
The Pony Express …A fun video on the Pony Express and Bonanza… Enjoy
Exciting isn’t it? I bet they took off like a blister at a full run…for show. But I guarantee you, they didn’t keep that pace of a full run as seen in pictures, film, and likely books. It was fifteen miles to the next relay station and a horse is only good for barely two miles at a full run. Even the Belmont– the longest race of the Triple Crown is only a mile and a half long . But, at a nice hand gallop (medium speed), a conditioned horse can go for fifteen miles.
My point here is …if our hero hears that the heroine had been taken hostage by the villain in the town’s saloon and our hero bolts from his ranch on his trusty stallion Speedy (that has been his friend on lonely night, spots bad guys before he sees them, carries him everywhere) our hero can not race into town if it’s more than two miles away. If our hero cares anything for his animal, he won’t ride like he may drive a car (as horses sometimes are in books and in Hollywood). What he will do is ride like the pony express rider and go at a gallop and never at a run.
But, let’s just say he does run Speedy into town or should I say toward town. Speedy would try to please the hero but then would collapse and likely die after trying to run past the two miles. This is called ‘running a horse into the ground.” Quite literally. Nothing heroic here. Same thing after fifteen miles at a gallop which explains why the Pony Express relay stations were fifteen miles far apart.
Another issue….conditioning. Is our horse just out of pasture or in condition? Thought:Could you run the Boston Marathon? I can’t run down my driveway much less a mile or a block.
This brings up the next faux pas….As any runner knows, once you come to the finish line you DO NOT stop. You slow down and walk about until your heart rate slows So, this race into town to the saloon, sliding to a dramatic halt, vaulting from the saddle, throwing the reins around a hitching post, and racing into the saloon does not work. This is like driving a car again. A car can just stop; a horse can’t. It likely will kill him via the same heart attack as it could a runner.
But the heroine is about to be raped! The hero does not have time to walk Speedy down. Suggestions…toss the reins to the wind and let Speedy wander the street, or better yet, have a local kid, local bum, passerby yell, “Got ‘em, Hero.” and this person takes care of Speedy while Hero takes care of the villan. But don’t tie Speedy to the hitching post and just leave him. For those writing in Regencys or non Westerns etc, you may have the butler or a groom ready to take Speedy to the barn/stable. It delights me to see a writer not forget to care for their horses. But to dismount, race away, and leave the horse simply parked out front usually in winter or on a cold night makes me think bad fuzzies,bad fuzzies.
Another thing…If the hero does race into town, ties horse to hitching post that has awatering trough for the horse to drink, races into the saloon, saves the heroine and he then walks out with the heroine in his arms to return to the ranch, he’ll find Speedy dead or extremely ill.Again, back to the marathon runner who walks his heart down to normal. He also doesn’t drink anything especially cold for a while. This is too much shock to one hot body. Same for the horse.
Such a scene really sent me over a wall when I read where the hero ran (not galloped) his horse into town, reins flying, horse lathered, slid to a stop at a hitching post with a watering trough, and bolted into the saloon to save the heroine…NOOOOO! Don’t do this to a horse. alive or in fiction.
Please! After working at least a thousand hours with horses, I know (and everyone who works with horses knows) you NEVER let a hot horse drink until cool…which is why this is called ‘cooling down.” (Nice statement for a hero to say I might add ”Stoddard, see that Speedy is cooled down,” Rhett said as he raced up the steps.)
So NEVER run a horse a long distance. If in a hurry, just gallop. NEVER just stop…have some one there to take over the care of this horse. And NEVER -EVER have a watering trough, pond, bucket of water or whatever available to a hot, lathered horse to drink from.
They had someone at Pony Express relay stations to take care of the exhausted horse and so can you. Horse lovers everywhere will send you warm fuzzies if you do.
What is it like to ride side-saddle? Okay, sit sideways at your computer while you read this. That should do it.
While I’m not by any means an expert on this style of riding, I’ve ridden side-saddle a time or two, dressing up in the ‘ladies’ attire and showing in one exhibition class. However, as writers of history, this is something we must know for our heroines and their stories.
Our heroine’s form does not change riding side-saddle:head up, shoulders back…heel down. However, she will most likely ride with a riding crop or whip on the side void of her leg and grip with the horn of the side-saddle with her legs…believe me, she will grip that sucker. It’s fun. It’s elegant. And all else stays the same…
This video of a lady dressage rider riding side-saddle shows how ragal this style of riding can be. (The horse is a Friesian)
“Would you jump side-saddle?” and a bit of side-saddle history ta-boot… ( a fun video with the Dixie Chicks)
For more detail information about the side-saddle, here’s a site for the NEA Side-saddle Association.
Now, I say that women riding side-saddle was a man’s idea…not wanting anything other than himself between a ladies’ legs. His loss tho. Or, it could have been her idea, being able to wear those glorious, gorgeous riding attires. I don’t know, but it sure does feel cock-eyed to me.
So, up to now, we’ve spent time learning what it takes to ride a horse. Hopefully you’ve discovered that the bridle and reins are not as important as how you sit the saddle…knees tight-always, heels down, calves lose and moveable, weight centered under torso, shoulders back, and head up….the ballroom posture. And you’ve learned and hopefully seen how these aids communicate to the horse without a bridle. But let’s face it, the reins/hands definitely have a presence and a use. Held no higher than your belly button. But most of all, remember it’s the gentle touch to the horses’ mouths that matter. Doesn’t take much as seen with the water in the coffee mugs.
But to make all this work in concert…or how to make your horse dance. First thing is you can’t take just any horse out of the pasture and make ‘em dance. It takes hours of patient training and work. Of course our hero and heroine are offered this time since horses are their entertainment (the hunt or morning rides in the mist) or transportation to wherever they go…tis by real horse power.
No matter how or what they ride, they will use the aids I have shared with you: weight being the most influential, legs second, hands being the most obvious, and voice…the weakest of them all. Yes, I haven’t covered the voice aid so here goes…”Whoa. I said WHOA! STOP, DAMN YOU! WHOA!!” Yeah, kinda like talking to a teenager. That’s why it’s the weakest aid. However, the strength of the voice isn’t in the words but the tone of voice. It is said that horses love the Irish brogue…well so do I and can believe this. If our hero speaks, his horse will turn its ears back to listen and will respond to the tone: frantic, calming, assuring, worried.That will communicate down through the horse to the way the hero is sitting: nervous, alert, ready. And horses are amazing at nonverbal communication:your seat in the saddle, your walk, your touch, your voice. They figure that out quickly and adapt.
Again, ballroom dancing comes to play here….the instant the heroine joins a dancer, she knows if her toes are in danger. It’s the way he places his hands on her, the instant he moves to the music, the command he takes as lead. She also knows how to make him look graceful or like a fool…So does a horse. Oh, the options ripe for writers! To make a horse misbehave, think how your heroine can make her dancing partner look foolish on the dance floor. Or how she can cover for his mistakes/flaws if he has any.
Here’s a new ballroom to enjoy…the show arena full of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. I”ve seen these guys ride and they are fantastic. I couldn’t believe my father’s stating that “It’s the horses doing that, not the riders.” I almost hit him. Remember, horses would just as well be grazing in a pasture, so they are performing to please the rider.(Note how calm the horse is with the drums pounding on his back and the music…thought I was at a football game.)
Enjoy:
Here’s a second part of the show that shows even more ’gymkana” riding that originated in the Roman Legions cavalry.
Enjoy part two if you have time:
Oh, we’re not done …we have to ride sidesaddle and so much more.
So, if you want to make your heros riding like studs, stay tuned and stop by often.
The cowboy wipes the sweat from his brow with his forearm and then plops his cowboy hat on his head to shade his eyes from the brilliant setting sun. With a heavy sigh, he pats his loyal horse on the shoulder, getting a swish of a tail for an answer. He steps into the stirrup and swings up into the saddle and sit for a while, enjoying the sunset after another long day of branding, and scans the field of grazing cattle. He smiles and picks up the reins.
Sooo, how’d he pick up the reins? With one hand.
If you still have the coffee mugs and extension cord out, we’re going to see how. With one hand, scoop up both cords into your palm and close your fingers over the cords. They should be coming out over the first finger/pointer and dangling down out of your hand from the little finger. That’s it. That’s how he is holding the reins.
Now, move the hand to the right, imagining the cord/rein touching the horse’s neck… now left. That’s neck reining. The touch of the rein to the neck signals the horse to turn left or right. Now, bend your wrist in toward your belly button…that’s stop. This should be very gentle and subtle because of all the other aids we’ve learned. (legs and weight).
So, to turn left, our cowboy nudges one calf/leg into the side of the horse (not in the flank.That is too far back). He shifts his weight back and right in the saddle as if to let the horse go around him. and reins to the left with his hand Wanna go faster…lean forward (Don’t move the hand forward; it will go forward naturally), and gently kick with the heels. Wth hours in the saddle, all this become as natural as breathing to both horse and rider.
Here is a video of bridleless cutting horses. Note the rope around the horses’ neck. The cowboy uses this to ‘neck rein’ the horse toward the cow he wants to separate from the pack. The cow, being a herd animal, will try to get back to the group. It is up to the horse to keep him away…enjoy watching cutting horses at work. It’s fun and hold on….
So, a bit about riding Western… but riding is riding all the same, head up, shoulders back, hips under ya, heels down and hands belly high.
“Let’s go, Scout. Chow’s awaitin’,” the cowboy says. The horse swishes its tail and moves forward as the cowboy tips his hat to you and rides off.
Rain- water falling from the sky: Reign-a king’s time on the throne: Rein- part of a horse’s bridle, leather or rope attached to a horse’s bit and is held by the rider…usually. (Don’t make this mistake. Trust me; it happened.)
A heroine can easily tell what kind of lover a man is by how he handles the reins of his horse and thus his horse. That is the Lover’s Touch….
To understand this you will need: two coffee mugs sitting no higher than an end table NOT near your computer, one extension cord or twine or ribbon 5-7 feet long, and two cups of water. Place the mugs 4-6 inches apart on table about three feet from where you are sitting and thread the extension cord through the coffee mug handles. Pour water into the mugs to brimming full.
Mount your mount/your chair or ball facing the mugs. Pick up one fake rein with one hand and lace it…around your ‘pinky’/little finger, take it across your palm and over ‘pointer’s’ /first finger’s first knuckle and hold with your thumb….do this with the other fake rein in your other hand. With the thumb and first finger pull the rein in the opposite hand until there is tension between you and the coffee mugs. Do again with the other rein until you feel contact. (This is how you hold and shorten reins… no kiddin’) Notice the water shaking in the mugs as you do this….this is communication to the horse…he knows you’re about to do something.
Sit up, eyes on the mugs, shoulders back, hips under you. Hands no higher than your waist. The position of the hands are preferably at a 45 degree angle at your wrist…not flat, not vertical, and relaxed. Remember: the mugs are the horse’s mouth and the water is your communication to it.
Now QUICKLY tighten your LEFT ’pinky’ finger. Did water splash, tremble out of the LEFT mug? Did the mug move? Try this with the right ‘pinky’. You are telling the horse to turn left or right. (You knew this…right?)
Now, SUDDENLY grip both reins with both hands…HARD. What did the mugs do? Jerk? Splash? If you wanted to, you know you could jerk those mugs right off the table. Now think…if the bit was in your mouth, how would you like being jerked around like this?
A rider can have soft hands with an easy touch/a lover’s touch, or hard,abusive,hands/a cruel touch. Knowing this, you know how to make a character mean, heartless, cruel, commanding, angry and uncaring. Or, as your hero/heroine will be …soft, gentle, caressing because he or she needs only that touch to say what he or she means.
As for the horse- all horses are born with a ‘soft’ mouth as lover’s hearts…and become hard with hard/cruel use. Ride gently my friends, communicate softly.
Watch the riders in the video and see if you see movement in the legs, weight and hands:
(Trust me, a horse would prefer just grazing in a pasture and moving at will. These horses are doing what is asked.)
But what if your hero is a cowboy,how does he hold his reins…or if there are four reins?….Stay tuned. That’s next
Ever noticed how still a duck is on top of the water but is paddling like crazy below. There’s a saying that goes something like this….but this is much like riding a horse. So let’s see how this is done on horseback.
Since this is interactive, you will need a chair or a large exercise ball (this being the most fun). Straddle it. Okay now, head up, eyes front, shoulders back, arms relaxed at your side, hands no higher than your navel, back straight, hips directly under you. Knees against the ball or chair, heels pointed downward. Take a deep breath, let it out, relax but do not lose your frame/posture. You’ll note that, aside from arm position, this is also the perfect ballroom posture which is why your hero is also good on the dance floor…her too for that matter.
Now slump, and notice how that feels. This is how a town mayor or other minor character may ride if you want to look them to look frumpy. Back to the proper posture…heads up, shoulders back, heels down….wait, we haven’t gotten to the heels yet.
Now the part below water line, the busy part…
There are four aids to riding…voice, hands, weight, legs. We’ll start at the bottom the feet. Heels are down for two reasons. One, the heel acts as a shock absorber and two, it’s to keep your foot from going through the stirrup. If your rider’s foot shoots through the stirrup, he could fall off and be dragged to his death. (A nice option for getting rid of a villain or victim. ) Ideally, unless being used to nudge the horse along, the foot is best positioned slightly behind the knee. Calves are kept slight back but under your hips. Now, grip with your knees and swing your calves back and forth. Press your left calf to the chair leg or ball.Now your right calf. This is how you nudge the horse forward or sideways . On a well-trained horse, it only takes a slight pressure. By the way….your rider will never kick a horse in the flank. The flank is behind the horse’s belly. Your rider will kick or nudge the belly of the horse.
Now, the knees…. They are everything to riding. AT ALL TIMES, they are kept tight, never shall there be sunlight between saddle, horse and the knees, unless you want your rider to fall off. So, grip the ball or sides of chair with your heels…what happens??? Your knees point out, don’t they? This is why your rider falls off if he grips with his heels.
Why tight knees are important? Knees are the connection to the motion of the horse’s center of balance-its shoulders allowing you to feel each movement of the horse. Knees also keep the rider on board regardless of what the horse is doing. Think of a tight bar running through the horse’s shoulder and bolted to each knee. Lose contact here and off you go. Watch a rodeo bronc rider and you’ll see how important his knees are to staying on.
The second aid…your weight. Shift forward on your chair, up on your crotch. Now, sit up. Now, sit down and back on your haunches. Each of these tell the horse to do something. Lean forward…run. Up …slow/relax. Back and down…stop. The Native American Indian would drop his reins, using his legs and weight to maneuver his horse, to shoot an arrow into a charging buffalo.
Amazingly, reins not all that important on a well-trained horse…Watch this video Stacy riding without bridle or saddle and see what I mean.
So, you can see that riding is much like a duck paddling in a pond…still on top and working like crazy below. More on hands and reins in the next blog…
When I was a girl, I visited an elderly lady next door who fascinated me with stories of living on a prairie farm, hitching horses and going to town as if it were nothing more than getting in a car. It was a simple occurance…like chores, slopping pigs, feeding chickens, collecting eggs, and hanging out laundry.
Time has passed, more than I want to admit, and I’ve noticed that we are getting farther and farther from these simple roots. As a writer, you know what I mean. We spend a great deal of time researching little known facts to make our stories come to life as accurately as possible. We want our readers to not only enjoy our stories but live them. True, we may only use ten percent of what we’ve learned but, if what we share gives our readers this true-to-life experience, we are overjoyed.
We want our stories to be as accurate as possible…the right period clothing, the right foods, the right manners…but how about riding a horse correctly? Oh we can find information on basics of horses and horsemanship. But wouldn’t you like to know the touches that could make your riders stand out and shine or look more ridiculous if you wish.
This is my goal. I hope you join me in this interactive journey into the horse world. Now, get ready to ride.
I hope you enjoy this video as much as I do “I Am-Horses”
I found this great article on Yahoo. news today about where theThoroughbred horse got his speed and how it may hope find the genetics to diseases. Really cool. Thank you Mr Potter.
I knew I liked this guy. Jonathan is a great writer and an even better rider. though we’ve never met other than the internet and our blogs. I did enjoy Walls of Jeriicho- a great read! I hope you enjoy meeting him too. His blog is a tremendous amount of horse information…. heeeeerrrre’s Jonathan
