Silver
Book Worm
I love the smell of canon fire in the morning!
Posts: 625
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Post by Silver on Jul 21, 2011 9:16:22 GMT -8
I very much enjoyed this, and was surprised by how much I learned, when I thought I knew horses rather well.
I would like to suggest an addition to the essay concerning conformation of the different breeds. I rarely watch TNOT Jack of Diamonds despite enjoying the story and the action and the characters and Artie's disguise and the interaction (Jim and Sordo, as well as Jim and Artie). Why? Because it drives me ape sh!t when they call that attractive enough Roman-nosed horse a gorgeous ARABIAN! Its conformation is nothing at all like an Arabian horse. Just a few especially noticable points would be
1) That nose. Arabs are dish-faced (concave, not convex)
2) Spine length and tail placement. Arabs actually have one less vertabra than other horses, accounting for their short back and high tail placement.
3) Ears. Arabs have widely spaced, finely-formed little ears. Gives them that alert look.
4) Eyes. Arabs have large eyes in their delicate faces, also part of that intelligent, alert look.
Yes, as you can tell, Arabians are my favorite breed. But I also cringe in stories where Quarterhorses don't have extra-bulky hindquarters, or Thoroughbreds don't have delicate, thin legs, etc.
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Post by Double Take on Jul 21, 2011 18:20:04 GMT -8
I must admit I much prefer the horse (or more acurately the two horses) they used to a typical arabian (though I have seen some arabians that are not so extreme in their head shape). I do wish they had not identified him specifically as an arabian.
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Silver
Book Worm
I love the smell of canon fire in the morning!
Posts: 625
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Post by Silver on Jul 22, 2011 5:44:32 GMT -8
I must admit I much prefer the horse (or more acurately the two horses) they used to a typical arabian (though I have seen some arabians that are not so extreme in their head shape). I do wish they had not identified him specifically as an arabian. Then we're in total agreement. The horse was a perfectly lovely creature, and they should never have stated that he was a breed he very obviously was not. Didn't Bonanza do an episode where someone stole a similar vaunted Arabian? At least that WAS an Arabian, as I recall. (Then again, I may be ferslugered on this) |
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Post by SpottedPony on Jul 22, 2011 10:11:09 GMT -8
In the Bonanza episode The Gift, Joe was bringing back a white horse he and his brothers bought as a birthday present for their father. I believe that he was refered to as an Arabian. Whether or not Shrek, the horse playing the part was a full Arabian or a part Arabian, he at least looked somewhat reasonable for the part. He also made several other appearances in the show. But that was the only time he was referred to as an Arabian.
Spotted Pony
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Post by artiesniecewannabe on Jul 23, 2011 6:06:28 GMT -8
I have a horse related question (yes, for a fanfic). A man is on a horse, ready to ride off. He is talking to a young woman who is standing on the ground. He then decides to take her along on the horse. How does he get her up there, and does she wind up in front of him or behind, and straddle or sidesaddle-ish?
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Post by Artiespet on Jul 23, 2011 9:48:04 GMT -8
I have a horse related question (yes, for a fanfic). A man is on a horse, ready to ride off. He is talking to a young woman who is standing on the ground. He then decides to take her along on the horse. How does he get her up there, and does she wind up in front of him or behind, and straddle or sidesaddle-ish? Depends on the circumstances. If they are in a hurry he might just pull her up behind him. If they have time he could put her in front of him and she could straddle or sit sidesaddle...now that I have totally confused you is there anything you need help with ;D |
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Post by California gal on Jul 23, 2011 9:54:08 GMT -8
I've seen that done different ways in movies and TV shows, so I think you could choose. For me, I think I would consider the people involved, especially the woman. If she is a delicate feminine type, very likely the rider would reach down and grasp her by the waist and lift her up onto the saddle, sliding back to make room for her, and she would ride sidesaddle.
A more robust female could put her foot in the stirrup and with the rider's help, swing up behind him.
Take a look at TNOT Arrow. Jim pulls Aimee up behind him, but I'm not sure if I ever paid any attention just how he did it. I can't remember if we see him help Averi up in Plague.
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Post by SpottedPony on Jul 24, 2011 6:54:18 GMT -8
Also it would depend on how she was dressed. A fancy skirt with lots of undergarments and a restrictive corset, she have to come up behind and sit sideways. Way back when, that's how a lot of upper class women and noble women traveled in the days before carriages, and on bad roads and trails. If the lady were wearing a split skirt or a basic dress without a lot of undergarments, then she could sit astride behind the rider. I also think that bringing her up in front of the rider would only be a temperary measure if they were only going a short distance or to go far enough to stop and get her behind the rider. He'd have better control of the horse and be able to see where he was going better with the gal behind him.
Spotted Pony
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Post by artiesniecewannabe on Jul 24, 2011 11:20:26 GMT -8
Well, in the time since I asked the question I totally rethought how the scene would go (but of course).
Now, she's already on the horse and he comes running to get on too. What happens?
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Post by SpottedPony on Jul 25, 2011 6:36:00 GMT -8
The gal who is in control of the horse would take her foot out of the stirrup and the guy would grab the saddle horn, give a jump off his right foot if he is mounting on the left, put his left foot in the stirrup, and swing on to the horse behind the saddle and off they'd go. It would work both ways, standing still or with the horse in motion, like the pony express riders making a quick change. I think Jim could do the mount in montion very easily, Artie would want the horse to be standing still. Or you could have the gal sitting on her horse, minding her own business, and have Jim vault on from behind, reach around her, grab the reins and take control of the horse for the getaway. This would work if the gal were using a sidesaddle. The first example would work better if the gal were riding astride, or he'd have to do a swing mount without using the stirrup, the stirrups on a sidesaddle were rather small to fit a lady's danity foot. A man might not be able to get enough of his foot into the stirrup to make it worth while.
Spotted Pony
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