Writing About Horses --getting to know your equine characters-- Christie Halle Devlin www.halledevlin.com Images in this presentation are copyrighted and are used under the “fair use” doctrine Section 107, U.S. Copyright law (see http://www.copyright.gov/fls/fl102.html) I hope to help you: Portray horses accurately Create interesting equine characters Avoid common mistreatments: Horses are not motorcycles! Horses are not furry people The best way to write about something is to understand the experience My Qualifications Our Hero Rides to town • I'll illustrate horses within the context of a little story, starring: Bænsóng Fjordî --an intrepid adventurer known for his hijinks in the forest of Waäåæhl-- • Our story: Bae rides to town! (exciting) • What would Bae’s experience be like if he rode a real horse? http://curlyr.blogspot.com/2007/12/vikings-are-losing-chill-down-champagne.html A little historical context… Where Bae is in history can determine : How Bae will ride Equipment Breed of horse How Bae uses his horse Plow horse War horse Pleasure horse --Horse domesticated 5,000-6,000 years ago their use has changed over that time Historical Uses in Agriculture • Horses initially herded for meat and milk – Last of common herding animals to be tamed • Why? Horses are bad! • Not long after, people began riding and having them pull stuff – 1st chariots at least by 3,000 B.C. •Collar invented ~700 (Oxen plowed before that) •Increased horse pulling power by 3-4 X! •Horse could pull as much as ox but faster •Their need for oats changed what was grown •->three crop rotation Advent of shoes ~1000 allowed horses to work more Historical Uses of Horses in War Greeks: •~500 B.C. started riding/cavalry •War chariots ~3000 B.C •1st Mesopotamians, Then Egyptians •Xenophon •first to value breeding, confirmation, training and care Stirrup invented ~300 A.D. (east) ~700 A.D. (Europe) Attila the Hun ~400 A.D. and ff. Armor well-developed by ~1100 -stirrup helped rider take force of lance and stay in saddle Picture credits:, The Complete Pony Book, The New Encyclopedia of Horses, The Compleat Horse Horses in Religion Norse gods rode horses --Thor rode 8-legged horse Warriors often buried with their horse(s) --Native American practice Horse Variety http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=471121&in_page_id=1770 Different Types of Horses – Modern Breeds Appaloosa Shire (draught) Thoroughbred Peruvian Paso Hanoverian These pics from www.worldofhorses.co.uk Different Types of Horses -- Ancient Breeds Akhal-Teke – Turkmenistan (steppes) Arab -- Arabia The Mongolian Wild Horse (Przewalski's Horse) -- Mongolia Fell Pony (related to European Wild Pony) -- British Isles What kind of horse would Bae have? •Given that Bae is a warrior/knight in Europe in the early middle ages, probably something like this “Friesian” •A little on the heavy side, but not draught •Shorter than modern Friesian •Until ~1800, most horses were 13-15 hands (<5’ @ shoulder) 1 hand = 4 inches = common measure of horse height (other than cm) Pic: http://equinerpgm.proboards51.com/index.cgi?board=stats&action=post&thread=269&quote=1199389317&page=1 So now we know what Bae’s horse looks like…. • Now Bae has to find and catch him…. – Even if kept in a stall, most horses turned out regularly to play…. – And of course, “Vedra” is out… Wyoming wild horses from http://biology.usgs.gov/cro/ScienceInYourState/Wyoming/WY-brd.htm How do horses think? • The three lenses a horse sees the world through: – FOOD – Tigers! – Herd Photo credit: The Compleat Horse Possible Horse Personality Traits DIRTY!! Timidity/dominance pushiness spookiness driven by stomach Affectionateness Spiritedness Willing to please? intelligence/cleverness These can apply to both other horses and people What do horses do in pasture? Photo credits: The Compleat Horse (B&W) and http://fireflyforest.net/firefly/2005/08/24/green-grass-and-horses/ (color) Photo credit: The Compleat Horse (B&W) and www.gla.ac.uk/external/EBF/ (color) What do horses EAT? (it’s all about their tummies…or is it?) Yes, horses love grass, hay and grain, but horses also will gnaw on other things… For Entertainment • • • • Each other's tails and manes (foals especially) Tree bark Wood Wild onions (my horse loves them!) and other non-grass plants • Your favorite flowers • Horse-poisonous plants And yes, this can drive their owners batty! How do horses express themselves? • Ears – Go where attention goes – "Pinned" = annoyance/anger/ agression – Floppy ears = relaxed/bored This pic is from esc.rutgers.edu/publications/general/fs525.htm --good info page about horse behavior More horse expressions • Muzzle/nostrils: how they interact w/world – blow/sniff in greeting – snort at frightening things – nuzzle in affection – nip in affection or annoyance – bare teeth/lunge/ pin ears to threaten or bite – “flehmen" or "sniff-tasting” – yawn More horse expressions Eyes whites exposed when scared half-close when resting Position of head/neck extended straight out = aggression raised = startled, excited hanging naturally = relaxed, content physical pleasure = raising/stretching out head and neck, twitching/tensing/extending upper lip, half-closed eyes lowered to eat grass = happiest Tail swishes when annoyed, angry up/flagged when excited and proud does not wag Horse Noises (pardon my french) Neigh loud! trills from high to low pitch, long head usually high, nostrils flared when members of their herd leave or return horses are not always neighing Whinny shorter he he he, higher pitch often for a known human coming Sometimes for other horses Horse Noises (continued) Nicker short chuckle, very low pitch, quieter Affectionate, happy, eager almost always when they think you're coming to feed When horses do not make noise They don’t neigh often (not like dogs barking) When they feel pain When they’re frightened Wild-born horses neigh less than tame-born Horse Parts Photo Credit: The New Encyclopedia of Horses Catching Horses • How hard is Bae’s horse to catch? Depends on: – the horse's mood/personality – what the horse expects will happen when caught – previous training – even well-trained horses can sometimes be difficult to catch Picture credit: www.antiquebottles.com/rl/tc/kickapoo.html Catching Horses What do they do when they don't want to be caught? turn their head away run away circle 'round you dynamics with other horses important Much easier to catch in stall or paddock most horses don't resist in stall Treats also work Haltering How to lead a horse (in ascending order of level of training) : Halter Rope around neck Pulling mane or forelock They will just follow because you’re their beloved master… Grooming Now that Bae has his horse in hand, he has to get him ready to ride First step: Groom horse Why brush? Dirt under tack can hurt horse, cause misbehavior Horse reactions to brushing vary Sensitive horse may avoid it Most horses enjoy it, Pick hooves Stones in hooves can bruise Check for problems (i.e., thrush) Horses must be taught to pick up foot Tacking Up Second Step: Tack up What kind of saddle, bridle, and other tack would Bae use on Vedra? Tack comes in dizzying variety Form follows function A different saddle/bridle for every pursuit Saddles, bridles, and bits all come in different sizes, so you can fit your horse Bits are also designed for more or less “control” Tack Parts Credit: The Complete Pony Book Bits, bits, and more bits…. Tack Parts What were saddles like before modern age? • Medieval Knight’s Saddle: – Hay for seat cushioning! – Enforces a standing position • First “saddles”: – Blanket or skin tossed over back – Initially no girth – Native Americans used similar This is a historical reconstruction of a medieval saddle, produced by Wasson Artistry. This pic and reconstructions for sale at wassonartistry.com. More ancient saddles Bae Mounts! Finally! Picture credit: http://www.vikingsofmiddleengland.co.uk/combat.html Riding • How much training to get here? – For Vedra: • About 90 days from “halterbroke” to “under saddle” • 1-2 more years until not “green”, longer for higherlevel training • Lipizanner horses train for at least 6-8 years to get to “High School” Dressage Horse Training Many different Horse Training Methods Rough methods common from Asian steppes to American west lasso tie horse struggles man wins horse submits – “broken” Native American, Monty Roberts method establishes man as horse’s leader speaking “equine” language focus trust via relationship Slow training from birth Modern conventional method Halter break baby, lunge at 1 year; ride at 2 or 3 years Riding How much training for Bae? 1 session to learn basics, a few weeks to be able to ride walk-trot-canter A few years to be “good” Ride uncooperative horses Learn nuances of riding basic riding cues squeeze with both lower legs/feet = go pull back on reins = stop press with one lower leg and pull with opposite rein = turn more advanced riders learn to use seat, weight, more refined w/reins stay on horse by mixture of balance, gripping with thighs/knees, and stirrups Most difficult part for me: the seat sitting all the different gaits securely staying balanced using my balance to direct the horse How does it feel when it's right? • You're a jedi, the horse is the force • You can feel and control all of him • "Talking" contact through reins • “Glued” to the saddle – your hips roll with his back – Your legs wrap to his sides • Every cell in your bodies is connected • His mind is a subset of your mind This is a photo of Albano, a German Dressage horse, from http://www.oldenburghorse.com/Oldbrg-Success-Legends-Insert.htmm How does it feel when it’s wrong? • Disconnected – Your link with the horse is static-y – Horse’s body feels disjointed • Stiff – Hoirse’s body is stiff – You get stiff (defensively) • Makes you bounce photo credit: http://www.shawnolson.net/a/1166/the-tale-of-a-stubborn-horse.html What’s it like for a new rider? Unsteady! hands/arms high and bouncy Pull too much stiff legs bouncing against horse's sides, bouncing on horse's back Also true for tense, experienced riders tense rider tends to create tense horse relaxed rider can help relax a tense horse How does it feel to run? Mix of Fear and Elation • Not in full control • Hard to sit • wind can pull tears from your eyes •horse is all motion •huge momentum •communal experience of speed Picture credit: vanelsas.wordpress.com/2007/10/ How does it feel to ride a runaway horse? can't sit easily can't steer the horse standing not as secure as sitting can try to lean in the direction you think he'll go. not as much pulling power If you're wrong, you may fly! Picture credit: www.gutenberg.org/files/23353/23353-h/23353-h.htm (also neat horse poetry!) The Act of Riding • What makes the difference between this … And this? Answer: How well the rider reads and reacts to horse You can tell how the horse is feeling about you… Happy horses: Tip one ear back in order to pay closer attention to rider Relax Generally quiet easy, flowing gaits content with speed rider asks for You can tell how the horse is feeling about you on him… Frustrated horse: Generally bad Hard to stop or keep going Tossing head/ high head Jig Swishing tail Buck or rear What makes them unhappy? Uncomfortable Distractions Confusing directions from rider What’s the worst that can happen on Bae’s ride? worst things that can happen: Sure, Bae can fall off, but let’s make it interesting…. • horse spooks and bolts • galloping along and bridle breaks • Horse can rear and fall back over on you • horse is limping after a run another horse decides he doesn't like the horse you're on, and kicks you! your horse stops too fast -- you end up hanging in front of him All these things happened to good riders could control the horse in normal situations What might Vedra do while going down the road? look at things around try to eat passing greenery tendency to do this varies from horse to horse **spook** What do horses spook at? Anything unfamiliar Things that make noise Sudden motion or sound Water Pinto horses why do horses spook? horses see differently can't tell deep from shallow see things rider can’t instinct to run from predators bad experiences breeding, individual temperment what horses do when spooked look and blow sidle away from it if on side little upward jump/land on splayed feet (if startled) jump to the side refuse to get nearer to the spooky thing whirl around turn and run Bae’s Adventurous Ride to Town… A simple ride to town can become very exciting, just because a real horse is in the picture --equine personality --different goals from Bae --how Bae interacts with horse When making your equine characters: -research breed, training, setting -horse has will of his own