From: Suze.Hammond@f56.n105.z1.therose.pdx.com (Suze Hammond)
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Readings About Horses
Date: 27 Aug 92 05:08:00 GMT
Article-I.D.: therose.714969221.F00002

"t>  From: STUMILBY@EKU.BITNET ("And the sand shifts back into the sea...I
"t>  am gone")
"t>  Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
"t>
"t>  Several comments were made(forgive me if this is old news)
"t>   about horses at pennsic...the inappropability...the problems
"t>   and those to take care of them...
"t>
"t>  Only the best of horses would be suitable to take to
"t>  pennsic...crowds...loud noises...and even odors can
"t>  cause a horse to bolt....
"t>  While my proud-cut 10 yr old spirited babyfied roan
"t>  would be unsuitable ...I have a 20 year old.......
"t>  4 time (4-H) state fair winner retired mare that
"t>  you can fight from, sleep under and feels comfortable
"t>  in the middle of 20 5 year olds....SHE would be perfect

Indeed. I had meant to post to this subject at the time.

Horses of the proper temperament can be trained to put up with almost 
anything. Never forget that the mundane Elizabeth II is pulled through the 
streets of modern *London* by six horses, on several State occasions.

These have been trained to withstand the noise of a huge metropolis and 
cheering crowds waving things and jumping up and down, children running 
underfoot, and possible *terrorist bombs*.

They train them by exposing them to the sort of conditions expected on a 
regular basis. Hitch them up to a heavy wagon and pull them through crowds 
made up of local folk and the stablemens' families. Throw rotten fruit at 
them, set off firecrackers, at first at a distance, and eventually almost 
under their feet. Rattle long lines of cans strung together on ropes.

We tend to forget that before the automotive truck, all hard work in 
industry and in cities was done by horses. If these animals couldn't be 
trained to become used to the clatter of early machinery, (and don't forget 
the mine ponies), the Industrial Revolution would have had to wait until the 
invention of the automobile.

Knight's horses had similar training. What good a destrier who bolts at the 
smell of blood?

"t>  Hoof Care.... Being a blacksmith does not equate with knowing
"t>  anything about horses... I know several that are even horse phobic.

Too true... >:-(

"t>  ...A good pair of shoes should last no less that 6 Weeks ...
"t>  one week of pennsic should be no problem...sores or bruises just
"t>  take time to heal...not new shoes...

I suspect when this sort of "information" (lameness requires new shoes) is 
given to hobbyist horse owners, it is sometimes just a way to make a bit of 
money dishonestly. Race horses need constant reshoeing, but not pleasure 
horses, and shoes need not be reset on a lame horse unless *the shoe is 
causing the problem*, in which case you need another horseshoer!

(Well, in the case of serious injury, you remove shoes sometimes, but we 
weren't talking serious injury...)

"t>  Forgive me if any of this was too old to worry about...


Well, *I* enjoyed it!

"t>  In the Dream
"t>
"t>  Morana Revel

Moreach NicMaolain
Onetime horse owner, our farm's "tractor" was a Clydesdale

email to: trifid@agora.rain.com