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Horse Mania Newsletter #7
September 9th 1999 (9/9/99!)
Subscriber Count: 233
************************************************************
The NEXT deadline for ALL article writers and things submitted to the
newsletter is September 17th. Please let me know if you cannot meet this
deadline for some reason.
************************************************************
Finally here is issue seven! I’m sorry this one’s a week later than usual,
I’ve been caught up with school work and went camping for a few days.
Things have slowed down now, so next issue should be more on time! (as
long as everybody else is :o) ) As usual any criticism, comments or
suggestions are welcome! All things that are written here without a name
are by me, and everyone else's columns has credit given to who has written
it. See you until next time,
Susan
(thehorse@hotpop.com)
http://horsemania.cjb.net
'\__~ '\__~ '\__~
\ \ / \ / / cantering
In this Issue:
-Wanted
-Breeds in Focus- Trakehner and Ardennais
-Your Opinion
-Tell Us About Yours
-Short Story
-Horse Care
-Websites
-All About: Learning to Ride (part 2)
-In The Horse’s Eyes
-Q&A
-Horse Quotes
-Manes & Tails
-Horse Poems
-The Name Game
-Horse Jargon
-Horsepeople
-Floating Teeth
-Horse Help
-Pen Pals
-Archives
-References
*WANTED
-------
Have you been to a local show? An international show? A long trek on
horseback? Or some other big horse event? We’d like to hear about it! If
you want, write a bit of a report on what went on in any style you like,
your own classes and how your horse went, what other horses and people
were up to, results, strange things that happened, anything at all! Just
send it in to thehorse@hotpop.com and it’ll appear in Horse Mania!
Also remember you can submit anything horse-related you want, poems,
jokes, stories about your horse, experiences you’ve had or once off
articles.
*BREEDS IN FOCUS- Trakehner and Ardennais
----------------
TRAKEHNER
Origin: East Prussia (now part of Poland)
Type: Light Horse
Height: Usually around 16hh-16.2hh
Colour: Mostly bay, black, chestnut, and greys
Characteristics: The Trakehner has a refined head, with a straight profile
similar to the Thoroughbred which is joined to an elegant neck. The
withers are defined and the shoulders slope well, the action is very free
in all paces. The Trakehner has a medium-length body and rounded quarters
with a high set tail that is carried well. The legs are hard and have well
formed joints, and the feet are excellent and sound.
Use: A favorite for competition, often seen at Olympic level for both
dressage and showjumping. Trakehners have great stamina and endurance and
are highly courageous. They have a good temperament and conformation,
making them the ideal riding and competition horse.
History: The Trakehner originated in the early 13th century. It has been
influenced by Thoroughbred and Arabians. The greatest influence of all on
the breed was a Thoroughbred stallion named Persimmon and his sons
Tempelhhuter and Perfectionist. Trakehners were used in the First World
War, they were believed to be one of the best war horses around.
Picture: https://www.angelfire.com/id/horsemania/images/trak.jpg
(this photo is not mine and comes from http://yancey-farms.com/harper.html)
ARDENNAIS
Origin: Ardennes region of France and Belgium
Type: Heavy Horse
Height: 15.3hh and above
Colour: Preferred colours as mentioned in the breed standard are roan,
red-roan, iron grey, dark or liver chestnut and bay. Bay-brown, light
chestnut and palomino are allowed but black, dapple grey and other colours
are not.
Characteristics: The Ardennais is one of the more thick-set of draught
horses. It has a wide frame and a short back with muscular loins. The head
is straight profiled, with a squared off muzzle, a low flat forehead and
small ears. The neck is thick and strong and the shoulders are very large.
The legs have light feathering and the feet are strong. The quarters are
wide and rounded with thick and powerful muscles.
Temperament: Has a reputation for being very gentle and docile and can be
handled easily, even by children.
Use: Work on farms as a heavy draught horse, used to be an artillery horse
in the French Revolution and WWI. Sadly has also been risen for the meat
market.
History: The Ardennais is one of the oldest heavy breeds. In the 17th to
19th centuries the Old Type Ardennais was a stocky and lively animal that
were both ridden and used as light draught horses. Large numbers of them
pulled the French guns in the French Revolution and they were hardy enough
to survive the winter retreat from Moscow, bringing home a part of the
Emperor’s wagon train. The Modern Type Ardennais was developed from
crossing with Arabians to increase energy. Later some Thoroughbred,
Percheron, and Boulonnais crosses were introduced. They were bred as a
bigger and heavier animal for the demands of agriculture and heavy draught
work. Dutch and Belgian stallions were importer after the loss of many in
WWI and WWII. Three main types are seen today of the Ardennais, a smaller
type which is nearest to the old type, the bigger and more massive
Ardennais du Nord, which resulted from crosses with the Belgian Draught
Horse and the powerful Auxois.
Picture: not available
*YOUR OPINION
-------------
In this section I will ask a question every issue and put in the
responses. I’ll also add in my opinion. Send in replies to me at
thehorse@hotpop.com with "Your Opinion" in the subject line.
This issue’s question is:
“Should more equestrian events be allowed into the Olympics, and which
ones?”
(for Sydney 2000 there is only dressage, showjumping, and eventing but
that may change in future Olympics)
Now we’ll take a look at the responses to last issue’s question which was:
“Do you have a preference for riding a stallion, mare or gelding or do you
not mind and for what reasons?”
Thank you to everyone who replied!
“I prefer to ride geldings. Stallions are fiery and may be dangerous. But
some stallions can be sweet. And, to tell you the truth, I have never
ridden one(!) I hope to own one someday. Mares I don't usually prefer,
because of their attitudes. But don't get me wrong, lots of mares don't
even show signs of being ''mare-ish''. I have ridden mares that are
fine. Geldings, I prefer because most are calm and willing (including my
paint and mini). And, to defend mares and geldings, but not to offend
stallions, they can perform just as well as stallions can.”
-Lindsay
“I prefer a gelding when riding. They do not go through cycles like mares
do
and they won't get excited when a mare comes around them because they are
gelded. I have ridden many geldings and some mares. I like riding mares
and
geldings, but I would prefer riding a gelding over anything.”
-Sharon
“I think it really depends on the Horse so I can't completely answer that
question. Most Stallions tend to be more aggressive and "wild" than Mares
and Geldings.Mare's tend to be moody, often their personalities change a
little when they're in heat. So I guess over all I like Geldings best. I
own a wonderful gelding and ride many others. They all have their
stubborn streaks or bad days but are generally sweeter ( in my opinion ).
It sort of hard to say but I guess I like Geldings best.”
-sparson@fast.net
“I have owned mares, geldings, and a gelding that thought he was a
stallion... Out of all of them I prefer my mare... the mares seem to be
more willing than the geldings... also they are more energetic.. from
another stand point a mare is better than a gelding because you can always
have it bred.. “
-Morgan
and my response:
“I don’t mind either mare or gelding. I have never ridden a stallion, but
know they tend to be more temperamental and unpredictable than geldings or
mares. Some mares get moody when in season, but others don’t show any
signs at all. I have ridden geldings most of the time but would go either
way.”
-Susan
*TELL US ABOUT YOURS
--------------------
This a section where you can tell us about your own horse, or the horse
you ride.Send it in to thehorse@hotpop.com and I’ll put it in. It can any
length you like.
I have an appaloosa gelding named Houdini. He is 3 years old but coming
along
very well in his training. He is chestnut with a blanket. I am training
him
western style but want to do english later
-PuppyLuvSF
I have a AMHA registered Morgan horse... She has been shown saddleseat
around the country; though she was good at it she didn't really like it.
As a result she is ring-sour. I am a trail rider.. so I bought her for
trails. Now my morgan is quieter than ever as we walk down the trails..
I think it is important to choose a horse that wants to do what you want
to do.
-Morgan
*SHORT STORY by Brittany Barry
------------
Inseparable- A Story Of The Bond Between Horse And Rider
Cindy took in a deep breath and loosened her grip on the leathery steering
wheel. It was a bright summers morning, the kind of day that you know just
can't go wrong. She'd been up since five, awaken by her alarm clock to
feed, groom and muck out stalls, a routine she had done so many times she'd
lost track. Quickly glancing at her watch she realized it was a mere two
hours until the auction would begin. She she pulled the bright red Dodge
Ram into the gravel drive of the auction house she smiled to herself. Three
years ago she had gotten a job at the local veterinary hosptial as a
certified assistant. Cindy had flown in and and out of school, skipping
numerous grades and then breezing through vet school. The job payed well
and she had a great time at it, being around horses all day and meeting new
people. Today she planned on spending nearly half of her lifetimes savings
on the horse of her dreams. All her life she had been anticipating this
day. Taking another breath she opened the cab door and hopped out. After
taking a glance at the beige four horse trailer in tow she headed for the
barn.
Walking confidently through the doors she took in the familiar smells. A
mix of leather, hay, manure and that smell horses just seem to have. That
one that can bring back so many memories, and for Cindy it was even better
than hot fudge. Pushing aside a loose strand of strawberry blonde hair she
spotted a face she knew from somewhere. And then she heard his voice, that
husky yet friendly tone from what seemed like yesterday. As he turned
around Cindy grinned at the man in the creased jeans, deep brown boots and
flannel shirt. It was Charlie, the man who had trained her last horse.
"Why hello Cindy! I heard," he continued in sympathy "I'm sorry.
Four years ago Cindy's horse Triumph was competing in the biggest show of
his life, The Royal Cup '90. Everything had been going great, he was ready
for the big step up and oozed capability. As the two were approaching the
second to last jump he spooked and went hurdling into the towering blue and
white over. Cindy had escaped with a concussion and snapped wrist, but
Triumph was less fortunate. He had fractured his leg in three places,
leaving them with no option but to be put down. Charlie's words brought
back
deeply unwanted memories, but Cindy knew the man meant no harm. Smiling she
quickly changed the subject.
"So do you have any horses in the auction Charlie?" she asked hopefully.
"You bet" he replied casually putting a hand in his pocket.
"Really!" Cindy exclaimed excitedly.
Charlie had done the best possible job training Triumph, and not only did
she trust him in training a horse but looked forward to seeing his latest
work. He showed her a few colts, but they were all too young. If a young
horse is jumped too early you can cause permanent damage.
"I think around five is what I need" she told Charlie.
"You're gonna like this one then" he said, a touch of anticipation in his
voice.
Charlie unlatched the stall door and walked in. Inside was a thing of true
beauty. Just from looking at the mare Cindy could see the works of Charlie.
Her well muscled shoulders, rippling hindquarters and the gleam in her
eyes. The chestnut bobbed her head happily and nickered.
"This here is 'One of a Kind," he said nodding to the mare. "Her grandsire
is the same as Big Ben's and out of a talented broodmare."
Big Ben in Cindy's mind was the greatest jumper ever. He was a Canadian
Champion show-jumper, bred and raised in Germany. World famous and had the
respect of the nation. She admired the mare's straight long legs and strong
back. A great conformation set up for a jumper. Cindy knew she'd be a lot
of money, but they seemed to click and this was definitely what she'd come
for.
"I'm willing to pay my whole savings for her" Cindy exclaimed.
'One of a Kind whinned excitedly and paced her stall more.
"Guess she agrees" chuckled Charlie. "But she's a big interest with lots of
betters Cindy, be ready."
Cindy said her farewells to Charlie and looked at more potential horses.
Just as she has suspected though, none matched up to 'One of a Kind or
Kindle as Cindy had already nicknamed her. After seeing over a dozen horses
she took her seat in the bleachers and got ready to bid like her father had
taught her, not too fast and awarely. 'One of a Kind was the very first
horse to be bid on, a warm up for the crowd was Cindy's guess.
Optimistically
she observed the mare as she was lead around the ring on a lead line, her
coat shimmering under the lights. Cards flashed in the air so quickly it
was amazing. The auctioneer was thrilled and his words were a slur of
gibberish to her. Suddenly hope began to fade when the bids were just five
thousand dollars off her limit. Cindy flashed her after the others.
"Going once, going twice and sold!! To the lucky lady in the front row for
eighty thousand dollars!" the man yelled.
Cindy grinned. Although a little over her limit, she'd just bought her
dream horse. That night after Cindy had settled Kindle into her new stall
she began planning the next day. A whole new beginning. Just after planning
the warm up Cindy made the mistake of yawning and was soon sound asleep
The buzzing alarm clock rang at it's usual five in the morning and Cindy
was relieved to see a cloudless sky and a light breeze shuffling the trees.
'One of a Kind was fine while tacking up and even better during the warm
up. So far, so good. Cindy clucked to the radiant mare who broke into an
even, flowing canter. All of a sudden a deer leaped out of nowhere from in
the bushes in front of the pair. 'One of a Kind reared, frightened as ever
as Cindy reached desperately for a handful of mane. But her hand just
wouldn't grip the fine hairs and she slipped off the mare's back. It seemed
as though she was floating through the air forever when she finally hit the
ground and the world seemed to turn upside down.
Not long later Cindy woke up dizzily in the barn office with ice on her
forehead. Her parents had found her there thanks to Kindle who had ran to
the house frantically looking for help. Thankfully both were injury free,
just worried.
In the next two years 'One of a Kind progressed incredibly and had gained
so much in very little time. Nothing like that clear skied day ever
happened again and the mare was a handful of talent. Cindy and the mare
developed a bond so tight nothing could interfere. She learned to jump
unspeakable heights and her stall door was constantly covered in ribbons.
One day Cindy received a letter in the mail. It turned out to be an
invitation to Royal Cup '96, a perfect opportunity for Kindle to be
nominated for Horse Of The Year. It was a tough decision, but Cindy knew it
was the right thing to do.
Squirming in the saddle, Cindy waited for their turn. 'One of a Kind calmly
chomped on her bit and sighed. Before she could change her mind the number
seven was called. Kindle trotted effortlessly into the ring and halted for
Cindy to salute before taking on the course. The two sailed over hedges,
gaits, water jumps, combinations and a bicycle jump before the judge called
"Two to go!" The next jump was an oxer and Cindy aimed the mare for it.
Suddenly she saw it was the jump which had ended in tragedy for Triumph,
the blue and white oxer. Before she knew it the jump wasn't so far away, in
fact it was right in front of her and 'One Of A Kind went down on her
knees, tumbling into the jump as Cindy flew over her head. And then it went
quiet. So quiet Cindy felt alone, not even able to hear her own breathing,
he limbs numb.
A week later Cindy woke to find herself in a hospital.
"Where is she Mom? I let her down!" she cried whispering.
"It's okay sweetie, we're here" gasped Mrs.Andrews.
"Kindle, where is she?" Cindy spoke frantically and impatiently.
"She's at the vet's dear. She has to......."
There was a long and hollow silence before Cindy took her mother's and
hand.
"What?" she asked even more worry and strain in her voice.
"She had to be put down. She is being euthenized right now" her mother
turned to choke back tears and then turned to face her pale daughter but
she was no longer there. Mysteriously, Cindy had vanished.
Guessing Cindy had snuck away to think alone, Mrs.Andrews got up to let the
nurses know. Quickly she remembered her daughter had been paralyzed, unable
to function at all. Her thoughts were interrupted by the phone.
"Hello?" she managed to speak.
"Mrs.Andrews, this is Dr.Burgess calling, Cindy's vet. This will seem very
strange to you mam, but please try to believe me. I know this is tough, but
uhh well you're daughters horse seems to have vanished" he notified her
uneasily.
"They always were inseparable" mumbled her mother tearily in awe.
*HORSE CARE by Lindsay Casper
-----------
Horse Care Around the World
I just went to the East coast of the United States, and marveled at how
different it is than home, the West coast. Last year, I went to France,
and
I was surprised at how very different worlds our horses live in. On the
West coast, horses mostly live in shaded corrals, or pens, with sand
bedding. Most people don't have a barn- it really isn't necessary- at
least where I live in, California. Our horses eat alfalfa hay or pasture,
and are wormed 2-3 times a year.
I am very curious to know how every reader of this letter takes care of
their horse. Please include this information, and, this will be very hard,
but don't exceed 150 words- there will be a lot of answers!: what hay does
your horse eat, what are it's stabling conditions, how often do you worm,
and what kind of shots do you give. Send all answers to: tareana@msn.com
Thanks!!!
*WEBSITES
---------
Do you have your own horse related website or know of a good one? Send it
in to thehorse@hotpop.com and I’ll list it here!
All The Neigh:
https://www.angelfire.com/hi2/horseclub
Love Horses?
http://homepages.msn.com/PetsPl/iluvmyhorse/index.html
*ALL ABOUT....Learning to Ride (part 2)
----------
Learning to ride is a wonderful thing and it is a lifetime of learning,
even experienced riders keep on learning new things. This is intended as a
guide only.
The First Lesson- English
Don’t expect to leap on a horse’s back and gallop off straight away.
Learning to ride takes time and it is a while before you get confidence. A
good way to have a first lesson is on the lunge.
Lunging
A lunge line is a long rope that attaches to the horse’s bridle and the
horse goes in a circle around the instructor, who stands in the center
directing the horse. This way you can just learn to relax and get used to
the feeling and movement of the horse without worrying about what the
horse is doing. Lunging can be done in walk, trot and canter and is a very
efficient way of developing a good deep balanced seat and a correct
position
The Walk
Walking is the horse’s slowest gait. It is in 4-beat time and all you need
to do is sit correctly in the saddle, back straight, hands down, heels
down, elbows bent, head up and go with the horse’s movement.
The Trot
The trot is the next gait. It’s a 2-beat gait and can be ridden in two
different ways. Sitting trot is where you sit deep in the saddle (trying
to keep still as much as possible!) and go with the movement of the horse.
It is very demanding on the muscles, especially without stirrups but
develops balance and a good seat. Rising trot is where you rise in the
saddle with one beat and sit the next, one-two, one-two in rhythm with the
horse’s stride. It is difficult to master at first but once you get the
hang of it you’ll find it much easier than sitting trot and you can go on
for ages in rising trot without feeling tired once you find the rhythm. In
trot, especially in rising, it is important to make sure you are not using
the reins for balance and hauling yourself up with them. This is rough on
the horse’s mouth and is a common fault. The “rise” in rising trot should
be effortless and take advantage of the horse’s movement to help move you
slightly out of the saddle.
You won’t go faster than a trot in your first lesson, maybe you’ll stay in
walk the entire time! It’s important to get used to riding first and get
some experience and balance before trying the faster gaits.
Turning
Many people think that turning a horse involves hauling on the reins. This
isn’t true, actually the legs should do most of the work in directing your
horse, the help move the hindquarters and you should only need a light
touch on the reins. In Western riding neck reining is used which is
completely different, the horse learns to turn with just a light touch of
the reins on it’s neck.
Next issue- All About....Learning to Ride (part 3)
*IN THE HORSE’S EYES by Erika
--------------------
I own three horses. Two AQHA mares (actually one is a filly still) and
one
Arab/Saddlebred gelding. I've always had horses, but so far my two year
old
is the best one I've come across. Her name is Zanzadunny Moonshine. Her
mother is my other QH. I decided that I needed a horse to take my
gelding's
place on the trail because he's 26 years old with arthritis in one back
leg.
So my mare, who's had wonderful foals before, was the perfect candidate.
A
friend of a relative owned a nice stallion and the stud fee wasn't too
high,
so I bred her. I'm so glad I did!! Since the night she was born, my
filly
has been a people horse. Somewhere around eleven o'clock I felt the need
to
go check on my 2 day over due mare. Lo and behold, a little wet baby
tripping around the pasture. As dark as it was, and as scary as three
people
carrying flashlights, she walked right up to us, much to her mother's
disgust. Her bright eyes and inquisitive nature lead to quick learning on
her part. Less than twelve hours after birth, she had a halter on her
head
and was being "led" around after her mom. To this day, she still has the
same nature, always willing to be around people and wanting to learn
more.
Q&A by shareasmile@hotmail.com
---
Dear shareasmile,
I have a problem, I am very nervous around the horse I ride, he can be
spooky. My instructor tells me I'll be fine but I don't think I will! What
should I do?
--Nervous Nan
Dear Nervous Nan,
One way to tackle the problem of being nervous around your horse is to
spend
time with him when you are not riding, go out and graze the horse, groom
him, whatever you think would be a good idea to make you bond better. Once
you have a stronger bond, things should go smoother.
Dear shareasmile,
My horse doesn't mind being caught but her paddock mate is a total pain!
He
won't leave me alone!
--Annoyed
Dear Annoyed,
This horse is probably craving attention. When you go to catch your horse
give him a bit of TLC and a treat then push him away from you and proceed
to
get your horse. Another way is to do this [I had to use this method
myself]
you can tell the other horse in a low, firm voice "Get". I know this next
method sounds awful but if you do it right, it can be effective. Carry
small
pebbles with you and throw them by his feet to make him leave you alone.
*HORSE QUOTES
-------------
If you know of any good horse related quotes, send them in to me at
thehorse@hotpop.com!
Into horses out of pocket.
Poverty is... owning a horse.
Sent in by Alison McCarthy
*MANES & TAILS by Jamie
--------------
Manes and Tails,
Horse movies, part 3
Hi again, horselovers!
To start this issue, I have to add another Disney
TV movie I previously forgot, which is one of my
favorites and also has not aired in at least 10+
years.
The story is "RUN, APPALOOSA, RUN", which opens with
a herd of Appaloosa horses running on an open range,
and a song, "Ballad of the Appaloosa," sung by a
famous Western singer, who also does the narration in
the story.
It's about the famous Nez Perce(literally "pierced
nose") Native American tribe, who were known to fancy
Appaloosa horses, and took great pride in breeding
them selectively to produce the best examples of the
breed.
The story begins with a young Nez Perce woman, Mary
Blackfeather, whose Appaloosa mare has just had a new
colt. Mary decides to train him herself, and names
him "Holy Smoke." When the horse is grown, she has in
mind to train and ride him in the long and grueling
"Suicide Race," which is a re-enactment of the route
Nez Perce Indians took in the 19th century while
fleeing the U.S. Cavalry after an attack. However,
there are two problems with Mary's dream. One is that
Holy Smoke, due to a frightening experience in water
as a foal, is afraid of water and will not go into it.
And, yes, the race includes swimming the horses
across the river. The other obstacle is that being a
woman in the tribe, she has no voice, by tribal
custom/law, women are forbidden to ride in the
"Suicide Race."
After she has trained and worked with Holy Smoke
and developed a strong bond with him, someone comes
and offers to buy the horse. Because Mary is a woman
and does not have the final say about this, and the
tribe
needs money, her beloved horse is sold.
Sometime later, Mary unexpectedly gets her horse
back, and actually jumps him over an old jalopy in
which the elderly tribal chief is sitting. Rather
than getting angry at this breach of tribal custom and
manners, the chief gives permission for her to ride in
the famous race.
She enters the race with her brother as a relay
partner. Mary and Holy Smoke start the race, with her
brother waiting at the river at the halfway point to
take over and swim the river with his horse and finish
the race. But he is knocked off his horse at the
crucial point and disqualified. Mary and Holy Smoke
must finish the race themselves. The horse hesitates
at first at the river, but then plunges in at Mary's
urging. Emerging unhurt on the other side, she urges
him on to the finish line, with Holy Smoke the winner.
Now for THE ultimate horse movie: THE BLACK
STALLION, based on the book by Walter Farley. This
movie was released in 1979/80, and followed the book
pretty closely, with some minor changes. Gorgeous
photography of on location shots and horses. The
Black was played by an Arabian stallion named Cass
Ole. He had to have small parts of him dyed black and
wore mane and tail extensions. There were several
stunt horses who stood in for Cass Ole on some shots,
but 80% of the horse shots were of Cass. (This
information comes from an article in "Equus" magazine
that was published soon after the movie came out.)
THE BLACK STALLION has an enchanting, fairy-tale
quality, and is the kind of movie you can watch again
and again and never tire of it, especially if you're a
horse lover. It is available on video.
Then there is the most recent version of the
classic BLACK BEAUTY story, which came out just a few
years ago. This may have been the only version to be
true to ANNA SEWELL's book, which is told from the
horse's point of view. In this version, Black Beauty
is played by a very talented Quarter horse gelding. I
saw this movie, but was disappointed that it was so
sad. Several movie versions of Black Beauty have been
out in the last 20 years.
In 1981, THE BLACK STALLION RETURNS came out, but
it did not have any of the magic of the original. The
character of the young hero, Alec Ramsey, played again
by Kelly Reno, is portrayed as cocky and arrogant and
not always likable. He goes to Arabia to get back his
beloved horse after The Black is stolen from Alec's
barn. He also participates in a horse race in the
desert which will determine whether he gets to keep
his horse. The Black is again played by Cass Ole.
There were some exciting scenes in this movie, but it
didn't really have a heart to it. This sequel was NOT
very faithful to Farley's book.
In the 1940s, Elizabeth Taylor played the lead
role in the movie "National Velvet," based on the book
by Enid Bagnold. But instead of a pinto horse, as was
in the book, the movie version had a solid color horse
(which may have been a chestnut--you can't tell for
sure because the movie was filmed in black and white.)
The horse was called "The Pie" because of his piebald
coloring in the book, but savvy horse people know the
movie version horse definitely didn't fit his name.
The girl, Velvet, (Liz Taylor) wants to ride "The Pie"
in the Grand National Steeplechase, and a young jockey
played by a young Mickey Rooney agrees to train her.
She disguises herself as a boy when the time comes for
the race, manages to cross the finish line first, but
is disqualified when the officials find out her
deception. Now if you read MONTY ROBERTS' first book,
he tells about doubling for young actors in riding
scenes, and he doubled for Elizabeth Taylor's riding
scenes in this movie, when he was a young boy.
A sequel to this movie came out in the 1980s
called "International Velvet," and the only actress
whose name I remember in this movie is Tatum O' Neal
in a starring role as an American teenager who goes to
England to meet her Aunt Velvet. She doesn't seem to
have much interest in anything, until she gets there
and sees "The Pie", (again, not a pinto), much older
now because Velvet is all grown up. Tatum's character
becomes fascinated by the story of what her Aunt
Velvet did in the Grand National as a child, and
decided she wants to learn to ride and when she does,
she somehow winds up representing Great Britain in the
equestrian part of the Olympics as part of the British
team.
I must admit that here the story does not make a whole
lot of sense, but it wasn't a bad movie. This is one
I would like to see again, although it isn't that well
written.
That's all for now. See part 4 next issue.
he tribe needs money, her beloved horse is sold.
*HORSE POEMS
------------
If you enjoy writing poems, why not send some into me at
thehorse@hotpop.com and I’ll put them here. Or if you have a favorite
horse poem you can submit it as long as you include the author.
ON PARADE by Eileen Daly
Oh, silver-saddled velvet horse,
All decked in finery,
Lift up with grace your spangled hooves
And prance and dance for me
When I grow up--I'll tell you now
A promise I have made
I'm going to dress in beaded vest
And ride you on parade.
MY HORSE by Jane Dwyer
A listening ear,
A lifted head,
Glistening coat,
Chestnut-red.
A blaze of white
A gentle eye,
Flashing feet
Stepping high
If all these things
In a horse I see
I know that horse
Must belong to me.
The above poems were submitted by Jamie from "Ride a
Fine Horse", published by Whitman Publishing Co. in
the 1960s.
*THE NAME GAME by Amanda
--------------
Name Game #5
Picture: https://www.angelfire.com/id/horsemania/images/namegame5.JPG
Breed: Morgan
Age: 2 months
Gender: Colt
Temperament: This lively guy can win your heart in a second! He is
obedient and eager to please, though sometimes can be a mischief maker!
He will probably be gelded and trained as a jumper or child’s mount.
*Please note: none of these horses are owned by myself or anyone I know*
E-mail me with a name that you think would be good for him! Whatever name
fits him best, I’ll post on the next newspaper, along with the name of
person who made it up.
Amanda (amhorse@usa.net)
*HORSE JARGON by Bethany
-------------
HOORAY FOR HOOVES!
Hoof-- the entire foot of the horse.
PARTS OF THE HOOF
Wall of the Hoof-- that part of the hoof which is visible when the foot
is placed flat on the ground.
Toe-- front portion of the foot
Heel-- rear portion of the foot
Frog-- rubbery, triangular pad of horn in the sole of the of the hoof,
which acts as a shock absorber.
Sole-- the bottom of the foot. The frog is located in the middle of the
sole, extending from the bulbs of the heels forward, halfway to the toe.
Laminae-- the parts of the foot that attach the wall of the hoof to the
coffin bone.
HOOF MARKINGS
Blue Hoof-- slate blue horn
White Hoof-- white horn
Striped Hoof-- hooves with black and white in vertical stripes.The
Appaloosa and other spotted horses have striped hooves.
OCCUPATION and EQUIPTMENT
Blacksmith-- also known as a horseshoer of farrier. Blacksmith is an old
term which originally applied to any artisan whose medium was iron. Now
used to denote a trained professional who trims and shoes horses.
Forge-- a device for heating horse shoes so that the metal can be shaped
to fit the hoof.
Anvil-- a heavy iron block with a smooth face, usually of steel, on whick
horse shoes are shaped.
Hoof Pick-- a hooked metal device used for removing stones and debris
from a hoof.
HOOF PROBLEMS
Thrush-- an inflammation of the frog characterized by rot and a foul
smell. Requires cleaning the sole and treating with anti- thrush
medicine.
Quarter Crack-- a crack in the hoof extending downward from the coronet
toward the sole. (Also known as "sand crack")
Seedy Toe-- a separation of the wall of the hoof from the laminae.
*HORSEPEOPLE by martine macdonald
------------
I got into horses 5 years ago, when I was nine. We were on our annual
summer vacation in prince edward island and my family decided to go to a
trail riding place. None of us knew anything about horses, just which side
is which, and I never thought I'd end up where I am now. Anyway, the
place was a pretty rotten place and the man who ran it was pretty rotten
too. he just shoved me on this crazy appaloosa named BoJo. So as we went
on our trail all of a sudden, BoJo reached out and bit another horse's bum
and then took off with me. I managed to stay on but then I started crying
until the guide came to slow the runaway appy to a walk. I'd sworn I'd
never get on a horse again but there I was again a couple of days later.
This time my older brother karl got BoJo. Soon enough, BoJo did the same
with my brother, but when my brother said he'd never get back on a horse,
he kept his word.
Now that I've been at a stable for years, and have my own horse, I've been
stepped on a million times, trampled twice (I'm lucky I'm walking) and
have been thrown off two million times, I realized it takes a special kind
of person to be a horse person and ladies and gentleman, be proud to be a
horseperson!
*FLOATING TEETH by Megan Smith
---------------
Have you noticed that your horse is eating slowly, food falling out of
his or her mouth and his or her head is to one side? Teeth with sharp
edges can cut your horse's cheek. Maybe your horse's teeth need
floating.It's a good idea to have your vet come and check you horses'
teeth at least once a year or even have your vet check your horses' teeth
when he comes to gave them their annual needles.If your horses' teeth are
sharp or uneven they may need filed down. This is called floating
teeth.Your vet will use a special rasp to remove the sharp edges.If your
horse has any of the symptoms that I mentioned in the beginning it's time
to call your vet.
*HORSE HELP by Emily E.
-----------
Do you need help with your horse or pony? If you do, e-mail your question
to
me Emily E. a.k.a Hrsgrl at delliott@ecsu.campuscw.netsubject: Horse
help. I`ll post the questions and the answers here.
There is no question for this weeks horse help, so here`s the answers to
the question: English or Western. That will be the only question I will
ever ask like that, but I just wanted to know the answer. 1. I can not
answer that question because they are both great in their own ways... and
for their own purposes... English tends to get horses cranked up
sometimes leaving a horse very hot. Western is very slow and relaxed.
(unless you play games as barrel racing). I myself ride English, but I
ride a hot morgan so I try to add a little western into my ride... Like
nice loose reins, unlike if I rode her English on the bit.. I don't think
it matters what style of riding you choose as long as the horse is happy
and works good with it. The horse is the important thing to consider.
Morgan 2. I learned to ride English and that is what I
prefer. I believe the English saddles are much more
comfortable than Western ones. English saddles are
certainly easier to handle, and are easier on the
horse's back than a heavy, bulky Western saddle.
Western saddles are just too heavy to even pick up
(I'm talking about full-sized ones here, not
children's or pony saddles) for a woman. I'd have to
be Wonder Woman to pick one up.
If I don't have a choice when I have a chance to
ride( I don't own a horse), and Western tack is on the
horse, then I'll take it. But otherwise, give me
ENGLISH! Jamie
Thanks to all those who answered, EE
*PENPALS
--------
Here is the Pen Pal section for adults and children. If you'd like an ad
here send me (thehorse@hotpop.com) in this form with "pen pal ad" in the
subject line.
First Name:
Email Address:
Country:
Age:
Horse Owner?:
Other Comments: (no more than 30 words please)
You can leave out anything if you don't want to give it out, such as age
or country. ill put in probably a maximum of 5 ads per issue so don't
worry if yours takes a while to appear. Feel free to resubmit an ad, as we
have a regular stream of new people joining Horse Mania in between each
issue.
*ARCHIVES
---------
Missed an issue? Want to see a back issue? Remember that all Horse Mania
issues are archived at
https://www.angelfire.com/id/horsemania/archives.html Issues usually appear
there within a week.
*REFERENCES
-----------
Here is where some of my information has come from and I recommend these
books!
The Encyclopedia of the Horse, 1994, RD Press
The Complete Book of the Horse, 1979 (reprint 1985), New Burlington Books
Horses & Ponies, 1997, Kingfisher Books
The Visual Dictionary of the Horse, 1994, Dorling Kindersley Ltd, London
Horse (Collins Eyewitness Guides, 1992, Dorling Kindersley Ltd, London
Horses, Ponies and Riders, 1984, Reed Books Pty. Ltd.
Horses, 1981, J. Warren Evans, W. H. Freeman and Company
Starting Riding, 1992, Usborne
--------------------------------
End of Horse Mania Newsletter #7
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