tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post2608737379250027655..comments2024-03-28T22:25:23.698-05:00Comments on Western Fictioneers: More Horse Lore by James J. GriffinWestern Fictioneershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01683314579075461026noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-84204129674738199652013-02-16T03:49:11.369-06:002013-02-16T03:49:11.369-06:00I love this post, mostly because I hate reading bo...I love this post, mostly because I hate reading books where the author uses horses heavily but clearly didn't bother taking the time to do any research. The only thing more irritating is covers that show beautiful horses and perfectly groomed girls without a trace of horse spit or manure on their clothing.<br /><br />The only exception I take to your post was your comment about dinner plate hooves and clutzy. My jumper has hooves that large and, so far, has never tripped. In fact, the stable where I ride breeds warmbloods and shoot for feet that large. We also like a nice heavy bone.<br /><br />For the the commentors who thought riding drafts would be uncomfortable, I beg to disagree. I know several who are quite nice to ride, in fact, I find them easier than the narrow horses and I'm quite slim. They're also a smoother ride than nearly all of the Quarter Horses and other Western breeds I've ridden. The only horse that aggravated my body was a smallish Friesan.<br /><br /><br />Jess Schirahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04930756756945812094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-9548906993907716902013-02-16T03:48:05.768-06:002013-02-16T03:48:05.768-06:00What an interesting post" I've ridden sin...What an interesting post" I've ridden since a child, and have a Welsh Cob and a Paint x Quarterhorse. I changed from English to Western riding many years ago and love it. I also love Westerns and have written the odd one or two, and hopefully haven't made any too great howlers. Things like knowing a palomino is a colour not a breed, and hopefully getting the items of tack right are easily checked with a bit of research online these days, even for someone without personal experience or knowledge of horses.<br /><br />One thing that always annoys me both in English historicals and Western historicals, is that the hero or heroine invariably rides a stallion. I've ridden some lovely stallions myself, but they're not always the easiest of horses to handle, especially in company and I doubt your average cowboy or rancher's daughter would use them for every day ranchwork - or am I making a false assumption here?<br /><br />There's always something to learn about horses and mine teach me something new almost every day!<br /><br />I envy you being able to ride in the snow on Christmas day, I used to love doing that when I lived in Wales, although since I moved to England after my marriage, I haven't had the opportunity (or the snow.) Can't imagine having snow that deep though. Here in the UK people moan if we get three inches!<br /><br />Hope you and your horses are still doing ok and managing to keep warm.<br /><br />Hywela Lynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13789711554354184386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-61084262535449795062013-02-15T10:41:27.873-06:002013-02-15T10:41:27.873-06:00Oh, Jim! You mean Rex was stupid for jumping over ...Oh, Jim! You mean Rex was stupid for jumping over the horse's rump in Rustler's Rhapsody?? LOL I believe the horse with a hoof the size of a dinner plate might be a Clydesdale, and I'd sure hate to get stepped on one. What's your take on the movie Hidalgo? Wasn't that an Appie? or was it a paint... now I can't remember. More myths, of course. :-D Great post!Meghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10734148270217773194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-34053822311242920972013-02-15T01:00:39.409-06:002013-02-15T01:00:39.409-06:00Um, yes, the croupier mount. We used to try that ...Um, yes, the croupier mount. We used to try that all the time. Sometimes our horses would cooperate, sometimes not. Both the horses and my dad thought it was a pretty stupid thing to do. Same with jumping on a horse from the rooftop.<br /><br />Appies are great. They're pretty smart, too, just in a different way. If you want a flatland horse, you might not want to put up with a horse who has a mind of his own. But if you're riding in rugged country, an Appie will keep you safe long as you don't think you're smarter than he is. They have great mountain instincts, can smell a cougar a half a mile off, and are surefooted.<br /><br />I've never had an Appie but wished I did. My sister-in-law has one and he thinks he's a person. He plays practical jokes on my SIL, too, such as hiding brushes and what not when he knows she's looking for them. Quite a character.Jacquie Rogershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17361793932364487636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-14102091104421399332013-02-14T14:49:09.773-06:002013-02-14T14:49:09.773-06:00Mark,
Yep, imagine riding a Clydesdale all day lo...Mark,<br /><br />Yep, imagine riding a Clydesdale all day long. Talk about bow-legged. Actually, it'd be almost impossible to get your legs around a Clydesdale's barrel.<br /><br />Yankee's doing fine, hard to keep him inside no matter what the weather. Trooper, Gina's horse, is too. Only guy having a problem is Merlin the Mini. Gina had to dig him some in the corral so he could just get out of the barn, so he can't get around the whole corral like the big guys. I have a new neighbor who I just met during the storm. He said he has a friend who owns mini-donkeys, and the friend had to literally carry the poor things in and outside. We've lost a lot of the snow, but are still pretty much buried, and it's way too deep to ride in...plus now it's getting hard and crusty. Did get in a ride during our day after Christmas 12 inch snowfall. Love riding in the snow.<br /><br />Jim GriffinAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-34162416587593723812013-02-14T14:40:57.925-06:002013-02-14T14:40:57.925-06:00NIce post, JIm.
I could almost give Scott the ...NIce post, JIm. <br />I could almost give Scott the 'golden sorrel' description. But the black mane and tail are deal breakers. I'd be more likely to call a gold horse with black points a dun or a buckskin, depending. And, I can't imagine climbing up and down off an 18 hand horse all day--not to mention what riding a big horse like that would do to your knees... <br />Hope your horses are doing well post blizzard.<br />Marc Marc Cameronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14652887133889558701noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-22124694415992993832013-02-14T14:40:38.074-06:002013-02-14T14:40:38.074-06:00Cheryl,
I've been around horses for years and...Cheryl,<br /><br />I've been around horses for years and still don't know everything there is to know about them. Also, if anyone lives near or is visiting near one of the Budweiser Clydesdale stables, stop in. If you time it right one weekend day a month you can get your picture taken up close and personal with a Clydesdale. (Closest one to me, Merrimack, NH, is the 2nd Saturday of the month). I don't drink, but the tour is fascinating. The stables in Merrimack are set up like a Bavarian village, the drivers and stablekeepers live in cute4 Bavarian style cottages right on the grounds, and the stables are unreal. Spotless, with someone standing by to catch manure almost literally before it hits the floor. Air conditioned, heated, and everything highly polished. We should have it so good. If only realized when I was young what a job I could have tried for....<br /><br />Jim GriffinAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-74342154103190247422013-02-14T14:35:46.079-06:002013-02-14T14:35:46.079-06:00Ahh, those Californians, always so trendy. I have ...Ahh, those Californians, always so trendy. I have to admit I'd never heard of those. Love the way we all learn from each other. BTW, Paint and Pinto also try to discourage palomino or gray paints/pintos. The reason is those colors can be so light, especially when a horse is wearing its summer coat, it can be hard to tell it's spotted. Nonetheless, there are a lot of gorgeous spotted horses with those base colors... and my first horse was a palomino Pinto.<br /><br />Jim GriffinAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-5643158008504259812013-02-14T09:49:18.629-06:002013-02-14T09:49:18.629-06:00James don't forget the light-colored sorrels, ...James don't forget the light-colored sorrels, sometimes called "blond sorrels," with flaxen manes and tails, resembling a palomino and were often called California Sorrels.<br />Ken FarmerBlack Eagle Forcehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06873215486992032293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-64467016850225221622013-02-14T09:11:33.532-06:002013-02-14T09:11:33.532-06:00WOW. Jim, I learn something every time I read one ...WOW. Jim, I learn something every time I read one of your posts. This is fascinating. Not having been raised around horses, I don't know a whole lot about them--but your posts are sure enlightening and very interesting.<br />CherylCheryl Piersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18116526340220274282noreply@blogger.com