A place for horse related questions

I thought it was "horses sweat, gentlemen perspire and ladies glow". Which leave people wot are not ladies and gentlemen to sweat like horses....or pigs...
 
I allowed myself to update the saying to match the current century...


...just as I allow my aliens -- 99.9% of the characters in my WiPs are aliens -- to speak and think in English (so this translation lark has become a bit of a habit now).
 
Quick question. We've got a group of eight people moving quickly on horseback along a well-maintained fantasy road (so a wide, dry track). Two of the group are children of 8-10. Would they have their own horses or would they ride behind someone else? This bit is quite fantastical and not linked to a historical period so their social status and funds don't really matter.

Thanks!
 
I've no idea, but I suspect the answer may depend on several factors, not least how far they have to travel, how fast they need to go all that time, and whether the children been brought up with horses or have just been slung across one for the first time.
 
If it's a mad dash to get somewhere in a set time then I would think their own mounts but with their horses being led by halter/harness/rope
 
Well, while we're waiting for someone who knows about horses to arrive, I'd say it sounds reasonable for the children to ride their own mounts in the circumstances. Certainly if I were reading a story in which it happened I'd accept it without question. I wouldn't bother with a lead rope, either, if the children are experienced riders.
 
Like the Judge I'd also expect them to ride their own horses, or ponies. If they've grown up with them they should be able to ride well enough to remain on a clear dirt road. Fatigue would be your main area of concern; both of the riders and the horses and would likely be the area you could focus on more so to give a more realistic angle. Horses get tired as to riders and whilst you can go faster on a horse you've got to have breaks otherwise the horses will give out.
 
My first solo ride on a full-grown horse was when I as eight. But I'd been training with a Shetland for two years at that point.

It could be assumed that children of that age, in the common fantasy setting, know how to ride a horse.
 
I rode a very full grown horse at about 7 - at a riding school. Gentle giant of a horse, very popular, queue to have a turn on him rather than a pony. I think he was part cob or even cart horse - seriously, he was enormous. But you weren't allowed to go above a trot when riding him. There is a photo of me on his back with my feet only just below the half way line on his body. You needed to be stretchy.........
This was entirely under my control, not on a lead rein - but I'd been having weekly lessons for long enough to learn all the aids and how not to fall off at walk and trot. (Canter I never really got the hang of. Hang on, yes.....)
 
They'd have their own horses/ponies. It is hard for horses and uncomfortable for riders to have two on a horse. Generally if you do that the small child is in front of you and you hold it with one arm.

You could shove a leadrope on them just in case, doesn't have to be used, but keeps children from being tempted to bomb off or go for a detour ;)

Also depending on your saddle type abilities are less of a problem - western types much harder to fall out of than English.
 
Saddles - yes - it was most definitely English saddles and they were very smooth - all the ponies seemed to do rocking horse canters and I was all over the place. Invariably held onto the pommel at the front. Only once fell off, but secure I was not. Gallop, on the couple of occasions the pony was feeling fresh, was actually a lot easier as the rhythm was sort of bouncy on all four legs rather than rocking horse.
 
@Cathbad Slightly puzzled - to me horse paces in order of speed are walk, trot, canter, gallop. Do you call what I call a canter a trot?
What I call a trot is hard work whether rising in the stirrups or being bounced up and down. :)



Incidentally when horse transport was common, premium for horses with a nice smooth gate that were comfortable to ride. Prancing steeds were for boy racers.
 
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