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CONTЕNTS FoRЕ!иoRD дt-вxANDЕR мAсKAY-S^,{ITн

INTRODUCTION ЕLWYN FIARTLЕY ЕDWAR'Ds

PART oNЕ
TI{Е DЕ'VЕLOPмЕNT oF THЕ FIORSЕ t0
Thе Prе.Domеstiс Horsе ANTнoNY DЕNT t2
Domеstiсаtion and thе Еarly Horsе Pеoplеs ANTн6NYDЕNT l5
Thе Growth of Classiсal Еquitation Jвt.гшtFЕRBAKЕR 20
Thе Growth of !Иеstеrn Riding сIIARLЕS сHЕNЕ\T1ТRЕNсH 26

PART T$иo
TЕIЕ BRЕЕDS oF TнЕ !иORLD з4
Thе Influеnсе of thе Arabian мARGARЕT GRЕЕLY з6
Prinсipal Horsе Brееds IUDITн DRAPЕR 42
l,rinсipal Pony Brееds JBNNIFЕR BAKЕR 12

PARTTнRЕЕ
ЕQUЕSTRIAN SPORTS ANTD RЕCRЕATION 88

Drеssagе in thе 20th Cеntury A.P.с. сRosSLЕY 90

Thе Hunting Horsе МICHAЕL сlАYToN 98
Show Jumping AI.\N SмITrI 103
Thе Thrее-Day Еvеnt JANЕ PONTIFЕХ 111
Raсing and Raсеhorsеs }IUGII сoNDRY TL7
Long Distanсе and Еnduranсе Riding ANNrIYLAND t29
Polo PAмвlА мAсGRЕ,GOR-мORRIS |З4
Мountеd Gamеs JANЕ FULLЕR 138
Skill-at.Aгms Е..N{. KЕLLo сK r42
\\Ъstеm Spoпs STЕ\IЕND. PRICB r45
^\ustralian Riding SUSAN ЕD'ФиARDS r49
ТLrе Show Кng PAмЕIА 154
^ДAсGRЕGoR-^,1oRRIs
Flolidaуs with Horsеs JOI{NRULЕR 1б0

Р^\RT FOUR
HORSЕ сARЕ ANТD MA}.TAGЕ'^ДЕI.{T 16б

Тhе Body of thе Horsе PЕTЕRD. RoSSDALЕ 168

Тtте }lind of thе Horsе ЕL\X/YNFIARTLЕYЕDWARDS |76

Тhе Hеalth of thе Horsе PЕTЕ,RD. RoSSDALЕ 200 Fiтst publishеd in 1977 by
tsгееding JAYSwALLow oсtopus Books Lirnitеd

STALLIoN мАNAGЕ'ЛIЕNT 2tr Мiсhеlin Housе

81 Fulham Roаd
rнIING 2|З Londoп S!и3 6RB

PRЕ-NATAL сARЕ 2r5 This еdition publishеd by Cгеsсеnt Bоoks,

FOALING 218 Distributеd bу outlet Book Company, Inс.,
A Random Housе Company
POST-N.{T.\L СARЕ 221 225 Park Avеnuе South, Nеw YorЬ

Тh.е Basiсs of Buying GЕORGIЕ'нЕNSС}IЕL 225 Nеw Yoгk 10003

ikogте s sivе Tiaining GЕOFFRЕY нATTAN 228 ISвN 0 5|,7 22403 8

Саrееrs with Horsеs GЕORGIЕ нЕNsсtIЕL 2З6 8'7 65

.\PPЕNТDIx
GJiоssary of ЕquеstrianTеrms сHARLЕS STRATTON
]Lndех
Aсknowlеdgеmеnts
 FoRЕ\)иoRD
Еnсусlopеdias, inсluding horsе еnсyсlopedias, take two forms:
йе fust is an еxpandеd diсtionary_ a sеriеs of short artiсlеs on a
host of topiсs arrangеd alphabetiсally' usefulto the еxpеriеnсеd
tэ.orsеman who knows just whiсh hеadings to look for; thе
sесond is thе form adoptеd Ьy thе еditor of this book _ a сom-
ргеhеnsivе sеriеs of artiсlеs by lеading authoritiеs, сovеring thе
еntirе rеalm of the riddеn horse. Thе rеsult is a most rеadablе
Ьоok whiсh is not only highly informativе to thе gеnеralrеader
аnd an admirablе introduсtion for beginner ridеrs and ownеrs,
Ьцt is also so сomplеtе as to аdd evеn to thе knowlеdgе of
timе horsеmеn and horsеWomеn.
Тhе gеnеralсoveragе is intеrnationalin viеwpoint and appliса-
tion and in addition thеre arе spесial artiсlеs about riding and
horsеmanship in Amеriсa and Australia. The brееds of the
п-oтld, sеnsibly inсluding harnеss and hеavy draught horsеs, arе
пJlv сovеrеd.
Тhе еditor has bееn еminently suссеssfulin aсhieving his aim;
зт еnlisting the сontributions of a notable group of authors hе
has produсed thе outstanding illustrаtеd horsе enсусlopеdia in
thе Еnglish language.

Intеrnational Еditor
The Chronicle of thе Horsе
 dt

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 Т#eт
THЕDЕVЕLOPAДЕNT
t

t
 .Е:::. ..:=::.:.:=: ...:i
f! вгoкд Dагwin pеrfесtеd his
.l-l thеorv of еvolution аll thаt wаs
known аbout thе origin ofthе horsе, so far
аs the avеIagе horsеman was сonсеrnеd,
wаs сontainеd in thе story of Noah and thе
Ark. Fromthis, abеliеf thа|Equus саbаllus
was of onе singlе origin was a logiсal сon-
сlusion. Darwin, himself, was, thеrefore'
no innovator in this rеspесt. ЕIе dеmon-
sшatеd his tеnets of еvolution and thе
origin of spесiеs bу natural sеlесtion,
largеlу by rеfеrеnсе to suссеssivе еquinе
anсestors in onе linе,
Thе only prе-Dаrwiniаn thеory that сan
still сommаnd rеspeсt is that of Hamilton
Smith who had postulatеd sеvеrаl wild
spесiеs of horsеs сontributing to thе
mаkе-up of Equus cаbаllus. Hе thought
thеy wеrе prinсipallу diffеrentiatеd by
сoat-сolour' whiсh еxplаinеd thе wide
spесtтцm of еxtаnt сoat сolours. That part
of his theory' howеvеl, сannot be uphеld in
thе light of ouт prеsеnt knowledgе.
Thе disсovеry of thе Przеwalski horsе
in 1881' сацsеd it to be hailеd as thе only
Left rhe Тагoаn _ a breed whiсh агose from
the сrossing of two of the anсestraI types after
the last |сe Age. Now extinсt in its original
form, it hаs been ,reсonstruсtеd, by se|eсtive
breeding in Poland.
Below Тhe |сe|andiо pony is а modern breed
whiсh с|ose|у rеsemb|es an anсestraI tуpe.
I 'i
шкtt
c
\
t,
Ъtti,
I
I
I
Ьеgеtter of domestiс hotsеs, thus support-
ing, again, thе thеory of singlе origin.
It was not until about the turn of thе
ninеtееnttr/twеntiеth сеntuтies that thе
singlе origin thеorу, so widеlу hеld, suf-
fеrеd a rеvеrsе' thтough thе disсovеriеs
madе by J. Cossar Еwart of Еdinburgh. Hе
madе а sегiеs of hybridization ехpеrimеnts
with Еquidae at Pеnniсuik not fаI from
that сitу, thе rеsults of whiсh, and of his
studу of .primitivе' horses and poniеs in
Britаin аnd ovеrsеas, hе bеst summarizеd
in an аrtiсlе lnNаturе (21 April 1904)' Hе
it wаs who сoinеd thе phrasе .Cеltiс pony'
to indiсatе onе of thе wild еquine sub-
speсiеs anсеstral to the domеstiс horsе.
Anothеr hеaviеr, Northеrn sub-spесiеs hе
сallеd the Norsе horsе. othеr sеpаIatе
anсеstors hе тесognizеd wеre the wild
horsе of Мongolia, Еquus przеwаlskii aг,d
two morе-than-ponу-sizеd raсеs, onе with
a ram hеаd аnd onе with a sшaight profilе,
whiсh hе did not еndow with nаmеs. lIе
did not assign the Arаb or rеlatеd Ьrееds to
a sеpalаtе raсе, dеeming thеm merely thе
most еastеrly rеpгеsеntativеs of thе .сlinе'
(as it is now сallеd) of whiсh thе Еxmoor
and the Welsh ponу wеrе the wеsternmost.
From this it will be sеen' that hе rеgаrdеd
thе gеographiсаl distribution of а1l thesе
Iaсеs as vеrу wide, and that hе еnvisagеd
two oI th-тее or more of thеm сo-еxisting in
the samе distriсt . . . .as Afriсa now сon-
tains sеvеral spесiеs of zеbras, Еuropе at
thе bеginning of thе Plеistoсеnе pеriod
was inhabitеd bу sеveral spесiеs ofhorsеs'.
Мonophylists or paгtisans of thе singlе-
anсеstol sсhool still flourish, notaЬ1y
among equinе psусhologists, profеssional
or amatеurJ who sееk to еxplain bеhaviour
in terms of situations to whiсh thе wild
anсеstor was ехposеd: аnd it is alwaуs onе
kind of wild anсеstor' ехсlusivеly grass-
еatiлg, dwelling on a Ьoundlеss praiтiе
with neither mountain nor forеst in sight.
In my viеw' thе most artiсulаtе, thе most
,.\п
тHЕ PRE D0MЕsтlс H0RsЕ
logiсal, and thе bеst-equipped with evi-
denсe among prеhistorians of thе horsе arе
thе lattеr-day followеrs of Еwart, Spееd
(also of Еdinburgh)' Skorkowski in
Polаnd, and Еbhardt in Gеrmany. Thеу
hаvе thе advantagе of bеing equipped with
aids not аvаilаblе to Еwart' suсh as radio-
logy and thе tесhnique of саrЬon-14 dat-
ing, and the rеsults of some arсhaeologiсal
finds of thе first importаnсе, suсh as thе
Below once сonsidered to be an anсestor of
the modeгn horse, the Przewa|ski, or
Mongo|iаn wi|d horse, is now known to bе а
distinсt speсies
Bottom |eft тhe Еxmoor is a pony of great
antiquity and is probabIy a desсendant of the
Ce|tiс pony of Туpe 1 in the с|аssifiсаtion.
Bottom right The Fjord pony originаted in
Norwау |t is a primitive breed, resembIing
the noгthern Еurаsian rуpe 2'
Pazyrik horsе Ьurials of thе Altai whiсh
havе beеn made sinсe his day.
Thеir сlassifiсations of post-glaсial Old
!Иoтld horsеs availаblе to thе fust domеst-
iсators are not dignified by thе name of
spесiеs but as .Types', as undеr:
1) suЬstantiаlly, Еwart's Celtiс pony, bеt-
ter сalled thе Atlantiс ponу. The modеrn
brееds most resembling it are thе Еxmoor
and a сertain strаin of Iсеlandiс.
2) substantially, Еwards Norsе horse аnd
inhabiting northеrn Еurasiа. Мodеrn
Ьrееds mosdy resemЬling it arе the Nor-
wеgian Fjord pony, a сertain type of High-
land ponу, and thе Norikеr hеa'"ry horsе of
thе sub-Alpinе region.
3) a horse, not а pony' with а Cеntral Asiаn
habitat. Мodеrn brееds most resemЬling it
аrе the сlay-сolourеd Sorraia horsе of the
Spаnish-Portuguеsе bordeг, and, in a morе
elegant form, thе Akhal-Теkё of Cеntral
Asiа and thе I(аrаbakh, both of whiсh arе
golden-dun. This was thе аnсestor of the
Nisaean and Baсtrian brееds (disсussеd in
thе nеxt seсtion) and, to thе ехtеnt of аbout
50 per сеnt through thе .Turks', the Baс-
шian and thе Andaluсian, of thе
Thoroughbrеd.
Asia. Thе
4) a pony-sizеd horse оf \0Иestеrn
modеrn brееd most resеmbling it is thе
Caspian pony. This lаttеr is ttrought to bе
thе anсestor of thе AraЬian and а small
handful of аlliеd brееds found сhiеfly in
Pеrsia. But in part this type is brеd into a
multitudе of domestiс raсes, endowing
them with mаnу of its qualitiеs, not thе
lеast of whiсh is Ьеauty.
Еxсludеd is Przеwalskis horsе,
Ьесause of a fасtor not known in Еwart's
day. This is that a spесiеs is сharасtеrizеd
bу аn еmbryoniс се11 struсture peсuliar to
it, thе се11 nuсlеi сontaining a givеn
numbеr of сhromosomеs _.rod-likе struс-
tures... rеgarded as thе bеarеrs of
hеrеditary fасtors' (R. Geurts). Thе
сhromosomе сount of Przеwalskis horse
diffеrs from that of all domеstiс horsеs.
Inсluded is thе Tarpan, the wild horsе of
eastern Еuropе аnd wеstеrn Rцssia.
Еxtinсt in its puге form sinсе the last сen-
tury but now .rе-сonstituted in thе Polish
Tагpan hеrds' it is rеgarded as а hybrid
oссurring in thе wild at the point where thе
haЬitats of Tуpеs 1 аnd 4 onсе joinеd. Thе
Tarpan Was thе basis of stoсk used by аll
thе сhariot-dтiving nations of thе еаstеrn
Меditerrаnean from thе Hittites to the
Grееks, and originally of the Cеltiс шibеs.
It is thе prinсipal anсеstor of the smаll
.pеasants' horses' in еast Cеntral Еuropе
and thе Bаlkans. Маnу individuals of thеse
brееds rеsеmblе it сlosely; suсh as thе
Hungarian Goral, thе Romanian ЕIuсul'
thе Polish Konik and the Bosniak of
Yugoslaviа, еtс.' but еvеn сlosеr faсsimilеs
hаvе Ьееn .Ьaсk-Ьred, in Poland and
Bavaria, for sсiеntifiс purposеs.
If wе had no evidеnсe from fossil Ьonеs
аnd tеeth at all, it would still bе appalent to
anyone with an eуe foг a horsе, from thе
еvidеnсе of Еuropеan саvе pаintings
alone, thаt in the Old Stonе Agе a great
variеty of wild horsе typеs roamеd Еurope.
In thе Dordognе, thеrе is tlre сave of
Roufflgnас, thе roof of whiсh is сovеred
with drawings that dеpiсt idеntiсallу thе
prеsеnt day Еxmoor ponies. Not faг awаy,
аt Lеs Combarеllеs, therе is a drawing of
an obesе, ram-hеadеd, Clуdеsdale-looking
spесimеn. At Niaux in thе Pуrеnееs' тJrеrе
is a quitе сrеdiЬle Fell pony. At Font dе
Gaumе, nеаr Lеs Еyziеs, there is a New
Forеst ponу in the aсt of leaping. Go ovеr
the mountаins into Cantabrian Spаin and
yеt further reсognizable typеs саn Ье sееn
in thеse prеhistoriс gаllеries, iлсluding
hoгses of grеat quality_viпually.orientаl'.
In speаking of domеstiс horsеs the
ovеr-worked pfuasе .pure-brеd' is a rеlativе
tеrm. At thе hеad of everу pedigreе stands
an imported stallion of whosе historу and
аnсestry in his .old сountrу, nothing of
сonsеquеnсе is known, аnd a сountry-Ьrеd
marе ofunrесordеd anсestry. .Purе brеed-
ing, oссurred onlу in thе wild anсеstoгs:
and then, it seems' not absolutеly.

тЕIЕ prесеding sесtion' сonсеrning
Д Йе pге-domеstiс horsе. might bе
:hought to be within thе provinсе of the
заturаlist. Hе сould bе еithеr a biologist or
а zоologist, Ьut would bе aссustomеd to
wотking in thе past not thе plеsеnt. ЕIе
вould bе wеll-gтoundеd in есology, and
:hus аble to сonsidеr the horse against thе
Ьасkgтound of its еnvironmеnt; thе еffeсt
-aп it of сlimatе and vеgеtation: its own
еffeсt on thе vеgеtation; аnd its rеlations to
u.rhеr living сгeaturеs' Ьe thеу vegеtarians
wЫсh сonstituted сompеtition for grazing,
L]r prеdators whiсh сonшolled its numЬеrs.
Тhеse arе its .nаturаl еnеmiеs', сhiеf
,-ong whom' up to the moment of domеs-
iсаtion, is Мan.
of quаlifiеd еxpеIts in this field thеrе is
зo laсk; thе aсаdеmiс stаffs of vеtеrinаry
-hools аbound in thеm. But to mаkе any
ргogress in this relativеly nеw disсiplinе,
.&.е
history of thе horsе as a domеstiс ani-
тя1' аnd by impliсation thе history of
horsе-Ьгeеding and horsе.bornе peoples,
:еquires а diffеrеnt sеt of qualifiсations
=or сenturies the horse has p|aуed a primary
.ole in the everyday Iife of many nomadiс
f,roDles.
altogеthеr, and thеy would bе outside thе
еxpеriеnсe of the purе naturalist. Idеаllу,
in addition to thе knowlеdgе of thе еquinе
prе-historian' somе aсquaintanсе with
prасtiсal horsеmanship and horsemаstеr-
ship' thе formеr to inсludе driving as well
as riding, is an еssential. Thеn somеthing
must also be known аbout soldiеring аnd
agriсulturе, as wеll as wainwгightship,
enough at lеast to rеalizе what is praсtiсa-
blе and what is not praсtiсaЬlе in thе way
of vеhiсlе design. Likеwisе somе histori-
сal grаsp of thе tесhniсal aspесts of ship-
building at сеrtain сruсial timеs аnd
plaсes, еnough to detеrmine whether it
was viable in, say, 200 вс, to transport
horses асross, saу, 200km (125milеs) of
opеn sеa.
In еаrliеr days it а1l sееmеd so simplе, at
least up to thе timе whеn Dаrwin wrotе his This 9th сentury вс Assyriаn re|ief from
Origin of Speсiеs' A1l litеrate persons thеn Nimrud shows the grooming and feeding of
wеrе асquaintеd with Holy Writ, at leаst in chariot teams of Тarpan-type horses in the
Protеstant сountriеs. Thе еduсаtеd сlass stabIes 8t the сamp of AshurnаsirpaI tt. Horses
in Еurope and North Amеriсa, Ьoth were muсh despised by the Hebrews aпd
Catholiс and Protеstant' wеrе well read in figuгe Iitt|e in the oId Testament.
Grееk and Latin аuthors. All thаt hаd to Ье
donе was to аssеmblе thе rеquisitе quota- being ablе to ride a Ьiсyсlе' To this extеnt
tions from thе Bible and the Clаssiсs, Dr Syntax аnd his likе сould сopе morе
alrangе thеm in thе right ordеr, and thе аdequаtely with this involvеd subjесt thаn
Ьaсk of thе work was brokеn. As for thе their modеrn сountеrparts'
praсtiсal impliсations of what thе litеrаry It might appеar simple but in fасt it was
sourсes said, they wеrе еasilу, and mostlу not so. No onе took aссount of the faсt that
сorlесtly' intеrprеtеф bесausе up to the thе old Tеstament wаs wгittеn by аnd foг a
invеntion of thе passеngеr-сarrying гail- peoplе who had a taboo against horses. IJp
waу, and to a сегtain extеnt fгom thеn until to thе timе of I(ing Solomon, this wаs
thе Ьirth of thе intеrnal сombustion about as virulent as thе one thеy hаd
enginе, аlmost all сompеtent middlе-сlass agаinst dogs or pigs. Thе pious HeЬrеw
malеs knеw how to pетsuadе a horsе to lookеd baсk to rеspесtеd paшiarсhs who
сonvеy thеm from point A to point B by onе rodе саmels and asses, but horses nеvеr.
mеans or anothеr. Not to be аblе to do this To him thе horse was insеparaЬly
assoсiated with foreign impеrialists
was not simply thе equivalent of not Ьeing -
аЬlе to drivе a сar: it wаs more likе not Assyrians or Еgyptians or Pегsians. ЕIenсe
 D0MЕsт|сAт|0N & ЕARLY H0RsЕ PЕ0PLЕs
thе old Testamеnt is an indiffеrent histor-
iсаl sourсе for this subiесt, аnd сan tеll us
viтtually nothing аbout it bеforе aЬout 900
вс, by whiсh timе we have plenty of аltеr-
native еvidеnсe anywaу.
Thе samе objесtions аpply, though to a
lesser degrее, to сlassiсal authors' whosе
voiсes spеak to us from about 800 вс
onwаrds of the grеat сivilizations of thе
Мediterranean. But thеn thе horsе wаs not
fust domеstiсаted аЬout 800 вс, nor in thе
iVlеditerrаnean region.
IiИhеn wаs thе horse domestiсatеd and
wherе? To thе first thеrе is no quiсk or
сеrtain answer. Only that it wаs сеrtаinly
as еаrly аs thе third millеnnium вс and
thаt as еvidеnсе from arсhaeology slowly
aссumulаtеs' the fаvoured date гeсеdеs
evеr furthеr towards thе opеning сеnturies
of that millennium. As to whегe' the сеr-
tаinty is thаt it was in a region north еast of
thе Мediteгranean, аt lеast as far distant аs
thе Oxus (Amu Darya) basin, and pегhaps
аs distant аs thе far еnd of Sibегia' along
or anу-
thе shorеs of thе Bering Strait.
whеrе аlong that diagonal linе. But
.when?' .whеrе?'
аnd arе сlosеly rеlаted
quеstions. Just as therе are monophylists
who Ьеlievе in a singlе wild аnсestor of tlrе
horsе, аnd polyphylists who postulаte sеv-
eral of thеm, so there arе diffusionists who
beliеvе that the horseman was born in one
сentre and onе only, from whiсh thе hoгsе
сulturе sprеad ovеr all thе world. In addi-
tion thеrе arе thosе who mаintаin that
horses сould be, аnd in faсt wеre, domеsti-
сatеd, not nесessаrily in imitation of othег
шibеs but Ьy several pеoplеs not in сontaсt
with еaсh other eасh living in sеparаtе rеg-
ions whеre wild horsеs weге found.
So thеn, to be ablе to read Хеnoohon in
йе originаl is not еnough. To bе аЬlе to
intеrpret the еxaсt praсtiсаl impliсations
of ttre Hebrеw text of thе Book of Job is not
enough. A knowlеdge of anсient Еgyptian
and BaЬylonian tеxts would be a help аnd
mаstеry of the languаges сurrеnt in thе
Hittitе Еmpirе аЬout 1400 вс morе usеful
still. . .
. in Sсotland, for еxamplе, by the Piсts.
That will Ьring us baсk to thе еarliest
written tеxt ofany signifiсаnсe сonсеrning
horsеs, Thе Chаriot Trаining Mаnaаl of
IGkkulis thе Мittаnitе. And yet we hаvе
irrefutable evidenсе of the use of horsеs in
16
сouId this 7th сentury вс reIief from Nineveh
depiсt the sourсe of Assyrian remounts?
Shown here is a tarpаnoid yeаr|ing being
саptured for breаking or breeding. Тhe
southern Iimit of the Таrpаn,s habitаt wаs
somewhere aIong, or just beуond, the
noгthern frontier of Assvriа.
various regions of thе Old !7or1d, morе
thаn sixteеn сеntцries еarlier than that.
This is thе tеstimony of piсtoriаl аrt and
the remains of аrtifaсts Ьelonging to illit-
еratе pеoplеs, onе of whorт, _ but whiсh? -
first domеstiсatеd the horse. The intеrpre-
tation of this еvidеnсе is а Ьrаnсh of
arсhaeology. It сan Ье supplеmеntеd Ьy
the oral tгaditions of thе peoplеs dwеlling
along that diagonal linе bеtweеn thе Oxus
basiл and thе Paсifiс сoast of Siberia, a
srudy of whiсh, in thе original, dеmаnds
familiarity with sеveral lаnguages, some of
thеm Indo-Еuropean but mostly bеlong-
ing to thе Turkiс' Ural-Altaiс and &Ion-
golian groups. Oral tradition is valuable
beсausе legеnds сontain a сore of whаt
onсе in thе remote past was historiсal faсt.
But thеy nееd intеrpreting: to takе а West-
ern eхample, thе legеnd of horsеs bеing
Ьеstowеd on somе hеro by а God of thе
Sеa, suсh as the Grеek Posеidon, or thе
Irish N{аnаnаan Мaс Lir, may signify in
mundаnе terms that horsеs, or morе likely
а supеrior Ьrееd of horse' wеre first
brought to Hеllаs or to Еirе by sеа. And to
arгivе аt the right interprеtation of suсh
legеnds demands, in thе first instаnсe, аn
anthropologist or a folklorist.
And whеre will wе find the histoгiаn
possessеd of all thesе skills? Nowherе, for
thеrе is no suсh pеrson. So thе task must
fall inevitably to thosе who havе muсh
knowlеdgе in somе areаs, and lеss in
otJrеrs, or who have somе knowlеdgе in
most areas. Thеy must take oтtrег mеrt's
trаnslаtions and inteгpretations at thеir
faсе value, and гely on someonе elsе's
suпrmary and еxposition for thе laymаn of
higЫу teсhniсal геports of reseаrсh in vаr-
ious natцrаl sсiеnсes, from gеology to
genеtiсs. fЕ we arе to сonstп.rсt а prеhis-
tory, and an еаrly history, of thе hoгsе
before and aftеr domеstiсation, it must bе
Ьuilt of briсks mаde of othеr mеn's straw
and othег mеn's сlaу, Ьaked in a kiln firеd
with othеr men's fuel, and bound with
mortaг madе by yet othеrs. Theгe is no
othеr way. This is the extеnt of the proЬ-
lеm and it must, thеreforе, preсlude any
single definitivе explanation.
Lеt us now сonsidеr the fortunes of thе
domestiс horse ovеr thе first 30 сеntuгies
oг so' still сonsidering them, in the mаin,
under thе hеadings of the four loсal raсes
whiсh were dеfined аnd disсussеd in thе
prесеding seсtion.
Typе 1: whiсh Еwart сallеd thе Cеltiс
Pony, was proЬably not first domеstiсated
by the Cеltiс pеoplеs, but Ьy the pеoples
who preсeded them in Northwеst Еuropе;
Bеing сapaЬlе of a vеry fаst trot with а
swееping aсtion it wаs аdmiraЬly adaptеd
for сhariot work in pairs, and some years
ago a praсtiсal dеmonstration was given by
two Еxmoor mаres harnessеd to а rеpliса
of аn anсiеnt British сhariot, disсovеred at
Llyn Cеrig Baсh in !Иalеs. The marеs per-
formеd admirably, although in faсt suih a
tеаm would in anсiеnt times have сonsist-
ed of stallions, who сould have done muсh
beтtеr. Thе roсk drawings of Sсаndinavia
whiсh date from thе Bгonzе Age inсludе
manу piсturеs of pairs of poniеs hаmеssеd
to сhаriots, and these аrе likеlу to have
bеen of the samе typе 1. ЕIеrе domеstiса-
tion was not thе work of thе aboriginal
Lapps, who stuсk to thе reindееr, but of
Indo-Еuropeаn invadеrs _ anсestors of йе
Noгsе _ who brought shееp, goats, сattlе
and сrop-farming to thе Noгth.
Thе Celts themsеlves originally livеd,
not on thе Atlantiс сoast' Ьцt in thе lowеr
Dаnubе vallеy, whеrе thе prevalеnt wild
horsе was not this typе, but thе Tarpan. In
thе early stаgеs of thеir еquеstrian history,
thеreforе, the сhariots would hаve bееn
horsеd with Tаrpаns, whiсh as wе havе
sееn wеre a сross Ьеtwееn type 1 and rypе
4. But thе gгeаt Celtiс migration whiсh
сamе aЬout the middlе of thе fust mil-
lenium Bс, lеd up thаt vallеy and along the
аxis Swabia-Burgundy-Brittаny. Conquеr-
ing as they wеnt, thеy inеvitably aсquirеd
gтeat numЬers of horsеs along the route,
аnd thesе would inсlude, аs the most
importаnt еlеmеnt, ttrе morе substantiаl
horsеs of the Alpiле foothills as thеy
skiпеd aгound thе northeгn еdgе of the
massif. Thus when they stood poisеd on
фе Channеl shorе for thе invasion of Bri-
tаin, it would havе alrеadу bеen inассurаtе
to dеsсriЬе their horsеs as .purе-Ьrеd.
107hаtawaited them on this sidе of thе
Chаnnel was a more unifoгm stoсk, сon-
sisting only of type I with a small admix-
turе of tУpe 2.Onсе thеy had estaЬlishеd
thеmsеlvеs and begun putting thеiг own
stаllions to thе аboriginal marеs, therеforе'
thе .аnсiеnt British horsе, would alrеadу
have сontainеd еlеmеnts of thrеe out of
four typеs of thе primеvаl wild stoсk.
Tуpe 2: whatever its exaсt rеlationship
to Przevаlski, s horse may bе, is most likely
thе first to havе been domestiсatеd. Its
hаbitat ovеrlapped that of thе rеindееr аnd
it may well Ье that in Northeast Asiа
(whеrе it livеd) it was fust domestiсatеd as
а substitute for thе rеindеег. At lеast onе
tribе in that rеgion, thе Yаkuts, seem to
hаve rеmainеd in a шansitionаl stаgе to
this day, riding horsеs and rеindееr аlike.
At a primitivе lеvеl of сulture, it is proЬaЬly
еasiеr for а reindееr-kееping pеople to start
taming horses from sсrаtсh than it would
Ье for anyone еlsе' For instanсе' in сertain
 tl0MEsTlсAT|0N & EARLY н0RsE PЕ0PLЕs

wеatlrеr сonditions it might bе feasiblе for in thе invasions of Indo-Еuropеan MongoI aсhievements against the sett|ed
mеn mountеd on rеindeeг oг in light (.Aryan') and Turkiс сhariotееrs, moving empirеs of the East аnd the West Weгe Iimited
rеindeег-drawn sledgеs likе the Lapps' wеstward under pressurе from the Мongol unti| the Mongo|s hаd aсquired the means of
pulkka to ovеrtakе, oг gеt within lasso- horsе-аrсhеrs. Thеn сamе othеr Indo- сrossing water obstaс|es too formidаbIe foг
гаngе of, horsеs hampeгеd Ьy snow (this Еuropeans, riding and аrmеd with thе horses to swim, аnd of besieging aпd storming
might also Ье done on ski, oг on snow- Tartar-type сompositе bow. Thе most wa|Ied towns. onсe they had obtained siege
shoеs, but haгdly Ьу anу otlrеr means). famous of thеsе people aгe the Sсythians, engines and pontoon bгidges, and the serviсes
Agаiп, rеindеег-keеpers arе тhe pеople and proЬaЬlу it was they who drovе the as engineers of Persian oг Chinese deserters,
most likеly to Ьe fаmiiiаr with the usе of Celts out of thе DanuЬe vallеy and set in there was really nothing butthe sea to stop the
тhe lаsso. If thе hunt took plaсе in tгаin thе Celtiс pilgrimagе to thе Atlantiс horse-аrсhers. Тhis 16th сeпtury MoguI
ot thе
surnmеr-tirne, аl1, oг the majoriry shorе. The partiсular wave thrеatening to miniature shows the сrossing of the river
animаls сapturеd intасt would bе еngulf Еuropе at the dawn of thе Christian Yаng-tse-Kiаng аnd the storming of the
uпwеaned foals. Nеxt to сamel-kееpегs, era сonsistеd of Pаrthiаns. Thеy it is Chinese fortress of o-Chou bv Kub|аi Khаn,s
геiпdеeг hегdегs would hаvе thе rеadiеst whom St John had in mind whеn hе wrote: аrmIes.
аdеquatе supplу of milk that сan Ье .And I lookеd, and behold a pale horsе, and
digеsted Ьу a foal (сoч/s milk саnnot).
Thе wheеl was unknown in Northеast
.\siа long aftег its invention in Southwest
.\sia' аnd ttrе nеwly-domestiсatеd horsеs
сould onlу have Ьеen put to work under thе
pасk or thе гiding saddlе or in front ofthе
slеigh. Thеiт pегformanсe in thе first two
гoles would hаvе bееn inferior to that of
геiпdeеr in the wintег monтhs. In thе
suпlmer thе sleigh сould not bе usеd, Ьut
rhе slidе<ar, а whееllеss сonvеyanсе
с"llеd а .tгavois' in North Amеriсa, сould
Ье dтawn Ьy either horsеs oг rеindeer (it
гas oгiginally drаwn by dogs).

) Тwo roсk dгawings of the eаr|y domestiсаtion

cenod' I eft .. Reindeer-mounted arсher
пunting, from Тepsei in the Upper Yeniseу
\rаIley, Siberia (,lst miIIennium вcl,' below.'
l-bгseborne агсheг, fгom Lаdаkh, noгth India
аЬout.l200 вс). Both animals, in the wiId, hаd
fol.eсаstab|e migrаtion гoutеs and сouId
:hетefore be trapped and then domestiсated.

ЕIowevеr it was undег thе saddlе that thе

horsе bеstowed the gтeatеst moЬility on
тЬе hеrdsmеn of Мongolia, Мanсhuria,
апd eastеrn Sibегiа. Its adoption Ьеgan
thаt long sеriеs of horsе-bornе invаsions
bу агсheгs аrmed with the douЬlе-сuгvеd
laminаtеd Ьow' whiсh сulminаtеd in tlrе
il
invаsion of Еurope Ьy the Turks _ a tide
il that did not Ьegin to rесеdе until thе еnd of
(
thе sеvеnteenth сеntury of ouг еrа.
Again, this сyсle began with thе taming'
аlmost еxсlusivеly, of typе 2, but as thе
flood of сonquеring horse-arсhеrs rollеd
stеadily west and south othеr variеtiеs
wеге added to thе rеmount hеrds, just аs
they were to bе later with thе Celts. The
disturbаnсеs sprеad outwаrds ftom thе vor-
tеx of Мongolia likе ripplеs in a pond, аnd
thе fust impaсt on Еuropе was сhiеfly fеlt
 D0MЕsт|сAт|0N & ЕARLY H0RsЕ PЕ0PLЕs

spесiеs of zeЬra that was formеrly, but is

his nаme that sat on him wаs Dеаth.' Thе
word rеndегеd as .pаlе' in thе Authorizеd
vеrsion сould also Ье rendеred .light dun',
thе сharaсteristiс сolour of types 2 and3'
Typе 3: Bеginning with thе Persian
invаsions whiсh wеrе сhесked аt
Маrаthon and Salamis' thеsе horsеs now
began to appеal in Еurope in сonsidеrаblе
numbеrs. Thеy inсludеd thе famous
Nisaеan brееd thаt was so muсh tallеr than
any mount availablе to thе Greeks of
Хеnophon's time. That thеy werе all in
еnemy hands was a position only rеversеd
by Alехandеr thе Grеac s сonquеst of Pеr-
sia, ассomplishеd not alonе by the
redoubtaЬIе Мaсеdonian infаntry but аlso
by auxiliary horsеmen from the сonquеrеd
kingdom of Baсtria (northеrn Afghanis-
tаn). AftеI thе tаkе-over of thе Pеrsian
Еmpire it bесame possiblе to bring Ьaсk
thеsе Baсtrian horses to -N4.асеdon to
upgrаdе thе Tаrpan-typе loсal stoсk.
Tуpe 4: Thе same applies to spесimеns
of this typе, although from a militaгy point
of viеw this Proto-Arab, as it thеn wаs' hаd
thе gravе disadvantagе of bеing too smаll
for a сhargеr. But сеrtainly it was in thе
Hеllenistiс pеriod when Alеxandе1s sцс-
сеssors wете ruling his fragmеntеd empirе
in Еuropе and Asiа _ and not, аs is сorn-
monly supposеd, in Roman timеs _ that
thеsе horses wеrе first available in any
сonsidеrable numbеrs in Меditеrranean
Еuropе. It was to bе manу сentцries bеforе
thеу wеrе to bе сallеd Arabiаn.
If we сonсludе that thе Cаspiаn Pony is
not t}re unmodifiеd dеsсеndаnt of typе 4'
thе Proto-Arаb' or that thе lаtter nеvеr
ехistеd in thе wild, then wе shall hаvе to
look for anothеr possible anсеstor for thе
Arab and its сlosе relations among еаrly
domestiс stoсk. This brings us Ьaсk
inеvitablу to Profеssor Ridgеwaу аnd his
Multiple Origins of thе Thoroughbrеd, А,s
wе have sееn in thе last sесtion' Lаdy
Wеntworth triumphed ovеr him, and hе
lost faсе, largеly bесause hе was not a
zoologist nor an arсhaeologist and аl1 thе
.hаrd' еvidеnсe hе wаs аblе to produсe
about Arabian origins was an impressivе
array of quotаtions from сlassiсаl authors.
But hе wrotе at а timе whеn the sсienсе of
Тhe Pafthians were suссeeded in 226 ао by The
Sassаnians, who were so suссessfu| in their
similar usе of mounted archeгs that they
сaptured an entire Romаn armУ. This 3rd
сenturУ AD sassanian re|ief from
Nаоh-e-Rostаm near PersepoIis, Peгsia, shows
the surrender of the Roman Еmperor VaIerian
to the Shahinshah' Shаour t.
genetiсs was lеss advanсеd than it is today,
and thе trump сard whiсh nеithеr he nor
his antagonist had up thеiт respесtivе
slееvеs hаs now droppеd out ofthе сuffof
modеrn Ьiologists.
Wе already know that doubt hаs Ьееn
сast on the сlaim ofPrzеvalskf s horsе to Ье
thе solе anсestor of all domеstiс horses,
by thе faсt thаt its сhromosomе сount is
not idеntiсаl with that of thе domеstiс
horsе. Ridgеway's inruitivе guess was that
thе Proto-AraЬ was a hуbrid, arising from
thе union of thе Asiatiс t0Иild ЕIorsе, or
rather its domеstiс dеsсеndants. with somе
not now' domestiсatеd, and that this сross
сould only hаvе сomе about in North Afri-
са. Thе сhromosomе сount of a hybrid is
thе sum of thе сount of both parеnts
dividеd Ьy two. If this.averаgе' сomes to an
odd numbеr (as most of thе fеasiЬle onеs
do) thеn thе hybrid is stеrile (e.g. the
mulе). But in thе few сasеs whеrе it сomеs
to an evеn numЬеr, hybrid сan mаte fruit-
fullу with hуbrid and a nеw spесiеs _ oг аt
lеаst suЬ-spесiеs _ саn bе born. Thе Hun-
gariаn author, Miklos Jankoviсh, has
pointеd out in a work not yet puЬlishеd in
Еnglish that' in tеrms of spесiеs now liv-
ing, not all Еquidae hаve had their
сhromosomе сount еstаЬlished. Of those
whosе сount is known, therе is a speсiеs of
zebra whose сhromosomе сount addеd to
that of Przеvalski's horsе and divided by
two is identiсal with that of thе domеstiс
horsе. Jаnkoviсh thеreforе hаs dеmon-
stratеd, without сonsсiously wishing to
reinforсе Ridgеway' that in tеrms of thе
meсhaniсs _ thаt is thе аrithmetiс - of
genеtiсs' his thеory of еquinе origins is
pегfесtly fеasible. lIе refusеs to speсulate
on how suсh a сross сould havе arisеn, but
noЬody supposеs it сould havе oссurrеd in
thе wild, in viеw of what is known аЬout
the distribution of thе Asiatiс Wild Horsе
and thе various spесies ofzеbта. Ridgеway
lost the triсk by аssuming that thе horsе
сamе to the zеbra and not viсе vеrsa.
Lеt us suppose that somе spесiеs of
zеЬra towаrds thе northеrn limit of its
geographiсal rаngе _ sаy Еthiopia or thе
Sudan _ zuа,s oгrсe domеstiсated. \7е tend
to think .onсе domеstiсated, always
domеstiсatеd', Ьut wе are wrong. Thеrе
arе prесedеnts for the taming of animаls
for just this usе, namеly riding and driving,
and the aЬandonment of thе praсtiсe whеn
a morе aссеptabiе substitutе has Ьeеn
found. Suсh are foг instanсе thе еlk
(moose) in the sub-arсtiс rеgions of

18

Еuгдsiц аnd тhе onаgеr in .lvtеsopotamiа.
Thе onlу suгviving еlks and onagеrs now
шв шпniпg rп.ild oг tiving in zoos, but thе
гос* dгаwiпgs of thе !7hitе Sеa Coast аnd
фЕ сцs tаЬlеts of Iraq show thеm towing
mn on skЬ, dтawing slеighs and har-
mssеd to тhе сurious Sumеrian Ьattleсars.
lп . . dаwп of history, the onе wаs dis-
фrсеd bу thе reindееr аnd thе othеr by thе
tпsс' whеrеupon t}rey were simply turned
Мсk on thе tunфa oг thе dеsеrt.
!Fе kпow from many modern instаnсеs
.*
zвЬтas сaz bе tаmеd to ridе and drive,
fur ir hаs пevеr Ьeen сlaimеd that thеy are
es gоod to drive as а horse, and thеre is
п'rпРlе tеstimonу that they arе a worsе ridе,
siше йеуhаvе no withеrs. Suppose that in
0а;в 1rеhistогiс times men сamе down thе
Nilв \rаllеy lеаding paсk-ladеn zеЬras, to
цтшs тhе Isthmus of Suez and journey
fuцrф Siпаi аnd Pаlеstine. Somеwherе
liш фе lаtitudе of thе Caspian Sеa we might
tщкt гhеm to mееt mеn riding or driving
ш lеаdiпg thе domеstiсated vеrsion of
hшаЬkf s hoгse. Ridgеway's thеory
fuпd€теd on thе аrсhaеologiсal roсk; no
й.|mгifiяЬlе гemains of horsеs of thе
пв$rilеd аntiquity сould bе found in Noгth
Afriса to pгovе his point. Likеways no
шсh rеmдins of zeЬrаs havе beеn found iп
Tсястn .\sia. But thеn, for сеrtаin iden-
..-tiоn of Еquidае a dеal of matеrial is
лвqпrirrd foг autopsy, thе minimum bеing a
чjkllll sith Ьoth jaws intaсt'
and one fore
л*l onе hind limb Ьelow thе knеe, or hoсk.
фosite bеbw rhe onager, one of the
Wс*;s of Asiаtiс wild ass, Was onсe
dоrrrвstiсаted in Mesopotamiа but wаs |ater
diшsвrded when the more adaotabIe horse wаs
tiгoцgilIt in from the Noгth.
Ww Przevtа|ski,s horse was origina||y the
ш'п.ii|ld horse of MongoIia. |t seems un|ike|y that,
вiшfiеr аs а domestiсated animаI or in the wiId,
llt ф€r mаted with the Zebra to become an
дllЕstor of the Pгoto-Arab.
For this muсh to rеmain of onе skеlеton
ovег sеvеral thousаnd yеars, along a migтa-
tion гoutе that is mostly through dеseгt
сountгy' is too muсh to be hopеd, yеt onlу
the bonеs сan tell thе true story. Nеithег
the striped hidе, nor thе hugе trumpеt-like
еaгs of thе zeЬra nor yеt its сhтomosomеs
сould possibly bе prеsеrved. In passing it is
wortlr.mentioning thаt it is the slendеr
сannon bones that distinguish thе oriеntal
horsеs skеlеtally from otlrer variеties, and
in this геspесt they morе rеsеmblе assеs,
onagеrs, or zеЬras thаn Nortlrern horsеs.
Thе faсt that vеry oссasionally zеbra-
like maгkings aгe found on the lеgs and
morе rarеly still on othеr pаrts of thе body'
of nеw-born Arаbian foals is neithеr here
nor therе. So they arе in horses of all
Ьгееds, аnd thеy аre mеrеly an atavistiс
rеminder of thе stripes that arе bеliеvеd to
havе oссurrеd in most Еquidae Ьеforе the
Iсе Agе. Vhаtеvеr thе origin of thе horsеs
now саllеd Arаbian, thеy only just fail to be
сonsiderеd in this seсtion, whiсh doеs not
ехtend bеyond thе bеginning of thе Christ-
ian еrа. Classiсal Grеek аuthoгs do not
mеntion Aтabiаn hoгsеs' аnd no Latin
author up to thе timе of Augustus does so,
in the sепse that there wаs thеn a reсog.
nized AraЬian Ьгeed. Еuropеan authors
writing in antiquity givе thе impression
rathеr that the A.rab peoples used donkеуs
almost еxсlusively in pеaсе-timе аnd
сamels in war. ЕIorsеs in Aтabiа аt the
begjnning of thе Cfuistian еra wеrе vеry
sсarсe and this wаs still thе сasе in thе
lifеtime of Мahomet, who in his holу wars
demonstratеd thеir superiority ovеr сamels
for military purposеs. It was thе сompul-
sion to sprеad thе faith of Islam by forсе of
аrms thаt led to thе еxpansion of horsе-
Ьrееding аmong the dеsert tribes to its
widеst fеasiblе limits. Although thе Korаn
might еxhort thе fаithful to pгoduсе as
many foals as possiblе for sеrviсе аgainst
thе infidеl, this сould only bе donе, how-
uuMts | |uA | |UN & tAtlLY Hutlst PtUPLЕs
еvеr, in the AлaЬian peninsula, by thе samе
mеans as had bееn praсtised irr pre-Islamiс
timеs. And so thеse limits rеmainеd fairly
nаrrow. ЕIorsеs саnnot livе on сamеl-
thoгn; thе numbеr thаt сould bе reaгed was
in dirесt proportion to thе аmount of barleу
ttrat сould bе aсquiтed from the Fertilе
Cresсent Ьordеring t}rе dеsеrt zonе, and
thе аmount of dates that thе oаses сould
produсе, suгplus to human сonsumption.
Thе only rеquisitе thаt wаs avаilablе moге
or lеss аd lib was thе сamel]s milk - еssеn-
tial foг wеaning foals under сonditions in
whiсh thе marе only laсtatеd for a сouplе
of months at Ьеst.
Horsе-brеeding and hoгse-kееping
began, in AraЬia itself, as а prеstigе sym-
bol, assoсiatеd only with thе riсh and pow-
еrful. \ilИhen it beсamе a rеligious dutу
inсumbеnt аlso on thе lеss riсh and lеss
powеrful this must havе mеаnt thлее
things.
First, that othеr livеstoсk kept by thе
Bеdouin _ his sheеp, goats, сamеls _ would
have to сontеnt thеmsеlvеs with а smаller
sharе of аvailаblе drinking watеr and еvеn
gтittiеr graziog thаn before.
Seсond, that brееdеrs thеmselvеs would
hаvе to make do with lеss datеs, lеss Ьarley,
lеss сamel's milk аnd еvеn less fish' sinсе
in сеrtain parts of AraЬiа nеar thе сoаst,
pгotein in thе diet of hoгses is suppliеd by
dried sprats from whiсh thе oil is fust
еxtraсtеd.
Thfud, thаt the slogаn .quality Ьefore
quantiqy' would bе hammеrеd homе in no
unсеrtain fashion. If piеty сompels a man
to bankrupt himsеlf аnd starvе his fаmily
and floсks in ordeг to Ьrееd horses, he
might as wеll brееd good onеs. onе сannot
Ьut rеflесt, сontemplating thе еnormously
inflatеd numbеrs of Arabs bred outside
AraЬia today, that somе suсh есonomiс
stringеnсу and сonsеquеnt pruning of
numbеrs would Ье of thе gleatеst bеnеfit to
.Wеstеrn
modеrn brееdеrs.

fнв first dеfinitivе rесords of man
.l. гidins a hoгsе dаtе baсk to 1600 вс
and аrе dеfriсtеd on thе tomЬ of HorеnhaЬ
of Еgypt. From long Ьeforе this, howevеr,
thеre are plaques still in existеnсе that
show man sitting on thе quartеrs of an
onagеr. This horsе-like animаl is now rarе
Ьut wаs, in faсt, domеstiсatеd long bеforе
thе horsе. Thе nеxt rесordеd horsеmеn of
аny notе wеrе thе Assyгians' gгеat huntеrs
of thе 800s вс. They sat in thе сеntrе of тhе
horsе's baсk as opposed to perсhing on his
quarters' and wеre, in turn, followеd by thе
Pеrsians. But it wаs a Grееk саvalry offiсеr,
Хenophon, who provided thе first lаnd-
mаrk in сlassiсal еquitation.
Born in Athens in 430 вс, Хenophon's
two Ьooks, Hippikе and Hipparchikos'
provide a wealth of information on a sys-
tem of riding that is just as appliсaЬlе today
as it wаs whеn it was writtеn, and whiсh
formеd tlre Ьasе of thе сlassiсal еquеstrian
art. They сoveг brеaking, buying and
sсhooling young hoгses аnd Хеnophon
trаinеd his horsеs in most of the movе-
ments that we know today. As well аs
balanсing аnd suppling еxеrсisеs involv-
ing сhanges of paсe and dirесtion, turns
and сirсles' he also tаught his hoгses to
jump сolleсtedly off their hoсks аnd
еnjoyеd hunting and сгoss-сounшy гiding
when hе was ablе to put his mаnёgе work
rnto praсuсе.
Хеnophon also studiеd the horsе's mind
and bеliеvеd in a systеm of rеwаrd and
сorгeсtion, foг .if you геwaгd him with
kindness when hе has done what you wish
and admonish him when hе disobeys, hе
will bе most likеly to do what you want.
This holds good in every brаnсh of horsе-
mаnship'. He insistеd on the patient hаnd-
ling ofhorses, disapproving sшongly ofаny
form of forсе to gеt thе requirеd rеsults,
sаying .гidеrs who forсе thеir horses bу thе
usе of the whip only inсrеasе tlrеir fеar, for
thеy then assoсiаtе the pain with the thing
that ftightеns them'. But howеver
advanсеd Хеnophon's thinking, his grеat
disadvantagе, аs a сavalry offiсеr, was his
lасk of a saddle. As bеfitted a Spartan
offiсеr, hе rodе barebасЬ without еven a
сovег on thе horsе's baсk, a faсt that no
doubt еnсouraged his liking of a wеll-
musсlеd bасk. ЕIе rodе with а long lеg аnd
turned down toe, mаintaining that man's
nаkеd 1еg gаvе а greatеr dеgrеe ofadhеsion
to ttrе horse's swеating сoat if the two wеrе
in dirесt сontaсt.
Jousts and tourneУs hаd their heуdaу in the
Middle Ages and were the early forms of
саrouseIs whiсh were to сome into their own
during the Renaissanсe'
20
In battle' howеver, thе adhesion was not
suffrсiеnt to withstand thе еnemy's сharge
and it wаs not until the invеntion of thе
sаddle, Ьuilt high аt both pommel and сan-
tlе, аnd used initially by а group of NuЬian
merсenariеs from the Nilе vallеy, that the
сoursе of mounted warfarе was сhangеd.
This was bесausе thе high сantle provided
a basе agаinst whiсh thе mountеd soldieг
сoцld Ьraсe his Ьасk whеn сlosing with
bodiеs of infantry. $Иith thе invеntion of
thе stirrup, fiгst used bу thе Нuns of Мon-
golia in the fourth сentury AD' the usе of
thе ЕIorsе advanсed rapidly, although wе
know litdе of thе usе to whiсh thеу were
put in the Dark Ages whiсh followеd.
Thе &tiddlе Agеs, howеver, saw thе
bеginning of Charlеmаgne's Age of
Chivalry, wittr jousts and torшneys bе-
twееn teams of knights who, initially at
least, rodе light Arab or BаrЬ-type horses
and worе light сhаin mail. Thе tournеys
wеrе also thе bеginning of an еarly foгm of
musiсаl ride or сarousеl whiсh wаs to Ье
sеen muсh latеr. Although they now usеd
stirrups' thе knights sti1l rode with a long
lеg and with their feеt pushed forward.
Thеy hеld thе геins high in their left hand Xenophon, the Grеek саvalry offiсer who Iaid
togethеr with thе shiеld, lеаving their гight the foundations of сlassiса| equitation and
hand freе to handle thе sword. Curb bits whose teaсhings are ,iust as app|iсab|e todаy.
were muсh in evidenсе but thе pгinсipal
mеans of сontrol wаs Ьy thе usе of thе 1еg. ing in the horsе, alЬеit imposеd Ьy
Thе influenсe of the mounted knight, evеr mесhaniсal mеans. Long сurЬ bits wеrе
skilful in dеfеnсе Ьut not so good in аttaсk, employеd and so wеrе long, sharp spurs in
pеrsisted until 1346 whеn thе disсiplinеd ordеr to сontrol thе quartеrs without
use of t}re Ьow and arrow deсimаted thе nесеssitating thе 1еg bеing movеd too
Frеnсh troops аt сrесy' forсing thе knights muсh. The Ьattlеs and jousts сontinued _
to takе mеasures to proteсt both them- knights being mountеd on healry, lumber-
sеlvеs аnd theiг horses. Thе solution was ing horses _ long after thеir influеnсе in
to еnсasе themselvеs аnd their mounts in battlе wаs finishеd. But whilе this form of
.Wеst,
сumЬersomе armouг' whiсh mеant in turn riding was operаting in thе the
that the horsеs had to be largеr and heaviеr саvalгу of thе Еаst was in faсt fast and
аnd in сonsеqцеIlсе they Ьeсamе slowеr mobilе. Theу favourеd a forward seat and
and less mobilе. Inсгеasinglу, thеy beсamе rodе witlr a loosе rеin on Arab-tуpе horses.
virtuаl sitting tаrgеts, until their еnd сame Riding wаs fust reсognizеd as an art
in 1525 with thе Battlе of Pavia. form in its own right, on an equal footing
The agе of thе mountеd knights did wiф thе сlаssiсal аrts of musiс, painting,
howеvеr produсe a high degrее of sсhool- literаturе and so on. in thе Renаissanсе

sегiod of 1500_1600. Thеn no noblеman's
aiuсаtion was сonsidеred сomplеtе rrntil
Ьr hаd асquirеd an apprесiation of thе art
м еquitаrion and сould ridе wеll. Мovе-
зЁnts] in imitation of those that it was
-iоuфt weге praсtisеd in Ьаttlе Ьy thе
дrпouтеd knights werе performed, the
рirouеttе, piаffе and passagе forming the
аrsЬ of the work on thе ground, while thе
i*adе, сourbette and thе сapriole formеd
фе Ьаsiсs of the airs aЬovе thе ground.
Еlчатrt Baгoque riding halls _ of whiсh
-iе lаst rеmaining onе is thе Spanish Rid-
Ьg Sсhool iл Viеnnа Ьuilt in 1735 Ьу
Fisсhеr von Еrlaсh (although first Ьuilt of
'пвоd in L572' prior to that thе arеa it
..огегеd was laid out as a training ground
lл 1565) _ sprаng up all ovеr Еuropе to
ilоusе thе stаtеly сarousеls pеrformеd by
:веmЬегs of thе aristoсгaсy. Хenophon аnd
Ьis works were redisсovеrеd and High
Sсhool гiding had Ьеgun, аlthough the
Ь'oгsеs wеге, initially' гather heavy.
.llthough Count Cesаrе Fiasсhis Ьook
в-гiпеn in 1559 advoсatеs' like Хenophon,
frе цse of patiеnсe whеn dealing with
aoгsеs аnd rесommеnds thе use сif hands,
iчs and voiсе usеd in сombination, in
;гассiсе it would appeаr that thе rеquired
:еs'rlt rvas aсhiеvеd by Ьrеaking thе horse's
:еsЬtапсe Ьy any bаrbariс method thаt pге-
sепrеd itself. Hedgеhogs or сats tiеd to thе
j:огsе's tаil, a hot iron appliеd in thе sаmе
Pi"асе, oг аn iron bаr with sharp hooks on
-.hе епd to Ье dug into thе quarters, wеrе all
.:sеd to еnсourage hoгsеs to go forward'
*n.l фg on-ly rеward would appеaг to hаvе
sееп а гelaxation of thе punishmеnt сur-
:епtlу being infliсtеd. The nаturаl аids
веrе dеfinеd, an addition to thе more usuаl
.rпеs bеing a сliсking of thе tonguе, Ьut
..опsideгaЬle emphasis was givеn to thе
д.tтifiсiаl аids or .hеlps', of thе bridle, thе
sсiгup - made frequently with a shаrp
;lnеr еdgе _ thе spur and thе lod. strеss
гаs lаid on not harming thе mout}r, how-
етеr. аltlrough long severе сurb bits wеrе
frеquendyusеd, аs were spit<еd nosеbands.
Fiasсhi rесommendеd thе usе of a mild lLipizzaner sta||ions in the mаgnifiсent ha||
jointеd bit with no сurb сhain, whiсh aсtеd аt the spanish Riding Schoo| of Vienna
on thе bars of thе mouth and had no port. during one of their pefformanсes in the
He taught in Naplеs, his most suссеssful с|assiсaI art of eouitation.
аnd best-known pupil Ьeing Fеderiсo
Gгisonе to whom сгеdit is usually given
for being thе First мastеr. His book, Gli
Ordini de Саuаlcаre, published in 1550
shoгtly bеtbrе thаt of his tutor, and his own
populaгity, mау wеll be фе гeason foг this
сlaim to fаmе. l0Иhаtеvеr thе сausе'
Grisonе's pupils wеre invitеd to other parts
of Еuropе whеre his systеm of tгaining and
riding wаs propoundеd and his word
spreаd. His Ьook was tгanslated into
Еnglish on the instruсtions of Queen
Еlizabеth I.
Grisonе's suссеssoг аnd thе most fam-
ous of his pupils wаs Giovanni Baptistа
Pignаtеlli who also tаught at the Aсademy
of Naplеs. Hе dеvеlopеd Grisonе's
mеthods still fuгtheг aпd inсoгpoгаted
somе сirсus training аnd movеmеnts into
his work. Hе observed in thе methods of
the сiгсus performеrs that аlthough a high
dеgтее of obеdiеnсe аnd balanсе was
nесеssаry from theiт horses, physiсаl forсе
aсhievеd by mесhaniсal mеans and sevеге
Ьits was not еmploуed to gеt the dеsirеd
rеsult. ЕIe was not slow to sеe the аdvаn-
tagеs in this form of riding and training
and gradually, using somе of the сirсus
mеthods, thе whole piсruге of сlаssiсаl rid-
ing took on a lightеr appearanсе, and many
of фe morе sevеrе .aids' wеre aЬandonеd.
llorsеs of a lighter Spаnish build bесamе
populaг аnd to сopе with thе dеmand for
this typе of horsе studs were sеt up' thе bеst
known being thе stud at Lipizza. It was
foundеd wiф ninе stallions аnd 24 marеs
in 1580 by thе emissary of Aтсhdukе
Charlеs, thе Frеihеrr von I(hevеnhilleг,
and it ёstablishеd thе bгееd whiсh wе now
know as ttrе Lipйzanеr.
Pignatеllis pupils сontinuеd to dis-
sеminatе thе tеaсhings of thеir mastег
throughout Еtшopе in the early sеvеn-
teenth сentцry. The Chеvaliеr dе St
тHЕ GR0WтH 0F сLAss|сAL E0UlтAт|0N
Antoine Ьeсamе thе fust Мastег of thе
ЕIorsе to Jamеs I, while Pignatеllis most
famous PuPil, Antoinе de Pluvinеl,
(1555_1602) wеnt to Frаnсe to teасh King
Louis ХIII. His Ьookl,1иstruсtion du Roу
was published In L623.
Dе Pluvinеl сагriеd on the teaсhings of
his Мaster, а11 thе timе trying to finе down
thе аids so as to mаkе them аlmost
unnotiсеablе. ЕIe wаs a muсh morе sуm-
pathеtiс teaсhеr both with his horses and
his pupils, not believing in thе use of a long
сurb or сuгЬ сhain and nеver introduсing a
bit into a horsе's mouth until it was
sufflсiently sсhoolеd to aссept it readily.
His sсhooling mеthods too' werе more
refinеd and he usеd a numbеr of suppling
exегсisеs in pгеpаration for thе more
аdvanсеd movements suсh аs pаssagе and
сhanges of lеg at еvеry two or thrее stridеs.
Vеry гarеly did hе rеsort to the peгsuasions
of thе whip and spur, thе laшer being an аid
hе сonsidеrеd .a сonfеssion of fаilurе'.
Dе Pluvinеl wаs thе fiгst of the Мastеrs
to makе use of thе pillars in the mаnёgе,
teaсhing his pupils to sit thеir horsеs with-
out геins whilе theу pеrfoгmеd thе High
Sсhool airs. He wаs also a vеry pгaсtiсal
hoгsеman, геalizing thе importanсе of gеt-
ting the horse fit bеfoге attеmpting to work
him hard and hе wаs сonstantly сonсeгnеd
that all itеms of saddlery reаlly fitted prop-
erly. ЕIе startеd sсhooling his young horsеs
Ьy lungеing thеm from thе сavеsson. Not
until they wеre pегforming сalmln wаs a
bridlе and saddle introduсеd and finally а
lightweight ridеr put on top. ЕIе used еdu-
саtеd and еxperienсed horsemеn to tеaсh
the horsеs their elementаry sсhooling аnd
laid great strеss on pаtiеnt handling and
.Work
gеndeness. on two traсks аnd vari-
ous figurе гiding on largе сirсles and at
various gaits аnd tempos was introduсed,
21
 тHE GR0WTH 0F сLAsslсAL E0U|тAт|0N
Аbove An engrаving showing the pi||ars
bеing used. De PluvineI Wаs the fiгst of thе
Masters to make use of the piIlаrs in the
manёge.
Right WiIIiam Cavendish, Duke of Newсast|e.
He trа i ned at the Sсhoo| of Na
oI es a nd wаs the
on|y ЕngIish Master'
Ьringing with it а nеw and еnlightеnеd
approaсh to thе sсhooling of horse and
rider.
While de Pluvinеl was praсtising this
nеw approасh to riding and sсhooling in
Franсе, !Иilliam Cavеndistц Dukе of
Nеwсastlе (1592-7676)' who had beеn
trainеd in the Sсhool of Naplеs, had stаrtеd
a riding sсhool in Bеlgium, latеr transfеr-
ring it to Bolsover Castlе in Еngland.
Although hе was a сlassiсаlly еduсatеd
man, rеаding easily in Itаlian, Frеnсh and
Ladn, he wаs a hard taskmastеr and
bеliеved thаt horsеs obеyed thеir ridеrs'
wishеs out of feаr rather thаn rеspесt.
Flowеver hе did noi oftеn rеsort to sevеrе
punishmеnt, and, likе de Pluvinеl, madе
еxtеnsive usе of thе сavesson and lungе
rein. Unlikе dе Pluvinel though' hе did not
plасе muсh fаith in thе pillars as a mеans
of teасhing thе horsе, beliеving that their
usе stoppеd frее forward movеment. ЕIis
Iе ?аs
22
own forte was mсInеgе work but hе
expесtеd his horsеs, аs well as his pupils,
to bе mastеrs of аll tradеs, and indеed two
of his most famous pupils, Charlеs II and
Prinсе Rupert, wеrе prinсipаllу сonсernеd
with raсing and сavalry rеspесtivеly.
Nеwсastle was one of the fust horsеmеn
to rеalizе thаt horsеs had mеmoriеs and to
sее that this faсt сould Ье turned to advan-
рge. Hе wrotе in his book' А Neu Mеthod
to Drеss Horses апd Eхtrаordinary Inоеn-
tion аnd'|Vork thеm Аcсording to Nаturе
published in 1658, thаt .oftеn теpetilion
fortifiеs thе mеmort'. Hе rеаlizеd еquаlly
thаt this mеmorу сould also Ье а disadvan-
tagе if thе horse wаs initially taught
wronglу. He likе to usе long spurs so that
the ridеr had to move very little in thе
saddlе and hе сarriеd two switсhеs, one in
еaсh hand (as is still donе in thе Spanish
Riding Sсhool todаy), in order to tеll his
horsе on whiсh lеg to strike off, аnd hе also
usеd thе voiсe extеnsivеly as аn aid. Thе
only Еnglish Мastеr, Nеwсastlе found
great diffiсultу in pеrsuading the Bгitish
pеoplе thаt сlassiсаl еquitаtion was an art
form and that thеrе was morе to тiding thаn
raсing and hunting - a faсt that thе British
аs a wholе havе still to apprесiаtе.
As thе new enlightеned approaсh to
horsеmanship spread aсross Еuтopе, thе
waу beсamе pavеd for thе Frеnсhman who
was to Ьeсomе known аs thе .Fathеr of
Classiсal Еquitation', Fгanсois RoЬiсhon
dе la Gцеriniеrе (1688-1751). This man s
influеnсе сhanged tlrе сourse of сlаssiсal
еquitation and his tеaсhings arе аt the Ьasе
of modеrn еquitation. It was largеly as a
rеsult of his work that two grеat strеаms of
|||Ustгations from Есole de Cava|erie, written
byde IaGu6riniёre and publishеd in.l7З3 Тhe
teaсhings of de Ia Guегiniere remain as the
bаsis of modern eouitatioп.
 ТHE Бп0WТH 0F сLAss|сAL E0U|TAт|0N

сlаssiсal еquitation sprang up in Еurope'

опe Ьаsеd on thе Frеnсh Sсhools of Vеr-
sаillеs аnd Sаumur, and thе othеr on the
Spаnish Riding Sсhool of Vienna. His rid-
ing sсhool аt thе Tuileries, whiсh had prе-
гiously housed thе Royal Stables bеfore
йеу were movеd to Veгsaillеs, was
tЪuпded Ьy Louis ХIV аnd was mаnagеd
Ьг dе lа Gu6riniёrе fгom 1730 onwards. It
Баs soon to Ьeсomе famous all over
Еuтopе, mainly through thе rеfinеmеnts in
his sсhooling methods аnd thе bеttеr
sвmp of horsеs (mostly Еnglish
Тhoroughbrеds), that were usеd there. Dе
lа Gu6riniёrе perfeсtеd a systеm of sup-
pliпg and gymnastiс еxеrсises designed to
сultivatе and extend thе horsе's natural
movеmеnts and paсеs, and to makе it
rеspond willingly to its ride1s wishеs
к-iйout аny form of physiсal forсe or
спrelty Ьeing infliсted. His book Ecolе dе
С аt,. аl е r iе, pllblished in 1 7 3 3, dеsсriЬеs his

пеthods and these suppling еxеrсises in

dеtаii. He invеntеd thе shoulder-in and
trsеd it еxtеnsively as a suppling exеrсisе'
аlso fuгther dеvеloping two- and four-шасk
woгk аs wеllas making extensivе usе of thе
iаtеrаl movеmеnts. During dе Pluvinel's
"i-e thе aids hаd grаduаlly bесomе morе
геfined аnd dе 1а Guёriniёге furthеred
феse геfinеmеnts in thе way thе sеаt and
lеgs were usеd in сombination and in his
dеfinition and еxtensivе usе of the rеin
aids. He dеsigned a modеrn form of saddle
Ь п-hiсh thе high pommеl аnd сantlе thаt
hаd hithепo bеen usеd wеrе rеduсеd and
h:neе аnd thigh rolls wеre inсorporatеd. It
was similar to that still usеd in thе Spanish
Riding Sсhool today.
^\{еanwhile, in Vегsaillеs, de Nеstiег
sho is reportеd to have еxhibited on
horsеЬасk thе bеllс аssiettе of the time, had
Ьесomе riding mastеr to Louis ХV Ьut at
тhе outЬгеаk of the Revolution hе, togethеr
п.ith thе Dirесtoг of thе Grеat Stablеs' de
Salvеп, and thе rest of тhe ёсuуers, was
Jгivеп into еxi1е. As military suprеmaсy
Ьесаme inсreasingly importаnt the first
саr-аky sсhool was sеt up in Saumur by thе
Duс dе Choisеul, аnd although it was
сlosеd down through laсk of funds,
дnothеr was set up in L744 at Versaillеs,
в-ith one of Fгanсois de Salvеrt's pupils,
LuЬersaс, at its hеad. Sevеn yеаrs latеr a
.Мilitary Sсhool' was сrеatеd in Paris
whiсh, although it lastеd only 37 yеaгs, lеft
its influenсe on Frеnсh equitation. Thе
first Dirесtor wаs dAuvеrgne who was to
сhange thе гidеis position, mаking it lеss
formаl and stiff, and in fасt making milit-
ary еquitation .lеss aсademiс, simplеr,
morе nanrral аnd boldеr' more militarу
indееd and yеt no less Ьrilliantlу taught
and praсtisеd.
Thе war yеаrs did little to further equita-
tion in Franсе but with thе rеturn of Louis
xvIII, thе Sсhool of Vеrsailles wаs rе-
еstablished for aсadеmiс еquitаtion undеr
the direсtion of Visсount Piеrrе .Nlаriе
dAbzaс. This mart's prinсipal сlaim to
fame, his own talеnts apart' was his trаin-
ing of Count dAurе. The National Sсhool
of Еquitation сIeated in 1793 аt Versaillеs
сhangеd its namе threе уеars latеr to The
Sсhool for Mountеd TrooD Instruсtion. its
Тwo engravings Depiсting haute ёсole as it
wаs at the time of de Ia Guёriпiёre. left.' The
shouIder in _ one of de Ia Gu6riniёre,s
impoгtant innovations and a spIendid exerсise
for stгаightening the horse. right: The
courbette _ one of the high sсhoo| аirs
perfeсted by the Duke of Newсаst|e.
funсtion bеing to train men to Ьe offrсеrs in
ttrе shoгtest possiЬle time. It did, howevеr,
train Cordiеr who was later to Ьесomе the
first ecuуеr еn сhеf of thе Sсhool of
Saumur, whеn The Sсhool for Мountеd
Troop Instruсtion wаs moved thеrе and
aсadеmiс equitation again took over аt
Vеrsaillеs. The fust of thе Carousеls for
whiсh the Sсhool of Saumur is famous wаs
presentеd undеr Cordiег in 1828. This wаs
just two yеars before the Sсhool of Vегsаil-
lеs сlosed its dooгs for еvеr' lеaving
Saumur to tаkе ovеr аnd perpеtuаtе the
traditions of the Fгenсh Sсhool.

-..-.:]

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z5
 т|-|Е GR0WТH 0t CLAss|сAL Е0U|тAт|0N
onе whose ambition was to bесomе
ёcuуеr en сhеf at Saumur after thе rеtire-
ment of Cord
butсhе1s son
Bauсhеi.. (l79
nevеr to fulfil this amЬition, Bauсhеr
foundеd a sсhool in Lе llаvrе and latег
anothеr in Rouen, running thе two сon-
сurrеntly. At thе samе time, hе wrote his
book Diсtionnаire Rаisonnё dEquitаtion
whiсh was publishеd in 1 833. Bauсhеr was
сlrсus rlng to
beеn inшoduсеd by
fiowevеr, that the
his imаgе, dеpiсting
rathеr than as а sеrious tеасhеr аnd trainеr.
hе pеrsuаdеd thе Duс d'orlеans to lеt him
traln a сouplе of геgiments using his own
mеthods. Thе Dukе agrееd, butЪеforе hе
сould сompletе this task dorlёans was
killеd in а сarriagе aссidеnt, and Bаuсhе1 s
was stopped. Не
produсing evеr more
thеn, fortuitouslv.
Lyon to whom
hе
eхpoundеd his purе сlаssiсal tеасhinss. It
wаs during а rеhеarsal for onе of his сirсus
асts that a сhаndеliеr сrashed down on him
A herd of Lipizzaners running free The best
known Lipizzaner stud is atLipizza, and was
founded in 1850 bу the emissary of Arсhduke
Chаr|es With nine stаllions and 24 mares.
leaving him almost сгipplеd аnd without
a
;
Bаuсhе1s сontemporаry, who did in faсt
gs of thе
tеaсhing
horsеs.
an indi-
viduаl and lеft his pupils to find out whiсh
partiсular aids aсhievеd the best rеsults on
eaсh partiсular horsе. Еrе аlso inшoduсed
rасing and сross-сountry riding into
Saumur аnd plасеd grеаtеr emphasis on
thе all-round pеrformаnсе of ЬЬth horsе
аnd rider.
The man who Ьrought both thе tеасh-
ings of Bauсher and D'Aцre togеthеr was
Alеxis Franсois L'Flottе, the .iсу tin sol-
diеt' who wаs an admirеr аnd pupil of
::.i.:
yеar hе wаs warned that hе would not bе
pтomoted unlеss hе disаvowed Bauсher
and his tеасhings' hе rеfused to do so.
Nevеrthеlеss, he was promotеd and hе
taught his men and thеir horsеs in
D'Aurе's mеthods, whilе tеасhing his own
horsеs aссording to Bauсher. A Ь'illi"nt
hoтseman аnd an effiсiеnt offiсеr, his Ьook
.Quеstions
Еquеstrеs' was gatherеd from
notеs made аftеr еасh lеsson and сonvеrsа-
own sсhool at Lunеvillе, to'rvhiсh Sеlесtеd
horsеmеn wеrе invitеd to speсtatе.
Another vеrsatile, if somewhаt unor-
thodox, horsеman who pеrformed in thе
сirсus, was Jamеs Fillis, an Еnglishman
who livеd most of his timе in Frаnсе and
who later Ьeсamе ёcщler еn chеJ at tinе
Cavalry Sсhool in Lеningтаd. HЁ was an
opposеd to grip, a point he makеs сlеar in

his Ьook Brеаking аnd Riding. Although
Fillis praсtisеd a numbеr of unorthodox
movements for thе сirсus ring, suсh as the
rеversеd pirouеttе with thе feеt сrosseф
йe pаssage to thе rеar, and thе саnteг
Ьасkwаrds on threе lеgs' hе also intгo-
duсеd jumping into his performаnсеs foг
ттЫсh, unlikе his othеr movеmеnts when
Ье usеd a douЬlе Ьridle, hе usеd a snafflе.
Тhе position he adoptеd wаs to leаn baсk
on the desсent from thе jump, slip thе reins
to allow thе hoгsе free movеmеnt of his
hеаd, whilе keеping his lеgs in сontaсt
п-ith thе horsе thгoughout thе jump in
ordeг to obtain а bаsculе. Fillis wаs prob-
аЬlу thе lаst of thе great horsеmen to use
тhis position ovеr fenсеs, for Fеdеriсo Cap-
гiшi (1868_1908), a саptain at thе ItаlЬn
Cаvаф Sсhool at Tor di Quinto, evolvеd
тhе forward seat and еstablishеd its usе in
тhе сavalry sсhool at just aЬout thе same
mе as Fillis diеd in 1900. Thе reason foг
тhе nесеssity of thе forward seat аs Cаprilli
sаrv it' was in aссoгdanсe with thе сlassiсal
pгinсiple of keeping фe ridеr аЬovе thе
horsе' s сеntrе of gravity whеn going aсross
сountry at spееd, and to do this, his wеight
must bе movеd forward. The system of
сгoss-сountry riding usеd todаy is а сom-
binяtion of Caprilli's systеm аnd the purelу
сlаssiсal method.
Duтing the ninеtеenth сеntury, thеre
wеre frеquеnt intеrсhangеs bеtweеn thе
tтrro Grеat Sсhools of Еuгopе; thе Comtе
dе Мontigny for instanсе сommanded the
Spanish Riding Sсhool ftom 1842_1845
Ьеfore Ьесoming ёсuуеr at Sаumur. Fеw
doсumеnts еxist сonсerning the еаrly
bеginnings of the Spаnish Riding Sсhool,
but tlrе Impегial Court in Vienna, through
its assoсiаtions with thе Hapsburg fаmily
(onе memЬеr ruling ovеr Austria and thе
othеr ovег Spain and Nаplеs), had long
Ьееn сonсerned with еquitation' and
hoгsеs frеquеntly сhangеd hands bеtween
thе two sidеs of thе family. Spanish horsеs
wеrе introducеd in |562 to found the
Court Str-rd at I(lаdruЬ and tfuee yеars latеr
an еxеrсisе arеa was Ьuilt nеаr thе Hof-
buгg. This wаs lаtеr геplасеd Ьу а сovеrеd
sсhool, whiсh kept out thе worst of thе
wеather. \0Иork was not aсtually startеd on
the presеnt Sсhool on thе сornег of
Josеphsplaи, lrfiu77726 аnd the fust Chief
Instruсtor aftеr the Sсhoots movе was
.Wеyгothеr.
Adam von Thе Sсhool was
offiсially opеnеd by thе Еmperor Charles
VI in SеptеmЬeг 1735 аnd suЬsеquеntlу a
number of fеstivals, Ьalls and exhibitions
wеre held thеre in аddition to thе daily
routinе of training thе horsеs. Carousels,
too, wеrе popular, thе most spесtасular
being that held in Novembеr 1814 to
whiсh all thе I(ings of Еuгope werе
invitеd. A broсhure, puЬlished in 1833,
stаtеd thаt.Thе Imperial Royal Court Rid-
ing Sсhool aссеPts trаinеes only by spесial
pеrmission of thе Offiсе of the Chiеf Мas-
tеr of thе Hoгsеs, and еvеryday you саnridе
your own horsе thеге bеtwееn the hours of
L2 and 3 in the aftеrnoon'. Aftеr 1894, thе
Sсhool was devqtеd solely to the шаining
of horse аnd ridеr in ЕIаute Есo1е but en-
tranсe to the Sсhool was еxсlusivе bеing
rеstfiсted to offiсers and mеmbers of thе
aristoсraсy' and fееs wеrе high. Thе
Frеnсh Rеvolution and thе Napoleoniс
I0Йars, whilst putting an end to the сlassiсаl
art in most Еuropеan сountriеs did not
havе a similar еffeсt on Viеnna. Indееd ttre
Sсhool сontinued to аdhere stгiсtly to its
prinсiplеs and suссееdеd in dеvеloping thе
art furthеr duгing the ninеtееnth сentury
undеr the dirесtion of Mах Rittеr von
\DИеyгother and his subsеquеnt instruсtors.
ТHЕ GR(]WТH 0t сLAss|сAL EoU|тAт|0N
Тhe sp|endid|y e|egаnt Baroque riding hа|| of
the Spanish Riding Sсhoo|. The pгesent
SсhooI, situated on the сorner ofJosephsp|аtz,
was officiаI|y opened by the Еmpeгoг Char|es
in September 1735 a nd is th e last home of the
с|assiса| art of eouitаtion
Thе шaining of horsе and ridеr at thе
Spanish Riding Sсhool, then аs now, fol-
lows thе pattern laid down by dе la
Guёriniёrе' with аn ovеrlay of Fiеld-
Marshal Frаnz HolЬein voп HolЬeinsbеrg
аnd Chief Ridеr Johann Меixmeds .Dirес-
tives for the Implеmеntation of a Меthodi-
сal Proсеdurе in thе Training of Ridеrs
аnd ЕIorsеs at thе Impеriаl Spanish Riding
Sсhool', whiсh was drawn up in 1898. In
this, it is madе сlеar thаt thе .High Art of
Ridingi сomprisеs thrее distinсt parts.
Thеse arе the first stagе, in whiсh thе
horse is riddеn in .as natural a position as
possible with frее forward movemеnt
аlong straight lines,; .саmpaign riding,
whiсh involves riding thе сollесtеd horse
at all gaits inсluding turns and сirсles in
perfесt balanсe; and гiding the horsе in a
morе сollесtеd position with thе haunсhes
dееply Ьеnt аnd pеrforming all thе gaits
аnd jumps whiсh makе up thе .Airs'.
With thе сollapsе of the Austro-
Hungarian Мonarсhy in 1918 thе Spаnish
Riding Sсhool was takеn into Statе pos-
session аnd thе future of thе Sсhool
sееmed in douЬt. Duе laгgеly to thе еfforts
of thе Chiеf Rider, Мoriи ЕIerold' who
gave lесtuгеs to visiting eduсation
soсiеtiеs аnd had postсаrds printеd of thе
Sсhool's High Sсhool airs, whiсh hе sold
to raisе funds for the ailing sсhool, it was
saved. In July 1920 thе fust publiс pеrfor-
manсе of thе Spanish Riding Sсhool wаs
given. Sinсe then thе Sсhool has givеn
rеgular publiс pеrformanсes thтoughout
thе summer, autumn and winter months'
attraсting visitors from all ovеr thе world to
sее thе higЫy-sсhoo|ed Lipizzaners pеr-
forming the сlassiсal art of еquitаtion in
what is its lаst homе in thе world.
25

fх thе Ibеriаn pеninsulа, during thе
.l' lаtе flftееnth сenrury. thеrе wеrе two
distinсt stylеs of horsemаnship. In thе
nortJr, as in \ilИеstern Еurope, men гodе a /a
bridа, staight-lеggeф fееt гather forward,
in thе saddle with a high pommel and сan-
tlе. The bit was a very sevеrе сuгЬ, with a
high poгt аnd arms as muсh as 37сm
(15 in) long. Тhe wholе was the produсt of
bаttlе-taсtiсs whiсh had long bеen oЬso-
lеte _ thе lanсе-сhargе of thе hеаvily
armoured knight. In this, he braсеd him-
sеlf bеtwеen stirrups and саntle to takе thе
shoсk of impaсt; hе nеedеd a sеvеrе Ьit to
сontrol his hеavywеight horsе with his lеft
hand (impеded by a shiеld), whilе his right
hand was Ьusy with a wеapon. Through-
out $иеstеrn Еuropе and muсh of North
Ameriсa йis stylе of horsemanship prе-
vailed for сеntuгies aftеr its original pur-
pose had disappеarеd, a sad rеfleсtion on
the intelligenсе and originality of horsеy
pеoplе.
In the south of thе pеninsula' whеrе
Мoorish influеnсе was stгong, mеn rodе in
the stylе of thе stеppеs and dеsert,
dеsсriЬеd by а сontеmpoгary Еnglish
author аs .riding short in the Tuтkеу fаsh-
ion. They did so Ьесause thеir pгinсipal
wеapons werе thе bow and thе сurvеd sсi.
mitar, both usеd to Ьest effесt if thе ridеr
stands up in the stirгups. Young horsеs
werе initially trained by AraЬs and Мoors
with a bitlеss dеviсе aсting on the nosе'
аnd only whеn thеy answеred to this wеrе
thеy fittеd with a ring-bit. Thе Ьitlеss bгi-
dle was known to them as a hаkmа, to
Spaniards as a jаquimа, and to us as a
haсkamorе. Thе ring-bit wаs сallесl /a
ginеtа after thе name of a Мoorish шibе,
and thе Мoorish sсhool of horsemanship,
to somе ехtеnt аdaptеd Ьy Spaniards for
light сavalry, was а lа ginеtа. The morе
aссomplishеd Iberian horsеmen сould
гidе wеll .in both saddles', t,e. а lа bridа
and d Iа ginetа., but at a time whеn
Spаniards werе turning thеir еyes towards
thе Nеw lUИorld, it sееms thаt most of thеm
rode а lа bridа.
107hen ColumЬus first сrossеd thе
Atlаn-
tic in 1492, hе took а numЬer of gеntlеmen
adventurers аs his mountеd esсort. Bеforе
embаrking on sцсh a douЬtful еnterprise,
these mеn еxсhangеd their сostly сhargеrs
on advantageous tеrms for quadтupеds
whiсh wеrе morе еxpendable, but evеn
thеsе, against Amеrindians who had nеvеr
sееn horsеmеn, provеd as formidaЬlе as
tanks woцld bе to аn army of thе еight-
ееIrth сеntury. It is reasonaЬlе to suppose
that the first horsеs tаken to thе mainland_
Меxiсo in 1509 _ wеre of fаr bettег ouаlitv.
For somе rеason unknown to us' 4 tЬ ьrliа
еquitation prеvailed among the nеw sеt-
tlers in North Amеriса' but somе of thosе
who sеttlеd in Brazil and thе Arsentine
rode а lа ginеtа, as somе of thеiг i.,...,-
dants still do today. Thеге must hаvе Ьeеn
somе synthesis betwеen thе two sсhools,
howеvеr, Ьесаusе 200 yеars lаtеr, Меxiсan
ridеrs wеrе trаining young horses on thе
hасkаmore bеfore fitting thеm еithеr with
a ring-bit or a very sеverе сurb with a high
port and long arms known as а spаdе-bit.
From thе horsеs of the сonquistаdorеs,
dеsсendеd thе mustangs, through аnimals
abandonеd by eаrly explorers or through
those thаt straуed from ranсhes аnd mis-
sions. By тhе ninеtеenth сеntury thеy wеrе
roaming in hеrds ovеr thе grеаt plаins wеst
of thе &lississippi. Thеy provеd a good
foundation.stoсk; for Spanish horsеs, with
Arаb and Barb Ьlood, had beеn highlу
prizеd Ьy thе Crusadеrs and thе knights of
mеdiaеval Еuтope. мustangs had hагd
feеt, sound legs, аnd wеге extrеmelу tough
and sеlf-reliаnt. On t}re dry, сurlу Ьuffаlo-
gтass of thе pгаiries thеу inсrеasеd and
multiplied, but two or tЪrеe сentuгies of
spаrsе gтazing and haгd сonditions, with
no seleсtivе bгeеding, impairеd them in
sйе and bеaury. By thе ninеteеnth сentury
the typiсal mustang tended to bе
hammer-headеd, ewе-nесkеd, mutton-
withеred, roaсh-baсkеd, сow-hoсked and
tiеd-in bеlow thе knее. Thesе dеfeсts werе
gеnеrаlly ignorеd by аrtists, Ьut сruеlly
displayed in еarly photographs. evеn bought, from Mеxiсаns, using thе
The horsе transformеd the life-stylе of Mexiсan saddle and an armour of tough
thе plains Indians. Prеviously thеir efforts Ьul]]s hide in imitаtion of thе Spaniards
аt сцltivation had been dеsultory аnd in morion and сuirаss. Thеy would pay up to
their еfforts as huntеrs thеy had always $300 dollars for a good mаdе pony. Мost,
bееn at a disаdvаntage in pursuing thе howevеr, сaught and trained wild mus-
аnimals of thе open prairiе on foot. tangs. The mеt}rod was to gallop into a
Мountеd, ttrеy сould kill buffalo by the herd, lаriat сoiled ovеr thе aгm, and сast it
thousand. In addition the horse meаnt ovеr a likеly animal's nесk. Thе ridеr then
wеalth and noЬility in war; hе wаs сuffen- vацlted off his own pony and ran after thе
сy' status-symbol and bride-priсe. In a сaptive' lеtting out rope as slowly as possi-
сouplе of gеnerations thе plains tribes, Ьlе until thе mustang droppеd, half-
еspeсiаlly thе Comanсhеs, beсamе tfuoшlеd, to тhе ground. Thеn the forеlegs
horsеmеn as сomplеte as Sсythians, .Nlon- сould be hobЬlеd and а thong tiеd round
gols and Huns. Thеy virtuаlly livеd on thе lower jaw. The lariat was loosеnеd,
hoгsebас\ аnd when a war-lеadеr died, his giving thе mustang a сhanсe to гise to its
fаvouritе horsеs wеre saсrifiсеd in thе fееt, buсk, rеar and plunge; but thе hobblе
bеlief thаt thеy would aссompany him to and thong soon brought it under сontrol.
the Happy Hunting Groцnds. As the animal quiеtеned down, the Indian
Some Indiаns rodе horses stolen, or advanсеd, hаnd ovеr hand along thе rope'
 It-tt tiHUW rH ut- wts |шlN HtutNti

..,]o
rses we re introduсed to the Ameriсas bv the
.l6th
Сonquistadores who, under Cortes in the
-эntury, took Spanish dominion to the NeW
.loг|d. From the few horses they took with
- re m g rew the enormous bands of mUstаngs -
эпd а tгansformation in the Iife of the Indians.
эft: Аconquistador, bу Fredeгiс Remington.
:cp:A buffa|o hunt Тhe native Indiаn tгibes
soon Ieаrned that they сouId hunt more
:ffeсtiveIy with the new mobiIity their horses
3эve them, and evo|ved their own methods of
:.aining and riding thе mUstangs they сaught
,.lost
of the tribes did not exсeI in
roгsemastership - it was easieг to сatсh and
.raiп a new horse than to сare for a |ame or
s сk anima|. rlglht: Тhe foгmaI styIe of riding of
:nе Spaniards Was soon superseded by the
ndians, aсrobatiс performanсes, as this
вemington engrаving of a raiding party
эttасking a Wagon trаin shows.

27
Not muсh has сhаnged in the way the wi|d and the Indians from the Spaniards, thе
horses are сaptured. Тhis one сouId have been haЬit of mounting thеiт horsеs from thе
са ught а hund red yea rs ago by an ndiаn using
I off-side.
а |ariat rаtherthaп by this modern сowboy at a A triсk whiсtц aссoгding to Cadin, most
round-up in oregon. onсe muсh in demand, young Ьravеs сould do, was to drop down
for they made the best сowponies, the on the off-side of his mount, at full gallop,
mustаngs bred in the wiId untiI their numbeгs his left leg сrookеd ovеr thе horsе's baсk
Were so greаtthattheУ became a nuisanсe and and his right arm tfuough a lеather loop
now their numbегs hаve to be сontroI|ed. brаidеd to thе manе' whilе he shot arrows
over thе Ьaсk or undеr thе neсk. It sounds
until he сould flrst touсh' then sшokе thе more spесtaсular tlran lethal, for the shoot-
animaГ s tnuzz|e and еyes. Soon thе сaptivе ing сould hardlу havе bееn ассuratе еxсept
lost its fеar' or rеаlized thе hoplessness of at point-blank гange. The rider howеver
furthеr resistаnсеi and in two or three was pгotесted bу thе pont's Ьarгеl, and а
hours aftеr сapturе _ aссording to Gеorgе rаiding paгty might be takеn foг а wild hегd
Cadin, аn eye-witness - сould bе led or until it got сlosе enough to attaсk.
riddеn Ьaсk to саmp. In gеneral, Indians were good гiders Ьut
Anothеr method was to сontrol thе bad horsemasteгs, pауing not thе lеast
nеwly-саught mustang with a thin thong attention to lamеnеss or galls so long as an
around its muzzle whiсh, whеn jerkеd, animаl сould still bе riddеn. Whеn a pony
еxertеd сruеl prеssurе on the nosе. Thе foundеrеd, it wаs aЬаndonеd or killed and
Indiаn fust talkеd to thе ponУ, his grunts, еatеn; mustаngs wеrе plеntiful _ another
dееp in thе сhеst, apparently intriguing сould еаsily Ьe сaught. But of the Indians,
and soothing thе tеrrified аnimal. Thеn hе mobility thеre is no douЬt. It was basеd on
passed his hands and a blankеt all over the t}:e rernadа' еaсh Ьrаve on a raid having a
pont's Ьody, punishing anу protest by a numЬеr of sparе poniеs hеrded Ьy Ьoys, so
jerk of the thong. He rеstеd his wеight on that as soon as one was tirеd hе сould
thе pony's baсk, thеn swung a lеg ovеr аnd сhange to anothеr. Thе disadvаntagеd
was mountеd in an instant. pursuing troopеrs had only onе horsе
In admiring thеsе fеats, it is wеll to aplесе.
rеmember thаt it would usuаlly bе thе lag- Thе only tribе notеd for good horsеmas-
gaгd of thе hеrd, not thе best animal, whiсh tership was thе Nеz Peгсёs. In onе of thе
was сaught, and that thе mustang was only lаtеr Indian wars this шibе, led bу its fam-
аbout 13 h.h., while the Indian wаs а ous Chiеf Joseph, rode 2'575 km (1,600
sшapping young warrior. milеs) to еvadе сonvеrging forсеs аnd
Indians rodе on thе whitе man's saddle, esсape into Canada. Thе women, сhildren
on home-mаde imitations of it, on pads and bаggagе averaged 34km (21 milеs) a
fittеd with stirruP-leathегs or Ьare Ьaсk. daу, thе mеn muсh more, Ьеsidеs fighting
Usually they rodе with an almost sшаight 13 bаttlеs аnd skirmishеs. Thеу wеre
1еg, but in raсеs thе boys rodе short, finally Ьrought to Ьay and surrendеrеd
сrouсhеd ovеr the pony's nесk likе a mod- almost within sight of thе Ьordеr.
ern joсkеy. Control was Ьy a rawhidе The first Amеriсan rаnсhеr was а Puri-
thon5 half-hitсhеd round the lowег jaw. tan gеntlemаn named John Pynсhon who'
Thе Spaniards adoptеd fтom the .Nloors, when Cromwеll was Lord Proteсtor. with
28
his сowboys (as thеy wеrе аlrеady сallеd)
drovе a hеrd of fat сatdе fгom his faгm at
Springfiеld
.Wеst
down to Boston for shipment
to thе Indiеs. .\round Springfiеld,
ranсhing tесhniquеs developеd on a small
sсale, and spreаd to thе .сowpens, in sеv-
еrа1 southern statеs. Thе сowboy's fаvouг-
itе tool, or wеapon' was the 4.5m (15ft)
long stoсk-whip withwhiсh hе сould kill a
mаn, throw a steer oг snap the hеad off a
rattlesnakе. ЕIеnсe thе еxprеssion .Gеor-
gia сraсkе1.
.Whеn
thеir mаnifеst dеstiny brought
Ameгiсаns to Texas, thеy found thеre а
differеnt шаdition of rаnсhing, dеvеloped
Ьy фe wealthy Chагros аnd thеiт Мexiсаn
vаquеros. Thеsе people werе riding the
progеny of Coгtеs's horsеs, on saddlеs
whiсh wеrе basiсаlly thosе of thе
mеdiaeval knight with thе pommel
lengthеnеd into а horn for roping. The
сatdе wеrе lean, wilф lеggy Longhorns.
As immigrants floodеd into the wеst аt the
сlosе of thе Civil War, it bесаmе apParent
that thе toughеst Ьеef would find a buyеr if
only it сould be Ьrought to markеt. It was
disсovеrеd, too' that the Longhorn сould
survivе a winter on the prairiе аnd would
Put on weight as it wаs moved ovеr ttrе
plains in spring and suпllner.
Io 1867' а bold еntrеprеnеur built a
сomplеx of stoсkyards on thе rаilway at
AЬilеne to whiсh сattlе сould be drivеn in
grеat hеIds from Texas and then railed east
.сat-
or west to thе сonsumer. So began thе
tle kingdom'. It was ended in the 1880s Ьy
ovеr-pгoduсtion, а slump in priсеs, wirе,
sheep-fаrming' thе farmers themselvеs and
a sцссеssion ofvеry hard wintеrs. But on
t}re sсrееn and in fiсtion it has nеver еnded.
Thе сowЬoys of thе 1860s' apart from
Мехiсan vaquеros' wеrе nеarly аl1 Tех-
аns: indееd thе two tеrms wеrе аlmost
synonymous. Thе ranсhеrs, big and smаll,

grаzеd thеir сatdе on ttrе opеn range; the
сowЬoys hеrdеd them, roundеd them up,
Ьгandеd thеm and dтovе them up the
Chisholm and othеr tгаils to the railhеad.
Although some of thе сowboys must havе
had expеrienсе of еаstеrn сowpens' thеy
сopied thе methods of thе Mеxiсans and
fuттhеrmore thеу adopted the A{еxiсan
saddlе, bridlе, bit, lariаt, riding gear and
voсabulary of horsеmanship.
Sinсе they wеrе sometimеs dеridеd for
putting a $40 sаddle on a $10 horsе, it is
wеll to hаvе a сlosе look аt Ьoth. To begin
with, most of their poniеs wеrе mustangs,
саpturеd wild or Ьгed from саpturеd stoсk.
Despitе its small sizе аnd сommon appеar-
anсе' thе mustang was a vеry good сow-
pony. It had exшaordinary еnduranсe,liv-
iпg just on gгass and a handful of oаts: it
sееmed to bе rеsistant to hеat, сold, hungеr
аnd thiтst, and though it was slow and
gIosslу ovеrloaded for its size, it сould
nevеrthеlеss сovег amazing distаnсes in a
short time. As an example of its ability, onе
puгеbrеd mustаng tlrat raсed against larger
and fastег horses from Gаlvеstoц Tехas,
to Rutland, Vеrmont _ а distanсе of
2,880km (1,800 miles)_ сamе in two
чrееks beforе its nеarеst rival.
Thе mustаng sеemеd to inhегit, oг
dеvelop vеry quiсklу, thе essеntial quality
of .сow-sеnse'; likе a shееpdog, it just
knеw what a сow would do nеxt' so that a
pony with a rider on its baсk сoцld estab-
lish an еxtrаordinаry moгal asсеndanсy
oveг the savage Longhorns, whiсh would
kill a man on foot. Finally the mustang,
oпсе brokеn, was nеarlу alwауs a quiеt
гidе. For an objесtivе witness to this, take
my anсеstor, J. Н. Lеfroy who, whilе sur-
vеying.Westегn Canada in thе 1840s, гode
nothing but mustangs. He said of thеm:
.Though sсarсеly at all brokеn in, thesе
horsеs аrе good-tеmpеrеd, сomplеtеly free
from viсе and muсh morе еasilу managed
than our own.'
No doubt thеre wеre buсkjumpers and
otlrеr hot гidеs аmong thе mustang stoсk,
kеpt by сowboys who rode wеll and likеd to
show off, but thеsе would bе viewеd with
disfavour Ьy йе trail-boss who had no wish
to sеe сatdе.spookеd and starnpеdеd bу a
.Whаt
fiery stеed. was wanted for the long
шail to AЬilene was a Pony whiсh walkеd
or lopеd slowly alongsidе thе herd, hеаd
low, sеeminglу borеd and boring, but
essеntially undramаtiс. As аn indiсаtion of
what was requirеd, thе сowboy songs,
soothing to thе сattlе' wеrе timеd to a
pont's slow walk; they сould not bе sung
in time with a gallop or evеn a tгot. On the
trail еасh сowЬoy had sеvеn suсh ponies _
two for thе mornings, two for the aftеr-
noons, his bеst two for night-work, аnd onе
to сarry him to and from сhapel or thе
saloon on Sundays. Likе thе Indiаn's, his
mobility Was basеd oг,t}re rеmudа systеm)
sparе horsеs Ьеing herdеd аlong Ьy thе
outfid s horse-wrangler.
Poniеs wеге brokеn by сrude and сruеl
mеtlrods. A youngstеr would bе
.forefooted (гopеd round both forefееt) as
hе ran round thе сorrа1, so ttrat hе wаs
brought down wittr suсh violеnсе that thе
stuffing, and somеtimes thе front tееth,
were knoсkеd out of him. Vhilе on thе
gгound he was saddlеd (rolled from sidе to
sidе to tightеn thе сinсh) аnd thеn hе was
mounted. or hе might bе saddled and
mountеd when tied to a post or hеld bу a
strong mаn with a гopе round thе lower
jaw. Onсe mountеd. hе pгoЬably stаrtеd
тнЕ GRoWтH 0F WЕSтЕRN RlD|NG
buсking, and еvery time hе buсkеd hе was
hit on thе nosе witlr a quirt (a shoгt, stout
stiсk with a braided lеаthеr lash). Soon hе
would stop Ьuсking, at whiсh point hе was
deemеd Ьгokеn; and so hе wаs, in evеry
sеnsе of thе woгd, unless the bгonс-Ьustеr
was brokеn fust. If a pony did not rеspond
to thesе mеthods, he wаs turned loosе as an
outlaw, or kept on the гanсh to takе тhе
.miсkеy' out of thе fust strаngег who
сlaimеd hе сould ridе. No further trаining
in thе modern sеnse was сonsidered nесеs-
sary' apart from bеing tаught thе spесialist
.!7hy
triсks of the stoсkhorsе's шadе.
bother? Bronсs werе сheap and еxpend-
аblе, аnd so werе bronс-bustегs.
Thеге wеrе morе sophistiсated mеthods
ofbrеaking praсtisеd Ьy profеssional, itin-
еrant .horsе-tameгs'. In gеnerаl thеsе werе
bаsеd on thе taсdul appliсation of ovег-
whelming forсе, so tlrаt thе horsе lеаrned
pаinlеssly that resistanсe was futile. But
hoгsе-tamеrs wеre expеnsive, and often
resеntеd by сowboys who took pride in
thеir toughnеss and prеfеrred to do things
thе .hаrd waf . onе Tеxanranсhеr dеvisеd
a highly еffiсient mеthod of teaсhing
unbaсked poniеs to walk and trot quiеtly
by tying them to the slowly revolving arms
of a thrеshing-mасhine, thе gentlе forсе of
whiсh was quitе iггesistiЬlе. This systеm
workеd, and produсеd bеttеr hoгses,
quiсkеr than anу orthodox Ьгonс-Ьuster,
but all thе гanсhe1s сowboys, jealous of
thеiг imagе, walked out on him, hаving
Anotheг sсene with a timeless quaIity about it.
In muсh the sаme Way as sheepdogs сan
antiсipate the aсtions of the f|oсk, a good
сowpony wi|| be a rea| paгtner to his rider in
heгding the саtt|e.
 GпOWтH 0t WЕSтЕRN RlD|NG
",-тHЕ

bееn ridiсulеd by other outfits for riding

.maсhine-Ьroken' horsеs.
Thе early .Nlеxiсan аnd Tеxan stoсk-
saddlеs hаd a flаt seat. So did the &1сLе1-
land whiсh was а si:nplifiеd adaptation of
thе stoсk-sаddlе without the roping-horn,
used Ьy thе U.S. сavalry. But gradually thе
stoсk-saddle aсquirеd a sharp slopе from
front to rear whiсh pushеd the ride1s seat
baсk against thе сantle. Thе stirrups werе
slung rathеr fаr forward, so that the stoсk-
man, likе thе knight in аrmour' was braсеd
betwеen stfurups and сantlе. Мodеrn
horsemеn dеprесatе this, but no-onе thеn
rеalizеd thаt for the horsе's сomfoгt аnd
bеst performanсе' the ridе/s wеight must
be dirесdy аbovе thе horse's сеntrе of grav-
ity: othеrwise hе is .unbalanсеd'. To mod-
eгn eyеs' йe сowЬoy sat too far baсk with
his fееt too far forward, but Ье thаt as it
may, thе еarly stoсk-saddle had undеniablе
advantagеs for indiffеrent riders.
.Thе сowboу аn
indiffеrеnt rider!} lDИell,
the avеragе сowboy must have bеen' for
no-one is a Ьorn horsеman, аny morе thаn
а born elесtriсiаn, although somе hаvе thе
physiсal and mеntal attributеs to pгofit
morе from tеасhing and еxpеrienсе than
others. ЕIе must hаvе Ьeеn worse than thе
avеragе сavаlry trooper who had siх
months' riding sсhool trаining Ьehind
him, for it is doubtful if anуonе on а ranсh
had muсh timе to tеасh a new hаnd to ridе.
Еxpеrienсe for thе most part' meant riding
slowly Ьеhind а herd, 16km (10 milеs) a
day, .еаting dust' while bеttеr horsemen
led the way oI rode аlongside thе hеrd to
prеvеnt аnimals straуing. In time most
сowboys probаЬly beсamе good ridеrs _ or
йеy bесamе farmhands or bаr-tеndеrs _
but it would havе takеn timе.
An indiffеrеnt ridеr, аftеr а fеw hours in
thе saddlе, likеs to rеst his асhing bасk
against thе сantle and push his fееt for-
ward. Не feels sаfеr in a dееp sеat, and
from the dееp-seatеd stoсk-saddle' with
.swеlls' to hold thе
thighs in plaсе, it is
аlmost impossible to fаll, providing thе
horsе is rеasonablу wеll Ьehaved. Thе
insесure ridеr likеs to hаvе somеthing to
grab in a сrisis, аnd even thе Ьеst modеrn
pеrformеrs will not hеsitаtе to grаb thе
horn if, for instanсе' a сutting-horsе mаkеs

Our crаdе

$31.85
a shаrp rurn. (It is сеrtainly far Ьеttеr than
jеrking thе rеins.) On a long ride in a flat
saddlе thе bеginnеr slidеs aЬоut, giving his
horsе а sorе bасk] he сould not slidе about
in а stoсk-saddle. Thе stoсk-saddlе is сriti-
сizеd. for standing too far off the horsе,s
baсk, modern equеstriаns liking to sit as
сlose to thе horse аs possiЬlе, but it was
Тhe сowboy,s sаdd|e was designed to be
сomfortab|е on a Iong dаy,s ride, to prevent
inexperienсed rideгs from сausing gа|Is аnd to
make it easierto sita diffiсu|t hoгse suсh asthe
buсking bгonсo (top). His sadd|e Was the
сowboy,s trademагk, and he took partiсU|ar
pride in having the best and most e|аboгate
that he сouId afford (/eff)
madе thаt way so it would fit (ovеr а folded
Ьlаnkеt), horses of almost any sizе or сon-
formation without galling thеiт Ьaсk or
withers.
Bесause of its sizе and wеight, thе
stoсk-sаddle had two сinсhеs, fore and aft,
whiсh hеld it firmly in plaсе. Thеsе werе
mаdе of horsеhair or lamp-wiсk, whiсh
would not gа11 thе Ьеlly. To takе thе ter-
rifflс strain of roping, Ameriсаns improvеd
thе .N{еxiсan sаddlе Ьу a fork and horn of
tеmpered steel. But thе great and outstand-
ing virtuе of the stoсk-saddlе wаs that it
and its ridе1s weight' werе distributеd Ьy
the skirts ovеr two or three timеs thе rib-
аrеа сoverеd Ьy thе eastеrn hunting-
saddlе. Thus, dеspite its wеight, it wаs vеry
 IHt tiHUW IH U|- Wts tEftN п|DINLi

еаsy on thе hoгsе for long гides. Thrее

eхаmplеs out of hundrеds mаy bе quotеd to
еmphаsizе this. A сonstable of thе
North-wеst -N4.ountеd Poliсе, on a 19kg
(42 lЬs) stoсk-saddlе rodе ftom Rеgina to
wood,lvtountаin Post, 209 km (132 miles)
iп daylight wittrout сhanging horses. Мost
of thе сowЬoys аnd Mountеd Poliсе сonst-
аЬles moving bеtwееn Fort .Nlaсlеod and
Cаlgary сovered this distanсе' 173 km
(108 mitеs) in a daу. Kit Cаrson and a party
of thтее Мexiсan gentlеmen rodе from Los
.\ngеlеs to San Frаnсisсo, 960km (600
milg5)' in six days without сhanging
hoгsеs. Outlаw gangs suсh as thе RoЬbеrs'
Roost тhought nothing of сovеring еven
longer distanсes, although theу had sparе
hoгses stationed along their esсape-route.
Thе сowboy sеldom gallopеd, еxсеpt for
fuп, oг to hеаd baсk сonшarу steеrs oг get
round a stаmpеding hеrd. On long dis-
tаnсеs hе walkеd, trottеd аnd саntеred in
tuгn. His sеat at thе сantеr, feеt slightly fгom a vеteran ranсhеr bеars witness to among them thе сavalry troopeгs, Texаs
foгward, leaning slightlу baсk, was сom- this: .If wе werе сutting yеarlings out of a Rаngеrs and oйer law enforсemеnt
forвblе and rеlaxеd for him, if not еntirеlу mixed hеrф all I had to do was to show old offiсеrs, huntеrs, trappeгs' minеrs, pros-
so foг his horsе. Sinсе his stirrups Werе' to Harvеy thе fust onе. Aftеr we hаd brought pесtoгs, homеstеаdеrs and livеry stablе
modеrn еyеs, slung too far forward, in it out, Old Harvey would go bасk and bring keepеrs. But all гodе, and all in Wеstern
ordеI to risе at thе trot' he had to balanсе out all thе othеrs, one by one'. Down on stylе, with \UИеstеrn tасk, and wеrе part of
himsеlf by tfuusting his Ьuttoсks Ьaсk rесord is аnotlrеr сutting-horse сallеd Red thе liИеstern шadition. Мost famous were
аgainst thе сantle and raking his body wеll Bird, who, on his ridе1s ordеrs, workеd a the Pony Еxpress ridеrs ofthе еarlу 1860s.
foгward _ аn ugly sеat. Somе horsеs were jасk-гabЬit out of a hеrd of сatde. A good The ridеrs wеre .young, skinny, wiry fеl-
tаught to amblе, whiсh was a vеry сomfort- сutting-horsе had only to bе shown thе lows, not ovеr 18, willing to risk death
аblе gait for the гider аnd populаr among wanted animal, and would then do thе job dаily'. And on joining thеy hаd to swеar
ttrosе ofriper years, Ьut a tiring one for the himsеlf, еvеn without а bridlе. not to gеt drunk, usе profanе languagе'
hoгse. on thе rаrе oссasions on whiсh hе I саnnot disсovеr if the stoсk-horsеs of ill-trеat animals or do anything inсompati-
was сompelled to jump _ pеrhaps ovеr а фe old west weге usually shod. Cаvalry blе with bеing a gеntlеman. Thе horsеs
dеadfall tгаp, or up a bank _ thе roping- horsеs, bеing largеr, сеrtainly wеrе; Indian wеrе sеlесted for spееd and enduranсе, and
hoгn prevеntеd him leaning forward, sinсе ponies, mustangs with iron-hard hoovеs' bought at high priсes. Although stoсk-
any attеmpt to do so would drivе it into his wеrе not. I havе found oссаsional rеfer- saddlеs sеem to havе bеen usеd (thе lightеr
midliff, or worse! At thаt timе eastern rid- еnсеs to forges on ranсhes, but nonе to &IсLellаnd might hаvе bееn better) evеry-
eгs аlso lеаnеd baсk' and not forwaгd, for a mobilе forgеs or anvils шаvеlling with thе thing еlse was donе to сut down wеight.
iump, under the imprеssion that thеy wеre сhuсk-wagon. I am inсlined to think that The Еxprеss avеragеd аt 15 km (9 milеs)
hеlping by lightеning the horsе's thе boss's bеttеr horsеs might have Ьeеn
forеhаnd. shod to work at homе, but on thе trаi.l thе Аbove The famous Pony Еxpress rideгs had
Gеnеrally using a sеvеrе сurb or spadе- сowboys rodе unshod horsеs. A list of all to brave human predators as well as animals
Ьit, thе сowboy rodе with a loosе rеin аnd thе аrtiсlеs a well-еquippеd ridеr should аnd the eIements, pгoviding a rеmaгkаb|e
madе no attеmpt at сolleсtion. Any pull on саrry on а long journеy at the еnd ofthе lаst postaI seгvice before the advent of rai|waуs.
thе геin would probаЬly bе rеwardеd by thе сentury did not inсlude sparе shoеs, nails Below Аmeriсa,s rodeo sports originаted in
hoгsе rеaring out of shееr pain or giving or tools for сold-shoeing. Ioсa| сompetitions he|d to amuse сowboУs
thе ridеr a bloody nosе. Besidеs, a hoгse Of сoursе thеrе wеrе plеnty of $Иеstеrn and prove their prowess when the daу,s work
гiddеn on а loosе rеin ovеr rough ground, ridеrs who nеvеr worked with сattlе' was done: steer wrest|ing is alwаys popu|ar.
lеft to piсk his own way, is less likеly to
stцmЬlе than one on a tight rеin. The
еvаngelist, John Wesley, who rodе vеry
long distanсеs' always Ьought stumblеrs
Ьесause he сould get them сhеap; thеn he
гodе with a loosе rеin, rеаding thе BiЬlе as
he went. Within a fеw weeks theу сеasеd to
stumЬlе, аnd hе sold thеm for a good priсе
- profit аnd piеty сombinеd. An old-timе
westегn horsewoman told mе that with а
loosе rеin shе hаs ridden aсross ground
сrawling with rattlеsnakеs and her horsе,
lеft to himsеlf, kept out of шoublе. A1l
westеm horsеs wеrе taught to nесk-rein.
Although no attеmpt wаs madе to supplе
and sсhool a horsе in thе modеrn sense, hе
had of сoursе to bе tаught his шadе _ thаt of
геmaining сalm and stеady undеr a whirl-
ing lariat, and braсing himself bасk against
thе pull of а ropеd stееr. Thе star turn of
any ranсh was the good сutting-horse. As
we havе sееn mustаngs wегe partiсulаrly
good bесausе of theiг .сow-sеnsе', and
somе wеre еxtraordinаrily еxpеrt. A quote
тHЕ GR0WтH 0F WЕsтЕRN вlD|NG
an hour ovег 40km (25 milе) stаgеs, with
two minutеs for сhanging horsеs. A гidе1s
round-шip of 11G-l60km (70_100 milеs)
was сoverеd twiсе a wееk. At every
sвging-post weге the best of oats, stablеs,
Ьеdding аnd ostlеrs. It wаs all vеry ехpеn-
sivе, and evеntually it bесame priсеd out of
businеss.
lD7ith the dесlinе of thе саttle kiпgdom
and frеe rangе' ranсhing сonditions
alteгеd. The long trail was а thing of thе
past; muсh of a сowboy's work сonsistеd of
riding along grеat lеngфs of fеnсе-linе
looking for, and rеpairing, bгеаks. Fewer
hoгsеs wеrе needеd, and it beсame morе
сonvеniеnt to have sometlring fаstеr than a
13.2 h.h. pony. &Ioгe emphasis began to Ьe
plaсеd on plеasurе-riding, and саsuаl сon-
tests betweеn сowboys for fun and а few
dollars, dеvelopеd into thе highlу
organized rodeo industry, with full-timе
profеssionals сompеting for Ьig monеу
pгizes. Lаter still, tlre intеrnal сombustion
еngine put many ranсh-horsеs out ofbusi-
ness. A1l this rеsulted in thе gradual
phasing-out, oг brееding-up, of thе mus-
tang by imported Arabs, Мorgаns,
Quаrtеr-horsеs and Thoroughbreds. Thе
stoсk-hoгsе improved еnormously in size,
rеspond favourably to thе rugged mеthods
of the old-time bronс-bustеr. Bеsidеs, thеy
сould no longer Ьe Ьought for $l0 nor bе
hired foг $5 a horsе. So moгe time, pati-
еnсе аnd skill Ьеgan to bе dеvotеd to train-
ing thе stoсk-horsе. ЕIowеver, this was not
entirеlу аn innovation. Texans taking сat-
.!DИеst
dе to thе Coast a сеntцry ago wеге
astonished at what сould Ьe aсhiеved with
time by the Californian hасkаmore
еxpеrts. It is сlaimеd that their mеthods
wеre usеd by the сonquistadores, who
leаrned them from thе Мoors, аnd pеr-
feсtеd Ьy сhаrros who had Ьeen liquidatеd
in Меxiсan revolutions but survivеd in
Californiа. Patiеnсе and gentleness wеrе
thе kеynotеs of haсkamoге training.
Thе haсkamoгe is a Ьitless Ьridle whiсh
aсts on the nose, not thе moutlr. It is
shapеd rаthеr likе thе fгamе of an old-
fаshionеd tennis raсkеt; widе and roundеd
at the end whiсh еnсirсlеs the horsе's nose,
and pointеd at thе end whiсh liеs bеhind
thе сhin-groovе. The rear-end is weightеd
Ьy a healry rawhide knot whiсh aсts as a
сountеrwеight to hold the noseband сlear
of thе nosе whеn thе геins arе loose: as thе
reins arе tightеned, pгеssurе is appliеd to
thе tendеr skin аbovе the nosшils. The
rеins arе attасhеd' togеthеr' just in front of
,What
thе knot. аppеаrs in piсtures to bе a
thiлd rеin is aсtually a tiе-ropе, сoilеd on
the saddle. The horse is stopped by pres-
surе on the nosе and stееrеd Ьy nесk-
гeining, with no help fгom thе ridet's lеgs.
Aftеr аЬout ten months, thе brеaking
hасkamorе is rеplaсеd by a muсh lightеr
modеl known as a two.геin Ьosal and a bit.
Thе rider holds all four геins in one hand.
The hасkamore is a bitless bridleWhiсh aсts by
putting pressure on the horse's nose. lt has
а|wаys been a populаr bit foг Western riding;
this one is of а different design to thаt
desсribed above but aсts in the sаme WаУ.
A modeгn Western sаddle. The seat is a little
|ess deep, and the rider сan now sit more
near|y oveг the horse,s сentre of grаvity.
spееd аnd аppеaгanсе' though some would
still сlаim that no .improved stoсk-horsе
саn touсh thе mustang for .сow-sеnsе' аnd
еnduranсе.
Thе old stoсk-saddlе was altеrеd by
sloping thе horn forward, (making it less of
ahazard to ttre ridеis masсulinity), levеl-
ling the seat and bringing Ьaсk тhе stirrups
so аs to makе possiblе а balanсеd seat over
the horsds сеntre of gravity. (Not all mod-
еrn saddlеs have bеen so improvеd.) &1i1d-
еr bits thаn the spadе-bit or riпg-bit weге
.lDtrеstеrn
found to be perfесtly suitablе foг
horsеs. Snaffles, Pеlhams, thе hаlf-brееd
whiсh is a modified spade, the сufting-Ьit
whiсh is а mild сurb with swеpt-bасk
сhеефiесеs, еvеn thе !Иеymouth double.
Ьridlе all сame into use. The ring-bit is
now rarеly sееn north of thе &Iexiсаn Ьor-
dег, but some spade-bit enфusiasts still
maintain that whаt сould Ьe an instrumеnt
of toгtuгe with rough hаnds, is a pеrfесt
insrument for thе painlеss аnd sеnsitive
сontrol ofа horsе when used Ьy an еxpеrt.
Laгger, hot-bloodеd horsеs would not
 ТHЕ GROWТH 0F WESTEпN п|D|NG

тrtз йе bit-rеirrs very loosе, so that thе it was dеvеloped for prасtiсal reasons. The night, and protесtеd thе lеgs against thе
iогsе Ь still riddеn bу nosе-pтеssurе, ninеtеenth-сеnrury сowboу worе а widе- ftiсtion of long distanсе riding, as wеll as
":pЦеd norт Ьу thе Ьosal. After anothеr bгimmed hat with a muсh flattег сrown tttorns' kiсks, snakе-bitеs and rain. Thе
1езт thе bosаl is rеplасеd bу an еvеn lighter than thе modеrn Stеtson. This shеltеrеd spurs had huge rowеls, more humanе thаn
=.,пlе1.
rгithout nosе-prеssuге rеins, and him from sun and rain, proteсted his hеad priсk-spurs, making a distinсtivе сlink
--:е horse is now гidden on the bit. and faсе whеn hе forсеd his way _ head whiсh a hoгsеwould rесognizе as his mas-
.ГЪтoughout
thе horsе's сarееr howеver, down _ thтough thoгn-sсruЬ, and sеrved as tеr сame to сatсh him at night'
-.зе Cаlifornian гings thе сhanges Ьеtweеn a pillow аt night. A largе silk or сotton Thе lariat was used for roping сattlе' for
-l.lsаl аnd Ьit, for if kеpt too long on еithеr, squarе' knоttеd l,oosely round thе nесk, tying bеtwееn trees to mаkе a tеmporary
а hоr- Ьесomеs hеavy on thе hand oг wаs sweat-rag' bаndage, watеr-filtег, сorral, for sшinging up hoгsе-tlriеvеs and
:зг-l-mouthеd. Traditionallу the Califor- dust-mask and mosquito-nеt. A flannel аny number of othег purposes. It was usu-
:Эn usеs йе spadе-bit. Thе сharros, shirt, with сlosе-fitting сuffs' wаs as warm' ally mаdе of rawhide or сotton or, somе-
-.еmsеlvеs Ьoгn with silvеr spoons in thеir yеt less swеaty and сonstriсtive than a jaс- timеs, plaitеd horsеhаir. Thе last wеrе vеrу
:lоuths, bеlievеd that their horses too prе- kеt. In wintеr a shееpskin сoat might be еxpеnsivе, but did not kink and wеre
:еrтеd silvег and gold to stеel, and used Ьits nесеssaгy. Thе сowboy' s tlousеrs wеrе not bеliеvеd Ьy Мexiсan vaquеros to havе the
-"de of thеsе prесious mеtаls. Now skin-tight аs seen on .Glorious Tесh- invaluаЬlе propеrty, whеn laid round thе
sраdе-Ьits wiй a сopper inlаy are usеd to niсoloi, Ьut loosе, tuсked into boots with bed ro11, of kееping off rattlеsnаkеs. Мost
-:т-е йе samе purposе. high hееls, whiсh сould bе dug into thе сowboys worе a gun аs a bаdgе of thеir
ТLrе spadе-Ьit, with its vеry high port, ground to help hold a roped stееr and profеssion аnd to despatсh a horse or a сow
*..r оn thе тoof as wеll as on thе Ьars of thе would not slip thгough thе widе woodеn with a brokеn lеg. Conшary to аnothеr
alauth. so with a rеаlly good ridеr thе horsе stirrup. Leather сhaps gave a good gтip on great шаdition _ most were vеry Ьad shots;
:s iеpt сoгrесtlу bеnt Ьy thеse two oppos- thе saddlе, wеre usеd as a groundshеet at praсtlсе aInmunrtlon was expenslve.
:тg. Ьuт vеry light, Plessurеs. Thе port is
епеn fiгtеd with сopper rollеrs or.сriсkets,
..эпluсir'е to а horsе's сontеntmеnt sinсе
;е саn plаy with thеm аs he goеs along,
.зd is еnсouragеd to hold the bit, without
;atл. in ttrе сorrесt position. Thе noisе of
.-:е сгiсket is а familiar fеaturе
of spаdе-bit
:"l.дntlJ-. Тhе horse is riddеn on thе vеry
-:фrеst гeins,
of сontrolled not so muсh by
::.е ironmongery in his mouth, as Ьy
:еspесt foг ttre rеins impartеd Ьy his early
on thе haсkamorе. This is provеd
=а:л]ng .Western
--1 thе Ьan, in riding-hoгsе сom-
;еridons, of any form of noseЬand, еvеn
.ЪulЦgh no rеins Ьe attaсhed
to it.
.\tаnv Vesterners Ьeliеvе thаt the haсk-
.-oге is a Californian affесtation, аnd that
:. sрadе's a spadе, an instrumеnt of torturе
-- аlу hands. ЕIaсkamorе spadе-Ьit riding
:егтaiтrlу геmains a spесializеd form of
Ц еstегn hoгsеmanship' praсtised сhieflу
;r Cаlifoгnia. Мost .Wеstеrn horsеs now
irге а prеliminary training - although
. :Ьj есt to ttrе idiosуnсraсies of individuаl
_ vеry muсh likе that of huntеrs,
=аЬеrs
-;сks. show-jumpеrs, polo-poniеs and
That is to say' thеy аrе
егепт-horsеs.
1ong-reined' baсkеd, ridden first in
...::.ged,
snаfflе and sсhoolеd for months to render
:.
tеm obеdient, supplе and balanсеd at all
3асеs' Only then are thеу сonsidеrеd fit for
s3сiаlйed шaining in roping, сutting,
-.,аrтеl-гaсiтrg or any oфеr work on the
=псh or at фe rodeo. Thе end-pгoduсt is a
:аг bепеr horse for modеrn puгposеs, and
..lе йаt is plеаsantеr to ride, than thе mus-
:апg Ьгoken bу a Ьronс-bustеr in half an
:ou.r. But it is not neсеssarily more
еfr'сiеnt for the purposes of а сowboy а
;еnп.rry ago' and it is сеrtainly a lot moгe
еsI]еnslve.
.\ dеsсгiption of Wеstеrn horsеmаnship
т"luld Ье inсomplеtе without mеntion of
=е distinсtivе гiding сlothеs of the wеst,
-.iаt аrе so diffегеnt from thе brеесhеs and
],а:тow boots of flat-saddlе гidеrs. ID(/'hat-
етег its pгеsent puгpose (and thеre may
зотт bе аn еlemеnt offanсу-drеss involvеd)
_-з
сowboy,s dгess and equipmeпtevoIved as
:.: most oraсtiсal and сomfoгtab|e for the
rц'э* he had to do, fгom proteсtive |eg сhаps to
- s пeсkerсhief and wide-brimmed hаt.

зз
 sf;

t

'тiHЕpurе Aгabian horsе is thе oldеst
l brееd in thе world. In its сlosе
assoсiаtion with the people of lands whеrе
it was found, it sharеd and hеlpеd to shapе
thеir history, as wеll as thе mannеr of their
lives.
Thе bеauty of thе AraЬian has Ьeen thе
inspiration of artists from timе immеmori-
аl; his асhiеvеmеnts in war, аnd his endur-
anсе in thе sеrviсe of his masters havе
bесome lеgends handed down from gеnеr.
ation to gеnеration; warriors and сhiefs
havе bееn rеmеmЬеrеd bесause of thе
fаme of thеir horsеs.
Yet perhaps it is unfortunate that it is
legеndary beauty аnd speed that hаve so
long bеen assoсiаtеd with the AraЬ, rathеr
thаn thе qualitiеs whiсh hе hаs шаnsmit-
tеd and whiсh provе his шuе valuе as a
horse _ staminа, hеrеditary soundnеss,
intelligеnсе and pеrfесt tеmpеramеnt
based on his uniquе lovе of human сom-
panionship.
Finе аs these сharaсtеristiсs аrе, thеre
is, fтom thе breеdеr's point of viеw' a still
grеater valuе in thе AraЬ. Ladу !Иеntworth
sums it up in thеse words .Thе Arab is thе
з6
oldеst blood stoсk of аl1. It is a Tap Root,
not а dеrivation from anуttring еlse at all. It
hаs the gift, possеssеd alonе by truе root
in Ьrееding
stoсk, of aЬsolutе dominanсe
аnd unrivallеd poweг of impressing its
own сharaсtеr on anу otheг brеed witlr
irrеsistiЬlе forсе. Thе AraЬ is the сhiеf and
noblest origin of our national raсehorsе, of
thе bеstbreeds of NorthAfriсa, and of light
brееds all over thе world.'
In this sесtion а number of thе more
important brеeds that have bееn
influеnсed signifiсandy by thе Arab, or
whiсh arе dеrived from Arabian blood, are
eхaminеd.
In India, for сenturies past, thе horse has
sеrvеd as a Ьeast of burden; sharing this
task with the bulloсk аnd the Ьuffаlo. Thе
only transport for peasants in thе сoun.
шysidе was а whеelеd vehiсlе. ЕIеаvy сarts
werе drawn Ьy Ьulloсks, and somеtimеs
wаter.buffaloеs. Thе smаll two-whеelеd
.a
ekkа (tneanjng litеrallу vehiсlе for onе',
although usually paсkеd with three or four
passеngеrs) was thе only othеr mеаns of
transport. Lаtеr сamе t}j.e bund-ghаri, a
four-seatеd сovеrеd box drawn Ьу two
ponlеs.
The poniеs used in thеsе vеhiсlеs wеrе
of mixed anсеstry. In appearanсе they wеre
smаll, from 12 to 14h.h.' thin and weеdy,
with аll the atшibutes of poor fееding and
overwork _ yеt their grеаtеst attribute was
thеir aЬility to eхist and work undеr сondi-
tions whiсh no oтher Ьrееd of horsе сould
hаvе survivеd. Their generiс name was
.Counry-bred', a tеrm whiсh nеeds somе
explanation.
Thе only indigеnous brееds found in
thе Noгthеrn Pгovinсеs of India are the
Bhutiа pony, the Spiti and thе I(abuli - all
hill-poniеs of obvious Mongoliаn origin.
In thе r0fеstern Provinсеs more refinеd
typеs еxistеd _ thе Маnipuri, I(athiawari,
and Мarwari - traditionallу said to bе
dеsсendеd from a shipload of Arabians
wrесked on thе wеst сoast.
Thе earliеst reсordеd datе of thе сoming
of thе Arabian into Indiа is about 1290.
Маrсo Polo writing of his trаvеls sауs: .It is
from this Port of Adеn that the mеrсhants
obtаin purе AraЬian desшiеrs of whiсh
thеy makе suсh grеat profit in India, for
yoц mrrst know that thеy sеll in India а
good manу horsеs for 100 maгks of silvеr or
more'.
Anothеr quotе from this travellег, writ-
ing in 1292 of his visit to a port in the
southеrn Provinсe of Маdras, states, .It is
said at this сity thе ships touсh that сomе
from thе ]0rеst as from Hormuz and from
I{is [an island in thе Persian Gulf] and
from Adеn and all Arabia lаdеn with
horses аnd with othеr things for sale'. In
1350 Indian history reсords that thе Raj-
put, Sultan Allah-ud-Din, distributed 500
Arab horses as gifts on his son's marriаgе.
The Мoghul rulеrs who brought with
thеm tlrе Persian tradition of owning
hoгsеs of bеаuty as wеll аs sizе wеrе the
first to import Arabian sires with thе aim of
improving the Indian brееds. Thе
Еmperor Akhbаr did so and his suссеssors
сontinцеd his poliсy for two сenturiеs.
Еarlу rniniaturеs and paintings, likе that of
thе Еmperor Shаh Jеhan (1628) riding an
Arаbian ofpеrfесtion, portray thе typе thеy
brought to India.
Arabians of varying quality аnd origin
сontinuеd to be impoгted rеgularly from

J[:аn. Iгaq and thе Pегsian Gulf until latе
.: тo thе ninеtееnth сenп'rry.
Sevеral of tlre
Pгinсеlу Stаtеs had thеir own studs
, frough lеss аttеntion wаs pаid to pedi-
;:е s than to spееd and looks. By gradual
.-iilшаtion over this vаst сontinеnt, thе
-1гаЬiап sprеad its dorninanсe. Thus the
C^.unry-bгеd wаs еvolvеd and is now thе
:тееd most сommon in India.
^\11 qvpеs show Arab сharaсteristiсs in а
:еfiлеmеnt of hеаd аnd silky manes and
;.rагs. Thеy аrе notеd for their еnduranсе,
s;те-footednеss on rough going' and abil-
:3 to exist on a sparse diet. Thе Country-
::еds quаlities arе said to inсlude .an
_.]сеrtаin tеmpe1. This is not true of all
СцrunЩ.brеds, but when onе сonsidеrs
thаt thеy have еndurеd gеnеrations of star-
vation аnd mis-handling; hаvе livеd in
сonditions that no othеr brеed of horsе
сould survivе; havе undeгtaken tasks that
roЬЬеd them of their vigour, and litеrally
havе Ьееn еxpесtеd to .work till thеy drop.
pеd , it is not altogethеr surprising that
although thеy servе man) thеy do not.trцst
his hand'.
Thе Countгy-brеd rangеs in appеаrаnсе
аnd sizе from the Ьedragglеd 7ittJe tutoo,
somеtimеs no morе than 12h.h. to the
agilе, сompасt 14 to 15h.h. polo pony,
raсеr, сaгriagе-horse, сIoss-сountry hunt-
еr, and the mounts for the army and poliсе.
In I9o2' thе British Govеrnmеnt,
obsеrving a сertain dеterioration in thе
lNFLUENсЕ 0F тHЕ ARAB|AN
€я €
oppofite An Еgyptian Arab disp|aying the
typiсa| сharaсteristiсs of the breed in his neat
ears, widely spасed eyes, taperiпg muzzIe, and
aristoсгаtiс heаd.
Аbove Arаb mares and foаls аtthe stabIes of
the Emir in Bahrain on the Persian Gulf. Arabs
are bred all over the world as well as in their
original native desert lands.
Country-Ьred following thе importation of
thе big Australian Wаlers and Еnglish
саrriаge-horsеs, еstablishеd a stцd in
Ahmednagar, аdministеrеd bу the Army
Rеmount Dеpartment. Its аim was to pro-
vidе thе seгviсеs of good Arabiаn and
Thoroughbrеd stallions frее to Ьгееdегs
and thus improve thе сountry-Ьred stoсk.
з7

This wеll-run organization is still сaгriеd
on, and a similаr stud has bееn еstаblishеd
in rесеnt yеaгs аt Sаharanpur in thе Рro-
vinсe of Uttar Pгadеsh in Northеrn India.
On the opposite side of the world, in
Poland, фе Arabian influenсе is еvеn
morе pronounсеd.
As a hoгse-breeding nation Polаnd is
aсtually seсond to nonе, and in its agri-
сцltцral еnvironmеnt' the horse has for
сеnturiеs played an importаnt part in thе
lives of its peoplе. The Poles havе bееn
most suссessful in brееding horsеs for
speсifiс purposеs; foг thе army, for agriсul-
ture, for raсing' for work in harnеss, and,
morе rесеndy, for hunting and interna-
tional еquеstrian еvеnts.
Thеsе spесialйed breеds aге, in
mаin' basеd on Aгаbian blood, for
importation of oriеntаl hoгsеs has a long
history in Poland, аnd somе of tlrе most
fаmous studs in Еurope ехistеd in
сountry Ьеfoге the First World Var. The
сatastrophе of war dеstroyed thе valuablе
lеgaсy of t}re yеаrs, but thе stoсk, although
dеplеted, was restorеd gгadually through
thе initiativе of Polish brееders. Thе Sес-
ond \DИorld .Wаr again dеvastated
horsе-brеeding сentfеs in Polаnф but foг-
tunatеly by this time rеprеsеntativеs of
Polish-bгed stoсk had bееn exportеd, and
thus survivеd in many oфеr сountries.
The lUИielkopolski is a сomparativеly
nеw typе whiсh is rapidly growing in
favour. It is a mixruгe of Arab,
ThoгoughЬгеd and Trakеhnеr bloodlinеs
аnd is a horsе with a finе outlook. Standing
about 15.2h.h., it looks like a wеll-Ьгed
huntег and is а most useful and versatilе
individual of whiсh Poland is justly pгoud.
Geгmany (both Еast аnd \0Иеst) hаs a
long tradition ofhorsе-breeding and lDИеst
Germany today is notable for thе advanсеs
madе in produсing high-quаlity сompеti-
tive horsеs. Forеmost among thеse is the
ЕIаnovеrian thаt is desсended from thе
Germаn Grеat ЕIorsе of thе lvtiddle Ages _
фe war-horse who сaгriеd thе hеavilу
aгmouгеd knights into bаttlе.
The modеrn ЕIanovеrian owеs its
greatеr геfinement to the introduсtion of
Еnglish Thoгoughbrеd blood bеtweеn thе
з8
Аbove PoIаnd is а great breeding nation _
and expoгts Arаbs |ike these on a stud in the
Ameriсan state of oregon.
Below Lipizzаneгs maУ сome in other
сo|ouгs, but the white is the сo|ouг most
favouгed. This and the horse,s nob|e beaгing
both show its pагt Arab origins.
Below right Тhe Moгgаn breed wаs
established in one generation, in
Mаssaсhusetts atthe end ofthe 18th сentury.
Now it is a popu|ar breed, retаining the Arаb
сharасteristiсs it has inheгited.
Below far гight Тhe Akha|-Tekё, Iike the Arаb
fгom whiсh it desсends, is а smаIlish horse of
greаt staminа.
yeаrs 1714 and 1837. The Наnovеriаn
the king, Gеorgе I, and his suссessors took a
thе natural interest in tlrе horsеs bred in their
own сountry of ЕIanover and sent ovег
mаny good Thoroughbгeds to impгovе тtre
thе
thе
stoсk thеre. Thе Еnglish Thoroughbrеd of
this pеriod was thе сlosе dеsсendant of thе
foundation Arаbian sirеs - thе Dаrlеy Ara-
biаn, thе Godolphin Arabian and thе Byer-
leу Turk.
The Hanoverian Stud Book says that
.thе oЬjесt of thе brееdегs is to produсе
strong half-brеds of high quality, thе
lighter speсimens of whiсh will makе
sturdy riding horses; and thе hеavy onеs
fairly sшong сoaсh hoгses'. This aim has
beеn асhievеd in all rеspесts. Thе State
Stud at Celle, foundеd in 1735' is still the
offiсial сentrе of this brеed.
Almost as popular is thе Tгakеhnеr' or
Еast Prussian hoгsе, onе of thе most suс-
сеssful of the Еuropean breeds in every
spherе of aсtivity. It desсеnds from а сross
basеd on thе Smudish horsеs of Lithuaniа,
and infusions of Arаb and Thoroughbrеd
blood. Thе Smudish horsе was a bгееd of
anсiеnt origin held in еsteem in thе Baltiс
Statеs, vаrуing in height fгom 13 to 15 h.h.
Thе Trаkеhnеn Stud in Еast Prussia
wаs foundеd Ьy WilliamI of Prussia in
|732'He gаvе tlrе land аnd the foundаtion
stoсk to thе Impеriаl Govеmmеnt, and
suppliеd the Stud with high-сlass AraЬiаn
stallions importеd from Poland, аnd from
his owп Royal Stud аt \Orurtemburg.
Thoroughbrеd sirеs weгe introduсed at a
latеr date, аnd the inсreasе in height сom-
bined with quality and good сonformation,
widened thе sсope of the usеs to whiсh
thesе horsеs сould bе pцt, ttrus adding
greatly to thеir popularity. Thе Trakehnen
Stud still stands as the сеntrе of thе famous
bгeed whiсh it oгiginated.
One of thе bеst-known horsеs in thе
world and almost as romаntiс аs thе Arа-
biаn is t}re Lipizzanеr. The noblе white
stаllions аrе woгld famous for their dis-
plays at the Spanish Riding Sсhool in
Viеnnа, Austгia, Ьut Lipizzaners arе also

Ъгеd elsеwhеre in Еuropе, notaЬly in
\.ugoslаvia, Czесhoslovakia and Hungary.
TЪе bгееd originally сame ftom thе
I-jpizza Stud, nеаг Triеstе, foundеd in
1580 bу thе Arсhdukе Chaгles, son of the
Еmpеroг Ferdinаnd I. Thе brеed, bеsides
Ьеing used for riding, makes exсellent
Ьдrпеss hoгsеs and is mцсh in demаnd for
сеrеmonial oссаsions. Thе original stoсk
таs foundеd on a mixturе of strains _ notа-
Ьlу the Austiаn I(ladruber, Spanish Jen-
пеL аnd Aтabian, аnd the type was fixеd by
саrеful Ьгееding, in studs spесifiсаlly
dеvotеd to the preservation and improve-
mепt of the brеed. Count Еstегhazу had
suсh а srud at Tаtа and it сontаinеd stoсk
rom фе Impеrial Stud wеll as
at ID7еil, as
.\гаb Shagyа stoсk from Babolna, in Hun-
girrг.
ТЪe Liplzzanеr is а very handsome
hoгsе of сompасt build, stаnding not abovе
].5 h.Ь. Hе doеs not havе thе long, elеgant
пrесk of тhe Aгabiаn, but сompensatеs with
glеndid legs and good bonе. The heаd is
s.ml,I and сonvex in outlinе, with largе,
веll-sеt еyes. Bays and browns arе found
дmoпg thеm and tаkе thеir part in thе dтеs-
sзgе gтoups, but thе white is most favourеd
es Ьеing typiсal of thе bгееd and is pегhaps
фе bеst indiсation of the Arabiаn blood in
frеir anсеstгy. If аny furtheг proof wеrе
пееded of its lеgaсy of AraЬian anсestry' it
вould surеly bе thе mobility of сarriagе,
соmЬinеd with its intеlligent гesPonses to
фе most eхaсt шaining.
Thе Hungarian Shagyas, instrumental
:д тhе development of thе Lipizzanеr' аrе
bгеd at thе Hungarian Statе Stud at Bаbol-
лд. Тhеir anсеstry goes baсk to the anсiеnt
Ьilасk brеeds of Hungary and Transyl-
гаnЬ' whiсh were renowned for their
цlееd, сourage and еnduгanсе аnd had
тhеir origins in thе small-heаdеd Tarpаn.
In thе aftеrmath of Tuгkish invasions,
from about 1526 to 1720, horsеs of oriеn-
tal Ьlood еntеrеd thе сountгy, and from
thеn on thе horsе-brееding industry
bесamе a sеrious сonсеrn of thе State. Thе
Government Мilitary Stud of Mezёhеgyеs
was еstablishеd in 1784 and that of
BaЬolna in 1789, the latter bесoming thе
сеntrе foг thе Ьгеeding of Arabians.
The Shagya tаkеs its nаmе from an
.original full-blood Arabian' purсhasеd in
1836 from а Bеdouin шibе. The dеsсеn-
dants of this hoгsе, brеd to сaгеfully
sеlесted marеs' havе founded аn .Arabian
raсe' of paгt-bгeds. Thеy are part-brеds
who, foг a сeпtury or morе, havе bееn
matеd with purе, oг paгt-Ьrеd, Aгabians but
whose pеdigтеes also indiсate ЕIungаrian,
Tгansylvаniаn and Spanish Ьlood.
Thе Shagya is an attraсtivе horsе, stand-
ing about 1 5 h.h., and of marked Arab typе,
mostly grеy in сolour. Thеy arе vеry haгdy
and are beautiful movers, provеd еquаlly
good in hаrnеss oг undеr saddlе. Thеy arе
usеd widely in Hungary and еxportеd all
over thе world.
Thе USSR, as might bе imaginеd fгom
thе vast еxtеnt of thе teгritories involved,
hаs thе gтеatest numbеr of hoгsе and pony
brеeds in thе world _ most of them owing
somеthing' in somе instanсеs а very gгeаt
deal, to thе Arabian horse.
Two vеry notаblе Russiаn Ьгeеds arе the
goldеn Akhal-Tekё, a saddle horsе ofgrеаt
еnduгanсе, аnd thе Oгlov Tгotter.
Thе Akhal-Tеk6 dеrivеs from thе сгoss-
ing of Arab and Tuгkoman, or other Cеn-
tral Asian bгееds. It has a refined hеad and
nесk аnd a short, lеvеl baсk. Rаthеr lасk-
ing in dеpth but with good bonе and
aсtion, it stаnds L4'2 to 15 h.h., and mаkes
an idеаl small haсk. Its steadу шot and kind
tеmpеrаment also mаdе thе Akhal-Tеk6
very populaг in Russia as a harnеss horsе.
Thе tvoе is fixеd аnd is now сlassеd as a
INI-LUINUt UI- II-IT AT{ABIAN
speсial Ьreеd, with its own stud Ьook.
Trotting is a vеry populaг sporт in Rus-
siа, far morе so thаn сonvеntional raсing,
аnd ttrе Orlov was dеvеloped speсifiсally
for this purpose. Thе breed wаs found-
еd in L775 Ьу Count Alеxis orlov-
Tсhеstrnеnsky, using thе purе-Ьгеd Arab
Smеtаnka. Мatеd with a Danish сагt-
mаге, Smеtankа sirеd thе stallion Polkаn,
who in 1784 siтеd Barss, whosе dam was a
sшongly-built Dutсh mаrе.
A1l the Orlov Trotters arе dеsсеndеd
fгom the thrее sons of Bагss; Lubeznoy'
Dobгoy, and Lеbеd. Thе dаm of Lubeznoy
was by an Aгab out of a Nlесklenburg marе;
Dobгoy's dam wаs a Thoгoughbrеd
Еnglish marе, аnd thаt of Lebed was Ьу
Felkегzаmсhik out of a N1eсklеnburg
mаre. Felkeгzamсhikwas by Smеtankа out
of а Thoгoughbrеd Еnglish maгe.
Thе orlov Tгottеr is a big horsе, stand-
ing about 17h.h., but it shows evidеnсе
ofz\ab blood in its small wеll-shаpеd hеаd
and tlrе prеdominаnсе of grеys.
Amеriсan horsе-сulturе, by сomparison
with thе гest of the world, is young, but in
an inсrеdibly short spaсе of timе it has
produсed a remarkable variety of breеds.
Ameriсa, too, has the distinсtion of hаving
thе largest population of purе-brеd Ara-
biаns.
Onе of thе sеvегаl families of horsеs
brеd in Amегiсa of whiсh thеy arе justly
proud is thе Мorgan. Thе brееd takes its
nаmе fгom a little bay stallion.Justin lVlor-
gаn' bгеd in Vегmont in 7793. His blood
has nеvеr been positivеlу kпown, though it
is bеliеvеd thаt Arаb and ThoroughЬгеd
pгеdominated. Pеrhaps thе most сonvinс-
ing pгoof of this is the fасt that this littlе
hoгsе stampеd his progeny from gеnеra-
tion to gеnеration with a uniformity of typе
t}rat only purе Ьгeеding сould havе
aсhiеvеd.

The Мorgаns weге thе first trotting
bгееd in Amеriсa, but in the сourse of timе
havе bесomе the most popular аll-purposе
horsе. Theу arе hardy, good-tеmperеd and
attraсtivе in tуpе and сolour. Bаys still pre-
dominatе, although Ьrown аnd сhestnut
arе not unсommon.
Anothеr famous brееd of trottеrs that
has supersеded thе Мorgan in this sphеrе
ofraсing is thе Standаrdbгеd. Bred еntirеlу
for spееd and stamina, it is a biggеr horsе
than thе Мorgan, standing 15 to 15.2
hands. It is a vеry spесializеd brееd and
owеs its origin to аn oЬsсure horse foаlеd
in 1849 at the villagе of Sugar Loaf in
Orangе County, Nеw Yoгk. His pеdigrеe,
howеvеr' was not obsсurе, hе had thтеe
сrosses of thе Еnglish Thoroughbrеd
Меssеngеr (whosе sirе was thе famous
МamЬrino) in his immеdiatе pеdigrее as
wеll as thе importеd Norfolk trotter, Bell-
foundеr, Ьeliеvеd to сhгry thе blood of thе
Darlеу AraЬian. lIе was bought as a foal Ьy
!Иilliam М. Rysdуkе, and namеd ЕIam-
Ьlеtonian. Hamblеtonian's famе grеw
with thе phеnomеnal suссess of his prog-
еnу on фe rасе-шaсk, and suссееding gеn-
егations addеd to his fаme.
In South Amеriсa, thе Arаb's infеrenсe
maу bе sееn in thе Cгiollo, or Argеntine
Cow-pony _ a Ьreеd believеd to be thе
dеsсendants of thе Arab and BаrЬ strains
Ьrought to South Amеriсa Ьy the Spаnish
invadегs. Criollos аre notеd for thеir hаr-
dinеss and сalm tеmpеramеnts' and thеir
40
A new geneгаtion сarrying Arab b|ood. fop
A standaгdbred, one of the popu|аr
/el.t:
Ameriсan bгeeds. bottom /e/t: A We|sh
MoUntain pony, one of the most attгaсtive of
the British pony breeds. top right: Twin foаls,
an unusual aсhievement for their Arab dam.
dun сolouring, mаtсhing thе sandу wastеs
of their natural enviтonmеnt, is сhаraс-
teгistiс of thе brееd.
Britain сan justly сlaim to havе thе most
beautiful .native' poniеs in thе world,
dеriving from original wild stoсk that wеrе
loсalizеd on thе moors' hills and forеsts.
Thеsе nаtivе poniеs wеre to thе pеasants,
the farmеrs and the ordinary сitizеns a
mеans of transport аnd шavel, whilе thеy
wеrе a beast of Ьurdеn and аn indispеns-
ible aid in аgriсulture. With the passage of
timе and thе importаtion of heavy horses of
various breeds, howеvеr, therе must havе
beеn а сertain amount of negleсt of thе
small pony, in favouг of the 1аrgеr animal
of more praсtiсal use in war oг the pursuits
of horsеmаnship. Thе еvеr-inсreasing
.enсlosurе' oflаnd also hаd its еffесt on thе
numbers and сonditions undеr whiсh thе
ponу hеrds existеd.
In 1540, a drаmatiс and what might hаve
bееn сatastrophiс сhangе oссurrеd in thе
history аnd fortunеs of thе pony breеds.
The pondеrous I(ing Hеrшy VIII deсreеd
thе еlimination of all stoсk under 14 h.h.,
as one of his rulеs for thе improvemеnt of
horsе-Ьreedins. .Foгаsmuсh as фе brееd
of good and sшong horsеs is a great hеlp
and dеfenсе to the rеalm' was his motivе'
Ьut the implеmеntation of suсh аn order
сould not have Ьееn сarriеd out without
сo-opеration bеtwееn vеrdеrеrs and privatе
owners' whiсh was hardly likеly to сomе
aЬout. Thе immеdiatе сonsequеnсе wаs
thе еlimination of largе numbers of thе
wееdy, unfit and undег-sizеd.
Thеrе wаs too' an unforеsеen and
fаvouraЬlе сonsеquenсe. Brеedеrs now
had no аltеrnativе but to inшoduсе аnd
fostег hеight in thеir ponies and tlrе surеst
way to do this was to introduсе an
out-сross. Therе werе many small
ТhoroughЬreds and Arabian stallions in
Britаin Ьy this time, fеw of thеm ovеr
14 h.h. when rасing wаs growing in popu-
larity. Thеrе аre rесords of outsidе stal-
lions bеing introduсеd to pony-herds, Ьut
of thеir brееding thе rесords arе oЬsсure.
In |756' а Dorsetshirе farmer bought а
Thoroughbred nаmеd Marskе at an аuс-
tion and kеpt him in thе Nеw Forеst dis-
шiсt whеre hе served the mаrеs for four
years. Не had bееn prеviously owned Ьy
H.R.FI. thе Duke of Cumbеrland, in
whosе ownеrship, he had sirеd a сolt who
mаdе raсing history - thе famous Есlipse.
Anothеr Arab to have influеnсe on the
Nеw Forеst Ьгеed was thе Arab stallion
Zoreb,lеnt by Queen Viсtoria in 1852. Hе
ran with the Nеw Forеst mаres for еight
years. In 1885, thе Quееn lеnt two more
Arabian stallions to thе Forеst.
Thе Nеw Forеst ponу is now а fixed typе
and has its own stud book. An ideal гiding
pony of good proportions and a very еasy
aсtion' it stands aЬout 14 h.h. Its surе-
footedness and сalm tеmperаment makе it
еquаlly usеful in harnеss.
Possiblу thе most attraсtive of the ponу
brееds in Britain, thе lDИеlsh Мountain
Pony, is unmistakablу of Arab linеаgе. It
stands no more than 12h.h.' is сompасt
with good flаt bonе and has no hint of
сoarsenеss. The hеаd in partiсulаr shows
thе Arаbian сharасtеristiсs of large еyes,
widе forеhеаd, and сonсavе outlinе tapеr-
ing to a finе muzzle.
Its alеrt and friendlу tеmperаmеnt' and
stamina, arе attributes whiсh the $Иеlsh
Mountаin Ponу sharеs with thе Arаb. Its
aсtion is showy and gay, and with its long
nесk аnd wеll-sеt hеad it makеs an idеal
сhild s riding-pony, in whiсh rolе it has
bееn vеrу suссеssful in thе show-ring.
Thе inшoduсtion of Arab blood to this
brеed was offiсiаlly reсorded in 1 838. Con-
-Рmr'orаry гесords сontinued to rеpoгt thе
Iшеsеnсе of Arаb stallions running with
цriтаtеly-ownеd pony hеrds in the Wеlsh
Ьills, аnd it wаs from suсh а hеrd that thе
Liпlе mаrе N{oonlight еmеrgеd. ЕIеr son
}oll Starlight, and his son Grеylight,
foundеd а dynasty whiсh hаs еаrnеd dis-
гiдсtion а1l ovеr thе world as thе pеrfесt
цpе of small pony. Volumе I of the l0Иelsh
Stud Book lays down the following stan-
dаrd геquiтеd of thе brеed:
.Тhе Velsh Мountain Ponyin its purеst
stаte is undеr 12 hands, and сan bеst bе
dеsстiЬеd by stating thаt it is an Aгab in
min;яture' and any judgе of horsеs upon
sееiпg thеsе poniеs must at onсе pеrсеivе
thе grеаt similaritу thеy Ьеar to the Arab.
TЬе pоny has thе pеrfесt Arаb typе ofhead,
апd аlso sеtting on of tail thе instant it
moves.'
^\nothеr uniquеly British produсt is thе
Еlасkney ЕIorsе, whiсh is rеlаtеd to thе
.\.mеriсаn StandardЬred. Both havе a
сопlmon anсеstor in thе Norfolk Troftеr, a
Ьгееd еvolvеd in about 1729' сombining
fre blood of an Arabiаn stаllion and a
lЪгkshiте Elaсkney, аnd in faсt the major-
iц of Haсknеу siтеs traсе baсk to thе Dar-
iеryArаЬian' Thе Hасknеy's aсtion is a
чlесtасulаr high-stеpping trot in pеrfесt
гhyhmand its wеll-proportioned head and
Ьigh-sеt tail arе always сarriеd with an air
of distinсtion and alertnеss. Although a thе thirtееnth сеntury _ the aссompani-
сomPirrativеly big horse of about 15 h.h. its
sizе nеvег dеtтaсts from the ovеIall piсtцre
ot pеrfесt сontrol and rhythmiс aсtion.
Onе of the most valuеd brееds
influеnсed Ьy thе introduсtion of ArаЬ
blood, аnd sесond only to thе
ТhoroughЬred in distinсtion is tlrе
.\nglo.Arab. As its namе impliеs, it stems
rom tlrе two purеst sourсеs' thе Arabian
аnd йe
ThoroughЬrеd. In Britain, thе
.\rаЬ Horsе Soсiеty is rеsponsiЬle foг thе
Stud Rеgister, and dеfinеs thе brееd as
follows: .Anglo-ArаЬs аrе the сross from а
ThoгoughЬred stallion аnd AraЬ mare or
гiсе-vеrsa, with thеir subsequеnt re-
стossing: that is to say they have no strains
of blood othеr фan ThoroughЬred аnd
.\гаЬ in their pedigrees.'
Pеrhaps the most notеworthy сontribu-
гions of its Arаbian progеnitor arе staminа
аnd good tеmpеramеnt, whiсh mаkes thе
.\пglоArab a most vеrsatile horsе. It is
я'rpгemely good as a haсk and as a drеssagе
hoгsе, and is most suссеssful aсross сoun-
rт and in Thrее-Day Еvеnts.
Frаnсе wаs a pionеег in thе dеvelop-
mеnt of this breеd аnd in apprесiаtion of its
таluе and сapabilities. As tеstimony to this
феre arе 26 Anglo-AraЬ str'rds in Fгanсе
from whiсh stallions аre leased to сountry
dЬrriсь. NotaЬlе among thеm are Pau,
Auгillaс and Pompadour all of whiсh havе
Ьrеd some famous horses, and in faсt the
.\nglo-Arab stoсk from тhеsе studs arе thе
Ьst in thе world. Anglo-Arabs are now
Ьrеd in еvery сountry that promotes
horsеmanship.
Finally, in thе Thoroughbrеd horse, thе
w.orlds most еsteеmed Ьrееd, the value of
^\гаbian blood is demonstratеd at its high-
еst. Lady \Иentworth writes in Horsеs of
Bitаin: .Thе Еnglish Thoroughbred,
though forеign Ьy Ьlood, is сallеd .Еnglish
beсаuse of the long time it has bееn brеd
аnd dеvеloped in Еnglаnd, and
.Thoroughbrеd Ьeсаuse it originаtеd ftom
thе ArаЬiс .Kehailan' of whiсh
.Thoroughbrеd is thе literal translation,
and whiсh is the gеnеriс tеrm for фe Ara-
biаn brееd, mеaning puгe-brеd all
through'.
How did this horsе .forеign by Ьlood
and of Еastern origin асhiеvе its domina-
tion of all othеr brееds _ fust in Еurope and
finallу throughout thе woгld?
Thе Arabian' somеtimеs сallеd Barb or
Turk, indiсating that it сamе from thе
Еast, was riddеn into Еuropе аs long ago as
ment as it werе, to ttrе movemеnts of mеn
in war, iлvasion, oг tlrе fruits of сonquеst.
Its subsеquent usе wаs diсtatеd by thе
nееds of the сountry to whiсh it was
Ьгought, and аlthough stamina and tеmp-
еramеnt must havе plaсеd it in somе spе-
сial сategory, it is doubtful whеthег speеd
or the valuе of its blood would hаvе Ьeеn
rесognizеd as Ьеing of thе fust importanсе.
Nеverttreless, it was the influenсе of that
blood that modified and gavе distinсtion to
the indigеnous Ьгееds of Еuropе.
The еarliеst rесord of Arаbiаns in Bri-
tain bеing raсеd in а mаtсh is in 1377,
although wе know nothing of thеir Ьrеed-
ing or thеir dеsсеndants. From timе to
timе сontеmporary doсuments mеntion an
.Еastеrn' horse bеing prеsеnted to Royalty,
or brought into thе сountry, but it is not
until the еnd of thе seventeenth сеntury
that wе have authеntiс rесords of thе
Oriеntаl stoсk in the сountry, togеthеr
with thеir pеrformаnсe, pеdigrees, аnd
value. This maгks t}rе beginning of thе
history of thе Еnglish Thoroughbrеd.
Thе impoгtation of AraЬians into Еng-
lаnd, variously desсribеd as Barbs, Turks,
or Arabs, was сonstant tfuoughout thе
Tudor period. Thе ownеrs of these horses
werе men of wеalth and influеnсe who,
hаving had the opportunity to trаvеl
abroad, had sееn thе superiority of the
Еastегn Ьreеds ovег thе hеavy сoursегs and
аmbling Ьreеds of Еngland.
Thе speеd, еlеganсе, and quality ofthе
imported Еastern sires еnсouragеd the
sport of raсing, аnd thе fame of individual
horsеs, Ьoth as progеnitors and as raсе-
winners, began to Ье rесorded. Thеrе is no
exaсt information of the Ьrееding of thе
mares put to thеse foundаtion sirеs. Therе
arе rесords of importеd .Oriеntat mares'
Thoroughbreds at a stud in Germа ny. Тhe f irst
Thoroughbreds сame from Eng|and, but as
their fаme spread they began to be bred а|I
over the world.
and.thе Royal Мares,, who were prеsumа-
bly thе finеst of thе сollесtion of AraЬians
Ьred, purсhаsеd, or prеsеntеd to Royalty,
but whatеvеr thеir origin, the quality of
thеir progеny was the Ьest proof of thеir
high brеeding.
Queеn Еlizabeth I had a raсing еstаЬ-
lishmеnt at Grееnwiсh, whеrе it is
rесordеd thаt shе kеpt 40 oriеntаl horsеs.
ЕIer suссessors сarгied on thе tradition of
Royal studs for thе breeding of rасehorsеs,
and undеr thе Stuarts many morе studs
Ьеlonging to privatе individuals wеrе
foundеd for the Ьreеding of.finе horsеs'
sired by Arabians.
Thе еvolution of thе Еnglish
in its еarly stagеs
Thoroughbrеd must
have bееn аn еxpеrimеnt. As thе intеrеst in
raсing grеw' thе dеmand for evеr-
inсrеasing spееd, and for a Ьigger horse
with grеatеr sсopе grеw with it. It was dis-
сovеrеd that the fastеst horsеs wеre not the
purе Arаbians but thе largеr individuals
rеsulting from thе Еnglish-Ьrеd AraЬians
and homе-brеd marеs of oriental desсent.
By thе еnd of the еightееnth сеntury the
idеntity of thе Thoroughbred had beеn
establishеd. Thе first stцdbook was pub-
.WеathеrЬy
lishеd in 1791 by Мr James and
in it wеrе еntered thе pеdigrее and stud
rесords of thosе sires and dams who wеге
the foundation of the Ьгееd.
Thе grеatest сonшibution stemmеd
from thrее imported Arabian siтеs:
The Byeгlеy Turk (аЬout 168,t-90)
The Darlеy Arabian (1700)
Thе Godolphin AraЬiаn (1730)
All Thoroughbreds in thе world today
tгaсе thеir anсestry in dirесt male line
through about 30 gеnеrations to thеse
threе sirеs - importеd into Еngland bеt-
wееn 250 and 300 yеars ago.
Thеrе arе othеr AraЬians whosе namеs
are rеmеmЬеred аs landmаrks in thе breed-
ing and pеrfесtion of thе Thoroughbrеd.
For example, Thе Hеlmslеу Turk, thе
Listеr Turk; thе Leedes Arabian, the
Alсoсk Arabian (from whiсh evеry grеу
Thoroughbred in thе world is dеsсеndеd);
the Darсy $Иhitе Turk, аnd the Darсу Yеl-
low Turk. Allhave сontributеd to thе mak-
ing of a horsе, prеdominаntly brеd for
speed, of pеrfесt сonformation and noЬlе
quality - thе Еnglish ThoroughЬrеd.
4L
H0RsЕ BBEEDs

ЕURoPE

Grеat Britain

A Cleveland BaY
CIуdesdaIe V

сarгiagе horse.
 йе Е{unter, mаny of thе best Cobs may bе seеn in thе show
ring. Thе CoЬ always usеd to bе shown with doсked tail and
hogged manе' a fashion whiсh еmphasizеd Ыs stoсky
appеaranсе. Thе Doсking and Niсking Aсt' passеd in Britain
in 1948, madе thе prасtiсe of doсking horsеs' tails illеgаl. It
is, howеvеr, still цsual to hog a CoЫs manе.

The Haсk
Just as аnу horsе whiсh follows hounds сап bе сallеd a
ЕIuntеr, so any horse usеd foг lёisuгe riding сan bе саllеd a
Haсk. As with the Нunter, howevеr, thе Haсk whiсh
аpproaсhes nearеst to thе idеal in typе' сonformation аnd
manners is thаt еxhibitеd in thе show гing. The show Haсk
must not еxсееd 15'3h.h. and must havе impессaЬlе
mannersj аbsolute obеdienсе to thе ridеr, smooth аnd еlegant
pасеs and bе as nеaг to pеrfесtion in сonformаtion аs possi-
Ь1е: in short, hе should Ье the pеrfесt riding hoтse, a plеasurе
Ьoth to ridе аnd to behold. Iп Еngland, it is ThoroughЬrеd
hoгsеs thаt usually make the most suссеssful show Haсks.

The Haсkney
Thе Haсknеy hoгsе is a dеsсеndаnt of thе old Norfolk Road-
sIег' а геnownеd trotting horse dеvelopеd in the eightееnth
сеnrury. The Ьеst Roadstеrs wеrе desсеndants of a horse
сallеd Shalеs, who was a son of thе ThoroughЬrеd-Blaze, by
Fl1"ing Childers, and сan thus bе traсеd Ьaсk to The Darlеy
.\гaЬiaп. Thе Haсknеy' thеIеfoIе, has both Arab and
ТhoroughЬгеd blood in its vеins, and it is not suгprising that
it саme into demand iл the ninеtееnth сеnturу as а produсеr
of good quality military and сarriagе horsеs. Today thе
Hасkneу is сhiеfly to bе seen bеing drivеn in thе show гing
lor whiсh its ехtravagant, elеvatеd шot аnd spiritеd disposi
tion аre idеаlly suitеd. Thе nеat hеad, сaггiеd high on an
агсhed nесk, and the high-set tail, add to thе ovеrаll impгеs-
sion of vigour and alеrtnеss. Thе usual сolours arе baу,
Ьгown, blaсk and сhestnut and thе averagе hеight a little ovеr
15 h.h.
A Cob
V Haсk V Haсkney

" -Ь;:
!-:
'..l
-т'
H0RsE BREЕDs

Thе Hunter
A Еruntеr is a horsе whiсh is suitablе for сarrуing a pеrson to
hounds and тtrе Ьrеed or type of horse requirеd will vary
aссording to thе typе of сountry and thе quarry huntеd, as
wеll as thе nееds and аЬility ofthe ridеr. ЕIowevеr, a typе of
horse hаs emergеd in somе сountriеs, notaЬly Grеat Britain,
Ireland and the United Stаtеs, thаt mаy bе сonsidеrеd thе
most suitаblе for hunting at its best. Thе Еnglish Hunter is a
horsе of good сonformation, oftеn with Thoroughbrеd blood
in its vеins, сapaЬlе of сarrying its ridеr сomfortaЬly, safеly
aпd ехpеditiously for sevеrаl hours ovеr a variеtу oftеrrаin, at
various paсes, and ovеr any oЬstaсlеs that may сomе its waу.
In thе show ring, horsеs аrе judged ассording to thе wеight
thеу аre Ьest suitеd to сarry аnd muсh importanсе is plaсеd on
сonformation (thе Ьеttеr thе сonfoгmаtion thе morе souпd
thе horsе is likely to геmain thгoughout a season's hunting),
mаnnеrs and aсtion. By riding thе exhibits himsеlf, thе judgе
сan аssess thеiг suitability for thе job of following hounds. In
some сountries, thе Unitеd Statеs for instanсе, ttrе horsеs arе
rеquirеd to provе their jumping aЬility in the ring. onе of thе
bеst types of Eluntеr produсed is thе Thoroughbrеd/Irish
Draught сross.

The Shire
Onе of the largеst horsеs in thе world, thе Shirе originatеd in
the .Shirеs of Еngland and is а dеsсendапt of the old Еnglish
A Hunteг Blaсk Horsе whose аnсеstors wеrе thе .grеаt horsёs' of
mеdiaeval timеs. It stаnds up to 18h.h., and may bе Ьay,
Ьrown, Ьlасk or greу in сoloul. An immеnsely strong' big-
barrellеd horse' with long lеgs саrrуing muсh fеather, it
nеvеrtheless has a finе hеad in сompаrison to its overall size.
Despitе its great sizе аnd strength (an avеragе Shirе will
wеigh 1 tonne and is сapаblе of moving a 5-tonnе loаd) it is
the gеndest ofЬеasts and is a good workеr in agriсulturе and
as аn цrban draught horsе. ]0Йith thе еver inсreаsing
mесhаnizаtion of thе twеntiеth сentury' thе Shiтe and othеr
heavy Ьrееds, сould еasily hаvе bееn аllowеd to diе out, Ьut
fortunatеly thеrе has in rесеnt times Ьeеn a great rеvival of
intеrеst in thеsе mаgnifiсеnt animals. No show сlassеs arе
morе popular with spесtators than thosе for the .heaviеs'.
Shirеs sti1l work thе land in some pаrts of thе сountry аnd
sеvегal Ьгеwers usе them to pull dravs in thе сiш strееts.

Thе Suffolk
A heavy draught horse originаting in Еаst Anglia at тhе
Ьеginning of the siхtееnth сеntury, а1l modern Suffolks сan
traсe bасk to one horse, foalеd in 1760, аnd thе brееd is
rеmаrkаbly pure. The modегn Suffolk is а сompaсt horse
with а big Ьody set on short, сleаn lеgs. Although it stands
Ьеtwеen 16 and 16.2 h.h. and wеighing аbout 1 tonne, it is a
vеry aсtivе horse and is still used on farms in some аrеas' аs
AShre wеll as аppеaring in thе show ring. lDИithout ехсеption' it is
Suffolk V сhеstrrut in сolour аnd may Ье onе of sеven shadеs ranging
from nearly brown to a pale .mealy shadе. Thе Ьreеd is notеd
for its longeviry and aЬility to thrivе on meаgrе rаtions and is
exсеptionally gеntlе.

The Thoroughbred
The raсehorsе pаr eхсellеnсe and onе of the most bеаutiful
horsеs in thе world, thе Thoroughbrеd hаs а finе hеad set on
an еlegаnt nесk, good sloping shouldеrs, deеp girth, powегful
quartеrs, аnd strong lеgs with plеnty of bonе. Thе brееd wаs
еvolvеd in Еnglаnd by сгossing Еastern stаllions with nаtive
maгеs and thе Еnglish raсing еntlrusiаsts of the seventеenтtt
and еightеenй сenruriеs soon suссеeded in produсing their
ultimatе objeсtivе _ thе fаstеst horsе in тhe world. Tfuее
stallions arе ассеptеd as Ьеing the .founding fathers', namely
йе Byeгley Tur\ importеd in 1689, thе Darleу Arabiaп,
importеd in 1705, and thе Godolphin Arabian, imported iл
1728. Thеsе three horsеs еstаЬlishеd thе Еrеrod, Есlipse and
Мatсhem b]'ood linеs whiсh arе of paramount importanсе iл
British Thoroughbred breеding. Еnglish horsеs werе soon
44
 HORSE BBEEDS

Ьеing еxpoгtеd аll ovеr thе world and whеrevеr raсing is

pоpular the Thoгoughbrеd hаs bесomе еstablishеd. Мany
сountries havе dеvеlopеd theiт own stamp of Thoroughbrеd.
In thе United Stаtеs, for instanсе' thеrе has Ьеen muсh
еmphasis on spееd and prесoсity, although thе сountrу is not
еntirеlу lасking in middle-distanсе stoсk' witnеss suсh great
hoгsеs аs Мill Rееf, Al1еz Franсе and DaЫia, all of whom
hаче гaсed in Еuropе. In Еuropе the aссеnt is morе on stami-
па. Itаlу, in partiсulаr, spесializеs in pгoduсing middle and
long-distаnсе horsеs. !Иith thе exсеption of his own prog-
еnitoт, the Arab, thе Thoroughbгеd hаs had more influenсе
on oтher brееds thаn any othеr hoгsе, and has bееn used to
impгovе hoгsе and pony brееds throughout thе world. It is
suссessful in all Ьrаnсhеs of еquestrian sport whеre сourage
"nd stamina arе primе rеquisitеs. Thе usual сolours
arе
bгown, bаy and сhеstnut, though any solid сolour is pегmis-
siЬle, and thе hеight саn vary from аs littlе as 14.2 h.h. to wеll
оvег 17h.h. Thе avеrаgе is about 16.1h.h.

тlt
^rеlanсl'
The Irish Draught
.\ Light drаught horsе, this breеd is of unсеrtain origin,
аlthough it is possiblе that its forеЬears wеге Connеmаras Тhoroughbred
Ьrеd up in sйе on the good grasslands of southern Iгеland. An
lгish Draught horsе Ьook was fust opеnеd ln1-9|7. The Ьrееd
sцffeгed sеrious lossеs during thе First]ilИorld \0Иar, many of
thе Ьest marеs bеing rеquisitionеd bу thе army. -N,[orе reсently
thе ехport tradе in horsеs to t}re Continеnt has сaused fuгthеr
Jеplеtion in numbеrs until lеgislation to сurb this шade was
pаssеd in thе mid-l960s. An еxсеllеnt fаrm workеr, its сhiеf
гаluе, nеvеrthеlеss, is in produсing top{lass huntеrs and
show-jumpers whеn put to ThoroughЬrеd stallions. Thе
hеight varies Ьetwеen 15 and 17h.h. аnd thе bеst еxamples
hаvе еxсеllеnt shoirlders and good sound lеgs with only a
lirdе hаir on thе fеtloсks. Thе aсtion is frее and straight аnd
most aге natural jumpеrs. Thе usual сolours arе grey, bay,
brown and сhеstnut.

т-
гranсе
The Ardеnnais
Thе Ardеnnais is a stoсkу' сompaсt draught horsе originаt-
ing in thе Aгdеnnеs region wherе thе sеvеrе сlimatе of thе
геgion produсеs immеnsеly toцgh horsеs of medium hеight,
A |гish Drаught Ardennais V
idеаlly suitеd to farm work (sеe also thе Belgian Ardennеs).
.\ftеr т1rе seсond world wat, horsеs wеrе importеd ftom other
Еuropеan сountriеs' inсluding Belgium and tlrе Nеthеr-
lаnds, to hеlp Ьuild up thе deplеtеd Frenсh stoсk. It is a horse
ofgгeat gentlеnеss аnd doсility аnd is suitaЬlе foг all rypеs of
drаught work. Standing up to 15з h.h., it has еnormous
Ьоnеs and thе usual сolours аrе bav. roan or сhestnut.

The Auxois
Тhis is thе modеrn vеrsion of thе old Burgundian hеavy
hoгsе whiсh is known to have еxistеd at lеast as faг Ьaсk as thе
.\tiddlе Ages. Sinсе the ninеtееnth сеntцry infusions of
Pегсhеron, Boulonnаis аnd Aгdеnnais blood havе bееn
аdded and thе presеnt-day breеd, саlled the Auxois, is a
hеavier typе than thе old horsе of nortlr-еast Burg:цndy. Like
its nеar relativеs it is an еxшеmely hаrdу, willing workеr with
the equablе tеmperamеnt typiсаl of this rypе of draught horsе.
[n аppеaranсе thе Auxois resеmblеs thе Ardеnnais and thе
Tгаit du Nord, bеing a strong horsе with relаtivеly littlе
Thе аveragе height is 15.2 to 16h.h. and sеlесtive
t.еаthеr.
Ьгееding produсеs prеdominantly Ьаy or red roan horses.
 The Boulonnais
Thе Boulonnais сomes from northеrn Franсе аnd is a
desсеndant ofthе аnсiеnt north Еuropеan hеavy horse. It is
thought to havе rесеivеd infusions of Еastегn blood as еarly
as thе tiтnе of thе Roman invаsion of Britain, whеn Numi-
diаn сavalry wеrе stаtionеd on the сoast of Boulognе. Еastеrn
blood was сertainly inшoduсеd during the timеs of thе
Crusаdеs and the Andaluсian also had its еffесt on thе breed
whiсh evinсеs oriеntal сharaсtегistiсs to this day. It is a hеavу
draught horse standing 16 to 16.3 h.h., but with great intel-
ligenсe and aсtivity. Vеry likе the Pеrсheron, it is еlеgant and
wеll proportionеd and it may Ье gгеy, bay or сhеstnut in
сolour.

The Breton
Thе original Brеton horsе is а small draught oг сarriagе horse
indigеnous to Brittаny in north-wеst Franсe, Ьut by сrossing
it with various othеr bгееds three distinсt typеs emеrgеd.
Thеsе arе the Dгaught Brеtoщ сontaining infusions of
Pеrсhегon, Ardеnnаis and Boulonnais blood; tlrе Postiеr, а
horsе with а good' aсtivе trot, сontaining Norfolk Trotter аnd
Hасknеу blood; and thе Corlay (now гare, if not асtually
A Boulonnais еxtinсt)' a lighter typе of сarriagе or riding horsе, сontаining
Arab and Thoroughbred blood. The Draught stаnds up to
16 h.h. and thе Postiеr to аbout 15 h.h. The usual сolсiurs аrе
roan (Ьluе and геd), сhеstrrut and bay, with oссаsional blaсks.
Thе Brеton is a hirsutе individuаl not unlikе thе primitive
Stеppе horsе and hаs Ьееп used (notably in North Afriсa), to
upgrаdе primitivе types and produсе a usеfцl work horsе. It is
an aсtive horsе of good disposition.

Thе Charollais Half.Brеd

Formеrly usеd аs a сavalry hoгsе, the Chагollаis Half-Bred is
now used in еquеstriаn sports, partiсularly as a huntеr. Thе
Ьrееd originated by сrossing Thoroughbгeds аnd Anglo-
Normans, and togеtheг with two oтher vеry similаr typеs, thе
Bourbаnnais and Nivеrnаis hаlf-brеds, is known undеr the
сollесtive tеrm Demi-Sang Charollais. The Chaгollais
stands bеtween 15 аnd l6.2h.h. аnd may bе of any solid
сolour. It is a sensiblе sort of horse' that is rеnownеd foг its
soundnеss'

The Comtois
Thе Comtois is а light draught horsе of thе Franсo-Swiss
bordегland wherе it is sаid to havе ехistеd sinсе thе sixth
сеntury AD. Its еnvironmеnt has mаdе it suгe-footеd, aсtivе
and eхtтеmеly hardу аnd it is ideallу suitеd to working in hill
сountry. It sвnds bеtwееn 14.3 аnd l5.3 h.h. аnd is a rathеr
plаin horsе, with а lаrge hеad sеt on a stгaight nесk. It has а
long baсk, and thе sшong hindquartеrs of a hill-brеd animаl.
Frenсh AngIo-Arаb V

Thе Frenсh Anglo.AraЬ

Thе tеrm Anglo-Arab refeгs simply to a сombination of Arаb
and Thoroughbrеd blood and Anglo-Arаbs arе bгеd аll ovеr
thе woгld. In Frаnсе, howeveг, thе Ьrееd is of partiсulaг
importanсе аs a quality гiding horsе whiсh has асhievеd
muсh suссеss in thе vаrious еquеstгian sports. Мany havе
rеасhеd olympiс lеvel in сompetition. In the breеding of thе
Frеnсh Anglo-Arab the progеny must possеss a minimum 25
pег сent of Arab blood and thе most usual сombinаtion is to
put a purе-bred Arab stallion to a Thoroughbrеd or Anglo
marе. Many of thе stallions usеd at thе Frеnсh stаtе studs
speсializing in Anglo-Arab breеding (notably that at Pom-
pаdour) аrе importеd from Noгth Afriсa and Syriа. Thе brееd
trасеs baсk to thе seсond Еmpire whеn Franсе Ьеgan to
impoп 1аrgе numbеrs of Еnglish ThoгoughЬrеds foг raсing.
Thе Nаtional Stud thеn had the idea of сrossing somе of
thеsе with thеiт bгoodmarеs who possеssed muсh Еastem
blood. Selесtivе brееding hаs takеn plaсе еver sinсе and thе
modегn Anglo сomЬinеs thе typiсally Arabian qualitiеs of
soundnеss and еndurаnсе witlr thе sсopе аnd, to a lesser

46
 H0вsE BпЕEDs

еxtеnt, the spееd of thе Thoroughbred. Anglos arе not usu-

ally as eхсitable аs ThoroughЬrеds. Thеir avеrаgе hеight is
16 to 16.3 h.h. and the pгedominant сolours are bay' brown
аnd сhestnut.

Thе Frenсh Trotter

A world-сlass hаrnеss raсеhorsе, the Frеnсh Trotter was
devеloped in thе nineteеnth сеnnrry by putting
Тhoroughbrеd, half-brеd аnd Noгfolk Roadstеr stallions,
impогtеd from Еngland, to Norman mаrеs. Two Еnglish
hoгsеs who had partiсulaг influenсe wеrе Young Rattler and
Thе Hеir of Linnе, both foalеd in thе first half of the
ninеtеenth сеntury. Ninety pег сеnt of modeгn Frеnсh trot-
tегs trасе baсk to fivе dеsсеndаnts of thеsе two prеpotent
stаllions, nаmely, Conquеrant, Lavаtег, Normand, Phаеton
аnd Fuсhsia. Мorе reсently Amеriсan Standardbrеd blood
hаs beеn introduсed but thе Fгеnсh Tгoшer is a ratheг biggег,
moге upstanding horse thаn thе Amегiсan Stаndardbrеd -
and nесеssarily so' for in Frаnсe riddеn tгotting raсes, whiсh
hаvе largеly died out еlsеwhеrе, arе still popular. It is a
rаw-boned typе of horsе, standing up to L6.2h'h.' with thе
t.vpiсally sloping, musсulaг quartеrs of thе trotting horsе.
Pгedominant сolours аrе blaсk, brown, Ьay and сhеstnut.

The Liшoцsin Half.Bred A Frenсh Trotteг

This is onе of the many good hаlf-brеd horsеs produсеd in
Frаnсе whiсh сomе undеr thе geneгal hеading Cheoаl de Perсheron V
Sеllе Frаngais (not to bе сonfusеd with the Ang1o-Norman).
vithin t}ris hеading, horsеs arе dividеd into rеgional gгoups,
тhе Limousin сoming under thе tttle Dеmi-Sаng du Centre,
as does thе Charollаis. Thesе half-Ьrеds аrе intendеd to be
usеd as аll-гound sporting horsеs and thе Limousin is a rеsult
of сrossing good Limousin maгеs wiтlr ThoroughЬrеd, Arab
and Anglo-Arab stallions ovег a long pеriod. Thе rеsultant
hаlf-brеds, somе of whiсh also сontain Anglo-Norman Ьlood,
somеwhat resеmblе thе Anglo-Arab, but show a more
dеfinitе likеnеss to thеir Еаstеrn forеbeaгs. Thе avеrage
height is 16h.h. аnd thе usuаl сolours сhеstnut and bay.

The Perсheron
Oгiginating in thе Pеrсhe гegion of Frаnсе _ henсe its nаmе _
only thosе horses brеd in thе Departments of Pеrсhе (Sarthе,
Еurе et Loiт, Loir еt сhеr and Ornе) аге аdmittеd into thе
Perсhеron Stцd Book. Horsеs brеd in otheг rеgions hаvе thеir
own stud books. It is still possible to disсеrn thе modern
Pегсhеron's Arаb аnсesшy and it is а morе higЫy-sшung
horsе thаn the othеr .hеаviеs', needing moге сarеful handling
to produсe thе good rеsults of whiсh it is so eminently саp-
аЬle. It is a wеll propoгtionеd' grеy or blaсk healry horse,
stаnding anything betwееn I5.2 and 17 h.h., whiсh dеspite its
sйе has both bеаuty and graсe of movеmеnt. It has a finе hеad
foг a hoгsе of suсh powегful proportions and сombinеs
stаminа and еnduranсe with muсh freedom of movеmеnt. It
isa popular brееd аll ovеr thе world, inсluding the U.S.A. and
Gгеаt Britain. Thе British Perсhегon has bееn сгossеd with
тhе Thoroughbrеd to produсе a heavywеight huntеr typе.

The Poitеvin
Thе Poitеvin dегivеs from horses impoгtеd from sеvеrаl
сountriеs, inсluding Thе Nеthеrlands аnd Denmaгk, and
wаs oгiginally used foг work on thе marshlands of thе Poitou
геgion, for whiсh its 1аrgе fееt mаde it extremely suitable. Its
сhiеf use todаy, howеveг, is in the produсtion of mulеs whiсh
аre oЬtаinеd by mating jaсk аsses with thе bеst of thе Poitеvin
mares. The Poitеvin itsеlf is а poor еquinе speсimen сomЬin-
iлg maпy сonformаtionаl dеfесts with very limitеd mеntal
саpaсity, аnd in faсt, is so limited in sсopе аnd intelligenсе
тhat it makеs a poor work horsе. Its hеad is heavy, its nесk
short and stгaight, its shouldегs sшaight, its Ьaсk long and its
quartегs sloping. Stаnding betweеn 16.2 and 17h.h., it is
usuаlly dun, alttrough somе Ьays аnd browns oссur.
 The Selle Frangais
The tеrm Sе1lе Franqais (Frenсh Sаddlе Horse) is of vеry
rесеnt origin, dating only from 1965, although the stud Ьook
of thе Sе11е Frangаis is a сontinuation of the Anglo-Norman
stud Ьook. Thе nаmе .Normаn horse' was in usе somе
thousаnd years ago and rеfеrrеd to a hеalry draught аnimal
whiсh suЬsеquеntly beсame a war horse. lDИith the dеmisе of
thе hеavily-аrmouгed knight and the advent of thе morе agilе
military mount) it rеturned to Ьeing a dгаught аnimal. Lаter,
in thе sеventeеnth сеntury' thе Norman horsе rесеived infu-
sions of Gеrman Ьlood as wеll as some Arab and Bаrb, pro-
duсing as a rеsult, a sturdу saddlе horse. In the eightееnth
and ninеtееnth сenturies, Еnglish Thoroughbrеd and Nor-
folk Trottеr Ьlood was inшoduсеd and thе Anglo-Norman
сamе into bеing. Мorе rесеnt infusions of ThoroughЬrеd
Ьlood hаvе rеsulted in а good quality hunter typе whiсh is
today сallеd thе Sе1lе Frangаis. It staпds Ьetwеen 15.2 and
16.3h.h. and is а strong horsе of good сonformation аnd
tempеramеnt, well suitеd to сompetitivе sports such as
show-jumping and еvеnting. Any сolour is pеrmissiЬlе but
сhеstnut is prеdominant.

The Trait du Nord

(a stud book was fiгst opеnеd in
A horsе offairly rесеnt origin
1919 aftеr тhe Ьreed had beеn fixеd at the Ьeginning of this
сеntury)' thе Trait du Nord сomеs from thе samе агеа as thе
Ardеnnais and сontains Ardennаis, Belgian and Dutсh
Ьlood. A vеry powerful Ьut gеntlе draught hoгse whiсh, like
thе Ardеnnаis, is еxсeptionаlly hardy, it is in faсt а biggеr,
hеaviеr vеrsion of that Ьrеed. It has a largе head set on a hugе
nесk, a strong musсular body and hindquаrtеrs аnd avеragеs
about 16h.h. Thе usual сolours are bаv. сhеstnut аnd roan.

\Jermanv J

The Bavarian Warm Blood

This hoгse сan Ье шaсed bасk bеyond thе timе of thе
Crцsadеs. It was known, until rесеntly, as thе Rottaler sinсе
it originаtеd in the Rott Vаllеу of Bavaria, a rеgion noted for
horsе-гaising аnd as a wаr horse it was сonsidеrеd the equаl of
thе Friеsian. Vаrious British Ьlood was introduсеd during
tlrе eighteеnth сеntury, inсluding Clevelаnd Bay аnd
Thoroughbred, аnd Norman and Oldеnburg horsеs havе also
influеnсеd thе breed. Today it is а hеаvyweight riding horsе,
standing aЬout 16 h.h., сhеstnut in сolour, аnd with a stеady,
A Se||e Frangаis Тrаit du Noгd V reliаblе tеmpeгament.

The Beberbесk
This type wаs bred аt thе Bеbеrbесk Stud neаr I(assеl from
thе еightееnth сеntury until 1930, whеn thе stud сlosеd.
AraЬs and ThoroughЬгеds wеrе mаtеd with loсal mаrеs to
produсe a good quality сavаlry horsе whiсh was also саpable
of light draught work. Thе BеbеrЬесk is still bгеd todау
although in rеduсеd numЬеrs, and it rеsеmblеs а hеаviеr
vеrsion of thе Thoroughbrеd. Standing about 16h.h., with
prеdominаnt сolours of сhestnut and Ьаy, it is a useful,
wеight-саrrying riding horse of good tempеrament.

The Hanoverian
The forеmost German .warm-blood horsе, thе ЕIanoveriаn
шaсеs Ьaсk to the sevеntееnth сentury whеn Spаnish, Oгiеn-
tal аnd Neapolitаn stаllions werе impoгtеd into Gеrmanу and
сrossеd with loсаl mares. Меmbеrs of thе ЕIouse of llаnover
promoted thе Ьreеd, and Gеorgе II of Еnglаnd openеd the
LаndgеstЁt at Cеllе in L735 whеrе 14 blасk Holstеin stal-
lions wеrе installed. For a time infusions of Thoroughbrеd
blood were madе in ordег to imЬue thе brееd with morе
сouragе and stamina. The аim was to pгoduсe a really good
аll-roundeг suitable foг riding, driving and drаught work.
Siлсе thе mid-1940s' thе aim hаs Ьеen morе towards produс-
i-ng a good сompеtition horsе' to whiсh end, Trаkеhner аnd
moге Thoroughbrеd blood hаvе bееn usеd to hеlp upgradе
thе bтееd. Todаy it is in partiсulaг demand as a drеssage horsе
аnd in show-jumping. It is a big, strong' upstаnding horsе,
stаnding 16 to 17 h.h., of good сonformation, tending perhаps
torvaтds plainnеss. Aсtivе аnd bold, it has thе сourаgе of thе
ТhoroughЬrеd although not his spееd. All solid сolours аrе
pегmissible, the usuаl Ьeing brown, сhеstnut, bay аnd blaсk.
ТЪе hoгse known as the'Wеsdаlisсhеs Pfеrd oг Wеstphalian
Ь thе Hаnoverian undеr anothег, rеgionаl, titlе.

The Holstein
Тhе Holstеin is а somеwhat hеaviеr stamp of riding horse
тhan thе ЕIanoverian, and tгaсes Ьaсk to thе fourtеenth сеn-
шп'waг horsе. Spanish аnd Еаstеrn Ьloodmadе it lightеr and
iтr thе ninetеenth сentury Yoгkshirе Coасh ЕIorsеs and
Еnglish ThoroughЬrеds wеrе imported to upgradе thе brееd
still further and produсe horsеs suitablе for Ьoth light harness
and saddlе work. Мorе Thoгoughbrеd blood hаs bеen аdded
sinсе thе seсond world war аnd the Holstеin is today an
аll-round saddlе horsе, partiсulaгly notеd аs a show-jumpеr.
It is powеrfullу Ьuilt, wiтh stгong quаrters' good dеpth of
фтh and short legs with plеnty of bonе. Thе usual сoloцrs
arе blaсk, brown аnd bay аnd thе avеragе hеight, 15.3 to
16.2h.h. It is a good-tеmperеd horsе possеssеd of intеlli-
gеnсе and willingnеss to work.

A Hаnoverian Holstein V
 Thе oldenЬurg
This is thе hеaviеst of thе Germаn
.warm
bloods' and it саn
bе trасеd baсk to the sеvеntееnth сentury Oldеnburg, whеn it
wаs bаsеd on the Friеsian horsе. Thе brееd wаs originallу
dеvеloped as a good strong сarriagе horsе and ovеr the уеars
Spanish, Nеаpolitan and Barb blood wеrе added, followеd at
a latеr stаgе Ьy ThoroughЬrеd, Clеvеland Bay, Norman and
Flanoverian. During thе twеntieth сenturу, whеn thе nееd foт
сarriаgе horsеs dwindlеd, morе ThoroughЬrеd and Norman
blood wаs introduсed, rеsulting in thе produсtion of аn аll-
purpose saddle horsе. It is vеry tall' standing bеtwееn 16.2
and |7,2 h.h., but in spitе of its height it is a short-lеggеd
horse with good bonе. NotaЬlе too, for its strong baсk аnd
dеpth of girth, it maturеs еarlyand has a kind, уеt Ьold nаturе.

Thе Rhinеland Hеavy Draught .Rhinеland oт

Originating in thе Rhinеlаnd _ hеnсе its namе
.Rhеnish' this horse was bгеd along the linеs of thе Bеlgian
-
horse, and was dеvelopеd during тhе ninеteеnth сеntuтy
when thете wаs a gleat dеmand for hеavy draught horsеs. It is
very bulkу, and powеrfullу built, staпding 16 to 17 h.h., with
A Oldenburg massivе quartеIs and shoulders, а dееp, broad baсk, сrеstеd
Rhineland Heavy Draught V nесk, and short, strong lеgs. Good-nаtured, аnd notеd for its
early maturity' it may Ье еithеr rеd roan with blaсk points or
flaxen mane аnd tail, or сhеstnut. As with many othеr hеa\,ry
dтаught animals, it is in muсh lеss demand nowаdaуs, but it
сan still bе found, albеit in deсreаsing numbets' in Lowеr
-4 Saхony and Wеstphаlia.

Thе Sсhleswig Hеavy Draught

Developеd in SсЫеswig-Holstеin in thе ninеtееnth сеnturу,
thе brееd traсes Ьaсk to Denmаrk s Jutlаnd horsе, to whiсh
was addеd Yorkshirе Coасh Florsе and Thoroughbrеd blood.
Up until thе Sесond World \0Иar muсh usе was mаdе of
Dаnish stallions' but morе reсеntly Boulonnais аnd Breton
blood has bееn intтoduсеd to iron out thе notiсеaЬlе сonfor-
mational dеfесts of slaЬ-sidеs, long bасk and soft feеt. It is a
mеdium sizеd' сompaсt horsе' standing 152 to 16h.h. and'
bеing а willing workег, was formегlу muсh in dеmand as a
trаm and bus horsе. Thе prеdominant сolour is сhеstnut,
though bays and grеys also oссuт and it has a very plaсid
disposition.

V Hans Wink|er on HaI|a а Тгаkehner

-

V Sсh|eswig Heavy Draught

r*
Thе Tгаkehnеr
Кэ== Fгiedтiсh !Йilhelm I foundеd thе Stud of Trakеhnеn ir,L
--]] апd it .rvаs hеrе that thе Еаst Prussian Elorsе, known
nri]дi аs тtrе Trakehnег, was dеvelopеd. At the Ьеginning of
]тr .l.етееntlr сеntury' AraЬ blood wаs introduсеd Ьut as
f]Er Fеnt on' morе and morе Thoroughbrеd stallions werе
:-rs.*:. Bу 1913 ovег 80 per сеnt of thе studs maгеs wеrе by
]-:r:гolз.shbrеd stаllions. Thе Еast Prussiаn horsе mаdе an
s:^-lеnt сavalry remount' as well аs bеing сapаblе of light
liг тогk. аnd was rеnownеd for its grеat еndurаnсe. At thе
тr. зl й€ seсond world war, whеn thе Gеrmans rеtrеated
rL..,г lPоlаnd, somе 1'200 of thе 25,000 horsеs геgisterеd in
.West
riтв l:а.kеhтreг Stud Book rеасhed what is now Ger-
пlт-т эftег a thтее-month trеk from Еаst Prцssiа (now part of
?:Й.зd к.hеге its influеnсe is still to Ье found in thе breеd A Trakehner
]п]:E: аs thе Wiеlkopolski). Today thе Trakеhnеr is brеd
цптa:е1у in Gегmany and is a top-сlass saddlе horsе, of еxсеl-
ri :.-зJЪгmation, having muсh of t}re Thoroughbred aЬout
.п ]: s=nds 16 to 16.2 h.h. and may Ьe of аnу solid сolour. It is
l -:;.е.т Ьuт kind horsе and possеssеs thе depth of stаmina for
пл-1.; ils anсestoгs wеrе notеd. It usuallу makеs a good
]]г]rг. Hаllа, thе mare riddеn to so many viсtoriеs by llans
T-r-<iеr. is а finе rеprеsеntativе of the Ьrеed.

Thе Wiirкemberg
l- Еr.irпemЬеrg hoгsе traсеs Ьaсk to thе end of thе six-
i:lЕ= сеnгцry and was dеvеlopеd by putting loсal marеs to
.1*ъ-- sтаilions from thе famous МaгЬaсh stallion depot. To
. :с се тhе sort of horsе nееdеd foг working thе small moun-
E.r: :.:IтIs of thе !Иtirrtеmberg areа, Еast Pгussian and Nor-
т:r- Ъiggd was latеr introduсеd, followеd Ьу infusions of
.tге-эuтg and Nonius. A stud Ьook was not opеnеd until
-$.i5. whеn thе requirеd typе hаd еventually bеen aсhievеd,
-шг-s.1 rhrough thе influеnсе of thе Anglo-Norman stаllion
шагЁc Faцst. Rесently, still more Еast Pгussian blood hаs
тry =тoduсеd аnd the presеnt-day W.rirttemЬerg is a strong'
::.t]т :1ЕЕ standing up to aЬout 16h.h., suitаblе for work
тс Ё :: Lrаrnеss аnd under saddlе. A sшongly Ьuilt horse with A Wtirttembeгg
Furioso V
ь; --'. ]еgs аnd fееt, it is a good woгkеr аnd an eсonomiсal
:i_*-:-g. Тhe usual сolours aге Ьlaсk. Ьгown' сhestnut and Ьаv.

Hungary
lГЪе Furioso
l=s :.sa handsome saddlе or сarriagе horse Ьasеd on two
.sir tЪundation sirеs _ thеThoroughbrеd Furioso, foalеd
=- з.
г - э-з6. апd the Norfolk Roadster North Star, foalеd in 1844
тзJ п-еrе mated with the loсal mares of Nonius typе.
-.-f:..rоns
of Thoгoughbrеd Ьlood сontinued аnd thе rеsult is
.ъ f,u:sе of suffrсiеnt quality to takе part in all modеrn еquеs-

Е]'д: spoгts inсluding steepleсhasing (half-bгed hoгses arе

lг-.е- usеd foг'сhasing in this part of thе world whеrе thе
nЕ.i_Е: ls not as higЫу devеlopеd as еlsеwhеrе). A horsе of
jP*а:itrtrдbl.т good сonformation, with ftее, slightly еxaggеr-
тл-*::сгion, thе averagе hеight is 16h.h. аnd thе usual сol-
:t-s -г]'асk and Ьrown.

Tte Gidran Arabian

!;lЕ;гq Giфan was importеd into Hungary from AraЬiа in
.r^6 апd foundеd thе strain known as thе Gidrаn Arabian.
] l i-. йе Shаgуa, it has the сhаraсtеristiсs of thе Arab whilе
тшi ..еing of pure Arаb dеsсеnt. Thеrе arе now two distinсt
1:rrs оf Gidran: the Мiddle Еuropean and thе Southern and
Здs;егп Еuтopean. Thе first is a horsе of morе substаnсе than
Eе sесond, whiсh is morе akin in appеaranсе to thе Еаstеrn
т:t .:ghtеr
оf .\тab. Thе hеavier typе is often used in harnеss whilе
r** typе is an all-purposе сompеtition horsе. The
д.чг-.ll сolour is сhеstnut' although bаy, grеy аnd Ьlaсk somе-
oссuг.
=ЕA-_s
.. t|0RsЕ BBEЕDS

The lllurakoz
A draught horse, bгеd in tlrе rivеr Mura геgion of Hungаry
(аnd also iп Poland and Yugoslavia), this Ьreed hаs bееn
dеvеlopеd duгing tlris сentury by сrossing nativе marеs with
Pегсheron, BelgianArdеnnes and Norikеr stаllions as wеll аs
with home-brеd horses. In the 1920s a flfth of аll horses in
Hungary wеrе Мurаkoz, but the brееd suffеrеd many losses
in tlrе Sесond lDИorld \D(/'аr аnd has not rеgained its foгmеr
numЬеrs. It is a fаst-moving horse of somе quality аnd is
notеd аs being good tempегеd, sound and an eсonomiсаl
feеdег. It is usually сhestnut with flaxen mane аnd tаil, Ьut
Ьays, browns, grеys and Ьlасks do oссur. Thе avеragе hеight
is 16h.h. аnd the horsе is a good agriсultuтal woгker.

Thе Nonius
A Murakoz Likе thе Fuгioso, of whiсh it is thе prесursor, the Nonius was
dеvеlopеd at thе futеzсihеgyеs Stud in Hungary. Thе founda-
tion siтe is said to be a Frenсh stallion сallеd Nonius (foalеd
in 1810)' itsеlf thе rеsult of a mating bеtwееn an Еnglish
half-Ьrеd stаllion аnd a Norman marе. Nonius was сapturеd
during thе Napoleoniс wаrs аnd taken to Hungаry whеrе he
sirеd 15 outstаnding stallions fгom a variety of marеs, inсlud-
ing Arabian, ЕIolstein, Lipizzaner and Anglo-Noгman. The
Ьreеd flouгished and Ьесame very populаr and todаy is a good
riding or сarriаgе horsе of medium to hеalry wеight, standing
anything from 14.2 to l6h.h. It is a lаtе dеvelopеr аnd is,
сonsequendy, a hoгse of some longevity. Thе usual сolours
arе blaс( brown and Ьaу and it is a tough, сompaсt horsе, of
equable temperamеnt' еqually suitаblе for agтiсultural work
and сompеtitivе spoгts.

The Shagya Arabian

A Nonius The Shagya Arabian is not, sшiсtly spеaking, a .pure' Aтab
stтain sinсе somе of thе foundation marеs wеre of dubious
dеsсent. The bгеed tаkеs its name from a Syrian horsе,
Shagya, who wаs importеd to thе BaЬolna Stud along with
seveгal other Aгabs in 1836 for rеstoсking purposеs, and
beсаme a vеry prеpotеnt sirе. Like Shagya, many of the
modегn horsеs аre grеy, and thе bгееd possesses thе usual
Aгabiаn сhаraсtеristiсs and temperamеnt, with аn avеragе
height of l5 h.h. Although thе Shagya is prinсipally аn а1l-
purposе riding hoгse, it is also usеd in harnеss.

Ausшia
The Lipizzanеr
This brееd is notеd foг its doсility and intеlligеnсе аnd has
bесomе world fаmous for its сonnесtion with thе Spanish
Riding Sсhool of Viеnna. Thе modеrn LipЙzаner шасеs
baсk to the Spanish Andaluсiаn horses importеd into Yugo-
slаvia by thе Arсhdukе Chагles who foundеd a stud аt Lipizzа
in 1580. The stud сontinuеd to import Spanish horsеs цntil
thе sevеntееnth сentury Ьut as the importation of Spanish
stoсk began to dwindle othеr blood wаs intтoduсеd' notablу
that of thе Arabian stallion, Siglalу. Today Lipizzanеrs arе
brеd in Austгia, at thе famous Pibеr Stud whiсh suppliеs thе
Spanish Riding Sсhool, аnd in sеveгal Еast Еuropеan сoun-
tries, partiсulaгly Yugoslavia and Czесhoslovаkia. As a
Ьгееd, thеу arе сompaсt horsеs, with strong baсks and quаr-
tеrs and short, strong lеgs. Thеy rеaсh an аverage hеight of
aгound 15 to 15.2h.h., and the pгеdominant сolour is grеy,
although somе bays and browns oссuг. Mаny Lipizzaпet
foals are born blaсk or brown and takе a long timе _ some-
timеs up to tеn yеаrs _ to асquiте thеir gтеy сoats. Bесausе
they maturе slowly' Lipizzanеrs аre often aЬle to work in their
twеntiеs аnd, Ьesidеs Ьeing used for high-sсhool work, they
makе eхсеllеnt саrriage horsеs. Its doсile tеmpеrаment
makes t}re Lipizzaner an ideal horsе for сrossing with othег,
more higЫy-strung breeds
ТЪе }ioriker
.-:- \..гikеr. oт South Germаn Cold Blood' takеs its nаmе
: ].- .lе statе of Noгiсum, whiсh formеd part of thе Roman
=.--:jе аnd сoгrеspondеd rougЫу in outlinе to modеrn
-.
-j:,а. The Norikеr is proЬaЬly dеsсеnded from the tough
-!'_--: Lf;тtlе Haflingdisuiсtof Austria, butowеs its prеsеnt
.: _ 16 тo |6.2 h.h. _ to lateг infusions of Neapolitan, Buг-
:-:]:.:;.1 аnd Spanish Ьlood. Thе tеrm Norikеr now inсludеs
-_. ?.:zgаuеr' a spottеd horsе whiсh was foгmеrly designаted
i :.i]:-]i€ brееd. Thе present-dаy Norikеr is a sure-footеd
--t--i-::.: horse of еquaЬle tеmpеramеnt, with а Ьroаd сhest,
-,. . ;- hеаd sеt on а short, thiсk nесk, good fееt and сlean legs.
].:-:::niaant сolours are Ьay and сhеstnut and the Ьreеd is
' -: irroughor]t South Gеrmany as wеll as in Austriа. It is
''... s:iiеd foт work in thеsе
--
mountainous rеgions and сarе-
iсlэсrion of stallions _ weight pulling' walking aпd trot-
. _. -:-ls must bе undergonе bеfore a stallion maу stand аt
___
- еnsurеS that thе standard of the Ьгееd is maintainеd
.: _ l:frol.еd.

бulgarla
тl

lГhе Danubian
.--. ::ееd hаs Ьееn devеlopеd this сenrury at thе statе stud
:.-. lP1еr-en, by putting Nonius stаllions to Anglo-AraЬ
. ,.;s Тhе result is a good typе of half-Ьred whiсh, although
: - . : зutstanding quality, сannot Ье сonsidеred .сommon].
.-.. .'.l 'оlaсk or a dаrk shаdе of сhеstnut, thе DаnuЬiаn is a
-.::.:;.i horsе stаnding about 15.2h.h., with a sшong nесk,
:, .o =i1 quarters' and a deеp body, set on сomparativеly
...::;: 1еgs. Strong and aсtive, thе Danubian is usеd Ьoth аs
. .=.зht аnd saddle horsе, but its pеrformaпсе in thе lattеr
. |: .s i:npгovеd when сrossеd with thе ThoroughЬrеd.

Тhе Еаst Bulgarian

:,-t: оriginallу on Тhoroughbrеф Arab аnd half-brеd
-..,.. jle Еast Bulgarian tуpе was fixеd in the еarly twеntieth
- ::.. ---. sinсе whеn onlу ThoroughЬrеd blood has bееn used
' .: .::lаding. Although' in сommon with many othеr Еuro-
o =:- :...armblood horsеs, this Ьreеd is still expeсted to work on
.
Noriker P|еven V
-:; -.:.J аs wеll as undеr saddlе' it is suссеssful in сompеti-
: !.огts as divеrsе as dressagе and steеplесhasing. In
:i::Ё:iаnсe it is not unlikе a good stamp of Anglo-Arab, with
. .:.::hI faсе. Stаnding цp to 16 h.h.' it is сhеstnut or blaсk
- :-.сur, with a good, сo-opеrativе tеmpеIamеnt and aсtivе
; ::.. Sеiесti.vе Ьreeding hаs brought aЬout improvеmеnts in
- : --:,mpеtilivе disсiplinеs, although the Еast Bulgariаn
-.i:---: сompaге, whеn it сomes to a шial of speеd' with thе
.-. :;,ushЬrеd.

lЪе Plеven
._.:-. ::еed, of reсеnt origin rеsulting from thе сrossing of
J _=.-аn .\лglo-Arabs with loсal Arab аnd сross-Ьrеd horses,
iii Dimitrov farm nеar Plеven'
i-] ]-1,.е1opеd at thе state-ownеd
_- ';hiсh it takеs its name. In thе еarly part of this сentuгy
' :-_
--_ _:.зeriаn Aгаb blood of the Gidran type was addеd аnd thе
]-_. т'аs dееmеd fixed in 1938, аlthough sinсе thеn somе
.:'.--.liу sе1есted Еnglish Thoroughbred blood has Ьееn
---:.-'е:сеd. Not surprisingly thе Plevеn has аn .AraЬy'
.l.-€:lаI1Ce; although it stands somewhat highег than thе
. i:::з=е .\raЬian, аt аround 15.2 h.h. It is сhеstnut in сolour,
.:- _ .. jrough it has a kindly tеmpеrament' it is none thе less а
-,'-:. spiтitеd ridе. As with thе Еast Bulgаriаn horsе, the
].:т::.;oaу still Ье еxpесtеd to sеrvе as a duаl-purposе animаl
l]: -:- somе
.Dешrg
arеas сan Ьe seеn doing light agriсulturаl work as
iii:-. ]s riddеn. Howеver its narural jumping аbility also
-:t:. jт a good сompеtitivе horse and the Ьest horsеs аrе
-!.: J.s show jumpers.
H0пsЕ BRЕEDS

Czесhoslovakia
The l(ladruЬer
The KladruЬeг is a big, upstanding horse similar in аppear-
anсе to the Andaluсian, with thе samе сonvеx shapе to the
faсe, but stаnding rather higheг tlrаn its Spanish antесеdеnt.
The Еmperoг Мaximilian II founded а stцd at KladгuЬy in
Bohеmia tn |572, using Spаnish foundаtion stoсk and the
horses bгed thеrе bесamе known as KlаdruЬers. They wеre
usеd for drawing thе impeгial сarriages. lVluсh inbrееding
took plaсе, although infusions of Nеapolitan blood wеre
madе from timе to timе and horsеs werе exсhangеd bеtwееn
the various statе stцds (all thе horses deгivеd, howevеr, from
Spаnish stoсk). It was not until тhе 1920s thаt the fiгst suс-
сessful сross was madе and this was with а Shagya AraЬiаn.
Ovеr thе lаst 50 yeaгs oг so the I(lафubеr, whiсh formеrly
stood аt an averаgе hеight of l8 h.h., hаs bесome smallеr and
сoггеspondingly more aсtivе. Thе avеragе hеight is now L6.2
to l 7 h.h. and аlthough it is still а harnеss horse, it is also usеd
to produсе сross-bгed гiding horses, whosе equable disposi-
tions makе them pаrtiсularly suited to dлеssаgе. Only grеу
аnd blaсk Klаdrubers havе bееn Ьгеd sinсе thе еaгly
A Kladruber ninеteеnth сеntцry and today the old Kladruby Stud pro-
duсеs only grеys, thе blaсks bеing kept at a nеaгby, Ьut
sepаratе, stud.

Switzеrland
The Einsiedler
Also somеtimes known as thе Swiss Anglo-Norman this is a
dual-purposе horsе сlosеly rеlatеd to *iе Anglo-Normаn. Its
nаmе dегives from thе stud of Klosteг Еinsiеdel. Thе aveгаgе
hеight is 15.3 to |6.2 h.h. and it is a veгsаtilе horsе, of good
tеmpеrament. Its aсtivе апd tтue pасes mаke a good аll-round
riding аnd driving horse, аnd a partiсulaгly good сavaф
mouпt. Thе сonformation is usuallу good, with plenty of
depth through the girф powеrful quaгters and stтong lеgs.
Any solid сolour is pеrmissible, thе most usual bеing сhest-
nut аnd bay.

The Franсhes.lvlonta$le
This smаll drаught horse originated in thе Jrша region of
Swiиerlanф whеn about aсеntury ago Anglo-Norman stаl-
lions wеrе imported and сrossеd with the loсаl mаrеs. Therе
mаy also havе Ьееn infusions of Еnglish half-brеd hunter аnd
Ardеnnеs blood during thе early days of thе bгeеd. Sinсе
thеn, howеver, thе brеed hаs гemainеd rеmarkablу puгe.
Being small, aсtivе and vегy surе-footеd, it is idеally suited to
Freiberger Y work on the hill fаrms and is a very popular agтiсultuгal
A ЕinsiedIer horsе. At one timе it was also muсh in demаnd as a militаry
drаught hoгsе. It is a hеаvily-Ьuilt сob-type hoгse with а
poweгful body sеt on shoгt, stong lеgs and tlrе avегagе height
is агound 15 h.h. It invаriably possesses a good tеmperamеnt
and makes a vеry versatile work hoгsе. Any solid сolorцs arе
pегmissiblе.

Thе FreiЬеrgеr
Thе Fгеibеrgеr is a saddle horsе whiсh has beеn devеloped
сompаratively reсеIrtly at thе Avеnсhes Stцd in Switzerland.
It is bаsеd on thе сold-blood Fгanсhеs-Мontagne but hаs
Ьееn pгogгеssively upgтadеd by hеаvy iпfusions of Shagya
AтаЬian blood from Hungаrt's Babolna stud' and also some
Norman blooф so that today it shows morе Arabiаn сhаraс-
tеristiсs thаn Frаnсhеs-Montagne. It is an atшaсtivе riding
horse standingI5.2to 16h.h. with аn AraЬian-looking hеad,
good shouldегs аnd quarters, short Ьaс\ deеp girth and
stтong lеgs with plепty of bonе. It is an aсtive, intelligent
horse possеssed of gгеat stаmina.

54
 н0вsE вRЕEDS

Poland
Thе Мalapolski
A rесently dеvеlopеd bгeed сontaining а good dеal of oriеntal
Ьlooф the Malapolski is similar to thе \0Иielkopolski, but
lightеr. It is brеd mainly in the south-wеst of Poland and has
similar regional vаriаtions to thе \0Иielkopolski. Thе
Мalapolski is Ьasiсally a quаlity гiding horsе, aveгaging
15h.h., although thе Sadесki whiсh may bе Ьiggeг' is also
strong еnough to undеrtаke light draught work. An ехсep-
tionally sound horsе, with grеat stamina аnd an equaЬlе
tеmpеramеnt, any solid сolouг is pегmissiblе.

The Polish Arab

Arаbian horsеs havе bееn brеd in Poland sinсе thе mid-
sixtеentlr сentury. During thе Turkish wars horsеs of Еast-
егn oгigin, inсluding purе-brеd Arabs, werе сaptuгed by thе
Polеs and, latеr, Polish bгееders importеd morе Еastеrn
stoсk. Over ttrе years еxported Polish Arabs hаvе had a pro-
found еffесt on othеr ArаЬ-breeding сountгiеs.

A Wielkooolski
Thе Sokolsky
A powerful light dлaught horsе of norttr-eаst Polаnd, this
bгeеds sound сonsтitution and very есonomiсal fееding
habits hаvе made it popular as а fаrm workеr. It is now bred in
фе U.S.S.R. as well as in Poland. It hаs а rathеr lаrgе hеad'
notably good, sloping shouldеr, and а shortish body, сaгтied
on shoгt, strong, сlеan lеgs. Thе tеmpегament is сalm аnd
='
patiеnt and it is a haгd-working animаl. Thе аvегagе hеight is
15 to 16h.h. and thе prеdominant сolour сhеstnrrt.

The Wielkopolski
lVielkopolski is а сomposite nаme for what usеd to bе two
sеParate breеds, фе Poznan and the ]Vlаsuгеn. Thе Poznan
сontainеd AraЬ, Hanovеrian аnd Thoroughbred blood аnd
thе .lVlаsurеn was based on тtre Trakеhnеr. Although all the
Polish .warm-bloods' aге now known аs lDИiеlkopolskis, thosе
brеd in сertаin arеas агe still rеgarded as bеing of spесifiс
types. Thе \DИiеlkopolski is a good quality тiding horse stand-
ing around 16 h.h., of sound сonstitution and sensiblе tеmp-
erament. It is а notably good movеr and сan bе both гiddеn
аnd dтivеn. Any solid сolouг is pеrmissible.

A Po|ish Aгаb |tа|ian Heavy Draught V

Italy
The Italiаrr Heavy Draught
A medium sizе drаught horsе, standing 15 to-16h.h., thе
Itаlian Heavy Draught hoгse usеd to be an еxtrеmеly populаr
agгiсultural woгker but hаs, in thеse days of inсrеasing
meсhаnizаtion' сome to bе bгеd morе and morе for mеаt. It is
an асtive horsе, bred thгoughout сеnшаl аnd norttrern Italy
аnd has Brеton аnсеstry. It is oftеn a vеry stгiking dark livеr
сhestnut with flaxеn mаne and tail, although otlrer сolours
(notably roаn and сhesmut) do oссur. Thе hеad is finе foг so
heavy a horsе, and is set on a shoгtneсk. othег сharaсtеristiсs
але a dеep сhеst аnd girtlr, a сompaсt body and strong quar-
tегs, witlr fееt tеnding to Ье boxy.

The iVlaremmana
A rathеr сoпlrnon heavy saddlе or light drаught horse, tlre
Мaremmana is indigеnous to Italy. Its сhiеf usеs arе аs a
mount foг tlre Italiаn mountеd poliсе and for thе Itаlian сattlе
heгdsmen, тhe buttеri. It is a hаrdy horsе and аn есonomiсal
fесder, standing about 15.3h.h., and as a good stеadyworker
it makеs а usеful faгm hoгse. Any solid сolours arе peгmis-
sible.
55
 The lllurgese
Thе modеrn Мurgese horsе, whiсh takes its namе from the
fаmous horse-Ьrеeding rеgion of Nlurgе nеar Puglia, dates
from thе 1920s, the old Ьrееd having died out 200 yеars ago. It
is a light dгаught or riding horse in whiсh oriеntal blood is
obviously prеsеnt' although this саnnot bе positively iden-
tifiеd. The avеragе hеight is 15 to 16h.h. and thе usuаl
сolouт, сhеstnut. Whеn Мurgеsе mares arе put to
Thoroughbгеd and Arab stallions thеy produсе a good stamp
of riding horsе.

The Salerno
A good saddle horse brеd in thе Мaremmа and Salerno dis-
triсts, this brееd was formеrlу thе favourite mount of the
Italian сavalry. Standing аbout 16 h.h., it is a sеnsiblе horsе
possеssеd of intеlligenсе and jumping ability and although
thеrе is now less dеmand for сavalry mounts it still finds
favour as an all-round riding horse. It trасеs Ьасk to thе
Nеapolitan and is a horsе of good сonformation. Anу solid
сolour is pегmissiblе.

A Dutсh Draught

Thе Nеtherlands
The Dutсh Draught
This hеalry draught horsе has beеn dеvеlopеd sinсe thе First
Woгlсi \DИаг spесifiсallу as а suitаblе horse for working on
both thе sand and сlay lands of agriсultural Hollаnd.
Zea7and-tуpe mаres werе сhosеn and сrossеd with Brabant
stаllions аnd latеr with Bеlgian Ardеnnеs. Thе resultant
Dutсh Draught is а massivеlу built horsе that сloselу rе-
sеmblеs the Brabant. Despitе its weight it is an aсtivе holsе,
with a kind disposition, grеat stamina and quitе а turn of foot
whеn rеquired. It stands up to 163 h.h. and its сolouring is
usuаllу сhеstnut, bay or grey.

The Friesian
Thе Friеsian is onе of Еuropе's oldеst brееds, and takеs its
namе from Friеsland, whеrе а hеar,ry horsе еxistеd as far Ьaсk
as 1000 вс. Throughout thе sеventееnth сеntцry' thе
Friesian was muсh sought аfter as a wеight-сarrying saddle
horsе. Thеn thе populaгity of trotting raсеs in thе ninetееnth
сenrury' сouplеd with thе Friеsian's ffotting prowess, lеd to
thе produсtion of a lightеr, fаster horsе lеss suited to the
agriсultural work hithеrto requirеd of it. As a rеsult thе Ьrееd
wеnt into somethifig of a dесline. Foгtunately a brеeding plan
A wаs adoptеd just in timе and with the aid of importеd Oldеn-
Friеsia n
Gelderland V burg stallions thе brееd was revivеd. Today it is flourishing.
Thе Friesian is attrасtivе, and swеet naturеd, аnd its willing-
ness and aсtive paсе mаkе it an idеаl all-round working horsе.
It also finds muсh fаvour аt horsе shows and in сirсusеs.
Smаll in staturе' standing around 15 h.h.' it is сompaсt and
musсular, wittr a fine hеаd, strong body, short legs with somе
feаthеr on the hееls, and hаrd feet. Thе сolour is еxсlusivеlу
Ьlaсk, with no whitе markings.

The Gеlderland
This populаr horsе traсеs baсk to the lаst сentury whеn а
variety of imported stallions, notably Norfolk Roadstеrs and
Arabs, wеre mated with nativе males in thе Geldеrland pro-
vinсе to produсе an upstanding саrriаgе horsе. Latеr, Еasl
Friеsian, Oldenburg and Haсknеy blood was addеd and in
this сеntury infusions of Anglo-Norman Ьlood havе bееn
madе. Thе modern Geldеrland is a stтong, aсtivе sort, stand.
ing about 15.2 h.h., usually сhеstnut or grеy in сolour, witЪ
skеwbаlds making an oссasional appеaranсе. As wеll as
Ьеing а first-сlass саrriagе horsе, with its great pтеsеnсe and
еyе-сatсhing aсtion' it сan also make a usеful riding horsе
Some Geldеrlаnds also make good jumpеrs.

56
Тhe Groningen
Similar in appеaranсе to thе oidеnburg from whiсh it
cеrivеs, thе Groningеn is now a vеry гaIе breеd. It was pro-
duсed by сrossing Fтiеsians, Еast Friеsians аnd oldеnЬurgs
and thе rеsцlt was an attraсtive сarriage horsе standing 15.2
гo 16 h.h., with grеat dеpth of girth and powerful quartеrs and
shouldeгs set on shoft' strong lеgs. An есonomiсаl fееdеr, it
is a horsе of sound сonstitution and еquablе tеmperamеnt.
Thе usual сolours arе Ьlaсk, dаrk brown and bay.

т).1
.E erglum
:-_...

The Bеlgian Ardennes

Тhe modern Ardеnnеs hoтsе is thought to bе thе dеsсеndаnt
оf the draught hoIsеs praisеd by Julius Cаеsar in!:,is Dе Bello
Gаllico. It hаs in molе lесent timеs reсеivеd infusions of
Brabant (Bеlgiаn Неavy Dгaught) blood. Standing up to
aЬout l5.3 h.h., it is а сompaсt, hеavily-Ьuilt horsе, with а
lvidе' dееp сhеst, a big Ьroad hеad and a huge Ьarrеl сarried
on short' massivеly-built lеgs. Thеre is a pronounсed сrеst to
thе nесk and thе lеgs сarry а good dеal of feathеr. Prеdomin-
аnt сolours arе Ьay, roan and сhеstnut. It has an еxсеptionallу
gеntle tеmperamеnt' and makes a willing dтaught horsе, wеll
suited to hillу сountrу. (Sее also thе Frеnсh Ardеnnаis.)

The BraЬant (Belgian Heavy Draught)

originally known as the Flandеrs horsе, йе BraЬant, or
Bеlgian Healry Draught ЕIorsе, is thе produсt of сеnturiеs of
sе].есtivе brеeding. Today thе Brabant stands betwееn 16.1
аnd 17 h.h. аnd is usually rеd гoаn or сhеstnut, although
grеys, duns, bays and browns still oссur. It is a handsomе,
powerful horsе, with a short Ьaсk' dееp girth and short 1еgs
lr'ith a good dеаl of fеathеr. Thе hеad is squarе and small in
proportion to the Ьody. A willing, good-tempеrеd draught
horsе, with a notаbly aсtivе wаlk, ovеI thе yеars, the Brabant
has had muсh influenсе on othеI Еuropеan hear,ry hoтses.
A Brabant North Swedish V

The Dole Trotter

Тhе DФle Trottеr is а somеwhat lightеr offshoot of thе
Dбle-GudЬrandsdal pony. It stаnds about 15 h.h., somеtimes
а little highеr, Ьut rеtains thе ponу appearanсе of thе DФlе'
Тrotting stallions have Ьеen сrossеd with DФlе marеs to
lеr,еlop thе aсtivе trot сhаraсtеristiс of thе ponу and thе
геsultant trottеr is a tough, aсtivе individual that pеrforms
rr'еl1 in harnеss.

The North Swedish

.\л aсtivе, medium-sizеd hеavy horsе tгaсing bасk to the
nativе holsе of the region, this brееd is сlosеlу геlatеd to thе ёз
Dсilе pony of Norwaу. It is a powerful horsе with a laтgе head,
short nесk, long, dееp bodу, shoтt, strong lеgs with plenty of
.эonе
and good, lively, long-sшiding aсtion. Of rеnownеd
1ongеvity and kind tempеramеnt, it is also еxсеptionally
геsistant to еquine disеase. The latter, сouplеd with thе faсt
that it is an есonomiсal fееdеr, mаkеs it a popular horsе for
rvorking on thе farmland and in thе forеsts. Thе usual сol-
ouls arе dun, brown, сhеstnut and Ьlасk and the averаgе
hеieht 15.l to 15.3 h.h.
>/
 The North Swedish Trotter
The trottеr is of thе samе Ьreеd, buт a lighter version of the
North Swеdish ЕIorsе аnd is thе result of sеlесtivе brееding
within thе brеed to dеvеlop thе nаtuгal шotting ability. It hаs a
short neсk, longish Ьody, thе sloping сroup сharасtеristiс of
ttrе trotting horsе, short lеgs with some feаthеr and а thiсk
manе and ail. Thе stride is long and aсtivе аnd although the
bгееd сannot Ьe сompared wittr thе Amеriсan Stаndаrdbrеd
and Еuгopeаn шotting horses it is a popular hаrness
rасehorsе. It stands about 15.1 to 15.3h.h. and is usuаlly
blасk, brown, сhеstnut, Ьay or dun.

The Swеdish Ardennes

This heavy draught horsе wаs brеd from importеd Bеlgian
A Swedish Ardennes Ardеnnes horsеs сrossеd with thе North Swеdish llorsе'
Swedish Wаrm B|ood V аfter thе fust Bеlgian Ardennеs had beеn inшoduсеd into
Swеdеn about а hundгеd years ago. A fixed typе was quiсkly
developеd with thе Ardеnnеs bесoming thе dominating
influеnсe. Месhanization has led to а deсline in numЬеrs in
reсent yеars but the Swedish Ardеnnеs is still а muсh liked
horse Ьoth in its сountry of origin and in thosе сountries
whiсh havе impoгted it. Thе avеragе height is 15.2 to 16 h.h.
аnd thе usual сolouгs Ьlасk, bаy, сhеstnut and brown. It is a
good-nаturеd hoгsе, quiеt to handle Ьut еnеrgetiс in its paсеs,
with а сrested nес\ and a dееp and vеry musсulаr Ьody,
whiсh is sеt on short, sшong legs саrrying littlе feаthеr.

The Swedish Warm Blood

Thе Swedish \UИarm Blood is a saddlе horsе of somе quality,
аnd the rеsult of seleсtivе Ьreеding going baсk for some 300
years. In the еarly years, Spanish, Friesiаn and oгiеntаl blood
wаs imported аnd morе reсеntly infusions of Thoroughbrеd,
Arab, Ilanovегian and Trakеhnеr havе bееn mаde. It is a
strong' sound riding horsе of good tеmpегament and good
сonfoгmation with plеnty of depth through thе giтth and
short strong lеgs. It makеs a very good сompеtition hoгsе and
has a pаrtiсular aptitude for drеssage. Stаnding about
1'6.2h.h. and usually up to a fаir amount of wеight, а11 solid
сolours arе pеrmissible.

Dеnmark
V Frederiksboгg
The Frederiksborg
King Frederik II sеt up the Royаl Frederiksborg Stцd in
1562, stoсking it with Andаluсiаns impoгtеd from Spain.
Later Nеapolitan, Еastern and British Ьlood was addеd and
thе Fredегiksboгg was dеvеlopеd. It bесame a higЫy
estееmеd militаry сhaгgеr as wеll as being сonsidеred a good
sсhool horsе in thе days ofthе grеаt Еuropеan riding sсhools.
It has also always Ьееn цsеd for light haгness work аnd today
still fulfils the duаl rolеs of drаught and riding horsе. King
Frеderil{s stцd no longer eхists, having сlosеd its doors in
1839, following the injudiсious sаlе of muсh of its Ьest stoсk
foг thе purpose ofupgrading othеr breeds. But privatе brееd-
еrs hаvе kept the Fгеderiksborg alive and today it is found а1l
over Denmаrk. It is a strong' асtivе hoгse of mеdium height
(аround 15.3 h.h.) with partiсularly powеrful shouldеrs and
сhest, and good limЬs with plеnty of bone. The faсе is oftеn
сonvеx in outlinе, showing it to be a horsе of Spаnish oгigin
and the pгеdominant сolour is сhеstnut. Its good tеmPеrа-
mеnt makes it а very usеful working horsе.

The Jutland
The Jutland horsе takes its nаmе from the island of Jutland
and hаs еxisted foг somе thousаnd уеаrs. In the Middlе Agеs
it was usеd to сarry thе hеavily-armouгed knights of thе
pеriod into batdе. The modern brеeф grеatly influenсed Ьy a
Suffolk stаllion саllеd oppеnheim LХII who was еxportеd
58
 H0RsE BRЕЕDs

from Britаin to Dеnmaгk in 1860' is a hеavy dтaught horse of

massive proportions. It has great depтh of сhеst and girth аnd
shoгt, fеаtherеd lеgs, аnd avеrаgеs 15.2 to 16 h.h., but in spitе
of its еnoгmous strеngth' thе Jutland is а vеry gеntlе animal,
сo-opеrativе and eаsy to handlе when working. It is unfortu-
natеly on thе dесline owing to inсrеаsed meсhanization аnd а
сonsеquent lessening of demand for good dтaughт hoгsеs.
Thе prеdominаnt сolour is сhestnut, Ьut roans, Ьays and
blaсks aге also sееn.

Thе KnaЬstrup
Thе Knabsшup trасеs baсk to a spottеd marе сallеd
Flaеbеhoppеn who, in 1808 wаs put to a FrеderiksЬorg stal-
lion and foundеd а linе of spottеd, lightеr-built horsеs. In
гесеnt timеs thе ассеnt in brеeding hаs beеn on сoаt pattегn
гathег thаn good сonformation and it is douЬtrul whеther the
Knabstrup as а brееd аny longеr exists, although thеrе аrе
spottеd horses similaг to it still in Dеnmаrk. Standing at
аbout 15.3 h.h., it was partiсularly popular as a сirсus horsе.

l t
Е.
^I1ПlДПo
Thе Finnish
The orr1у offrсially rесognized brееd of horse in Finlаnd, тlre
Finnish hoгse is dеsсеnded from two сlosеlу rеlаtеd brееds,
the Finnish Dгаught and thе Finnish lJniversal. Thеsе two
Ьгeеds сontаin а mixtцrе of many warm and сold-blood typеs
whiсh wеrе impoгtеd into Finlаnd аnd сгossеd with the
сountds native poniеs. The pгеsent-daу Finnish horsе is a
good all-roundеr, being used as а dгaught horsе and under
saddle and ехсelling at suсh diversе oссupations аs timbег
hauling аnd trotting гасеs. Trotting is very popular in Fin-
lаnd аnd thе bеst trotters arе thе геsult of selесtivе brееding.
Thе Finnish hoгsе stands up to 15.2 h.h. and is a strong sort
with good bonе, usuаlly сolourеd сhеstnut, Ьаy, Ьrown аnd
Ьlaсk. Having bеen brеd pгimaгily with pеrformаnсe in mind
hе is a little laсking in quаlity but although hе laсks in looks
hе gains in staying powег, tеmperаmеnt and сonstitution.

A Finnish Knabstrup V

*-n
н0RsЕ вRЕЕDs

ar
Dpaln
The Andaluсian
This famous old brееd traсеs baсk, at least to thе Мoorish
oссupation of Spain, whеrt Barbs fгom North Afriсa wеre
introduсеd to the Ibеrian peninsulа. The horsе whiсh
rеsultеd from thе mingling of thе indigenous stoсk with thе
invadеrs' BarЬs was to bесome the forеmost horsе of Еuropе
and remainеd so until thе еightееnth сеntury. It had a grеat
influenсe on othеr Еuropean brеeds, most notably the Lipiz-
zanеr. Cordoba was a vеry еаrlу сentre of organizеd brееding
and rеmains onе of the prinсipal сеntrеs todaу along with
Sеvillе and Jerez. As far bасk as the fifteenth сentury thе
Carthusian monks of Jеrеz weгe dеvoting theiг attеntion, and
сonsiderablе mеans, to thе brееding of horsеs with grеat
purity of bloodlines. Thе Andaluсian is а very strong and
асtive horsе of еnormous prеsеnсe' and it сombinеs agility
and firе with a very doсilе tеmpеrament. Usuallу white, gгеy
or Ьaу, it has a luxuriant manе аnd tail and spесtaсular,
high-stеpping aсtion. It stands аbout 15.2h.h.

The Hispano (Spanish Anglo-Arаb)

The Hispano or Spanish Anglo-Arаb is thе result of putting
Spanish Arаb mагеs to Еnglish Thoroughbrеds. Suсh
matings have produсеd an attraсtivе saddle horsе with morе
higЫу pronounсed Arabian сhaгaсteristiсs than the avеragе
Anglo-Arab. It stands аЬout 16 h.h. and is usuаlly bаy, сhest-
nut or grey. Its attгibutеs of intеlligenсе, grеat сourаgе and
agility have madе it popular as a сompetition horsе in еvегy
branсh of еquеsшian sport. It is аlso usеd аs a mount in тtrе
асoso у dеrribo сontеsts in whiсh ridеrs test thе fighting bulls
by Ьringing thеm down with а tfuust from а long pole. Thе
horsеs used in this ехеrсise nееd to bе еxtrеmеly athletiс, for
thе mole spiritеd bulls will rise and сharge thеir аssаilаnts at
A Andaluсian
Alter-Real V somе speеd. Dеspitе bеing a spiritеd animаl, the Hispano is
of a vеry шасtаblе disposition.

ortugal
.l
r.
т)

The Alter-Real
This horsе is Ьаsed on thе Andaluсiаn and is similar to it in
appеaranсe. It originаtеd in the mid еighteеnth сеnftlry at thе
Vilа de Portеl Stud in Poгtugal's Alentejo Provinсе, whiсh
imported somе 300 mаrеs from thе Jеrеz rеgion of Spain. The
Ьrееd flourished, and was muсh in demand as an hаute ёсole
horsе, until thе Nаpoleoniс invasion of 1821 when the stud
was saсkеd bу thе Frеnсh and the stoсk dispersеd. In subsе-
quеnt yеаrs thе remaining Alters wеre сrossеd with a motlеy
сollесtion of horses ranging ftom Arаbs to ЕIanoverians. It
wаs not until thе bеginning of the twеntiеth сentцry that
stеps werе taken to rеintoduсе Andaluсian blood and rе-
еstаblish thе formеr typе. The Altеr hаs survived thеse
viсissitudes аnd is still today a.good saddlе hoгsе espесiallу
suited to hаutе ёcolе, although with its diffiсult' high-strung
tеmpelаmеnt it nееds саreful handling. Thе асtion has gтeat
еlеvation and, as a rеsult, lасks еxtension. It is a сompaсt
horsе, standing 15 to 16h.h., usually bay or brown' somе-
timеs grеy.

The Lusitаrro
Vеry likе thе Andaluсian in appеаranсe, thе Lusitano is an
old Ьrеed of obsсцre origin Ьut probaЬlу сontaining Andalц-
сiаn аnd oriеntal Ьlood. It is a good looking' сompaсt horse
with аn alert еxprеssion and a wavy mаnе and tail. Thе
avеragе hеight is 15 to 16h.h. аnd thе pгеdominаnt сolour
grеу. An intelligеnt, agilе horse of grеаt сourаge, it was
formеrly in demand аs a сavаlry horsе аnd is today muсh
prizеd in thе bullгing. The Poгtuguеse mountеd bullfightеrs,
 H0RsE BRЕEDls

known as rеjonеadorеs, rеquirе higЫy sсhoolеф аthlеtiс

mounts, sinсе thе еntirе fight is сaгriеd out on horsеbaсk.
Unlikе the sorry speсimеns usеd by piсadors in thе Spanish
bullfight, thе rеjеonеado1s horsе is a vеry vаluaЬlе animal,
trained to a high dеgrее in hаute ёсole.

NORTH AмЕRIсA

u.s.A.
The AlЬino
A1bino is a type of сolouring whiсh сan oссur in horsеs
anуwhеrе in thе woгld, just as it oссuгs in oтhеr сreаtures. In
Amегiсa, however, Albinos are Ьrеd dеliЬeratеly and arе frе-
quеntly сonsiderеd а distinсt Ьrееd, although some pеoplе
would arguе that thеy arе a сolour type rаther thаn а breеd.
Sеlесtivе breеding has сеrtainlу takеn plaсе in фе Stаtеs A Albino
sinсе thе beginning of thе twеntieth сеntuгy and Albino Ameriсan ouаrter Hoгse V
сolouring is rеgularly асhievеd. Thе сharaсtеristiс palе сol-
ouring of thе AlЬino is thе rеsult of a сongеnital lасk of
pigmеntation whiсh produсеs pink skin, a puге whitе сoat,
and very often palе-сoloцrеd еyеs. lDИhilе undouЬtеdly being
an eyе-саtсhing horse, the Albino is suЬjесt to сеrtаin disad-
vаntagеs as a rеsult of its сolouring. The skin tеnds to bе
sensitivе to thе sun аnd thе vision is oftеn weak and may evеn
Ье defесtive. As a гesult mаny horsеmеn avoid аnirnals of
sцсh сolouring. Thе Ameriсan Albino is said to bе
old I(ng who is thought to
dеsсеndеd from onе siте сallеd
havе сontainеd Мoгgan and AraЬ Ьlood. Apart from their
uniquе сolouring, Albinos havе no vеry mаrkеd сharaсtеris-
tiсs аnd may bе a variеty of sйеs and shapes.

The Ameriсan Quarter florse

Thе Amеriсаn Quartеr ЕIoгse is Noгth Amеriсa's most popu-
g.={- -i
lar Ьrееd and onе whiсh has bееn exported to сountтies
throughout the world. It was devеlopеd by еarlу Еnglish
сolonists in Viгginia and thе Carolinas аnd is thе result of
сrossing mаrеs of Spanish dеsсеnt with imported Еnglish
stallions. Thе breed wаs used as an all-purposе riding and
hаrnеss horsе Ьut was also rасеd ovег short distanсеs. Thе
improvйеd rасе traсks usuаlly сonsistеd of rough paths
сlеarеd out of undеrgrowth, although thе main villagе sшeеt
oftеn sеrvеd as а сonvеniепt venue for гaсеs. The Quaгtеr
ЕIoгse took its name from the quаrtеr-milе sprints in whiсh it
сompеtеd аnd at whiсh it was so аdеpt. Vhеn Thoroughbred
raсing ousted thе Quaпеr ЕIorsе vaгiety, the breed was moгe
and morе used аs а сow pony and ovеr thе years dеvеlopеd a
remarkаble instinсt foг hеrding and сutting out сattlе. In
reсеnt times howevеr tlrere has Ьеen a Ьig revival of intегest
in Quartеr Horsе raсing ovег short distanсеs and thе futцrе of
thе brееd sеems assurеd. It is аn attraсtive' сompaсt hoгsе of
kind disposition and good сonformation' with massivе, pow-
еrful quarteгs' strong shouldеrs, and a shoгt, musсular baсk.
The avеrage hеight is aboцt 15.2 h.h. and any solid сolour is
peгmissiblе, аlthough сhestnut is prеdominant. Its intеlli-
gеnсe аnd grеat agility makе it an еxсeptionally good mount
for working сattle or as a popular all-purposе plеasuге horsе.

A Ameriсan Sadd|e Hoгse
A Ameгiсan Standаrdbгeo
Appа|oosa
The Ameriсan Saddle l{orse
An еlegant saddle horsе, originаlly known аs the Kеntuсky
Sаddlеr, this breеd was dеvеloped by thе Kentuсky plаntation
ownеrs of thе ninetееnth сеnп'rry who neеdеd a horse that
tеmpеramеnt аnd grеat stamina. Todaу the Amеriсan Saddle
}rorse is Ьrеd primarily for the show гing whеre hе сan
сompеte in threе typеs ofсlasses: in light harnеss' as a thrее-
gaited sаddlеr or as a fivе-gaitеd saddlеr. In the light harness
ехtravagant' elеvаted асtion Ьelovеd of its аdmirers. Thе
.slow-gait' is a pranсing
movеmеnt in four timе, whi-le thе
.raсlc is its
full-speed equivalent. Thе Saddlе Еrorsе hаs a
small, еlegant heаd set on a long, musсulaг neсk, аnd strong
shoulders, bасk аnd quartеrs. The legs are strong and m,,sс,,-
1аr. Thе showу appеarаnсe of thе horsе is ассеntuatеd bу thе
аrtifiсiаlly high tаil сaгriagе (obtаinеd Ьy niсking 1hе doсk
musсlеs and sеtting thе tail in а сruppеr); and vаrious othеr
meаns, suсh as growing the fееt long, and fаstеning weights
round thе сoronеt to dеvеlop the еxtravagant асtion. Prеdo-
minant сolours аre bay, Ьrown' сhеstrrut and Ьlaсk and the
аverage height is 15 to 16h.h.
The Amеriсan Standаrdbred
Onе of thе worlds finеst harness гaсеhorses, thе Stan-
dardbrеd originatеd in Ameriса nеarly 200 years ago. It traсеs
baсk to an importеd Еnglish Thoгoughbred, Меssеngеr, who
wаs сrossеd with thе Nаrгagansеtt pасer' a type of horsе
deriving from hoгsеsof Dutсh origin taken to thе Nеw World
by йе еarly settlеrs. lVlеssenger, who wаs a dеsсendant of thе
Darley Aгabiаn, pгoduсed progеny with mаrkеd trotting abil-
ity аnd it wаs onе of his dеsсеndаnts, thе pгеpotеnt Hаmblе-
tonian, who was rеsponsible for Мessеnger bеing dеsignatеd
the brеeds foundation sire. Ninеtу ninе pеr сеnt of modегn
StandardЬrеds traсе baсk to four of HаmЬlеtonian's sons _
Gеoгgе !Иilkes, Diсtator' H"ppy Nlеdium and Еlесtionееr.
Thе tеrm StandardЬrеd dеrivеs from thе timе stаndаrd,
whiсh was adoptеd to tеst the аbility of haгnеss rасеrs beforе
V
sшaight. Мany Stаndardbrеds Ьoth trot аnd pасе (i.е. movе
the legs in laterаl' as opposеd to diagonal, pаirs) and those
whiсh show a naturаl tеndenсy to paсе at an еаr1у age arе
а large sсalе
had a grеat
orld. It is a
mеdium sizеd horse stаnding up to around I52 to 16 h.h. and
the pгеdominant сolours arе bay, Ьrown, blaсk аnd сhestnut.
The Appaloosa
This brееd of sаddlе horse originatеd in thе Palousе Valleу of
north-wеst Amеriса аnd wаs brеd by the Nez Pеrсе Indians
who inhаbitеd the vаlley цntil 1877. It is desсеnded from
horses taken to South Amеriсa by thе Spanish сonquistа-
dores during the siхteenth сentury. Thе Appaloosа is noted
for its spottеd сoаt whiсh may bе an аll-ovег spotted pattегn'
сonsisting und (lеopard);
light spots ; and spors on
the quаrtеr thеrvariations
inсludе marblе, fгost and white blankеt, the latter in faсt not
bеing spottеd at all, but сonsisting of whitе quartеrs and loins
on an oтtrегwisе dагk сoat. Thе usual ground сolour is roan
although any сolouг сomЬination whiсh fits onе of thе six
pаttеrn typеs mеntionеd is permissible. Thе skin of thе nosе,
lips and gеnitals of thе Appaloosа is mottled аnd thеrе is
whitе sсlеra round thе еyеs. The feеt aгe oftеn vertiсally
sшipеd and the manе and tail arе sparse. Thе Appaloosa is
one of thе most popular horsеs in Ameriса, аnd today finds
muсh favour as аn all-round saddle horsе. Bесause of its
rеmаrkаble сolouring it is muсh used as а сirсus and parade
hoгsе. It is а сompaсt horsе, standing up to аbout 15.2h.h.,
with notably powerful quartеrs. It is vегy agile, of eхсеption-
allу traсtaЬlе disposition, аnd possesses both spееd and
stamina. It also jumps well.

The }Iissouri Fox Trottеr A Missouri Fox тгotter

The Мissouri Fox Trottеr is desсendеd from Thoгoughbred,
Arab and Мorgan horsеs. Sеleсtivе inЬreеding pгoduсеd a
.fox-trot'
sаddle horsе with a pесuliar brokеn gаit сallеd the
from whiсh thе brееd tаkеs its name. Thе hoгsе wаlks brisklу
with its forefeet аnd trots with its hind fеet' and сan aсhiеvе
spееds of up to 16 km/h (10 mph). Thе gаit is a сomfortaЬlе
onе аnd thе horsе was originаlly usеd as an all-purpose
mount in the hill сountry of Мissouгi and Arkаnsas. It is a
strong' сompaсt horsе with an аttlaсtivе hеad, short strong
baсk and plеnty of dеpth through thе girth. Thе hеight сan bе
anything up to 16h.h. and any сolour, inсluding thе morе
еxotiс onеs suсh as palomino, аге permissiЬlе. In rесеnt yеars
infusions of Amеriсan Sаddle Horse and Tеnnеssеe liИalking
Horsе blood hаvе bееn addеd and thеrе arе today show
сlаssеs for this unusual breеd.

Thе ^Ulorgaп
This sшong littlе horse possеssеs gгеat physiсal stгength and
to this day takеs pаrt in the wеight-pulling сontеsts whiсh
madе Justin Мoгgan, thе brееd s foundation siте, famous.
}ustin Мorgan was named afteг his sесond ownег who
aсquirеd him towaгds thе еnd of the еightееnth сеntury. ЕIe is
thought to bе of Thoroughbrеd and ArаЬ exftaсtion' and it is
possible hе also hаd Wеlsh Ьlood in his vеins too. ЕIe was a
horsе ofquite inсrеdiblе еnduranсe, used as a farm horsе, in
harness аnd for timbеr hauling, and although he stood onlу
14 h.h. hе еxсеllеd in wеight-pulling сontеsts. In spite of his
hard working lifе hе bесamе a pгеpotеnt sirе and although the
modегn Мorgan has more rеfinеmеnt it is still notable for the
samе quаlitiеs that Justin Мorgan possеssеd. Today the A Morgаn
Мorgan stands up to 15.2h.h. аnd makеs an ideal аll-round Mustang V
plеаsurе horse. Of good сonformation, possessing strong
shouldеrs, short, strong lеgs, hard fееt and an аttraсtivе hеad
sеt on a musсular, сrеstеd neсk' it is frеquently shown both
undеr saddle and in harnеss. It is an еxсеptionally aсtive and
versаtilе horsе' with Ьoundlеss stamina and a kindly natlrrе.
The usual сolours аrе bav. сhеsmut. Ьrown аnd blaсk.

Thе Мustang
Тhe Мustang is a sсrub-typе of horse whiсh is dеsсеndеd
Гrom thе sixtееnth сеntuly сonquistаdorеs' horsеs. Some of
thеsе eithеr еsсaped or werе turnеd loosе, and suЬsеquеntly
Ьrеd and travellеd up into North Ameriсa via lyIеxiсo. As
thеsе wild hеrds inсrеasеd in number thеy sprеad through
many statеs and Ьесаmе favouritе mounts for the Indiаn
шibes. Thеу wеrе аlso usеd by the first sеttlеrs to matе with
their imported horses to providе фе foundation stoсk of vari-
cus breеds. Formеrly muсh used as сow poniеs, thеy havе
now largely bеen replaсеd by bеtter quality animals аnd thеir
numЬеrs have dесlinеd in гесеnt yеars. Thе brееd, howеvеr,
is protесtеd in some aгеas and is unlikеly to diе out entirely. It
is а small, inеlegаnt, lightwеight horsе, standing Ьеtwееn 14
rnd 15h.h. and possеssеs an inшaсtaЬlе tеmpеramеnt. It is
эхtremеlу haгdy and its уеars of foraging for itsеlf hаvе madе
it an есonomiсal fеeder. Al1 сoloцrs arе found.

6з
 The Pinto
Likе thе Albino, the Pinto is а сolour typе whiсh in Ameriса
is sеlесtively bred аnd is гесognized аs a distinсt Ьrееd. It
takеs its namе from thе Spanish word mеаning.painted and
is sometimes rеfегrеd to аs thе Paint Horsе. It is an аll-

ent types within thе Ьrееd: thе formеr is basiсаllу а daгk сoаt
with whitе patсhеs whilе thе lattеr is а white сoаt with dark
patсhеs. The overo is сonsidеred to Ье thе гesult of the
influеnсe of а reсеssivе gene and is found mostly in South
Amеriса while thе dominаnt Tobiаno gеne is rеsponsiblе for
thе type found in North Ameгiсa. Thе Pinto wаs a favourite
mount of the Indian triЬеs, sinсе its Ьrokеn сoat paftеrns
аffordеd good саmouflаgе. It аlso finds muсh popularity with
produсеrs of сowЬoy moviеs' Today it makеs а good аl1-
round riding horse thеrе is no vеry
definite stаmp of Pi med primaгily at
A Pinto produсing thе right цnifoгm size and
Tennessee WaIking Horsе V typе of horsе.

The Tennessee Walking нorse

One of Amеriсa's most populаr Ьrеeds this horsе wаs
devеlopеd Ьy the plantation owners ofthе south to сarry thеm
on inspесtion touгs of their lаnd. It wаs foгmerly known as
thе .Turn-Roц/ beсаuse of its ability to trаvel Ьеtweеn thе
rows of сrops
AraЬ, Thorou
thе making of
tion sire is a StandагdЬred, сalled Blaсk Allan, foalеd in 1 886.
Hе еvinсеd a preferеnсе for travеlling at the pесuliar four-
Ьеat gait that is half walk аnd hаlfгun and whiсh hаs beсome
the сhаrасtеristiс fеаturе of the Ьrеed. It is an еxсeptionаlly
сomfortaьlе pасе for thе ridеr and thе Tеnnеssеe \DИalkеr is
aсtually сlaimеd to Ье thе most сomfortable гidе in the world.
It is a notaЬly good-tempеred horsе, of good сonformation,
with partiсularly powerful shouldеrs and sшong limbs. It
stands аround 15 to 15.2h.h. аnd is usuallу blaсk, bay or
сhеstnut.

Меxiсo
Thе Native Мexiсan l{orse
This used for rаnсh wor\ for
V Cаnаdiаn сutting Horse
whiс еss mаke it idеally suitеd.
Like world it is dеsсеndеd from
Spаnish stoсk and so сonвins Andaluсian and Arab Ьlood. It
is аlso likely that thе wild Мustаng has plaуed a part in the
devеlopmеnt of the &lехiсan ЕIorsе. It stаnds about 15 h.h.,
mаy bе ofany сolour, аnd invariably has good bonе and fееt. It
is sometimеs usеd in the Мexiсаn bullrings whеге its handi-
ness and сouragе mаkе it an idеal mount.

Canada
The Canadian Cutting florse
This is the Canadiаn equivalеnt of thе Amеriсan Quartеr
lrorsе fгom whiсh it was dеvelopеd and whiсh it сlosеly
rеsemblеs in appеaranсe. It is an intеlligеnt horsе with an
сatt]е and its prowеss as а сutting
highly dеvеloped for сompеtition
I5.2 aod 16.1h.h. and may bе of

64
 H0RsЕ BRЕЕDs

soUTH AII{ЕRIсA
тr
l-eru
Thе Peruvian Paso
Also known as the Pеruvian Stepping ЕIorsе, this brееd of
Criollo typе, dеsсеndеd from the invading Spaniard's horsеs
tаken to South Amеriсa in thе siхtееnth сеntury. It has Ьеen
systematiсally dеvelopеd for its сharaсteristiс gаit, in whiсh
the forеlegs displaу еxtravаgant aсtion and the hind legs aге
dтivеn powегfully forwаrd with thе quагtеIs lowerеd. It сan
Ьеst bе dеsсriЬed as resemЬling thе amЬle, and is а сomfort-
aЬle paсе for thе ridеr. Possessing gгeat stamina, thе Paso сan
aсhievе and maintain a stеadу spееd of about 18km/h
(l1 mph) over thе roughest of сountry. Its hеight variеs Ье-
twееn 14 and 15.2 h.h. and thе prinсipal сolours arе bаy and
сhestnut.

Puerto Riсo
The Paso Fino
The Paso Fino is a small horsе, stаnding a littlе undеr
15 h.h.' rеsembling thе Andаluсian and undoubtеdly
dеsсеnded from the sixteenth сenflrry Spanish hoгsеs whiсh
wеrе takеn to South Amеriса. It displаys thе gaits whiсh usеd
to bе сommon in Еurope and at whiсh thе Andaluсian was
partiсularly adept. Sеlесtivе brееding has pеrpetuatеd thеsе
paсes whiсh are: the pаso fino, а сollесtеd, highly-еlevаtеd,
four-time gait; thе Paso сorto) a similaг' but unсollесtеd,
four-timе gait whiсh is used for tгavеlling long distanсеs; аnd
ttrе paso largo, thе ехtendеd fouг-bеat gait whiсh сan aсhievе
speеds of up to 25 km/h (16 mph). These four-timе gаits аrе
inhегitеd and do not have to be taught, аnd аl1 аrе еxtlеmеly
сomfoгtаble for tlre ridеr. Thе Paso Fino is brеd in Peгu аnd
Colombia as wеll as in Puегto Riсo аnd is an intеllieеnt littlе
hoгsе of good tеmpеrament.

A Peгuvian Paso
Pеruviаn Paso V
ASIA
Iran
Thе Darashomi
Thе Dаrashomi oг Slurazi is a horse of unсеrtаin origin, but
its appearanсe suggests oriental forеbеаrs. Brеd in southern
Irаn, it is a spiritеdriding horse, with AтаЬiаn сhаraсtеristiсs,
standing aЬout 15h.h. It has a good tеmpеrament аnd is
f
usually grеy, сhestnut, brown or baу in сolour.

The Jaf
Likе thе Darashomi, the Jaf is an oriеntal-looking saddlе
horse. It is brеd in I(urdistan аnd has all thе сharaсtеristiсs of
tlrе dеsert horsе, Ьеing tough, wiry and possessеd of great
stamina. It is partiсulaлly notеd for its tough, hard feеt. It is a
spiгited horse but has а gеntlе disposition. Thе aveгagе
height is a littlе ovеr 15h.h. and the usual сolours arе Ьay,
Ьrown, сhеstnut and grеy.

The Tсhenarani
Thе Tсhеnaгani, Ьred in thе north of Irаn whеrе it has bееn
known for ovеr 2,000 years, was pгoduсеd by сrossing Platеau _
f,;]'
stаllions with Turkrnеnе maгes. This is still the favourеd
H0вsE BBЕЕDs

сross sinсе stoсk tends to dеtеrioratе if Tсhеnarаni is matеd

to Tсhenarani, and also if Turkmenе stallions arе matеd with
Plаteаu Pеrsiаn maгes. (Thе diffеrеnt strains of Arab-rypе
horsе thаt havе for many сenturiеs bееn brеd on thе plateaus
of Iran, formerly Pеrsia, аrе now сollесtively tеrmеd Plаtеau
Pеrsian. Today both thе Darashomi аnd thе Jaf сome under
this blanket heading.) Popular for a long timе as a саvalry
mount' thе Tсhenarаni is а wiry little saddlе horse, standing
about 15 h.h., araby in аppеаranсe, with thе сharасtеristiс
toughnеss and stаminа of horsеs of this rеgion. Likе thе Jaf' it
is a spiritеd horsе, but nеverthelеss has a gentle disposition.
All solid сolours are pеrmissiblе.

The Turkoman
The Tйkoman is also a desсеndant of the anсiеnt Turkmеnе
аnd is brеd in noгthern Iгаn whеrе it is muсh prized as a
raсеhoгse. It is а slow-maturing horse, ехсеlling partiсularly
in long-distаnсе raсes. The Turkomаn is аn oriental-looking
horse of somе distinсtion, and possеsses grеat spееd and
A Turkoman еxсеptional endurаnсе. It is noted for its finе skin and float-
Wа|er V ing aсtion. Thе avеrage height is 1 5 .2 h.h. and the prеdomin-
ant сolour is bay.

Turkеy
The Karaсabеy
This dual-purposе hoгsе originаtеd аt thе Karасabеy Stuф
whiсh had Ьееn in еxistenсe for mаny yеars before сoming
undеr thе сontrol of thе Turkish Governmеnt in rесеnt
timеs. The brеed was basеd on 1oсаl mares who wеrе mated to
imported Nonius stalLions, and thе modеrn Karaсabеy still
shows its Nonius anсеstry. It is a vеrsatile horse, stаnding
аround 16h.h., strong еnough to undеrtakе light farm and
draught work аs wеll as making a good saddlе horsе. Notеd as
Ьеing a vеry good сavalrу mount it has a сalm tempеramеnt
аnd is а willing workеr. A1l solid сolours arе pеrmissiblе.

AUSTRALASIA
Australia
The BrumЬy
The Bгumby is а wi1d horsе dеsсеndеd fгom domestiс horsеs
whiсh wеrе turnеd loosе on thе rаngеs during the mid-
ninetееnth сеntury gold rush. Thеse horsеs bесamе some-
whаt inbred and tendеd to dеtеrioratе in quality. ЕIowevеr
thеy thгivеd numeriсаllу and in timе bесamе so numеrous'
thёy wеrе dееmеd a pest' at whiсh point orgаnйеd сulling
Ьесamе nесessary. Consequendу there arе fеwer Bгumbies in
ехistenсe today, but thеу arе invariaЬly inшaсtaЬle ifсaught.
Thеy vary сonsiderаbly in appеaranсе аnd сolour and stand
anything up to aЬout 15 h.h. The origin of thе tеrmBrumby is
not known' though it probably dеrivеs from an aboriginal
word' bаroornby, meaning wild.

The Waler
This sаddlе horsе is namеdаftеr its plасе of origin, Nеw
South whiсh in thе еarly days of sеttlemеnt was thе
\0Иаlеs,
namе givеn to all nеwly inhaЬitеd arеаs of Australia.
Although in timе thеsе arеаs wеrе dividеd into sеparatе statеs
with thеir own namеs, thе overall tеrm .Wale1 wаs rеtained.
llorsеs wеrе not indigеnous to Australia and the fiгst onеs
were importеd by Europеan sеttlers in the latе eightееnth
сеnrurу. Thеsе initiallу сamе frorn South Afriса аnd suЬsе-
 н0пsE BвЕЕDs

quеntly from Еurope, with thе Еnglish ThoroughЬrеd and

гhе Arab being muсh in dеmаnd by brееdеrs. Thе !0alеr is
гhе геsult of сrossing haсk maгеs with Arab, Thoroughbred
аnd Anglo-Arab stallions, аnd thе Ьеst spесimеns hаvе manу
of тhе сhaгaсtеristiсs of thе Thoroughbrеd. The avегagе
hеight is 16h.h. and all solid сolours аrе permissiЬlе. Thе
Еaleг is a horse of equablе disposition, with rathеr moге
5mminд than thе Thoroughbred. It mаkes a good, gеneral-
I}lrгposе saddlе horsе.

[r.s.s.R.
The Akhal-Tek6
Тhе Akhаl-Tеkё is a strain of the аnсient Turkmеnе or
Тuтkoman horse whiсh tгaсеs bасk ovеr 2,500 yеaгs and was
muсh fаvoured by mounted wаrriors. It is notable for its
outstаnding powers of enduгanсе and is аn idеаl hoгsе in
dеsеп сonditions. Akhal-Tеkёs took pаrt in thе famous trеk
ftom AshkaЬad to Мosсo'л iп 1935, a distanсе of oveг
4'100 krn (2,500 milеs) whiсh inсludеd 360 km (225 milеs) of
Jеsеп. The lattет wеrе сovеred in thтее days by thеsе ехтra-
oгdilаry horses tтavеlling totally without watеr. The
^\khal-Tеkё is а vеry distinсtivе smаll, wiтy horsе, giving an
оvегall аppеaranсe of being long and lean. It has a long hеad A Akhа|-Tekё
апd nесk, sеt on to a long body аnd lеgs, with slЬping quаrtеrs
дпd low-sеt tail. Both mаnе and tail arе spаrsе and vеry finе in
!ехtrrre аnd the pгedominant сolouг is a very stfiking gold
wЫсh oftеn has а mеtаlliс shееn. Grеys and Ьays do also
oссur аnd thе avеragе hеight is L4'2 to 15'2h.h. Thе onе
lisаdvаntagе of thе Akhаl-Tеkё is its unсегtain tеm1rеr
тhiсh mаy, howеvеr, bе thе rеsult of its еnvironmеnt. It сan
Ь eхtгеmеly obstinate, but when сo-operаtivе, makеs a good
аIl-round saddlе hoгsе that hаs еxсеllеd аt suсh divеrsе
астivitiеs as raсing and dressage.

The Budyonny
Тhis qualitу riding horse developed in thе еarly pаrt of this
сеntцry as a сavalгy mount аnd was nаmеd aftеr Marshal
Budyonny, thе Russiаn сavalry geneгаl who instigatеd thе
brееd. Thе ]Vlarshal based his brееding programme on Don
mяrg5 дnd Thoгoughbrеd stallions and the Ьеst of thе rеsul-
тeпt progеny wеrе intеrbred. Still Ьrеd in thе Rostov rеgion
тhere it originatеd, thе Budyonny, unlikе thе Akhаl-Tеk6, is
а саlm, sеnsiblе sort of horse although it, too, is possеssed of
gтeаt stamina аnd eпduгanсе. Originallу brеd to sеrve ttre
сатаф, its grеat vеrsatility todaу is bеing еxploited in thе
fiеld of сompetitivе sports. It exсels at stееpleсhаsing and A Budyonny
Budyonnys hаvе in thе past won thе taxing PаrduЬiсе, thе Don V
патаthon rасе held in Czесhoslovаkia. It is а horsе ofеxсel-
lеnt сonformаtion standing L5.2to 16 h.h., with a sшong body
йаt is dееp through thе girth. The quarters and shoulders are
goоd, the hеаd attгaсtivе and саrried on a long, elеgant neсk
аnd thе lеgs strong' with genеrous bonе. Thе pгedominant
сolour is сhеstnцt and the gold shееn so pгеvalеnt among
Russian horsеs is oftеn sееn' Bays and grеys arе сommon.

Тhe Don
Тhе Don horse, whiсh was the mount of thе Don сossaсks as
long ago as thе еightееnth сеntury, сontаins thе blood of
Тuгkmеnе аnd Karabakh stallions whiсh wеrе turnеd loose
on thе steppеs to mingle аnd bгеed with thе nativе hеrds.
Еnglish Thoroughbred and Strеlеts Arab blood werе intro-
Juсеd during thе ninеtееnth сеntury, sinсе whеn no nеw
iлfusions havе bеen madе. Cеnturiеs of life on the stеppеs,
tЪгаging for food in thе harsh wintеr сlimate, havе pгoduсеd
ап exсeptionally tough horsе that is wеll аЬlе to саге for itsеlf
siтh thе minimum of help from mаn. It is, in faсt, still herded
оn thе plains and its toughnеss makеs it a vеry usеful woгking
hoгse. It also еxсеls in long-distanсe rасes' dеspitе thе rathеr
 H0RsЕ ввЕЕDs
*
e

rеstriсted aсtion. Todaу thе Don horse is both гiddеn and

drivеn and makеs an idеаl mount foг thё herdsmen of тhe
KirghЙskaуа and Kazakhskaya rеgions of Russia. It is a wiry
horse, rathеr long on tlre lеg, standing 15. 1 to 15.3 h.h. The
usual сolouгs are сhеstnut, bay and gгеy, and somе horsеs
have the сhалaсteгistiс Russian.sold shееn to thе сoаt.

*
н
The Iomud
I Like thе Akhаl-Tеk6, thе Iomud is а strain of thе аnсiеnt
i
E
Ttшkmеnе hoгse though it shows an Arabiаn influеnсе and
has a muсh morе trасtаЬle disposition. Also in сommon with
thе Akhаl-Tekё, it has gгeat staminа аnd it, too, took paгt in
тlre epiс Ashkhabad to ]Vlosсow tгek. Populaг at onе timе as a
сavalry mount' todаy it еxсеls in long distanсе raсes. It is a
sinеwу little hoгsе with longish legs and it is usuallу gтeу,
although Ьаys аnd сhestnuts also oссur. It is а little smallег
than its геlativе, its maximum height Ьeing about 15 h.h.

l
j The IЪbardin
::! This mountain hoгsе originаtеd in thе Cauсasus somе 400
j:: yеars аgo, whеn thе indigenous mountаin Ьгеed rесеivеd
A Kabardin
infusions of AгaЬ, Tuгkmene аnd Kaгabakh blood. Thе
resultаnt progеny is а vеry sшong littlе horsе of equaЬlе
tеmpеrаment, with the suтe-footednеss and homing instinсt
that makе it an idеаl аnimаl foг taсkling tlrе tortuous moun-
tаin uaсks of its nativе land. Like all mountain horsеs the
Kаbаrdin is еxсеptionally hardy аnd is partiсularly suited to
making long-distаnсе journeys. It is a populaг sports horsе in
its loсal aгеas and is used foг гaсing. It stands about 14.2 to
1 5 h.h. and is usually Ьay or blaсk in сolouт. It hаs sшong legs
and good fееt but the quartеrs aге oftеn ofpooг сonfoгmаtion
and siсkle hoсks aгe vеry prеvalеnt. Thе еars агe distinсtivе
i: in that thеy tеnd to turn inwатds.
J:
l.
!

t=
The l(arabair
Thе rеgion now саlled Uzbеkskaya, thе homе of thе
l+ KaгaЬaiт, hаs bеen rеnowned for its good quality horsеs for
I
2,500 уеaгs. The eхaсt origins of this Ьrеed hаvе Ьeеn lost in
l=, thе аnnals of timе but the distinсtly AraЬian appearаnсе
would suggеst oriеnвl influenсе. The Kаrabаir is a spiтitеd
i. but шасtable horsе with the boundlеss еnduгanсе typiсal of
l=
thе Russiаn mountаiп brееds. Thе hеaviest аnimals makе
E good agriсultural workеrs whilе thе lighter framеd animals
arе suitаЬlе foг Ьeing driven or ridden. Thе aveгagе height is
about 15 h.h. аnd the bгeed rеsеmblеs а rathеr stoсky Arаb Ьut
=.:-

t;,
witlr rаtlrer lеss rеfinеment. The usual сolours aге bаy, сhеst-
nut аnd gгеy. The Karabаiт is аn idеal mount foг thе popular
tl and raтtrer hаir-raising Russiаn mountеd gamеs, suсh аs
.I(ok.pa/, a team gamе in whiсh a stцffed goat сarсаss hаs to
A Kаrabаir bе саrгiеd thтough thе opposite goаl.
Lаtvian V

The lGrghiz
Also known аs тtlе Novokirghй, thе prеsеnt-day Kiтghiz is a
relativеly rесеnt devеlopmеnt of фе nativе I(irghiz hoгsе. In
thе lаst 100 yeаrs or so infusions of Don and Thoгoughbгed
blood to thе old Kirghй stoсk hаvе pгoduсеd a small Ьut
immensеly tough riding аnd paсk horsе, idеally suited to
woгking at the high аltitudеs of its native Tien Shan moun-
tains. It is a sure-footed hoгse with a longish baсk and strаight
shouldeг, and short, stтong lеgs With plenty ofbonе аnd good
feet. It stands bеtwееn 14.1 and 15.1h.h. and may bе of any
solid сolour, though bay is thе most сoпlmon. It is a good-
tеmpеred, aсtivе little horsе йаt is used both for work аnd
leisurе.

:=l The Latviаn

This Ьreed deгives from the аnсient forеst hoгse of noгtheгn
= Еuropе whiсh dаtes Ьасk to befoге t1re timеs of histoгiсal
reсords. Thе modеm Latvian, however, datеs from the sеvеn-
;. tееnttr сеntuгy when warm-blood horses begаn to bе сгossed
ll

,,
 H0вsЕ вRЕEDs

в'.ith thе nativе stoсk. Severаl breеds wеre used, among them
thе Oldеnbuгg. Cold-blood сгossеs wеre also mаdе to аdd
moге substаnсе аnd thesе inсludеd thе Ardеnnеs аnd Fin-
nisfi Dгaught ЕIoгse. Thе rеsult is an all-puгpose draught
hoгsе whiсh may, howеvег, tаkе its tuгn аs а saddlе or hаrnеss
horsе. It is stгong аnd sеnsible and a willing woгkег witlr
асtivе pасes and a kindly tеmpeгamеnt. The сonformation is
goоd, with dеpth thгough thе girth and good bonе. Thе lеgs
сагry а little feаthеr. Thе avеrаgе hеight is 15.2 to 16 h.h. and
йе usuаl сolouгs aге bav. Ьrown and сhеstnut.

The Lithцanian Heavy Draught

The Liтhuanian Hеаvy Draught was еvolvеd aЬout l00 years
аgo by сrossing Zhmud horsеs of thе region, with importеd,
Sчlеdish Aлdennes, фе аim bеing to pгoduсe a good, stong
аgгiсulturаl hoгsе. Sеleсtivе brеeding of thе Zhmud/Ard-
епnes progeny сontinuеd and ttrе Ьгeеd wаs finally гegistегed
аs suсh in 1963. It is a massively built, mеdium sizеd horsе,
wiф shoгt lеgs and good bonе. Thе bасk is usuаlly dipped
аnd siсkle hoсks arе prеvаlеnt' but thе асtion is fаst and ftee.
It is а hoгsе of еxtгemеly mild tempеramеnt with еnormous
poweгs of tтaсtion. Thе pгedominant сolour is сhеstnut, with
Ьlас\ гoan, bay аnd grеy also oссurгin5 and thе аveтage A Lithuaniаn Heavy Draught
hеight is bеtwееn 15 and 15.3h.h.

Thе Мetis Trottеr

Thе -lvtetis troftег is а brееd of rесеnt oтigin, dаting from thе
еаrly 1950s, when importеd Amегiсan Standardbrеds bеgan
to Ье matеd with thе orlov trottег. Thе геsult is а slightly lеss
аrraсtivе horsе than thе orlov, witlr thе samе upright shoul-
der. Thе StаndагdЬrеd influеnсе, howеvег' hаs been bеnefi-
сiаl for performanсе аnd thе ]Vtеtis is а fastег hoгsе on ttrе
rасеtтасk tlrаn thе orlov' The usuаl сolouтs аre gтеy, Ьlасk,
сhеsmut and bay аnd thе avеragе hеight is тlre same as thе
oгloц i.е. about 153 h.h.

Тhe orlov
Тhе oгlov is named after Count Alехis Orlov who founded
rhe KЬлеnov Stud in 1778, thегеЬy laying t}re foundations of
shаt wаs to bесomе onе of thе woгlds bеst tгotting brееds.
Тhе Orlov derives from Arab and Dutсh blood and Ьy the
Ьеginning of the ninеtееnth сеntuгy wаs onе of Russia's
lеаding brееds. Tгotting raсеs werе hеld in Mosсow as fаr
Ьасk аs 1 799 аnd as tlre sport dеvеloped duгing the ninеtееntlr
сепttшy so the Oгlov pгostrrегеd аnd Ьесamе fastеr. As wеll as
Ьеing usеd for гасing tlrе Oгlov was a popular саrгiagе horse,
аnd bеfore the development of the Ameriсan Standardbгеd
таs pгobably the best trottег in thе woгld. Over the yеars A Orlov
iпfusions of various othег blood have been made, inсluding Russiаn Heavy Drаught V
Thoroughbrеd аnd ]Vleсklenburg. Today tlrе oгlov stаnds
апvrrrheгe between L5.2 and 17 h.h.' thе avегаgе bеing a little
uпdеr 16h.h. It is а strong type of horse with powеrful' if
гаthеr straight, shouldегs, a long Ьaсk Ьut plеnty of depth
гЬгough the girth' stгong legs with good bone апd a rathеr
Ьeаvy Ьut attгaсtivе hеаd. Itis а long-livеd, tough soгt ofhoгsе
алd аlthough it is bred foг гaсing in haгnеss, it is sometimеs
used undеr saddlе in othеr sports. The prеdominаnt сolours
аrе gгеy and blасk.

Thе Russian Heavy Draught

Dеveloped duгing tlre past 100 years or so, prinсipally in thе
Ukrаine, this is a smаll dлaught hoгsе, with а distinсtly.сoЬ-
Ьt' аppеaгanсе. Loсal drаught mаrеs wеrе сrossеd with
.lгdennes, Pеrсheron and orlov stallions and the Ьest of thе
progеny wеге intег-bгed to сгеatе а flxed typе. Thе Russian
ЕIеаvy Dгaught is an асtivе but vеry kind littlе horsе and is
noted for its grеat pulling powеr. It is a vеry сompaсt animal,
sвnding oпly about I4.2I1.h.' witlr powerful shouldeгs, baсk
аnd quаrtегs sеt on fаirly shoгt, strong legs. The pгedominant
сolour is сhеstnut. It is a populат work horse on the fагms of
гhе Ukraine and in thе Urals.
H!пsE BпЕЕDs

The Tersky
Thе Tersky was еvolved bеtwееn L92l. and 1950 in an
attеmpt to pгеsеrvе thе old Sшеlets Aтab whiсh hаd viпually
diеd out during the First World \0Иar. The Stтеlеts was an
Anglo, not а ptrrе-bred Arаb, thе rеsult ofсrossing purе-Ьreds
with Anglos from thе fаmous orlov and Rаstopсhin studs.
Thе Sшеlеts thтivеd during thе ninеtееnth сеntury but by
1921 only two stаllions rеmainеd, Ьoth hаving thе сharaс-
tеristiс silvеry-grey сolouгing. Puте and part-Ьred Aгabs wеге
matеd with thеsе stДllions аnd by a сarеful systеm of sеlесtion
а nеw Strеlеts-typе horsе was developed. It was сallеd the
Tеrsky' aftеr thе Tеrsk Stud in thе Cаuсasus whiсh, along
with thе Stavropol Stud' was its biгtlrplасе' It is about 30
yеars sinсе thе brееd was сonsiderеd fixеd and todаy the
Tегsky is vеry like a lаrge Arabiаn, though with a littlе lеss
гefinеment. Thе аvегagе height is l5h.h. and thе сolour
silvеr grey or whitе, often with a rosу tint саusеd by thе pink
skin. It is a good-natuгed, aсtivе horsе, with plеnty of stаmina
and mаkеs а good аll-round riding horsе. It is also usеd for
raсing against Aтabs аnd as a сiлсus horsе.

The Toriс
This сobby typе of work hoгsе traсes Ьасk to a Norfolk
Roadstеr stаllion сalled Hatmаn, who was impoгted into
Еstonia in 1894 and mated with thе loсаl mаrеs, known as
I(leppеrs. Initially the pгogеny werе interbrеd to somе ехtent
but Ьthеr blood has at various times bееn introduсеd, inсlud-
ing Oгlov Troftеr. Thе Toriс is an aсtive, fast-moving, light

A Тersky V
Vlаdimir Heavy Draught
draught hoгsе of good сonstitution and tеmpelamеnt, stаnd-
ing аbout 15 to 15.2h.h. and usuаlly bay or сhеstnut in
сolour. It takеs its namе from thе Toгiс Stцd wherе Ьrеeding
fiгst Ьеgаn and is still usеd in agriсultuгe in Еstoпia.

The Vladimir Heavy Draught

This is a powеrful draught horsе whiсh dates baсk to 1886
whеn a variеty of hеavy horses wегe Ьгought into thе
Gavrilovo-Posadsk stаblеs for сrossing with loса1 maгеs.
Suffolks аnd Clеveland Bays wеrе importеd from Еngland,
and Pеrсhеrons and Ardеnnais werе also introduсеd. In the
еarly twentiеth сеnrury infusions of Clydеsdalе and Shirе
blood wеrе addеd with thе Shirе taking prесedenсe up until
l925. After that timе a poliсy of interbrееding аmong thе best
progеny was followеd аnd thе brееd was сonsidеred fixed
some 25 yеаrs latеr. Thе Vladimir is not unlikе the Shire in
appеaranсе although it is slightly smallег, avеraging about
16 h.h. It is a wеll-Ьuilt, powеrful horsе, a шiflе long in the
Ьасk but wiф good, sound limЬs. It is brеd in the Ivanovo and
Vladimir rеgions and is usеd for agтiсultuгal and gеnеral
healry drаught work. All solid сolours arе pеrmissiЬlе.

AFRIсA
A Arab
Barb V
Еgypt
гi

Thе Arab
The AraЬ is a horse of gгеat antiquity and hаs had more
influеnсе on othеr Ьrееds throughout thе world thаn any
othег horsе. Originating in Arabia, it is now bгed throughout
thе world, and has ovеr the уears bееn сrossеd with all sorts of
ponies and horsesfoг up-grading purposеs. ЕIorsеs ofrесog-
nizаblе AтaЬ typе сan Ьe sееn on Еg1ptiаn antiquities going
Ьaсk some 3000 yеars аnd thе Arab historiаn' Еl KelЬi,
wтiting in thе 8th сеnftrгy AD, tIaсеs the pеdigrеes of AraЬ
horses bасk to thе timе of Baz, Noah's grеаt.grеat grаndson.
Thе oldеst and purеst ofbrееds, thе Arab is а horsе of exсep-
tionаl bеauty аnd refinеmеnt and of quitе distinсtivе аppеar-
anсе. Its lovelу hеad with сharaсtеristiсallу dishеd profile,
broad forеhеad, largе еуеs and smаll muzzlе, is сaгriеd high
on an еlеgant nесk. Thе bodу is сompaсt and rnusсular, the
lеgs slеnder Ьut strong, and the сoat' manе and tаi1 агe silky,
thе latteг bеing сarгiеd vеry high. Thе ovеrall impression is of
a gay, spiтited horsе, who nevеrthеlеss has thе gеntlеst of
dispositions. The AraЬ is rеnownеd for its powеrs of endur-
anсe and its ability to саrry wеight dеspitе its relativеly small
sizе (14 to 15h.h.). It is eхсellеnt for long-distanсе гiding.

Libya, Algeria, lVloroссo

The BarЬ
Anothеr horsе of anсient origin, thе Barb сomes from the
BaгЬary сoast whiсh has Ьееn notеd for its horses for somе
2000 years. Like the Arab, the Bаrb has had сonsiderablе
inflцеnсе on other Ьrеeds. It was usеd in thе dеvеlopment of
the Andaluсiаn during thе .Nloorish oссupаtion of Spain, and
through that bгeed has influenсed manу ot1tеrs, аnd it wаs
impoпеd into Еuropе, espeсially Еngland, in large numbеrs
during ttrе sеvеntееnth сеntury. Standing aЬout 14 to 15 h.h.
it is thе all-puгpose гiding horsе of North Afriса. Not thе
hаndsomеst of hoгsеs, hаving а long head, and sloping quаr-
tеrs wit}r a rather low-sеt tail, it is, howеvеr, immensеly tough
аnd сombinеs сonsideгablе spеed ovеr shoгt distanсеs with
grеat еndurаnсe ovеr longer onеs. It is an есonomiсаl fеedеr
аnd is usually bау, Ьrown, сhestnut, blaсk or grеу.
Following Eohippus and his desсеndants, four main primi-
tivе types of horsе survivеd thе Iсe Agе. Thеse wеrе the
Forest horsе, а hеavily builт, solid typе with a big, hеavy heаd
whiсh lived in Northегn Еurope; thе Steppe horse, a finer
pony, light in Ьuild, whiсh саmе from Asiа and North Afriсa
аnd stood about 12 h.h.; thе Plаteau horsе, and tlrе Tundra.
Of thesе, thе Forеst horsе is the Ьasiс foundеr of the сold-
bloodеd bгeеds аnd thе Stеppе and Platеаu hoгsе are the joint
founders of the wаrm-bloods _ thе Stеppe Ьeing thе anсestor
of thе Oriеntаl brееds. Thе Plаteau horsе originated in
Sibеriа and Northеrn Asia and Еuropе аnd is thе lеss сom-
mon of the two. Thе Tundrа has hаd virtuаlly no influenсе
on аny of the pгesent-day bгееds, with thе possible exсеption
of thе Yаkut horsе rvhiсh livеs in the polаг regions.

Thе Przewal ski (E quus p r z еw аl s ki i pr z еwс /s&f i Poliakoff) t

Thе Мongolian wild horsе, саllеd thе Przеwаlski, is tlrе last
la

survivor of the Plateаu hoгsе and was disсovеred as latе as I

1881 by a Russian eхplorеr from whom it takеs its nаmе. 1

Colonеl N. ]V1. Pгzеwalski found a small herd of thesе ani-

mаls in thе аrea of tlrе Taсhin Sсhаrа Nuru lV1ountains at thе
wеstеrn еdge of the Gobi dеsert, and thеy aге thе last truly
wild horse or pony' on whom no attemPts аt domеstiсation
have bееn madе. Known bу nativе .futongolian hеrdsmеn аs
thе Taki, it is dеbatаble wheтlreг аny still eхist today in their
wild stаtе, siлсе thе еxtеnsivе hunting to whiсh thеy havе
bееn subiесtеd hаs dгiven them baсk into thе dеsегt аnd
mountain regions and into China. lVlany are still pгeserved in
zoos all ovеr thе world.
In its wild state, ttre Przеwalski stands betwееn 12 and
14 h.h. and is powеrfully Ьuilt, with a|arge, rathеr heavy, but
short, hеad whiсh has a straight or сonvеx profilе. Thе еars
arе long, the neсk short, somеtimеs with a tendenсy towагds a
.ewe' nесk, thе shor'ildеr stгaight, tlre сhеst widе аnd ttrе baсk
short with viпually no withеr. Thе quarters аrе genеrallу
wеаk and underdеvelopеd and the legs short and storig with
largе, shаllow hoovеs сomposеd of good hoгn. Thе mаne,
devoid offoreloс\ is short and еrесt аnd thе tаil hаiгs arе long
аnd сoaгsе and sparsе at tlrе top. At bfuth, thе сoаt is Ьright
yellowish-Ьrown and this сhangеs to shаdеs of dun _ varying
Ьetwеen гeddish-Ьay and a pale grеy or sandy сolour - as the
animаl maturеs. Thеrе аre meаly markings round thе еyes
and muzzlе, the manе and tail arе Ьlaсk and thеrе is а pro-
nounсed Ьlасk ееl stipe down the сеntrе of thе bасk with
zеbra maгkings on thе legs. Thе Pгzewalski has grеаt powегs
of еnduranсe and was able to еxist on thе vеry poorеst of
vegеtаtion in thе sаlty stеppe and mountain regions of Мon-
golia, wherе it сould withstаnd thе severest of сlimatiс сondi-
tions. Thе fulongolian, Chinеse and TiЬetаn poniеs arе dirесt
dеsсеndants of the Przewalski and аrе probably not unlikе
thosе usеd by Gеnghis Khan.
 P0NY в REЕDS

The Tarpan (Equus przеzaаlskii gmеlini Antonius)

This is thе last suгvivor of thе pгimitivе Stеppе horse, that
livеd on thе Southeгn Russian stеppеs in Еastern Еuropе. It
would appеаr thаt thеrе агe two strаins of Tarpan, onе living
on thе stеppеs and a foгest type, Ьut both wеre еxtеnsivеly
hunted for mеat and weгe finаlly killed off during the
ninеtееnth сеntцгy. Ttre last hеrd, privаtеly-ownеd of thе
forest type, livеd on thе Zеmoyski еstate in the Tauriс Stepp-
land of Poland, Ьut thе numbеrs of this graduаlly diminished.
The last surviving marе finаlly esсapеd from thе frее-rangе
heгd, with her foal, who had Ьeen siгеd by a domеstiс stallion.
Shе had suсh a disquiеting еffeсt on thе loсal stallions, who
pursuеd hеr into thе stеppes, that hеrdsmen organized a dтivе
to саpturе her. ЕIowеver she diеd ftom shoсk аftеr falling
down a сrеvassе and brеaking hеr lеg, nеar Askania Nova in
1879. Thе last Taгpan in сaptivity is гeported Ьy the Russian
zoologist, I{еptner, to havе died in 1919.
Polish pеasants had Ьееn in thе hаbit of сatсhing tlrе 1oса1
wild poniеs to usе on thеir holdings and with thе еxtеrminа-
tion of thе wild Tаrpan, thе Polish authoritiеs сolleсtеd
togеthеr all thosе that borе а marked rеsеmblanсе to the
Tarpan with thе ob jесt of .prеserving' or .rеstoгing, thе forеst
stгain. Thеy wеtе put into t}rе forest breеding rеservёs at
Popielno and Bialowiеzа, whеге mаny sti.ll livе in a sеmi-wild
statе. Thеsе poniеs are around 13 h.h. аnd arе brown or
mouse dun in сolouг with a Ьlасk ееl sшipе down thе сеntгe of
thе bасk. Thеy hаvе a blaсk mane and tail, zebrа markings on
тhе legs, and oссasionally' stгipеs on thе body. In the winteг
thе сoat may tuгn whitе. Thеy havе a long, broаd head, with а
straight or сonvеx profile and а Ьulgе around thе nostrils,
longish eaгs, a short thiсk nесk аnd good shoulder. The Ьaсk
tеnds to bе long with high withers, the quaгters are wеаk аnd
sloping аnd thе tail is set low. Thе lеgs аrе finе, long and
hаrd.
Rеnownеdly Ьrаvе аnd indеpеndеnt аnimals, Tarpаn stal-
lions will attaсk othеr stallions who t1rrеatеn theiг mares,
oftеn fighting to thе death. They are very stuгdy and hаrdy, A Tarpan
nеvег suссumЬing to thе сolnmon disеasеs. Ехpеrimеnts аt
сгoss-brееding undertaken by Pгofessor Lutz ЕIeсk at thе zoo Connemaга V
park at llallabrunn, Мuniсh, using Przewаlski stallions аnd
Polish Konik marеs (to whom thе Tarpan bеars а likeness),
hаvе produсed a horse that strongly rеsеmblеs thе steppе
Tаrpan.

ЕURoPЕ

Grеat Britain
The Connemara
originally a nativе of Irеland, thе Connеmara pony is now
bгеd in Еngland as well and has bееn еxportеd to many pаItS
of thе world. It desсеndеd from thе Сeltiс pony, but ovеr thе
yеаrs has had infusions of Aпdаluсian and, surprisinglу,
Clydеsdаlе Ьlood. Rathеr molе rесеntlу, Arab stoсk has ЬеЪn
introduсеd to add qualitу and refinеmеnt, and when put to а
Thoroughbrеd а rathеr larger, vеry good all-round riding
hoгsе rеsults whiсh is suitаblе for аlmost any prrrposе. Stand-
ing 13 to |4'2h.h., it is a sturdy, usеful genеral-purposе
гidiлg pоny, with good frее aсtion, a qualitу pony head, good
lеngth of neсk, dеpth thгough thе giтth аnd a good sloping
гiding shouldеr. Тhе bасk is straight, thе quartеrs well
dеvеloped аnd thе таil wеll set on) with good haтd feet and
legs with plеnty of bonе. It is а surе-footеd and vеry аgilе
pony, with a kindlу' traсtablе nаturе' and it may Ьe grеу, bаy,
Ьlaсk' dun or brown.
 The Dale
Vеry similar to the Fеll pony, thе Dalе, togеthеr with thе
HigЫand, is thе hеaviеst of Grеat Britain's nativе brееds and
is Ьrеd on тhe eastern side of thе Pеnninеs in Northumbеr-
lаnd, Co. Dцrham аnd Yorkshire. Thеrе is also a likeness to
the \ilИelsh Cob and in faсt, all todаy's Dаlеs сan Ьe traсed
baсk to Comеt, a \07е1sh Cob stallion whiсh сompеtеd in
tlotting matсhеs and was usеd еxtensivеly on Dalеs marеs
аЬout 100 yеars ago. Thе trotting аspесt is prеsent in thе
modеrn Dalе, making it a good harnеss pony, сapable of
pulling greаt wеights. It is аlso usеd as а шekking pony, Ьеing
vеry sound, асtivе and sure-footеd, with a doсilе аnd sеnsiЬle
tеmpегаmеnt. Standing 14.1 h.h., thе Dalе is blасk, dark
brown or oссаsionаlly grey in сolour with an aЬundаnсе of
manе, tail and fеathеr on the lеgs, а quality.pony' hеad аnd a
dеal of good hагd bone.

The Dartmoor
A native of thе Dartmoor arеa of Dеvonshiге from whеrе it
gеts its namе' this tough littlе brеed has inhabited the moor-
lands for thousands ofyеars. The typе has vаriеd during the
agеs, infusions ofArab and \DИelsh Ьlood having bеen inшo-
duсed at thе Ьeginning of this сеntury. It is idеal as a сhilds
first pony, bеing small and narгow, but hаving a fаirly high
hеad сarriage. It is аlso sеnsiblе and suгe-footеd, with an
еquable, kindly tеmpеramеnt. Thе Dartmoor has a rеputa-
tion too' for bеing a naturally good jumper.
It hаs а fine, prеtty, intelligеnt hеad whiсh is hеld high, a
laгgе eуе, small priсkеd ears and а good front and sloping
shoulder. Thе short, сompaсt Ьody has strong quаrters, a well
set-on tail and good hard lеgs аnd fеet. Blaсk; Ьaу and Ьrown
with only a small amount of white markings аrе the ассеpt-
ablе сolours and thе height limit is I2.2h.h. This good-
looking ponу is also usеful as a foundation stoсk from whiсh
to brееd laгger riding pony stoсk and is brеd at many studs
throughout Britаin.

Thе Еxmoor
A brееd of greаt аntiquity' the Еxmoor, a nativе of thе
south-westеrn аrеa of Devon аnd Somеrset is fust rесorded in
thе Domеsdаy Book of 1085. In faсt it is a muсh oldеr brееd
probably bеing the lаst survivor of thе Celtiс poniеs of thе
Plеistoсеnе agе. Compаrаtivе ехperimеnts сonduсtеd bе-
tweеn t}rе fossilizеd rеmains of йе original Cеltiс ponies
found in Alаskа with those of thе Ехmoor, hаve rеvеаlеd thе
same shapеd jaw Ьones and beginnings of a sеvеnth molаr
tooтh whiсh arе found in no othеr brееd of horse or pony. An
еxсеptionаlly tough, strong and hагdy pony witlr greаt powеrs
of еnduranсе, thеrе аrе now only tfuее prinсipal herds асtu-
аlly running on thе moor' аnd аlthough a numbеr аre Ьrеd in
A Dаrtmoor Eхmoor V studS throughout the сountry thеy tеnd to losе rypе and grow
slightly largеr whеn brеd аwаy from the moor. Thеy arе
highly intelligent and indеpеndent and may bе wi-lful if not
сorrесtlу handled. Thе hеight limit is L2,2h.h. for marеs and
|2.зi;,.h. for stallions аnd сolours may be baу, brown and a
mousеy dun, with no whitе mаrkings pеrmittеd. Thе ponies
arе notеd for their distinсtivе mеalу muzzlе and mеaly сol-
ourеd markings round thе еyеs, thе underbеlly and bеtwееn
thе thighs. Thеy havе а shoгt, thiсk hеad with а straight
proflle whiсh is wеll sеt onto a nесk with a good lеngth of
rein, good sloping shoulders, depth tfuough thе girth, a shoгt
baсk, powerful quarters, and short legs with plеnty of Ьonе
and good hаrd fееt. Thеy havе uniquе .toad eyеs tlre heavy
top lids ofwhiсh givе a hooded look, and short, priсkеd еars
set widе apart. The tail too, is distinсtivе and is known as an
.iсe' tаil. It is vеry thiсk with a fan likе growth at thе top. Thе
сoаt is short, сlose and springy and virtually watеrproof.
A1though when propеrly tгainеd thе Еxmoor makеs a good, if
strong, сhitds pony, its еxсeptional stIеngth makеs it quitе
сapaЬlе of сaгrying a fully grown man. onе of its prinсipаl
аssеts, howеvеr, is its use as a foundation from whiсh to breed
largеr animals. If put to а Thoroughbrеd a supеrb, useful
quаlity littlе horse rеsults.

74
The Fell
Slightly smaller and lighter than his сlosе relаtion the Dalе,
thе Fеll is brеd on thе northеrn sidе of т}rе Pеnnine гange and
in thе CumЬегland and lDИеstmorland areas of thе Lakе
Distгiсt. It wаs еxtеnsivеly used in thе еighteеnth сеntцry as
a paсk pony foг сarting lеаd from thе minеs, for аll kinds of
faгm work, and for thе loсal spoгt of trotting. Hаving a muсh
bеttеr riding shouldеr than thе Dale it produсеs a vеry good
stаmp of hunter whеn mаtеd with a Thoroughbred mаrе,
аnd bеing dееp through the girth, сompaсt and with plеnty of
bone it has a good hеad сarriagе and moves wеll from thе
shouldеr. Sеnsiblе, vеry hаrdy and sшong and surе-footеd, it
makеs a good шеkking pony. Thе hеight сan vary bеtweеn 13
to 14 h.h. and thе сolour may Ье blaсk, dark Ьrown, dark bay
аnd oссasionally grеy. Thеrе aге nonе' or vеrу fеw whitе
mаrkings.

Thе Highland
A vеry old bгееd, thе Highland is probably dеsсеndеd from
thе pгimevаl Foгеst horsе, and somе of the ponies show thе
pгimitivе markings. They aгe nativеs of thе north of Sсotlаnd
and thе \0Иestеrn Isles, and would appeaг to сomprise two
distinсt typеs _ thе Ьigger аnd.Wеstеrn
rathеr hеavier Мainland typе,
and the lightеr, moге aсtive Isles pony. Both hаvе
hаd infusions of outsidе blood; Frеnсh аnd Clydеsdale in thе
Маinland typе and ArаЬ in thе Island typе. Although origi-
nally brеd for working thе сrofts (they arе vеry sure-footеd
and aгe still usеd to сarry shot deer down from thе hill)' Ьеing
very doсile, strong, steady, hаrdy and up to weight thеy аrе
also usеd in harness and for trekking аnd gеnеral гiding. Thе
Wеstегn Isles type in partiсular, produсes very good huntеrs
whеn сrossеd with Thoгoughbreds.
.Wеstеrn
Thе hеight variеs be-
twеen 13 and 14.2 h.h., thе Isles type bеing smaller
and moге refinеd. Thе usual сoloцrs arе grеy' Ьlaсk, Ьay' and
vaгious shаdеs of dun from а mousеy glеy to а deеp, riсh
сhеstnut with a flaxеn manе and tаil. Thеу hаvе finе silky
haiт on thе lеgs, аnd аlmost all of thеm have a dark ее1 stripе
down thе сеntrе of the baсk. Somе havе zеЬгa markinss on
thе lеgs.

The Nеw Forest

Nаtives of thе Nеw Forеst arеa of Hampshiте, thesе poniеs
havе had many infusions of outside blood. As fаг baсk as thе
тhirtееnth сentury' it is rесordеd thаt lDИеlsh marеs wегe
turned out in thе Forеst аnd sinсе thеn Darшnoor, Еxmoor,
Highland, Fеll, Dаle, ЕIaсknеy, Clydesdalеs аnd AraЬs hаve A High|аnd
all beеn introduсеd in аn еffort to improvе both thе sizе and New Forest V
substanсе of thе Ьreed. Nlarskе, thе Thoroughbrеd sirе of
Есlipse, stood at stud in thе Forest for a timе, to servе seleсted
marеs as did thrеe Arаbiаns _Zorah, AЬagan, and Yuгеsson.
It is thought that thеsе hаvе hаd onlу a limited influеnсe orr
the breеd. howеver. Thеsе infusions of outsidе Ьlood havе
made it diffiсult to dеfinе a fixеd typе of New Forest pony, but
йеy average L2.2 to |4'2h.h. and may bе any сolour еxсеpt
piebald аnd skеwbаld. Various shades of bay arе тtre most
usual' Nеw Forеst poniеs аrе notеd for thеir surе-footеdnеss
and adaptaЬiliry, and they usually havе good riding aсtion,
madе possiblе by a niсеlу sloping shouldеr with frеe straight
movemеnt. Мost havе plеnty of bone, good feеt, short Ьaсks
and strong quaгtеrs аnd are dеep through thе giтth. Thеre is a
tendenсy towаrds а somewhаt large head and shortish nесk.
Thеy arе rеal familу poniеs Ьеing suitaЬle for any mеmЬеr of
thе family to ridе or drivе, and thеir usually gеnеrous and
doсile tеmpеramеnt mаkеs them easily handled by сhi-ldrеn.
At prеsent thеrе arе probably аbout 3,000 poniеs running on
ttre Forеst, ownеd by thosе with.сommonеrs' grazing rights.
Thеy aгe roundеd up regulаrly foг Ьranding, tail marking oг
sеlling at thе regulaгly-held Nеw Forеst Bеaulieu Road sаlеs.
Vеry popular poniеs' thеy arе bгеd at manу studs thгoughout
Great Britain and abroаd, poniеs hаving beеn еxportеd sinсе
the early 1950s to the Unitеd Statеs, Canada, Holland,
Dеnmark, Norway, Sweden, Fгanсе' LuхemЬorg, Gеrmanу
аnd Austтalia.

75
P0NY BпEЕDs

Thе Shetlаnd
Thе Shеtlаnd pony is thе smаllest of Britain's ninе native
pony brееds, сoming originаlly from the Shetland Islаnds
somе 160 km (100 miles) off tlrе north сoast of Sсotland. It is
possiblе thаt the Shеtland was intтoduсеd to thesе islands
from Sсandinaviа bеfoге tlrе lаnds wегe dividеd in around
8000 вс and that subsеquentlу it сrossed with ponies bгought
ovеr to Sсotland by thе Cеlts. Bе thаt as it may, thе Shеtland
has bееn usеd Ьy thе islands сгoftеrs to work тheir land, as a
paсk pony to сollесt ttrе pеat ftom the moor and аs a meаns of
transport' both riddеn and drivец foг vеry many yeагs. rn ttre
mid- 1800s many Shetlands wеre exportеd to thе mainlaпd for
usе iп thе сollieriеs of Co. Durham, and Londondегry. Bеing
vегy stfong and low to the ground' tlrеy pгovеd ideal pit poniеs
and werе soon brеd seleсtively for this purpose. At tlrе prеsеnt
timе therе aге around 100 Shetland poniеs on ttrе islаnds Ьut
тtrey аrе also brеd ехtеnsivеlу on thе mainland as wеll аs in
Australiа' North and South AmeriсЬ, Sсandinavia, Spain,
Hollаnd, Franсе, Switzеrland and most other сountriеs of
Еurope. Thе Shеtland varies in height ftom 95_106сm
(З8_42in) at the witlrег аnd is еxremely sпong and haгdy,
with а short, stгong baс\ and сonsidеrаblе depй thлough thе
girth. The most fаvourеd сolour is Ьlaсk but ponies may be
any сolour inсluding piеbald аnd skеwЬаld. All havе аn
abundаnt supply of manе and tail hair. Месhanйation has
A Shetland madе them no longer in demand to woгk thе islandеrs' сrofts,
and instеad they havе beсomе very popular аs smаll сhil-
drerf s poniеs - a task thеy admiraЬly fulfil providеd tlrey аrе
not аllowеd to gеt over fat.

The Welsh Мountain Pony

Onе of the most nцmеrous as well аs probably the most
bеautiful and popular of thе nativе pony Ьгeеds, thе l0Иelsh
lVlountаin pony (Sесtion A in thе Vеlsh Stцd Book)' has
roamеd thе mountains аnd moorlands of Vаles sinсе Romаn
timеs, alтtrough ovеr thе yеars сеrtain outсrossеs hаve bееn
introduсеd. Julius Caеsar formеd a stцd in Меrionеthshiтe at
Bаla, and latеr introduсed oriеntal blood to upgradе thе stoсk.
In thе ninetееnth сеntury thеrе wеrе infusions of Arab blood
as well аs tlrе now eхtinсt prеdeсеssor of thе Haсknеy, thе
Norfolk Roadstеr. At аbout the same timе thе Thoroughbrеd
iV1еrlin was introduсed. Foг many yеars iow, tlrе !Йеlsh
iVlountain hаs bееn fteе from outsidе influеnсe. It is vеry
intеlligеnt аnd сouгageous as well аs being kind аnd gentlе.
A splеndid сhilds riding pony, its good freе movement сom-
ьinЪd with a сегtain аmount of knеe aсtion mаkе it equally
suitaЬlе for harnеss work. It hаs a fine, slightly dishеd head,
vеry largе widе spaсеd eyеs and small priсkеd eаrs. Thе аlеп
.fuе' and it is very sound,
outlook shows the native сеltiс
A Welsh Mountain Pony V
Welsh Pony
ж *..'г*-..';
plеnty of bonе
and substanсе аnd the feet arе good and haтd. Any сolour,
еxсept pieЬald and skewbald, is pеrmissiЬlе and thе hеight
limit is L22h.h.

The Welsh Pony

Thе \0Йеlsh pony is known аs thе гiding pony of thе Vеlsh
Ьrееds, (Seсtion B of thе !Йеlsh Stud Book) and is dеrivеd
from the Wеlsh lVlountain аnd thе \i7еlsh Sесtion C Cob with
an infusion of Thoroughbrеd blood. Formеrlу, it was used
еxtеnsively for shеpherding on thе Vеlsh hills. Suссеssful
сrossеs with smаll Thoгoughbrеds or AraЬs often produсе
tlrе largег show pony typе but сагe must bе taken that haгdi-
ness and substanсе аre notlost. The сhагaсtеristiсs aгe similаr
to those of the Wеlsh Mountain, but thе aсtion is lowеr to the
aсtion. They arе
mall, nеat hеad, a
houlder, rounded,
and саrriеd gаily.
Lеgs should Ьe strong аnd hard with good flat joints and hаrd
fееt. Thе hеight limit is 13.2 h.h. and any сolour еxсеpt
piеЬald and skеwbаld is pегmissible.
 PONY BREEDS

The \lelsh Cob

The IИelsh Cob, largest of the Welsh bгeeds (Sесtion D in the
Wеlsh Stud Book), again follows thе сonfoгmation of the
!Йelsh Мountаin pony but is pгobably Ьasеd on thе old Welsh
Pеmbгokеshirе сart hoгsе' although the Cob is mainly Ьred in
Cardiganshire. Thе laгgеst and strongest of the \0Иеlsh
bгееds, it is сourageous with grеаtpowеrs ofenduranсе and is
fаmеd for its tгotting aЬility, аnd its pегfoгmanсe in harness.
It is just as good undеr saddlе, howeveг, and Ьеing vеry aсtivе
аnd a good jumpеr makеs а splendid hunter in all Ьut thе
fastеr grass сountriеs. Addеd size and spееd is aсhiеved bу
сгossing with а ThoгoughЬrеd. As a gеnеrаl, all-round riding
horsе there is littlе to bеat tlre пotoriouslу sound аnd hardy
Wеlsh Cob. It stands aI L4.2 to l5.2h.h. аnd mаy be аny
сolour еxсept pieЬald аnd skеwbald.

The VУеlsh Pony of Cob Tуpe

.Welsh
Also dеsсendеd from thе Мountain, thе Wеlsh pony of
CoЬ type (Seсtion C in thе l0Иеlsh Stud Book), has had infu-
sions in thе past of Andaluсiaц tlre now extinсt Pembrokе
сart hoгsе and Noгfolk Roadstеr Ьlood as well as morе
rесеntly that of thе Haсknеy. originally used for shephегding
and for gеnеral farm work, it is сourageous, kind, intеlligent
and very sound and haгdy. l0fith a hеight limit of 132 h.h.' it A Welsh Cob
is thе smaller еdition of thе lDИеlsh CoЬ, and is vеrу vеrsаtile,
сombining stfеngth, witlr qualiry and сoпrrnon sеnse. Ideal as
a сhild or small аdult's hunter аnd foг trеkking purposеs, its
good, freе trotting aсtion also makе it suitaЬle for harness
work. It should hаvе an abundаnсе of pony сharaсteг' wеll
laid baсk shouldег аnd a good lеngth of rein with a сompaсt,
.stuffy' Ьody that is deеp thгough thе girth, powегful quartеrs,
and good bone. Nlanе and tail hаir should Ье silky and ttrerе
should onlу bе a small amount of fеatheг on the hееls. Any
сolour is pеrmittеd ехсept piеЬald and skеwbald.

The Palomino
Thе tеrm Pаlomino refегs to а сolour type and not a Ьrееd.
Indeеd the сolouring сan Ье found in а numЬеr of diffеrеnt
horsе and ponу breеds. To qualify foг .athе desсription
Palomino, thе сoat сolouг must bе that of newly minted
gold сoirt' oг thrеe shadеs lighteг or daгker than this, with a
puге whitе (not flaxen or silvеr), manе and tail. lDИhite mark-
ings on the legs аnd fасe аrе pеrmissiЬle. Foals tend to darkеn
with age, thе сolour сhanging slightly ассoгding to ttrе time
ofуeaг, and tlrе сoat сolour is not сonsidеrеd to havе sеt until
thе animal is six yеars-old. Breeding ttris сorrесt сolouring is
a rаthеr hit or miss affair' but thе сrosses most likely to
produсе Palomino сolouгing aге two Palominos сгossеd, A We|sh Pony of Cob Tуpe
сhеstnut сross Pаlomino, сhestnut сгoss alЬino and PаIamino V
Palomino сгoss albino. The сolouring is thought to havе
originated in Spain whеre suсh hoгsеs wеrе tегmеd Ysаbеllas
aftег the Spanish queеn (1451-1504) Ьut there is evidеnсе of
goldеn hoгses many сеnturies Ьefoге hеr timе. Pаlominos aге
.Wеstегn
Ьесoming inсreasingly popular for гiding.

Thе Polo Pony

Polo is one of the world s oldest mountеd games, аnd was
plaуed in Pеrsia Ьеfoгe 500 вс. Latеr it sprеad to China, India
аnd Tibеt аnd in thе nineteenth сentury Army offiсеrs
stationed in India Ьгought thе game baсk to Еngland. Now it
is played all ovеr the woгld. Small hunter typе ponies wеrе
onсe thе fаvouгitе mounts _ nativе pony сгossеs' partiсularly
Connеmara and Nеw Foгest, being used extеnsively until
1918 when thе 14.2 h.h. hеight limit was aЬolishеd. Тhis let
in thе largеr, but still small Thoroughbrеd types of aгound
15.rh.h. as well as thе muсh sought aftеr impoгtеd poniеs
fгom Argentinа. The prinсipal rеquiгеmеnts for Polo Ponies
aге stamina, сouragе and Ьalanсе, сomЬinеd with speеd, and
thе ability to .turn on а sixpenсе'. In addition thеy must bе
oЬеdiеnt, hаndy and геsponsivе. Thosе that havе strong,
short baсks, powеrful quartеrs аnd hаrd tough legs аrе likеly
to mаkе thе most suссessful Polo Poniеs.
P0NY в RЕEDs

The Riding Pony

The Riding Pony is of fаirly rесent dеvеlopment being
dеrivеd for tlre show ring from small Thoroughbred or Polo
Pony stallions аnd nаtivе pony _ prinсipally Welsh дnd
Dartmoor_ marеs. AraЬs, too' havе bееn сrossеd suссеssfullу
with thеsе poniеs and thе idеal is probably a !Иelsh сross
Thoroughbrеd with a dash of Arаb blood at a previous oг
subsequеnt mаting. Thе Riding Pony is еssеntially a quality
аnimal with supеrb сonfoгmation, and frее straight асtion
from thе shouldег (not thе knеe), and possеssing that
indеfinablе .pгеsеnсe'. It should in faсt bе a smallеr еdition of
thе haсk, with the samе impессablе mannеr. Thе hеаd
should be full of quаlity, intеlligent and finе with lаrge, wide
spaсed eуes, and small еars. Thеrе should bе a good lеngth of
rеin, а sloping riding shouldег, a fairly widе сhеst, dеpтh
through thе girth and a stfаight, mеdium length bасk, wеll
musсled quarters аnd wеll set-on tail. Lеgs should bе сlеаn
and hard with short сannons аnd flat, hard joints, and thе fееt,
hаrd аnd of еqual sйe. Aсtion must be strаight and trшe, thе
hind feet bеing plantеd in thе prints of thе foте fееt. Thтее
prinсipаl height limits аrе саteгеd for in thе show ring: up to
|22 h.h.' |23 to Iз2 h.h.' аnd 133 to 142 h.h.

Thе Spotted Pony

Spottеd refers to a typе of сoat pattеrn аnd is not thеrеforе а
brееd. Tfuee diffеrеnt types of markings аre rесognized,
namеly Lеopard, Blankеt and Snow.flakе. Lеopаrd markings
L Riding Pony
rеfеr to spots of any сolour on a white oг light сoloured
baсkgтound; blankеt геfегs to spots of any сolour on a whitе
rump or Ьaс\ and snowflakе refеrs to white spots on a found-
ation of any сolour. In addition, spottеd hoгses or ponies havе
spесial сharaсtеristiсs suсh as whitе sсlеra round the еyes,
hoovеs with yеllowish-white and blaсk or brown vегtiсal
stlipеs' mottlеd barе skin, and usually very sparsе manеs and
tails.

Franсe
The Camаrgue
The Camaгgue аrea of Southern Fгаnсе in the Rhonе dеltа
bеtwееn the town of Aiguеs-Мortеs аnd thе sеa, is thе
swаmplаnd homе of thе Сamarguе pony. Currеntly thеrе aгe
only about 30 herds or mаnadеs сomprising somе 45 stallions
.whitе horsеs of фе
and 400 marеs in thе arеa. Known as thе
sea' thе whitе сoat is thе most striking point about this hardy
Ьreed whiсh thrives on a diеt of tough grаss and salt water.
Rarеly eхсееding 15 h.h., thеir сonformation is gеnеrally
poor, hаving a largе squarе hеaф shoгt neсk and upright
shouldеr, but thеy arе notеd foг their dеpth through thе girth
аnd short strong bасk. Thеy havе plеnty of bonе and good
hard fееt and long, thiсk mаnеs аnd tails. Their aсtion is
pгinсipally notеd for thе high-stepping walk' thеir aЬility to
A Cаmаrgue Haflinger V twist аnd tцrn, and tlrе gallop, thе pасеs most usеd to work the
famous blaсk bulls of thаt arеa for thе bullтing, and the job for
whiсh thеsе hoгsеs arе so frеquеntly usеd. Thе foals аrе born
blасk, dark grеy or browщ Ьut their сoat lightens with аgе.

Austria
The Haflinger
Thе Haflinger is a hardу mountain brееd whiсh originatеd in
thе Austrian Tyгol. Tough аnd thicksеt with plеnty of bonе
and substanсе, its brеeding саn bе tгасed baсk to thе Arabian
on onе sidе and to thе сold-blooded hеаviеr Ьrееds on ttrе
othеr. This сombination makеs it ideal for both draught and
гidden work in its nativе land аnd its suге-footеdnеss аnd
 P0NY BREЕDs

plасid tеmpеrаmеnt mаke it еspeсially suitablе for bеginnеrs

to гidе. Thе name was tаken fгom thе village of Hafling, the
сеntrе of an агea in whаt is now Northеrn Italу, wherе thе
Haflingеr was еxtеnsivеly brеd. Statе studs wеrе lаtеr estаb-
lishеd аt PiЬеr аnd Ossiaсh but thе poniеs аге now widеly
bгеd tfuoughout Austria although individual brееdеrs аrе
allowеd only to keеp mares. Stаllions are а1l owned by thе
Stаtе аnd kеpt at thе govеrnmеnt stud fаrms. Colt foals aге
subjесted to rigorous inspeсtion by offiсial inspeсtors and
only a vеry fеw will bе сhosеn as possiblе futuтe stаllions'
Hаflingеrs are also bгed in somе 20 otheг сountriеs, of whiсh
Gеrmanу, Swiиеrlаnd аnd Holland arе thе mаin onеs.
Raгеly еxсeеding |4.2}r.h.' thе Haflinger is exсеptionally
sшong for its small sizе. It is always сhеstnut in сolour,
ranging from shades of gold through to rust, and it frеquently
has white faсial mаrkings. The mаne and tаil are flаxeщ
varying ftom greyish-сгeаm to rеddish Ьгown.

\Jеrmanv
Thе Diilmеn
Germany hаs orrly two nativе pony brееds, thе Drilmеn аnd
the Sеnner and аlthough thе lаtтеr, onсе found in thе
Tеutobuгg Foгest of ЕIanover, is virtually eхtinсt, both of
thesе Ьreеds hаve hаd аn influеnсе on thе rаthег bеttеr known
horsе brееd, the llаnoverian. Thе DЁlmеn is now a rаther A Drilmen
miхed Ьrеed, having run in thе ]Vleerfеldеr Bruсh in rtrИеst-
phaliа in a semi-wild stаte sinсе tlre early 1300s. It avеrаgеs
about 12.3 h.h. аnd may bе any сolour although brown, blасk
аnd dun arе thе most usual. Not unlike the Nеw Forеst pony
in ovеrall аppеaranсе, the DЁlmеn tеnds to hаve аn upгight
shouldег, shoгt baсk аnd poor hindquartеrs wiф а nесk a
littlе on thе short side. Thеsе poniеs aге pгivаtеly ownеd bу
тhе Dukе of Croу and they аre rounded up to sеll thе suгplus
stoсk аnnually.

Poland
The Huсul
Thе Huсul is а nativе of the Carpаrthiаn region of Poland,
whеre hегds hаvе wandеrеd thе mountain rеgions for
thousаnds of years and whеrе it is known loсally as thе
Caгpaгthian pony. It is probably a direсt dеsсеndant of the
pгimitivе Tarpan, whiсh it rеsеmЬlеs moгe thаn any othег
Ьrееd. In faiтly гесеnt timеs, howеver, Arab blood has bееn A HuсuI
inшoduсеd to improve thе brеed аnd sеleсtivе brеeding is Konik V
now сarriеd out аt sеvеral stцds thIoughout Poland, thе prin-
сipаl onе being at Siary nеат Gorliсе. Thе Huсul mаkеs an
idеal paсk and drаught pony and bеing very hardу is used
ехteпsivеly on thе mountainous faгmlands of southеm
Polаnd. Surе-footed, doсilе, strong аnd willing, it avеrages
12.1 to r3.1h.h. and hаs a сharасtеristiс .primitivе', shoгt
hеad, a rather poor bасk end аnd a low sеt tail. Thе prinсipаl
сolours аrе dun and bаy but most сolours may bе seеn.

Thе Konik
Similаr to thе Huсul and haviпg a сoпunon аnсеstor in thе
Tаrpan, the I(onik is usеd to woгk the lowland farms in
Polаnd, as wеll аs Еаstern Еuгopе, whеrе a numbеr havе bееn
ехportеd. It also has had infusions of Arab blood аnd
although it stands only аЬout 13.1 h.h.' it has lost a dеgrеe of
its .pony' quаlitiеs, morе rеsеmbling а littlе horsе. It is brеd
sеleсtively at the two stаte sпrds at Popiеlno and Jеzеwiсе as
wеll as by numeгous small fагmеrs foг use on their land. It is
vеry tough аnd hardy, works willingly on a limitеd diеt and is
easily manаgеd. It is always varying shadеs of dun in сolour.
P0NY BRЕЕDs

Dpaln
-r

The Sorraia
Spаin s only native pony, thе Sorraia, сomes from the westеrn
arеа in the regions bordеring the Sorraia rivеr and its
tributaries, on into Portugal. It is а truе .primitivd having
сharaсteristiсs of Ьoth thе Tarpan and Przеwаlski and Ьеing
еxtremely hardy it is ablе to suгvive on thе very poor vegeta-
tion available, whilst wiтhstanding the еxtremе сlimatiс сon-
ditions. The Sorraia was at onе timе usеd for agriсulturаl
work Ьut тhе numЬers hаvе now grеatly dесrеаsеd. Standing
L2.2 to 13 h.h., it is usuаlly dun in сolour although it may also
Ье grеy or Pаlomino. It has thе blасk еel stripe down thе
сеntre of the bасk and thе zеbra maгkings on the lеgs
assoсiаtеd with thе .primitive, types. The hеad tends to bе
lаrge with a stIaight or сonvеx proflle, thе еars long with
blaсk tips and the eyеs sеt а littlе high. Thе nесk tеnds to bе
long аnd the shoulder is upright. Thе hindquaгters arе poor
and undеrdеvеloped with thе tаi1 sеt low аnd thе lеgs tеnd to
bе гather long and laсking in bone.

Portugal
The Garrano
Also known as the &tinho, this native of Portugаl сomes from
йе mountаin valleys of the Gаrrаno do Мinho and Trаz dos
Мontes areаs. Arab blood has bеen inшoduсеd into the bгееd
by thе seleсtivе Ьгееding of сеrtain poniеs and thе rеsult is a
lightly built animal with good сonfoгmation and notiсеаblе
A Sorrаiа quality. It is very strong, hаrdy, and surе-footеd and usеd
Skyros V extеnsivеlу for hаuling timbеr and light agriсulтural work.
Garranos also makе good riding ponies and aгe in demand аs
paсk poniеs. Standing 10 to 12 h.h., thеy arе almost always
dark сhеstnut in сolour with a luхurious mane and tail. At
onе time vеry populaг trotting гaсеs wеrе run with thеsе
ponies, thе pасе bеing а сolleсtеd тrot' for whiсh thеy werе
speсiаlly bred аnd trainеd. Thе hoгsе fairs аt Vilа Rеаl аnd
Famаliсao spесialized in thе sаlе of high quality Gагrаnos.

Greесе
Thе Pеneia
Grеесe hаs only thrее brееds ofnаtivе pony left, thosе suсh as
tlre Tfuaсian, Thеssalian and Aсhean having long sinсe
disappeared. Of thosе remaining the Pеneia is thе loсal pony
Ьrеd in ttre distriсt of Еleia in thе Pеloponnеsе, and it is used
for light аgriсultural work аnd as a paсk pony. Usually Ьаy,
Ьгown, сhеstnut or gгey in сolour, it is small, rаrеly еxсееding
14 h.h., sturdy аnd very willing and саn livе on the mеagтеst
of rations. A pony of.oriеntal' typе, the stаllions arе oftеn
usеd to brеed hinnies.

The'Pindos
Brеd in thе mountаinous геgions of Thessaly аnd Еpirus, тIre
Pindos pony is anothеr of .orientaf typе and is usеd for light
faгm work, as wеll аs for riding. Sшong and hardy, this moun-
tаin pony сan also livе vеrу frugally аnd is tlreгеforе populaг
witlr thе farmers. Stаnding L2 to 13 h.h., thе Pindos is usuаllу
dаrk gгеy Ьut maу аlso Ьe bгown, bay and blaсk. Thе mаres
aге frеquently usеd for brееding mulеs.

The Skyros
The Skyros pony сomеs from thе Island of Skщos in the
Aеgеan sеa and is the smallest, and probaЬly the oldest, of thе

80
 P0NY BвEEDS

.primi-
Grеek brееds. It stands no morе than 11 h.h. аnd is of

tendеnсy towагds сow hoсks. It may bе almost any сolour but

Ьгown, grеy аnd dun arе thе most usuаl.

Norway

nlikе the British Dalеs pony

It is also similar, although
rather heаviеr Was bтed from thе
lightеr of thе of Thoroughbrеd
sйсk from O to Norway in ttrе
ninеtеenttr сеntuгy) as wеll as infusions of hеaly draught
Ьlood makе it of mixеd oгigin. Thе Dрlе Gudbrandsdаl hаs

A Dd|e Gudbгandsdаl

girth dееp аnd thе lеgs short with lots of fеathеr.

еxtеnsivеlу in thе mountain аrеas foг farm work in the rеg-

ions whеrе to use a traсtor would Ьe impossiblе. It also A Fjord Gotland V
pегfoгms wеЦ in harnеss or as a riding or pасk pony.

Swedеn
Thе Gotlarrd
Thе oldеst of thе Sсandinavian breeds, thе Gotland or Skogs-
russ pony is now brеd extеnsivеly on thе mainlаnd аs well аs
on Gotlаnd Island from whеre it originatеd in Stoпе Age
timеs. It is probably a dеsсеndant of the Tarpan and a numЬer
run wild in the forеst lands of Lojsta. About l00 yеars ago
Oгiеntal blood was introduсеd into the bгеed but thеу still
геtain thеir .pгimitivе' сharасtегistiсs and arе not unlikе
Poland s Huсul аnd Konik аnd the еxtinсt Lofoten pony.
Thеy are now in dеmand as light аgгiсultural workers and,
wittr the interеst in trotting гaсes, аrе also sеleсtively brеd foг

Gotland poniеs arе fаst and also good jumpеrs.

8l
 ^сеlano
тll

The Iсelandiс
Intтoduсеd into Iсeland from Sсandinаvia (pаrtiсularly
Norway), this Cеltiс pony hаs sinсе intеrbred with ttrosе
importеd lаtеr from Sсotland, Irеland and thе Isle of Мan to
foгm what is now known as thе Iсelаndiс pony. From subsе-
quеnt sеlесtive brееding, two distinсt types hаvе emеrged;
onе rather hеavy sort used for draught and paсk work, and a
lightеr typе for riding. Both wеrе used ехtеnsivеly until somе
50 yeаrs ago' as up until thеn, thеy formеd the only tгansport
on the island, еspeсiallу duгing thе sеvere wintеr months
whеn the fеw existing roаds wеrе impаssaЬlе. IJp to thе turn
of the сentury, ponies wеrе expoгtеd from Iсеlаnd to work in
thе British сoal minеs wherе their extrеme hardiness,
strеngth' small sizе and grеat powеrs of еnduranсе made
thеm very populаг. With thе еnd of this ехport tradе, the
numbеr ofponiеs kеpt on the island deсlineф but sinсе loсal
сonditions do not favour сattlе farming, herds of poniеs aгe
oftеn brеd for mеat instead. Iсеlandiс poniеs arе small аnd
stoсky, dееp through thе girth and with a rather largе hеad sеt
on to a short, thiсk nесk. Thеy havе аn aЬundanсе of manе
and tail hаir and feathеr on thе hееls, and аlthough usually
grеy or dun, all othеr сolours may Ье sееn. The usual hеight
is between 12 to 13h.h. but oссаsionallу largег ponies arе
found. Onе of thе toughеst of thе pony breеds, thеу aге
еxtremely intеlligent and doсilе and notеd for фeir indеpеn-
dеnсe and homing instinсt. The usual paсе is a fast and
сomfortaЬlе аmbling gait known as the tФlt whiсh сovегs a
great dеal of ground. Reсеntly thеrе havе Ьеen аttеmpts to
improvе thе Ьrеed Ьy intтoduсing smаll Thoroughbrеd stal-
lions Ьut this has mеt with verv littlе suссеss.

Italy
The Avelignesе
A native of сеntral аnd northеrn Italу, ttrе Avelignеsе is brеd
prinсipаllу in the hill rеgions surrounding Vеnеda and Tus-
сany, whеrе it is usеd extеnsively for light agriсultural
draught work. In the Alps and Apеnninеs it is popular as a
paсk pony. Vеry similаr to the llaflingеr to whom it is relаtеd
(thеy sharе a сoпlmon anсеstor in thе now еxtinсt
Avellinum-Haflinger), thе Avеlignеsе is bеliеvеd to сontain a
dеgreе ofAraЬian Ьlood having dеsсended from an imported
Arаb, Еl Bеdavi. It is еxшеmеly hardy and surе-footed and саn
piсk its way oveг thе mountаin trails in thе worst of wintеr
сonditions. Always сhеstnut in сolour with a flаxеn mаnе
A lceIandiс Ameriсаn ShetIand V
аnd tail and possibly white faсial markings, it is vеry stгong
and tough, notеd for its doсilе disposition and its longеvity. It
is dеep through thе girth with a wide сhest, a wеll musсled
nесk and quarters' short lеgs, and а short broad hеad, with
plenty of bone and good hard horn. It stаnds 13. 3 to 14. 3 h.h.

NORTH AмЕRIсA
u.s.A.
The Ameriсan Shetland
Developеd in thе United Statеs bу сrossing importеd Shet-
lаnds with Haсknеy poniеs, the rеsultantAmеriсаn Shеtland
is a lаrger and finеr еdition of its British сountеrpart. It is bгеd
throughout thе Unitеd Stаtеs and Puеrto Riсo, and in addi-
tion to Ьeing kеpt as a pet and as а сhild's pony, it is raсеd in
trotting rасes hitсhеd to а lightwеight raсing sulkу, as wеll аs
being shown in haltеr аnd harnеss сlasses. Ifused in thе latter

82
йе ponies havе thеiт tails niсkеd to give an аrtifiсially high
таil сarriagе' аnd thеir aсtion, espесially at thе trot, is high
апd eхаggеratеd. The Amеriсan Shеtland сan Ье аny сolour
аnd the height limit is 11.2h.h.

TЪе Chinсoteaguе
InhаЬitants of Chinсoteаguе aпd Assatеague' two small
Ьlands off the сoast of lvlaryland and Virginia, it is unсеrtain
horv thеsе poniеs сame to bе living on thе islands whеrе thеir
kееp сonsists of whаtеvеr they сan find on the sandy marsh-
lапd, and wherе thеrе is no sheltег from thе Atlаntiс storms.
Onе thеory is that thеy arе dеsсended ftom animals that
survived shipwгесks duгing thе Еnglish аnd Spanish сo1o-
гriаl pегiod, аnd that thеiт size bесamе str.rntеd on ассount of
thе sparse vеgetаtion. Thеу аre no morе thаn аbout 12h.h.
аnd аrе morе like smаll horsеs than poniеs. Маnу arе piеbald
аnd skеwbald and thе rесent infusion of Arab blood hаs
improvеd thеir quality. Currеntly thеrе arе аЬout 150 living
оn Assatеaguе, whiсh, unlike Chinсoteaguе is uninhabitеd.
Consеquently on the last \0Йеdnesday in July аll thеse poniеs
аrе roundеd up and swum aсross to Chinсotеague for thе
аптruаl grand round-up, salе and branding еxеrсise. Thosе
тhаt arе not sold arе swum baсk to Assаteaguе the nеxt day.

The Pony of thе Ameriсas

.\ Ьrееd foundеd only 20 yеars ago Ьу сгossing a Shetland
sвllion аnd an Appaloosa marе' the Pony of thе Ameriсas has
tl.ilf'llеd a nееd throughout Amеriсa for a smаll, usеful,
сhilf 3 pony with plеnф of suЬstanсe. Thе hеight must Ье
Ьеrflееn l12 to 13 h.h. and any of the six Appaloosa сolours
ате aссеptaЬlе for rеgistration purposes. They arе willing'
асtivе, vеrsatilе and еаsу to managе, with straight, frеe aсtion.
Тhе hеad should bе small and .Aтаbt' with a dished profilе,
lатgе eуеs and small еaгs, thе shoulder sloping, ttrе сhеst widе
аnd the body dееp, with wеll rounded quаrtеIs аnd tail sеt
Ыgh, and short legs with plenty of bonе. These poniеs havе
сompеtеd suссessfully in jumping сlassеs and trail ridеs and
A Chinсoteague
Ponv of the Ameriсas V
Ьаr.е аlso Ьееn usеd for raсins.

t,
lvlеx1сo
The Galiсeno
Dеsсеndеd from thе Garrano or Мinho poniеs of Portugal
аnd thе Spanish Sorraia, thе Galiсеno's anсеstors аre
йought to havе bеen tlrose brought ovеr to Amеriсa Ьy thе
Spаniards from Hispaniola. Although а nativе of Mехiсo'
sinсе 1959 it has sprеаd throughout the Unitеd States, and in
фе bеttеr сonditions еlsеwherе it has grown in stature. In
тhesе plaсes it is usеd in harness and for rаnсh woгk as wеll аs
foг ordinary riding. It mаy bе bау, Ьlасk, duщ grеy or сhеstnut
il сolour аnd stands 12 to |3.2 h.h. A lightly built, сompасt
pоnу, it has a finе heаd' largе wеll spасеd еyеs' аn upright
shoцldеr аnd short bасk. The сhеst tеnds to bе nагrow but thе
limbs and feеt are good and thе pony movеs with a сharaс-
tеristiс natцral gait of а fast сomfoгtаblе running walk. It is
hаrdy and intelligеnt and bеing ofа trасtаЬlе disposition, is
usеd a gгеat dеal in сompеtitions.

uanaoa
^1

The Sable Island Pony

Dеsсеndants of thе. prinсipally Frеnсh stoсk whiсh wеrе
таkeп to Cаnada by thе Frenсh in thе mid 1600s, the Sablе
Islаnd ponу is also supposеd to havе beеn inuoduсеd to Sаble
Island (a sаndbаnk somе 320 km (200 miles) or so off Novа
!
I
P0NY вRЕЕDs

Sсotiа in thе Atlаntiс oсean), еarly in the eightеenth сentury.

Therе arе аt prеsent somе 300 poniеs, most of thеm sсruЬ
stoсk, running on tlrе small 40 km (25 mile) long island, and
they аrе ехtremely hаrdy, tough and wф, living on thе pooг
vegеtаtion thе islаnd offeгs' Standing about 14 h.h.' they may
be сhеstnut, bаy' bгowп, blaсk oг grey and having a trасtablе
nafllrе are цsеd for both riding аnd light dгaught purposеs.

soUTн AмЕRIсA
Thе Criollo
Desсеnded from Spanish stoсk, а mixtuге of Arаb, Barb аnd
Andaluсiaц bгought over to South Amеriсa by thе sixteenth
сеnпrгy сonquistаdorеs, tlre Criollo has пow sprеаd all ovеr
South Amеriсa aсquiring slightly diffеrеnt сhагaсteristiсs
aссording to its environmеnt. Еssеntiаlly it is sturdy, сom-
pасt аnd vеry musсulаг with а short broad hеad, straight
profilе аnd widе set еyes. Thе nесk and quаrtегs arе wеll
dеvelopеd, the сhest widе, tlrе baсk short аnd thе shouldеr
fairly sloping. Thе lеgs аre shoгt with plenty of bonе аnd thе
fеet hard. It is a vеry willing and tough pony with grеat
powеrs of еnduranсe dnd аn ability to сarry wеight. Thе
fаvouritе сolour is dun with blасk points аnd аn ееl stripе
down the сentrе of the baсk and zеbrа markings on thе lеgs,
but сhеstnut' gгеy' roan' Pаlomino' Ьay and blдсk arе also
found. Thе hеight and typе vаriеs slightly tlrroughout South
Amеriса although all types are essеntially the samе. The
poniеs aгe used prinсipаlly as stoсk horsеs by the gauсhos
and for gеnегal riding. In thе Argentinе they arе known аs
Cгiollos; in Bгazil аs тhe Crioulo; in Chilе _ the Cаballo
Chilеno; in Venеzuеlа _ t}re Llаnеro, and in Pеru thеrе aгe
tlшее types _ thе Costeno, t}rе Мoroсhuсo аnd thе Chola.

Burmese V
The Falabella
Thе Fаlabеlla is гeally aminiаture horsе rathеr than a ponу,
and standing at undег 7h.h., it is thе smаllеst horsе in thе
world. It was fust brеd by thе FаlaЬellа family, from whom it
gеts its name, on their rаnсh near Buеnos Aiтes in thе Aгgеn-
tinе, by сгossing a small Thoroughbгed with small Shеtland
poпies and тhereaftеr inbrееding. It is not suitable foг гiding
but is sometimеs usеd in haгness in thе Unitеd Statеs. Its
pгinсipal purposе howеvеr is purеly as a pеt and bеing very
friеndly and intеlligеnt it fulfills this objесt wеll. Smаll stцds
of thеsе poniеs arе now еstablishеd all ovеr thе world.

ASIA
Assam
The }tanipuгi
Brеd in thе hill statе of Assam and thе Himalayas, thе Маni-
puri is a dеsсendаnt of both thе Мongolian wild horsе and ttre
Aтаb. It has bеen сlаimеd as ttrе oгiginal polo pony, as a rеsult
of the British tea plаnters using it to play thе loсal gamе in
1850. (The gamе was геputed to havе beеn introduсed to thе
Stаte of lVlаnipur in thе sevеnth сentury). A sturdy pony of
bеtwееn 1 1 and 13 h.h.' it is tough, and sure-footed and сan bё
аny сolouг. It is dееp tfuough thе girth with а good shouldеr,
short baсk and wеll dеvеlopеd quarters. Thе lеgs аre short
with plеnty of bonе and tirе feet aге hаrd.
 P0NY BRЕEDs

Burma
Thе Burmese
.Цsо hnovrn аs thе Shan pony this brеed is vеry similaг to thе
!Ьnфuт Ьut is a native of Buтma аnd thе Shan statеs, whегe
iш Ь brеd by thе hill tribеs. A strong and aсtivе' but not vеry
mst poпy, it was usеd by the Bгitish as a polo poпy for want of
rп-пhing bеnеr. Now it is usеd as a paсk and гiding pony. The
tеight vагiеs but averagеs about 13 h.h. and thе pony сan bе
дп.т сolour. Genеrally bad tеmpеrеd, аlthough very hardy and
sште-footеd, it is гathеr plain with а small heаd, longish Ьaсk
тnl rаther undеr devеloped quartеrs with a pooг hind 1еg.

China
Thе Chinese
Fсruпd in most distгiсts of the Chinesе Rеpubliс' ponies of
тhis tгpе еxist thтoughout thе Far Еast and саnnot rеally bе
совsidегеd а Ьгeed. As there has bеen no form of сonшolled
L!Еееdirrg' thеy havе brеd with the wild lVlongolian hoгsеs
frш еаrlу times. In сonsеquеnсе, thеy are similar to thе wild
Пdongoliаn pony аnd arе frеquently dun in сolour with а
til,^rck ееl stripe and blaсk points, although other сolours аге
tоund. Thеy are еxtremely hardy аnd surе-footed and thеir
sЕы ovег shoгt distanсеs hаs lеd to them bеing usеd for
гасiпg аs wеll as gеnеral riding. Confoгmation howevеr, is
Eвnerаlly pooг аnd undеrdevelopеd with а laгgе head and
геаk nесk. Thе hеight vaгiеs bеtweеn 12 and 13.2h.h.

A Chinese
India
Thе Bhutia
.a thiсk-set pony fгom the Нimalayan mountаin агea of Indiа
йе Bhutia is prinсipallу used аs а pасk pony on thе moцntain
рassеs. It is surе-footеd, ехtremеly hardy and intelligеnt with
@епц of stamina and the ability to livе frugаlly' Usuallу gтеy
iп сolouт, it is stгong аnd stuгdy with musсular quаrtеrs and
gооd bonе, and stands 13 to 13.2h.h.

The Kаthiawari and Мarwаri

.\lftough separаte Ьrееds, thе I(athiawari and Мaгwari аrе
гirшаlly idеntiсаl, both having dеsсendеd from thе indigе-
пoцs Indian сountfy brееds сrossеd with Arab stoсk. Thеy
теnd to Ье generally Ьad tеmpегеd Ьut ехtremely tough with
]oь of stаmina, and theу thrivе on littlе food. Varying in
hеight ftom 14 to 15 h.h. they are vеry light and nаrrow with
кеаk песks and quartеrs, low sеt tаil and siсklе hoсks. Any
r-.оlour is found inсluding pieЬаld and skеwbаlds. Thе ears
сuл'е iлwаrds with thе tips almost touсhing at thе points'
фus indiсаting thе AraЬ influenсе.

The Spiti
From thе sаmе llimalaуan агea of India as thе Bhutia, аnd
теrу similar to it in typе and сonformаtion, altlrough smallеr,
йе Spiti is Ьrеd prinсipally by thе I(anyat шibesmеn who use
it to trаdе with neighЬouгing triЬes. It is only aЬout 12 h.h.,
Ьuт up to wеight, as wеll as being hardy аnd tirеlеss witlr
,Wеll
рlетty of stamina. musсlеd with a short, thiсk neсk,
srгаight shoulder, shoгt baсk and sшong limЬs and feet, thе
Spiti, likе thе Bhutiа, tеnds to bе tеmpеramеntal. Both thе
Spiti and Bhutiа arе сlosely rеlated, and vеry similar, to thе
аJl-puгposе TiЬеtаn Nanfаn аЬout whom vеry litdе is known.
P0NY BпЕEDs
т
lnoonеsla
The Bali
This nativеof the island of Bаli is of primitive typе, bеaring a
resеmblаnсе to thе wild &longoliаn pony. It is frequendy dun
in сolour with а blaсk eеl stripе down thе сentе of its bасk
and аn upright mаnе. It stands 12 to 13 h.h. Very sшong and
есonomiсal to kеep, it is a willing workеr and is usеd primaг-
ily as а paсk pony.
The Batak
The Bаtаk is brеd selесtively on thе island of Sumаtra wherе
Arаbian impoгts have bееn introduсed to the studs to upgгade
thе rathеr сommon native pony, and lеnd а littlе quаlity to thе
breed. The rеsultant young stoсk are then sent to the other
Indonesian islаnds to impгovе тhе Ьreеds there. It is а kindlу,
gentle pony, eаsy to managе and есonomiсal to keеp, but thе
AraЬiаn blood hаs аddеd a touсh of spirit аnd еleganсе whiсh
is not found in most of thе othеr Indonеsian brееds (thе
Sandаlwood Ьeing an еxсеption). It is a gеnеral purposе
animal, сan bе аny сolour and stands 12 to 13 h.h.
Caspiаn V and Sumbаwа, whiсh are аlmost identiсal, arе very tough аnd
The Java
Slightly lаrgеr than some of thе other Indonеsiаn ponies thе
Java, a nativе of thаt island, stands 12.2 h.h. Although lighdy
built it is tough, haгdy, very willing and аppаrеntly tirеlеss,
сapablе of worКng а1l dаy in tropiсal сonditions. Its prinсipal
funсtion is to pull the heavily ladеn two-wheеlеd Sаdos
whiсh sеrve as а tаxi sеrviсе on thе island. Thе Java is found
in almost any сolour and is gеnerally of poor сonformation
with wеak nесks and quarteгs, long baсks, rattrer long legs
and ftеquentlу сow hoсks.
The Sandalwood
A nativе of the islands of SumЬa аnd Sumbawа, the Sandal-
wood is thе quality pony of Indonеsiа bеing finer than the
othеrs and with an .Araby' hеad. Named after thе islands
prinсipаl еxport' it is цsеd mаinly for barebасk raсing
although it stands only 12.1 to 13.1 h.h. It hаs a small, wеll-
shapеd hеad, with а lаrge еyе аnd widе сhеst and is deеp
through thе girth. Legs and feet arе good and hard, and thе
сoat, whiсh mаy bе any сolour, is vеry finе.
The SumЬa
Sinсe ttre likenеss of the Indonеsian poniеs to thе wild ]V1on-
golian and Chinеsе ponies is vеry appагеnt, it is quitе pos-
siblе that the anсient Chinеsе may hаvе brought thе poniеs to
Indonеsiа in vеry еаrly times. Thе nаtive poniеs of SumЬa
willing and again somеwhat primitive in appearanсе, being
dun with thе Ьlaсk ее1 stтipе and upright manе. They stand
about 12.2 h.h. and аrе agile, and intеlligеnt. Thеy arе usеd
on thе islands in lаnсe-throwing, thе сompetitivе national
sport of Indonеsiа' as wеll as in.danсing, сompetitions, whеn
thеy are ridden bагebaсk in a bitless bгidlе by young boуs,
whilе a trainеr on the otheг end of a lungе line direсts thе
vаrious movements. Thе poniеs havе bёlls аttaсhed to thеir
knееs and thеy danсе in time to thе bеat of thе tom-toms.
Judging is oп tlrе еlеgаnсе and lightnеss of performanсе.
The Timor
Thе nаtivе pony of thе island of Timor, is thе smallеst of thе
Indonesian brееds and is usеd by the islandеrs as а сow pony.
It is еxсeptionally agilе and stтong, although standing only
11 to 12 h.h., and has grеat powеrs of еnduranсe сoupledwith
a mаss of сommon sense. Also very doсilе and sure-footеd, it
makes a good сhildren's pony, and mаnу have Ьeеn imported
to thе Austaliаn mainland for this purposе. It is usuаlly
blaсk, brown or bay in сolour and is finеlу made with a small
hеad, short bасk, strong quarters and good hard lеgs and fееt.
т
lran
The Caspian
Until гeсеntly the Caspiaп pony, a nativе of thе areа around
thе Еlburtz mountаins and Caspiаn sеa in Pегsia, was
thought to be extinсt, but in 1965 а numbег wеre found
pulling сarts in t}rе сoastal towns and wаndering along thе
shorеs of thе Caspian Sea in Northеrn Irаn. The сuгrеnt
theory is that thе Caspian is the anсient miniаturе horsе of
.fulеsopotаmia whiсh, after Ьeing usеd Ьy the lvlesopotamiаns
in the third millеnium вс until thе sеvеnth сеntuгy AD' wаs
bеliеvеd to havе beсome еxtinсt. Rеsearсh into this theory is
howevеr still in pгogrеss. Мore like a small hoгse thаn a ponу
in appеaranсе, it may bе gтеy, brown, bay or сhеstnut in
сolouг аnd stаnds Ьetwееn 10 to 12 h.h. It is surе-footеd,
intеlligеnt аnd trасtablе, with а rеmarkaЬle jumping ability -
all of whiсh makеs it a usеful mount for сhildrеn. Thе Cas-
pian has a small, fine, Arab-typе head with wide sеt eyеs'
short Ьас\ poor hind lеgs, nаrrow сhеst аnd is light of Ьonе.
 AUSTRALASIA
Australia
The Australian Pony
Тhе nаtivе pony of Ausшaliа hаs derivеd prinсipally from
::nported \0Иеlsh Мountain with a mixtuге of AraЬ,
ТhoroughЬred, Timor and Shеt1and poniеs, and is thus not
::rdigеnous. The hеight variеs fгom l2 to 14 h.h. аnd usеd as a
:hjld s гiding ponу, it is intеlligеnt, hardу and sound with
3ood, frее movеmеnt. Prinсipal сolouгs arе grеy and сhеstnut
tзt this сompасt, сobbу sort ofpony mаy bе any whole сolour.

(J.S.S.R.
A Australiaп Pony
Тhе Kazakh
.\n аnсiеnt Ьгееd originally bгеd in thе rеgion of Itazahstan, *
iеsе poniеs arе еxсеptionаlly hаrdy and able to withstand
iе eхtrеmes of сlimatiс сonditions, Ьeing еxpесtеd to foтage
:l.r themsеlvеs еqually in thiсk snow or in the dеsеrt. Somе
::аvе rесеntly had infusions of Don Ьlood and сrossеs with
.-iе Don or Akhal-Tekё havе produсеd good сavalry mounts.
Sвnding L22 to 132 h.h., thеir prinсipal usе, howеvеr, is as a
.:оrr, pony' and they arе strong, willing mounts with good
:агd limbs and fееt. Thеy arе usually grey, bay, сhеstnut' or
:1асk. The mаrеs arе usеd to produсe milk and many of thе
stoсk аre fattеnеd for mеat.
1'..lung

The Viatka
3геd mainly in the basins of the Viatka and Obva rivеrs' thеsе
9'оniеs arе usеd pтinсipally to pull thе troikа slеdges - a job
:..r rvhiсh thеir pесuliar tгotting gait, mаkes thеm paгtiсularlу
s:irаЬlе. Thеу arе also usеd for light agriсultural work аnd
f:е vеry useful all-round ponies. Possеssеd of grеat powеrs of
зnduranсе' thе Viatka stands 13 to 14h.h., hаs a full mane
аild tail and is usuаlly greу in сolour, somеtimеs with thе
;jmitivе zеbга markings on thе lеgs. It has a ratlrer plain
.еаd with a wеll musсled nесk and quartеrs, a short baсk,
:еpth through thе giтth and good strong limbs аnd fееt. It is a A Viatka
.аst and willing workеr and its aЬility to livе on thе minimum Bаsuto V
..: tЪod makes it есonomiсal to keеp.

AFRIсA
Lеsotho (Basutoland)
The Basuto
Тhе Basuto pony is derivеd prinсipаllу from thе ArаЬ and
Barb hoгsеs whiсh wеrе impoгtеd to thе сapе Provinсe of
S outh Afriсa from Jаvа in 1653 and, by various сrossings with
Тhoroughbrеds, formеd thе Capе ЕIorsе. Following raids in
.tlе еarlу ninetеentlr сеntuly the Cape ЕIorsе found its way
::rto Basutoland wherе a сombination of сrossing with 1oсal
sсruЬ stoсk and thе unfavourаble сlimаtiс сonditions, саusеd
rr to dеgenerate into whаt is now known as thе Basuto pony.
Тhis еxсеptionаlly tough, hardy and еnduring pony is not
jrеn an indigenous onе' but bеing wеll up to weight wаs usеd
ехтеnsivеlу duгing thе Boеr l0Иar. It is 14.2 h.h. and provеs its
'..еIsatility by Ьeing used for polo and raсing as well as for
гiding and as а paсk pony. Thе usuаl сolours ате baу, brown,
gте-т or сhestnut аnd it is tlriсkset, frеquently with a qualitу
hеad, long neсk and Ьaсk, аnd upright shouldеr. It has very
eard feet аnd is ехtremelу surе-footеd.
8'7
 *
& ..=i_

-.i .:i1._l

j:-:' 1:

t

'T."" origin of training horsеs for thе
l. most сlassiсal form of riding, nor-
mаlly rеfеrred to as drеssage, сan bе traсed
at lеast аs fаr baсk as thе fourth or fifth
сеnturiеs вс whеn its valuе аnd basiс prin-
сiplеs were appreсiated and еstablished by
the Grеeks. The Grееks studiеd the sуs-
tеmatiс tтaining of theiг horsеs Ьoth аs an
artistiс and plеasurablе aссomplishment,
as wеll аs a meаns of improving thе pеr-
formanсe of thеir сavalry. ,&tost notablе
among these earlу horsеmasters was a
сavalry gеnеral сalled Хеnophon who
emЬodiеd t}re prinсiples in а book, parts of
whiсh еxist and arе valid todaу. It also
mеntions thе еxistеnсе at thаt timе of
another book or trеatisе on фе same suЬ-
jeсt bу one, Simon of Athеns.
The nаme dressagе, bеing Frenсh, did
not сomе into usе to desсribе this шaining
and riding until thе еаrly eighteenth сеn-
tury. It is dеrived from thе Frеnсh vеrb
drеsser' whiсh mеans to train, to adiust' to
sшaightеn-out. Likе many other Frеnсh
words adoptеd Ьy the Anglo-Saхons, it
сould hardly bе morе аpt for its purpose. A
dressеur is a man who praсtisеs drеssаgе.
Dressаgе as we leсognizе it tlrеrеfore,
was dеvеlopеd in the first plaсе for t}rе
essentially Praсtiсal purposе of pгoduсing
easily сontrollеd horsеs, that would bе
battle-winning assets for army сavalries.
Troopеrs who сould not сontrol thеir
mounts with one hand in Ьattlе wеre then,
as in muсh lateг times, no assеt at all. For-
tunаtеly for thе horsеs of all subsеquent
pеriods, thе Grееks disсovеred that a quiet
аnd сivilizеd approaсh to obtаin thе сoop-
erаtion of thеsе bеautiful, Ьut powerful,
aпimals invariably produсеd bу far the best
results.
ovеr thе intеrvеning сеnturiеs right up
to тtrе presеnt dаy, drеssagе hаs dеvelopеd
in а sporadiс fashion in diffеrеnt сountries,
in diffеrеnt dеgrееs and at differеnt timеs.
It has always flourished howеver only in
thе morе advanсed сivilizаtions аnd soсial
сulturеs, for thеrе has nеvеr Ьeеn any plaсе
for асtivitiеs rеquiring suсh patiеnсe,
applied intelligеnсе and aеsthеtiс sеnsitiv-
ity in pooг or primitivе soсieties. There has
to bе a сertаin amount of leisure time to
turn what is dеsirablе, but perhaps ines-
sеntial, iлto a praсtiсаl proposition.
Rеvivеd аftеr thе dark аnd middlе ages
аlong with all othеr сulturаl aсtivitiеs in
Renaissаnсe Itаly, drеssаgе bеgan to
assumе аlmost prесisеly the form in whiсh
we know it todaу in thе lаtе sеventеenth
and early еighteenтlr сеnturУ. This was
partiсulаry truе of thе latter period when
thе Frenсhman FranEois dе lа Gu6riniёrе,
working аt Vеrsаillеs, еlaЬorated and
dеvеlopеd fully the original Grееk prin-
сiples, еstаblishing сonсlusivеlу thаt thе
rough and еvеn brutal mеthods of training
horsеs that had сrept into praсtiсе during
thе Rеnaissanсe were unnесеssary and
unaссeptablе. Dе la Guёriniёre's сonсepts
wеrе сodifiеd in his grеat work .f Есo1е dе
Cavalariе' whiсh rеmains thе sourсе of all
сontеmporary thinking. It аlso forms thе
basis of t]rе work peгpetuаtеd at tlrе grеat
асadеmy of thе Spаnish Riding Sсhool in
Vienna whiсh stands аs thе arbiter of trцe
сlassiсal riding aсross the world.
One mаjor distinсtion betweеn t}re gen-
еral praсtiсe of dтеssagе and сlassiсal rid-
ing in the twеntiеth сеnrury and that of аl1
previous timеs hаs bееn thе introduсtion
of сompеtition riding. This is bеst exprеs-
sed in thе internаtional сontests that lead
up to and inсludе the olympiс Gamеs.
Previously, аs wе have seеn, dтеssagе hаd
bееn primarily the сonсеrn of the military,
through thе tеасhing аt their сavaф
sсhools, and аlso of thе wеаlthу сivilian
minoritiеs foсussеd round roуal сourts and
similar сеntrеs of сulturе. In thе military,
drеssagе was а profеssional rеquiremеnt,
whereas among the wеаlthy сivilians, it
was a gеntlеmanly aссomplishmеnt,
highly regагded as an intеgral part of a
сomplete еduсation. No doubt ttrе harsh
nесessities of military lifе pгeсluded all Ьut
a small minoritу of the soldiers from fol-
lowing dressagе to its highest levels Ьut
through thеm the spirit of Vеrsaillеs аnd
Viеnnа was kеpt frеsh аnd was hаndеd
down and prасtised аt mаny rеlatively
small establishmеnts. In thе riding
sсhools maiпtainеd at the royal сourts, thе
drеssage aсhiеvemеnts may havе reaсhеd
higher lеvеls.
Bу the beginning of this сentury, ttrе
сourts wеre гapidly dwindling in number,
аnd thе improvеment in сommunсiations
and travеl faсilities hаd radiсallу сhangеd
thе lifе in thosе thаt rеmained. The сavalry
sсhools сonsequently beсamе virtually the
sole bеarеrs ofthe dгessage torсh and they
thеmsеlves wеre to lаst on1y for the next sagе rideгs fгom аll ovеr thе world providе
forty years or so. By the end ofthе Sесond an exсеllеnt and reсurrеnt opporruniry to
\0Иoгld IDИar thеy had all gonе and the lеad сompare standards, teсhniques and idеas.
pаssеd to сivilians and to thе fеw profеs- Theу also sеrvе to Ьring drеssаgе bеforе a
sional or rеtired soldiегs who hаd rесеivеd muсh lаrger audiеnсе tlran has expеri-
thеir training bеforе the war. Interest enсеd it sinсе it was used in thе sixtееnth
Ьeсame morе widеly sprеad аnd quiсk1у сеnflrry in popular fеstivitiеs. AЬovе all
found its еxprеssion in the еxpanding they havе rеsultеd in the rеintroduсtion of
world of сompеtitivе sport of аll kinds. a dеgrее of frеedom of movеmеnt as an
Dressаge was fust inсludеd in an Olympiс aссеpted stаndard that might have been
programmе in thе Stoсkholm Gamеs of lost for еvеr if twеntiеth сentury drеssаgе
L912. had bееn rеstfiсted to indoor displays аnd
This сhаnging pattern rеsultеd in somе aсadеmiс institutions.
variation bеtweеn whаt wаs taught and A vеry bеnеfiсial aspeсt of сompetition
Praсtised in thе seсludеd aсadеmу in riding is that thе ridеrs have rеgulаrly to
Vienna on thе one hand and what was pro- subjeсt thеir pеrformanсes to thе сom-
duсеd Ьy the majority of ridеrs in thе wider, prеhеnsivе sсrutiny of trained assessors.
аnd mainly amateur, woгld of national and Thеir duty is to reсognize and exposе wеak
intеrnational сompetition on thе othеr. results or falsе tесhniquеs as wеll аs to
The artistiс еlemеnt in drеssagе is all too сommеnd сoгrесt and admirаЬlе work.
еasilу saсrifiсed to the need to sсorе points This сontinuous аnd worldwidе proсеss of
or to speed up thе training programmе in tесhniсаl аssеssment сannot fail to
timе for thе nехt olympiс Gаmes or oфer impгovе and maintain thе purity of сon-
major еvеnt. On the other hand, ttre temporary dressage to an еxtеnt that сould
сhangеs hаvе not all bееn for the worsе. hаrdly bе possiЬlе without ttre stimulus
Thе pеriodiс gatherings of dediсated dres- providеd Ьу сompеtitivе еvents. A further

bеnеfiсial aspесt of сontеmporаry dressage
is that in its lowеr есhеlons it has Ьесomе a
tгце lеisuге sport, giving plеasuте to many
thousands of thе less amЬitious ridеrs.
This is pаrtlу bесаusе of the widеly fеlt
ulgе to еsсapе _ еven for short pеriods _
from thе strеsses of modеrn day living, and
partlу Ьeсausе of thе ever dесreasing
oppoltцnities for long langе or сross-
сountry riding. Paradoxiсally though, in
thе highег сompеtitivе eсhelons' it is in
dangеr of Ьeсoming vеry intеnsе indееd,
and vеry largе sums of monеу are sPent in
thе pursuit of fаmе and suссеss in сompеti-
tions.
Climatiс сonditions havе always had a
markеd impaсt on thе dеvelopment and
praсtiсе of dтеssage within differеnt сoun-
шiеs. Givеn thе opportunity, mankind thе
world ovеr sharеs thе lovе ofriding horsеs
in somе aspесt, but muсh dеpеnds on the
сonditions availablе. In Grеat Bгitain foг
example, whеrе ttrе wintеrs аrе mild and
mцсh of the tеrrain is agriсultural or pаs-
toral, it is possiblе and plеasаnt to ridе
outdools thе wholе year гound. Thus thе
ardour of уoung mеn has often expгеssеd
itsеlf in riding асгoss сountrу usually fol-
lowing а hunt. In othеr сountriеs, pаItiсu-
larlу Gеrmanу аnd сеntral Еuropе, the tеr-
rаin and thе сlimаtе сombinе to kееp ridеrs
indoors for large portions of thе уеar. This
has produсed an atmosphеrе that iS сondu-
сivе to an interest in thе skills аnd sсienсе
of purе horsеmanship rather thаn thе more
immediatе and simplеr еxсitements of
hunting. It followed therеforе' that for thе
fust forty yеars of this сenturу thе art of
drеssagе riding in сompеtitions was pur-
sued throughout сontinеntаl Еuropе Ьut
wаs hardly rесognizеd as existing, muсh
lеss undеrstood, in Grеat Britain. Thе
result is that thе сontinеntаl сountries,
with thеir 25o-уeat unЬrokеn tradition of
skilled horsеmanship, arrived in thе prеs-
еnt еra of сompetitivе drеssagе with a long
start ovеr Britаin and thе youngеr nаtions.
This is partiсulaгly apparеnt whеn thе
rеsults of major сompetitions are sпrdiеd.
Thе twentiеth сenturу transition from a
mainly militаry or аristoсratiс aсtivity to
the prеsent status ofdrеssagе as аn interna-
DпEssAGЕ |N THЕ 20TH сЕNтURY
Тhe dressage horse. Sun аnd Aiг, гidden by
Miss SheiIа WiI|сox, in an advanсed dressage
сompetition at Goodwood. The supple outline
of the horse сombinеd with the obedienсe to
the гideг,s аids shown here are the prodUсt of
the Iong hours ofsсhoo|ing required to bring a
hoгse to this leve|.
tionally rесognized аnd almost totally
сivilian sport has in praсtiсе bееn remаrk-
aЬly smooth. Although, sinсе thе mid-
sixties, thе sight of a military uniform in
the arеna has bееn rarе and *re tidеs rarеr
still, this сhangе hаs not affесtеd thе sport
advеrsely. Thе military еstablishments
wеrе slrpеrsеdеd bу ridеrs fгom privatе
domеstiс staЬles, many of whom had onlу
modеst finanсial bасking. onе signifiсant
innovation was the emеrgenсe of womеn
ridеrs at thе highеst levels. From a previ-
ous standpoint of non-pаrtiсipation in thе
spolt, they were Soon to show thеmsеlvеs
wеll ablе to сhallengе thе mеn on еqual
terms. The fust woman to Win an Olympiс
mеdal in dressage wаs Мmе Liz Нartel of
Denmark, a сoulаgеous ladywho hadbeеn
9l
 DвЕssAGЕ |N тHE 20тн сЕNтURY
ii
sеvеrely handiсappеd by poliomyelitis.
Ridinghеr horsе Jubileе, lvlme ЕIаrtеl won
thе silvеr medals at Hеlsinki and Stoсk-
holm' 1952 and 1956. Frаu Liselott Lin-
senhoff of Germany won thе Bronzе medal
in 1956 аnd thе Gold Мedаl in 1968. In
1972 Еlenа Pеtousсhkova of thе
lty'trne
USSR' tlrеn thе reigning Vorld Champ-
ion, took the Silvеr on Pеpel and in 1976
Chrisdnе Stuсkеlbеrger of Swiиеrland
took thе Gold at Мontreаl. In thе World
Championship сompеtitions in Copen-
hageг in 1974, womеn ridеrs out-num-
Ьered thе mеn.
The influenсе ofdrеssаge on thе gеnеral
welfaге of ttrе horsе must Ьe rесognized аs
Ьeing сonsidеrablе. Takеn up vеry widеly
аs a sport, it has enсourаgеd mаny
thousands of ridегs аll ovеr thе world to
ассеpt the сhallеnge of improving thеir
riding whiсh is сlеarly of grеat Ьеnеfit to
thеir mounts. This сhаllеngе, сouplеd
with the tirnе and сonсеntration nееdеd to
train a drеssаge horsе, has геsultеd in dгes-
sagе riding bесoming аlmost a way of lifе
for mаnу people in whiсh they find gтеat
intегеst, grеat plеasurе аnd grеаt relief
from ttre prеssurеs of сontemporаry'
ovеr-mесhаnйеd lifе. It also hаs thе
еnoпnous advаntagе of being prасtiсable
for rideгs in thе sеventh or eighth dесadеs
of thеiт livеs, providеd thеy havе kЪpt
rеasonаbly fit.
Apart from the pгivаtе dтеssage гiding
pгaсtisеd and еnjoyed by individuals solеlу
for their own intеrest' there аге two foгms
in whiсh it is known and apprесiаtеd by
the puЬliс. As alrеadуmеntionеd' one is in
thе world of сompеtitivе еvents whiсh аrе
governеd by preсisе rцlеs аnd сonvеntions.
The faсt that thе performanсe of eaсh
сompеtitor hаs to bе judged sеparatеly,
means that most сompеtitions tеnd to Ье
too slow and pгolonged to hold thе attеn-
tion of largе aцdiеnсes exсеpt аt the high-
est lеvel and whеrе major сhampionships
аrе involvеd. In addition somе Ьasiс know-
lеdgе of thе pгinсiples of this somеwhаt
esoteriс sport is еssential for a real аppгeсi-
ation of its finеr points. The othеr and
moге popular form is that of speсial and
relatively shoгt displays given Ьy onе or
morе ridеrs, usually as only one itеm in а
progгErmme of moгe vаriеd еntеrtаinmеnt.
Suсh displаys саn bе еnjoyеd by many
thousands for thеir aesthеtiс value and for
thе sеnsе of гhуthmiсal movemеnt аnd
preсision timing that they provokе. lrow-
ever' as with most othеr aсtivities, rеally
top сlаss performеrs arе requirеd to еnsurе
thе full suссеss of suсh a display.
Regulaг displаys ofvеry high quality and
rеnown аrе given аll ovеr thе world by the
uniformеd ridеrs and whitе Lipizzaner
horsеs of the Spanish Riding Sсhool, and
Ьу a very few gтеat mastеrs of сlаssiсаl
horsemanship suсh as Nuno oliveirа of
Poгtugаl. Some of thе top сompetition rid-
егs аlso givе displaуs. In all сases, thе dres-
sagе pеrformеd сonforms as сlosely as pos-
sible to purе сlassiсal сonсеpts. It should
not Ье сonfusеd wittr thе typе of exhibition
normally seen in сirсusеs whiсh' аlthough
oftеn of vеry high quality and demanding
vеry finе horsеmanship, is likely to aссept a
dеgrее of liсensе in thе intегеst of еnter-
taining a possiЬly lеss сritiсal audienсе.
Suсh an audienсе, howеvеr, will have no
diffiсulty in apprесiating a displаy of fine
drеssage for pгeсisеly the samе rеasons as
would influеnсе spесtаtors watсhing danс-
ing, skаting, g.yпrnastiсs or othеr form of
physiсal prowеss that сombinе skill and
graсе with strеngth and fisсipline.
Аbove Тhe,passage,, an advаnсed dressage
movement, pedormed heгe by Piаff аnd his
German rider, Liselotte Linsenhoff, who won
the go|d medаI at the 1972 Muniсh o|ympiсs.
Opposite top Dressage on display: the white
Lipizzaner stal|ions at the Spаnish Riding
Sсhoo| in Viennа enteгing their mаgnifiсent
arenа for the ouаdri||e.
opposite bottom left А quаdri||e сan сonsist
of four oг more horses and riders аnd the
group will perform dressage movements in
unrson.
Opposite bottom right Mrs. Lorna Johnstone,
who rode in the Muniсh o|ympiсs аqed 70.
 DREssAGЕ |N ТHЕ 20тH сENтUвY

,f

*
DflЕssAGЕ |N THE 20тн сENТURY
Competition dressаgе сovers a vеry wide
variеф of sиndards from those of provin-
сial riding-сlub evеnts through to сonti-
nеntal or world сhampionships and thе
olympiс Gamеs. Thе sаme basiс prin-
сiplеs and rulеs apply to аll of thеsе and
сompеtitions at all levels arе сontrollеd by
thе Drеssagе Burеau of thе Inteгnational
Еquеsшian Fedеration foundеd in L92L'
thе hеadquаrtеrs of whiсh arе in Brussels.
The Burеau lays down and kеeps up-to-
dаte thе nесеssаry rulеs to сovеr thе stаn-
dаrds of performanсe' the rules and guidе-
linеs for judgеs and сompеtition organiz-
еrs' thе qualifiсations for judges and аll
othеr faсtors that dirесtly affесt thе sport.
Еaсh fеdеratеd nаtion maintains its own
national drеssage Ьurеau to сontrol its
purеly national affаirs аnd tfuough whiсh
сontaсt is mаintаinеd worldwide on mat-
tеrs of prinсiplе and method. The highеst
priority is givеn throughout thе organiza-
tion to maintaining thе purity of сlassiсal
сonсept and to prеventing the growth of
potеntially false mеthods of training that
would lеаd to а lowеring of standards.
Thеre arе various сonventionallу
rесognizеd grades of шaining in drеssagе
and сontеsts for all or somе of thе gradеs
may bе hеld at a normal сompеtitivе evеnt.
Compеtitors сan enter for onе or morе сon-
tеst, and in eaсh саse will bе rеquiгеd to
pеrform а prеordained sеquеnсе of movе-
ments in exaсtly thе ordеr stipulated. In
the Unitеd lGngdom thе gradеs, and thus
thе сontеsts' are rеfеrred to as Preliminary,
Noviсе, Еlеmentаry, Меdium аnd
Advanсеd. Еaсh grade is furthеr sцb-
dividеd into two or moге dеgrееs of
diffiсulty. Thе advanсеd grаdes in all
сountriеs arе сlеarly distinguished ftom
thе early grades by thе inсlusion offlуing-
сhanges of leg and pirouеttеs and' at thе
Grand Prix or highеst lеve7,t}:e hаutе ёсole
airs of piaffe and passagе. Airs aЬove thе
ground' suсh as thе lеvadе, сourbеttе and
others, whiсh arе thе ultimate aсhievе-
Аbove An exampIe of the power and сontrol
needed to exeсUte some of the testing
movements in an advanсed event. Granat,
ridden bу Christine StuсkeIberger.
Below ALipizzanerfromtheSpanish Riding
Sсhoo| oraсtises the,ba||otаde,.
mеnt at suсh асadеmies аs thе Spаnish
Riding Sсhool are nеvеr inсluded in сom-
pетrt1ons.
Thе national fеdеrations arе rеsponsiblе
for dеvising and publishing a set oftests for
all levels of nаtional сompеtition. Thesе
arе сallеd Nаtional Tеsts. Thе Interna-
tional Fеdеration further devisеs and pub-
lishes four stаndаrd Intеrnational Tests,
all at Advanсed gradе, thе lowest bеing thе
Prix St Gеorgеs whiсh is sеparаted from
tlrе Grand Prix at thе top bу thе Intеr-
mеdiatе I аnd the Intermеdiаte II. Thеse
four tеsts form thе Ьasis ofall Intеrnationаl
Compеtitions. Five judgеs for еaсh of thе
four tеsts aIе rесolтrmеndеd' although this
numbеr has vаriеd from timе to timе in
diffеrеnt plaсes. From one to tfuее judges
аrе normally rеquired for nationаl сon-
tеsts.
Thе preсisе сontеnt ofеaсh ofthе stаn-
dard international tests is revizеd approx-
imately еvеry four уеаrs so as to prevеnt thе
horsеs from beсoming too narrowly
routinеd, Ьut theу alwaуs takе from еight to
twеlvе minutеs to pеrform. The prog-
rаmmе at an internаtional сompetition
also frequendy inсludеs a Free-Style сon-
tеst or l(ur, in whiсh сompеtitors dеvisе
thеir own displaу, thе only pгoviso bеing
that they inсludе аnd show all the partiсu-
lar movеmеnts that thе oгganizегs may
prеsсribe.
Drеssagе сontеsts arе alwaуs ridden in
rесtangular arenas' thе standаrd sizе of
whiсh is eithеr 20 x 40 or 20 x 60 m. The
standard international tеsts invariаbly
rеquirе йе larger aгеna. A11 arеnаs usе a
сonventional systеm of lеttеring to indi-
сatе to ridеrs аnd judgеs whеrе the movе-
mеnts to Ьe pеrformеd should bеgin and
еnd. Thе origins of this somewhatillogiсal
lеttering system аrе obsсurе.
Competition judgеs are rеquirеd to allo-
сate a mаrk out of а madmum of ten for
eaсh movеment or сomЬination of movе-
ments as sеt out on the puЬlishеd test
sheet. To do this еffiсiеntly thе judgе has
to сritiсize and evaluate thе pеrformanсe,
and thеn voiсе his сonсlusions. IIе is
always aссompaniеd by a writer whosе
duty it is to rесord on thе judging shеet
providеd for eaсh сompetitor' thе mаrk
аllotted together with a summаry of thе
judge's сommеnts. Thеsе sheеts arе latеr
madе availablе for pеrusal by thе сom-
pеtitors. Thе marks allottеd by еaсh of thе
presiding judgер arе сollесtеd, сheсked
and totallеd by thе sесrеtariаt and thе сom-
pеtitor sсoring thе highеst total is thе win-
nеr.
It is obvious that a good judgе must have
a vеry thorough knowlеdgе of thе prin-
сiples of dтessagе and of thе problems
involved in training a horse. It is а grеat
advantagе if hе has hаd praсtiсal eхperi-
еnсe of thosе problеms from thе saddle. Hе
also hаs to mеmorizе thе test he is judging'
sirrсe hе сannot afford to takе his eyеs off
thе сompetitor during the pеrformanсе
and hе must know thе сorrесt point аt
whiсh eaсh mark has to Ьe givеn. Quiсk
thinking' good judgemеnt, morаl сouragе,
integrity and ехperiеnсе are essеntial quаl-
ities for a good judgе. In faсt his task is
almost as diffiсult to perform wеll аs thаt o{
thе ridеr!
The Internationаl Fеderаtion maintains
its own panеl of judgеs who may offiсiate
at international сompеtitions. Еaсh nаtion
maintains its own list of judgеs, gradеd
aссording to thе stаndard of drеssagе for
whiсh they are сonsidеred qualified. As a
guidе and aid for standardizеd judging, thе
Intеrnational Fеderation has speсifiеd сеr-
tain сonnotations for eaсh of thе marks
from nought to tеn. These are:
0 Not peгfoгmеd 6 Satisfасtorу
1 Very Ьad 7 Fаirly good
2 Bad 8 Good
3 Fairly bаd 9 Verу good
4 Insuffiсient l0 Еxсеllent
5 Suffiсient

Dгessage for сombined tгaining oг eventing is
not so demanding as the advanсed form.
Horse аnd rideг have to Derform аn eаsier test
but must sti|| be supp|e, aсtive and obedient.
Тhe tests are designed to show these
аttributes and are marked aссording|y by
skilIed аnd experienсed judges.
To assist in mаintаining а rеasonably
high stаndard of training and perfoгmanсе
it is stipulated in the rulеs that no horsе
shall rесеive a prйе unless hе has еarned at
lеast 50% of the maхimum marks avail-
аblе. As an indiсаtion of thе standard aсtu-
allу aсhiеvеd in this сentury, it is a faсt thаt
therе is no rесord of a hoгsе еvеr sсoring as
muсh аs 80% of possible marks from all
fivе judgеs. A sсoring at an intеrnational
Grand Priх of anуthing over 7 5o/o is еxсеp-
tional. Thе гeсord is 79.5% aсhieved Ьy
Switzеrland s Cfuistinе Stuсkеlbergеr аnd
hег horsе Gгanat at Salzburg,in I975.
In Olympiс Games and iл Continеntal
and \ilИorld Championships it is usual to
award tеam prizеs for tеаms of thrеe from
any onе nаtion in аddition to thе individual
awards.
Thе drеssage сontеst at the Stoсkholm
ol1тnpiс Gamеs, 1912, staged in а 20 x
40 m arena, was in the form of a Freе Stylе
and the dеgrее of diffiсulty was еxtrеmеly
modеst bу latеr standards. No lateral
movеmеnts of any kind were rеquiгеd, no
piаffе, no passаge and no sеquеnсе
сhаngеs of lеg. A jumping sесtion, сom-
prising five jumps and an oЬеdiеnсе sес-
tion werе inсludеd. Еight nations сom-
petеd with a total .of 21 сompеtitors and
Swedish ridеrs wеrе plaсеd first, seсond,
third' fifth, siхth and еighth.
By thе nеxt Gamеs held in Antwеrp in
I92o, a muсh more сomprеhensive sеt tеst
had bееn dеvisеd inсluding сounter-
сhanges-of-hand in trot and саnteг and
sеquеnсe сhangеs of 1еg in four-, tfuее-,
two- аnd onе-timе. Vаrious сoeffiсiеnts
wеrе usеd for what wеre сonsidеred thе
most important movements, the highest
сoеffiсiеnt bеing 30 for саnter сirсlеs
inсorporating сhangеs ofrеin and without
сhanges of leg. Thе сoеffiсiеnt of 20 was
givеn for thе сountеI-сhangе-of-hаnd in
шot and сantег' thе sегpеntinе in сantеr
and for the sеquenсe сhangеs of1еg in two-
and one-timе.
Thе piаffе and pаssagе werе fust intгo-
duсеd into the olympiс dгеssаgе tеst in
Los Angеlеs and havе rеmаinеd thеrеaftеr,
with thе exсеption of thе post-wаr Gamеs
hеld in London in 1948. саntег pirouеttеs
were геquirеd for thе fust timе in Berlin in
L9з6,
Dеspite thе еnormous expansion of
intеrеst in pleаsurе riding and thе various
forms of еquеstrian sports that has bееn
suсh а fеaturе of thе mid-twentieth сen-
tury, the numbеr of truly fust сlass interna-
tional horse/ridеr сombinations from any
сountгy (with thе singlе exсeption of Vеst
Gеrmany), rеmаins surprisingly small. It
aсtuаlly seldom еxсееds four or five, and
with suсh small numbегs, it is hаrdlу sur-
prising that the repгеsеntation of any one
nаtion has beеn liablе to fluсtuatе quiсkly
and dлamаtiсаlly in quаlity. For a fеw yеars
а сountry may show gгeat pгomisе or
aсhiеvе outstanding suссеss' but thеn, as
onе' or perhaps two, of their good horsеs
rеtirе, thеrе may Ьe no rеplaсеment avail-
ablе. Thus ttrеir tеаm may bе of littlе
aссount foг some yеагs. Fortunes сan also
bе seriously affесtеd by ttrе аvailаЬility or
ottrеrwisе of геally good шainегs _ invаlu-
аblе assеts who aге аlways in short supply.
On аl1 thesе сounts Vеst Gегmаnу stаnds
alonе with an apparеndy iпexhaustible
supply of rаinеrs, good hoгsеs and skilful
гideгs. A fеw сountries (somе of thеm fam-
ous in otheг forms of horsеmаnship' not-
ably Italy), havе еithеr shown littlе intеrеst
in dressagе or havе madе no signiflсant
impaсt intеrnationally. This is аlso truе of
сountries with relativеly small populаtions
suсh as Australia, New Zealand and Nor-
way.
!Иhеn onе сonsideгs the pгinсiplеs and
aims of modеrn drеssаgе, it is pеrhaps
еasiеr to undеrstand whу most сountries
сan boast only a few top сlass hoгsеs at any
onе timе. Firstly it is rеquirеd фat a horse
should Ье aсtivе and free, but still display
all the qualitiеs ofpowеr and spееd thаt аrе
its inheгеnt сharасteristiсs. It must be
light in hand, allowing thе гidеr to сonfrol
аnd deploy its movеmеnts with no visiblе
effoгt and no molе than a light сontaсt with
the rеins. It must bе саlm, but kееn, so that
it givеs thе imprеssion of always wanting
to go forwaгds when аllowеd and askеd to
do so. It must bе supple and submissivе,
willing to adjust its paсes without rеsist-
anсе or resentmеnt aссoгding to thе slight-
est and outwardly invisiblе indiсations
ftom its ridеr.
Othеr requirеmеnts arе tlrаt thе horsе
should rеmain perfесdy sшaight from its
hеаd to its tail whеn moving on a sшaight
linе, and bеnt slightly in thе dirесtion in
whiсh it is travelling whеn on a сuгved
linе, so that full usе сan be mаdе of its
nаtural impulsion. All paсes must havе
pеrfесt rс:gulагity of rhythm, with thе сor-
reсt nаtural sequenсе of footfall at thе
walk. шot and сantег. Thе horsе must
UtltssAtit lN l t|t zuтH UtN IUHY
aссеpt a light, Ьut сontinuous, сontaсt
thтough thе rеins, rеmаining сonfident,
аttеntivе and diligent, so that in effeсt, it
gives the impression of doing of its own
aссoгd whаt is required of it. Тogether
horsе aпd ridег should сrеate an imprеs-
sion of еlеganсе and total harmony.
The typе of horse likely to сonfoгm to
тhesе rеquiтemеnts and to work suссеss-
fully in thе gymпastiс disсiplinе of drеs-
sаgе and high sсhool will always bе onе
thаt сomЬinеs mеntal alеrtness and mus-
сular frееdom with a thorougЫy strong,
robust аnd symmеtriсal сonformаtion. In
partiсular it must have thе potеntial ability
to сarry muсh of its own weight and that of
its ridеr, with thе hindquaгtеrs. Thе quar-
tеrs and thе loins thегеforе havе to bе
strongly сonstruсted with hoсks thаt
naturally fаll into plaсе in a weight сarry-
ing position in rеlation to thе quarteгs
thеmselves.
Тhеrе has always Ьeen а teпdеnсy for
сеrtain breеds of horsе to be popularly сrе-
ditеd with possessing thе Ьеst qualities for
high sсhool oг, in this сеnпlry, for high
levеl сompetition drеssage. Thе Spanish
brеeds, еspeсiаllу thе Andaluсiаns, whiсh
wеrе сonsidеrеd to bе unusually intеllig-
еnt, сouragеous аnd wеll balаnсеф wеrе
vеry popular in the siхtееnth and sёvеn-
tееnth сеntuгiеs. ЕIorsеs of umistakably
Andaluсiаn type weгe frеquently сhosen
for important еquеstгian stаtuеs or paint-
ings, thе mountеd stаtuе of King Chаrlеs I
in Trafаlgar Squaге in London bеing аn
еxamplе. Foг similar reasons horses of
Spanish blood wеге сhosеn as the breеding
stoсk for thе gтеat sсhool in Vienna in the
latе sixteenth сentury. It is foг that rеason
thаt thе sсhool originally bесamе known
as thе Spaпish Riding Stable and latеr as
the Spanish Riding Sсhool.
It was a furthеr tfuее hunфеd yеалs
beforе ThoroughЬred Ьlood, whiсh did not
еxist until thе еarly paгt of the еightеenth
сеntuгy, Ьеgaп to bе used to influеnсe thе
сonformаtion and mental aspeсts of othеr
Ьreеds throughout Еuropе and thе worffij
95
DREssAGЕ |N THE 20тн OENтURY
Horses from the two remаining с|аssiса|
сentres of haute ёcole. top: A rider from the
Fгenсh sсhoo| of the саdre Noire at Sаumur.
Тhe horse is in ,pаssаge,, аn аdvаnсed
movement. bottom: A Lioizzаner stаIlion in
,piаffe,
on the |ong rein, which forms аnother
аspeсt of the training аt the Spаnish Riding
Sсhoo| in Vienna. Long гeining in its simp|est
form is one of the eаr|y training stages for а
young horse.
Nowadаys it is геnowned foг its spесiаl
quаlitiеs of spееd, lightnеss ofасtion, and
beauty. Cuгrеntly thе most popular and
suссessful dressage horsеs appеaг to bе the
Gегman аnd Swedish brееds, both of
whiсh are sшongly modified by
ThoгoughЬred blood although it has only
beеn introduсed into thе German bieеds in
96
quitе reсent years. Thе ЕIanoverian'
Trakehner, Vesрhalian and Holstеin
sflrds all produсе finе horses of substanсе
and quality, and thе brееding is сarеfully
сontrollеd so аs to еliminatе linеs thаt do
not сome up to thе геquired standards of
movеment and tеmpеramеnt. somе of thе
popularity of thеse horsеs as drеssage
mounts no doubt stеms from thе famе and
suссеss of thе German ridегs in this disсip-
linе, Ьut it сannot be dеniеd tlrаt thеir
horses do havе manу еxсellеnt qualitiеs.
They havе Ьeеn brеd for many yеars еsseп-
tially as riding horsеs rather than for spееd
аlonе as has lаrgely bееn the сase with the
Thoroughbred. Swеdish horsеs havе bеen
аlmost as suссеssful as тheir Gеrmаn
сounterpaгts and aгe mainly a mixтurе of
Gеrmаn and Thoгoughbred blood'
Thе Thoroughbrеd itsеlf has not yet
bесomе widеly aссepted аs idеal for dлes-
sage puгposеs although thеrе have bееn a
numbеr of pure Thoroughbrеds that hаvе
еarnеd thеmselves great distinсtion in this
spherе. Thеrе is littlе evidenсе to suggеst
thаt thеy arе physiсally oг mеntаlly unsuit-
ablе or inсapablе of еvеn thе most demand-
ing movеments suсh as piaffе and pаssаgе.
Elowеver thеir inhеrеnt intеlligenсe and
sеnsitivеnеss demаnds a highеr dеgreе of
sympathetiс hаndling than is essential in
somе сoarsеr brееds. It is gеnегаlly сonsi-
dеred that hoгses of most, or at least many'
Ьrееds сan bесomе еxсеllеnt drеssagе
horses provided that thеy are wеll сon-
struсted, well handlеd and wеll riddеn.
Suгprisingly it is also truе that for сompеti-
tion purposеs t}re Lipizzaner, for аll his
gтeat ability аnd famе, is put аt somе disad-
vаntаgе by his гelativelу small sйe сom-
bined with his naturally rathег short
aсtion. Consequеntly thе brеed is not as
populаr as might bе supposеd among
ambitious сompetition гidеrs, though
tlrere havе bеen onе or two with distin-
guishеd сaгееrs. Notablе among them wаs
Convеrsano Cаpriсe who reprеsеntеd
Еngland during thе sixtiеs when riddеn by
lVlrs R. N. Hall and won a numbеr of
Grand Prix and othеr prЙеs in Еurope.
Wiф its sееmingly еndlеss supply of
good horsеs, ridеrs and talеntеd profеs-
.Wеst
sionаl tгаinеrs, Germany lеads the
woгld in thе fiеld of drеssage. Thеiг
impressivе aсhiеvements at past olympiсs
show this to bе a position tlrey have
еnjoyеd for somе сonsidегablе timе, and
thеiл ovегwhеlming dominаtion of the
world drеssagе sсеnе seеms unlikely to
сhangе signifiсandy during ttris сеntury.
Thе sport is undoubtеdly hеlpеd by thе
immеnsely strong srrpport given to it
throughout thе сountгy аnd this is fuгthег
upheld Ьy thе iпterest shown from thе gov-
ernment. Thе stаtе сontrolled sсhool at
Varеndorf, for eхample, with its pеrma-
nent еstablishmеnt of sсhool horsеs and
trainers, aсts as a сontrolling сеntrе. Drеs-
sagе has virtually assumеd thе stаflrs of a
national sport in Germany, and although
this is paгdy Ьесausе of the гestriсtions on
outdoor riding in wintеr, the intеrеst is
widеly spгeаd, with a high standard of
сonnoissеurship among thе population.
The vеry large numbеr of сompеtition
horsеs that аre regularly trained and rid-
den up to Grаnd Pгix lеvel tfuoughout thе
сountry, has resultеd in Gеrmany bесom-
ing thе main souгсе of supply for othеr
сountries wishing to import top quality, at
least pаrtly-trained' drеssage horsеs.
Thеsе horsеs сommаnd vеry high priсes,
and indеed the Gеrmаn ridеrs thеmselvеs
аге preparеd to pay largе sums of monеy for
trained hoгses.
Еlsewhеге on the сontinent of Еurope,
dгеssagе training in Fгanсе has mainly
bеen bаsed at, and fostеrеd by, the long-
estаblishеd, onе-time сavalry sсhool at
Sаumur. In reсent yеars howevеr, thе
sсhool's ouФut hаs dwindled and,is now
bеing ovеrиken by individual сivilians.
Switzеrland hаs ideal сonditions foг
drеssаge whiсh it owеs to wаrtimе nеutral-

ity and a sеverе wiлtеr сlimatе. Thе lеad-
ing ridеrs have until гeсеntly all beеn sol-
diers Ьasеd on thе сavalry sсhool at вernе,
Ьut аs in othеr сountтies, the сlosuге of this
estaЬlishmеnt has rеsultеd in thе balanсе
tilting in favour of сivilian ridегs. During
thе flftiеs and sixtiеs, the Swiss dеvеlopеd
а distinсt style of dressagе that owеd moге
to thе tеaсhing and praсtiсе of Saumur
than to that of Viеnna or the morе prесise
aпd forсeful Gеrman stylе. Moгe reсently,
thе Swiss hаvе tеnded to mаke use of thеiir
geographiсallink with Austria to liaisе
morе сlosely with thе Spаnish Riding
Sсhoo1.
Thе Swiss havе alwауs lookеd to othеr
сountriеs' Swеden in partiсular, for thеit
Ьеst сavalry, and thus dressagе, horsеs.
Flowеvеr, onе of thеir most suссеssful аnd
fаmous horses, Granat, ownеd аnd гiddеn
bу Christinе Stuсkеlbегger is a llolstеin,
who was trainеd with thе hеlp of the
Austriаn еx-Obеrbеrеitеr of thе Spanish
Sсhool, Geoгg lDИahl. Granаt is сonsidеrеd
by many to bе onе of thе fiпеst dгessagе
horses in living memory.
The Sсandinavian сountriеs, notaЬlу
Sweden, havе long bееn prominent on thе
dгеssage map' and Swedеn in faсt held a
lеаding rolе in thе dеvelopmеnt of modeгn
dтеssage tfuoughout thе first half of thе
present сеntury. Hег inspiration сame
from the сavalry sсhool at Stromsholm and
hеr nеutrality during boтh woгld wагs
helped to еnsure a stIong position whеn
most othеr сountriеs wеre struggling to
Below Bruсe Davidson and Irish Cap
preparing for the dressаge phаse of the
o|ympic Three-Day Event in Montгeа| where
he wаs a membeг of the winning Ameriсan
тeam.
Below right HRH Prinсess Anne аnd Doub|et.
For аn eventer, Doub|et,s dressage was
eХсe||ent.
reеstаblish their postwar есonomies. Swе-
den's northеrn сlimatе has alwaуs еnсour-
agеd indoor riding during thе wintеI,
whiсh inеvitaЬly led to a fеeling for aпd an
intеrеst in drеssagе гiding.
Swedish ridеrs сomplеtely dominаtеd
thе сompеtition woгld drеssage arеnаs dur-
ing thе first twеnty-fivе yеars of thе сеntury
and thеy havе rеmained a strong forсe evеr
sinсе. Possiblу thеiт most famous ridеr has
bеen Major H. St Cyr who took thе gold
mеdals in L952 and 1956 riding ,N,l'aster
Rujus and Juli. Thе сountry's well сon-
шolled and intеlligеnt breеding systеm hаs
produсed a very robust and handsomе typе
of hoгsе that has found popularity in many
other сountriеs.
In Dеnmark, dressagе has аlwaуs
еnjoyed a high dеgгeе of partiсipation in
rеlation to thе population, although thе
mаin intеrеst сomеs from thе small privatе
estaЬlishmеnts. Dеnmark fust саmе to
prorninеnсе in 1952 whеn Mmе Liz Hartеl
took the olympiс silvеr mеdal at Hеlsinki
on Jubi1ее, a hoгsе whiсh shе herself orig-
inally trainеd. SuЬsеquent progгеss and
suссеss сan bе mainly аttlibutеd to the tаl-
еnt of trainer Gunnaг Andеrsеn.
Partiсipation in intеrnationаl drеssagе
in the Unitеd Stаtеs has Ьeen sporаdiс
Ьoth in quаlitу and volumе. In the past,
many Gеrman hoгsеs, most of thеm at least
partly шainеd in Gеrmany, havе Ьeеn used
but thеге aге definite indiсаtions now of а
swing in fаvouг to the many high quality
Amегiсan Thoroughbreds. Мцсh rеliаnсе
has bееn plaсеd on the fгеquеnt visits of
top gгade pгofеssionаl trainеrs, many of
whom havе takеn up tеmporary rеsidenсе,
and as suсh, are in сonstant dеmand.
As wе have seen previously, Grеat Bri-
tain lаgs far Ьehind other nations in this
sport, and virtuаllу no intегеst was shown
until just bеfore thе Sесond liИorld l07аr.
Thе саvаlry sсhool at Weеdon, whiсh
UtltssAtit IN ll-|t ZUтH UtN lUt{Y
might havе pгovidеd а nuсleus of skillеd
гidеrs had bееn aЬolishеd by thе еnd ofthe
war and it was left to a very small numbеr
of сivilian ёnthusiаsts to еstablish this
form of equеsшiаnism in a сountry
infinitеlу more inteгеstеd in suсh sports as
hunting. In spitе of thе faсt that thеrе wаs
litdе in thе way of knowlеdgеablе or pro-
fessional help availaЬlе, фis small number
inсludеd two or thrее with сonsidеrаble
talent _ all of them womеn - who quiсkly
аssumеd a plасе in Еuropеаn сirсlеs. Thе
gеneral disinterest pеrsisted, making ovеr-
all progrеss slow, Ьut by thе sixtiеs a sub-
stantial degree of aсhiеvement hаd bееn
made, thе highlight сoming in 1963 whеn
Mrs Brеnda !Иilliams and Littlе Мodel
took the Ьгonze position in thе Еuropеan
сhampionship. Britain hаs no olympiс
mеdals for dressagе to her сredit.
Drеssagе in thе USSR owеs its origins
to the work of thе Еnglishman Jamеs Fil-
lis, who was Есuyег-en-сhеf аt thе саvalry
sсhool аt St Pеtеrsburg from 1898 to 1910.
Widely сonsidеrеd to be the glеatеst high
sсhool гidеr of his or anу prеvious agе,
Fillis hаd prеviouslу Ьееn a pupil of thе
Frenсhmаn Bаuсhеr, who had dеvеlopеd
theories and tесhniquеs somеwhat at vаr-
ianсe with those of Guеriniеre and the
еightееnth сentury сlassiсists. Fillis sim-
plified and modified Bauсhе1s teaсhing
and set down his own idеas in his Ьook ТЙe
Prinсiplеs of Drеssаge аnd Equitation.
Thе spoгt wаs inevitably eсlipsеd by thе
геvolution and its aftеr еffeсts, Ьut it
gгadually bеgan to bе praсtised again aftеr
thе Sесond \iИorld Wаr in thе statе riding
sсhools of thе biggeг сitiеs. Thе U.s.s.R.
fust aсhiеved major intеrnаtionаl statцs in
thе Rome Olympiсs of 1960, sinсe whеn
thеy have been сonsistеntly to thе forе in
thеir аnnual еxсursions to thе !'uгopеan
сhampionships and their partiсipation in
the olщnpiс Games.

hunring horsе is a type. not a
'T."в
.l. brееd, аnd therе is no rесord of thе
first usе of the horsе аs a mеаns oftranspoгt
in pursuing hounds. It is something that
happеned in thе mists of pre-гесordеd his-
tory.
\DИe must dеfinе hunting as thе pursuit of
а wild animal in its own environmеnt bу
man еmploying a paсk of hounds. The link
Ьеt.wеen horsе and hound is vital, sinсe thе
spееd and aсtivity of thе. hound has аlways
bеen thе majoг influеnсе in produсing thе
hunting horse.
Thе anсiеnt Chinesе, Еgyptiаn and
Grеek сivilizаtions did muсh of their hunt-
ing on foot, аlthough thеy usеd horsеs
еxtensivеlу in thе Chasе аs well as on the
battlefield. Thе grеat horsе mastеr'
Хenophon, born in 430 вс in Athens, madе
it сleаr in his сlassiс book on equitadon
that basiсallу thе same priorities iп stami
na, fitnеss and oЬediеnсe wеre requirеd in
thе hunting horse then' аs arе still sought
by thе hunting ftaternity of todaу.
The Roman wri i3n, in thе third
AD hе would
grainеd and strong. Thesе arе the qualities
prominеnt in Tusсan,
Armenian,
Aсhaеan, аnd thе famous Cappadoсian
horsеs, and suсh arе tlre horsеs for hunting
wild Ьeasts or for usе as сhаrgеrs in war.'
Oppian refеrrеd to thе need in hunting
for.аn aсtivе horsе ассustomed to lеap over
stonе fеnсеs and dуkеs', Ьut for manу сеn-
turies - сertainly throughout mеdieval
times _ thе hunting horsе was not rеquirеd
to possess thе jumping аbility еxpeсtеd
from thе modеrn top-сlass quality huntеr.
To be rеlevant, it is inevitablе that any
disсussion of thе hunting horsе must bе
сentrеd almost еxсlusivеlу on Britain аnd
Irеland. In both thеse сountriеs organizеd
hunting (providing thе pattеrn foг that
praсtisеd in Amеriсa, Southеrn Afriсa,
Australia, Nеw Zеaland, India and еlse-
whеrе) hаs Ьeеn а mаjor еquеstriаn aсtivity
for somе 300 yеаrs and hаs еxеrted, in сon-
sеquenсе' a сorrеsponding influеnсе on
horsе-brееding. Indeеd, bеforе thе growй
of сompеtitivе riding to its prеsеnt lеvel, an
еxtеnsion bеlonging only to the last quar-
tеr of a сеntury, hunting was thе prinсipal
horse sport and todaу it is still thе one
attraсting thе largest numЬеr of partiсip-
ants. As a rеsult, еstаЬlishеd hunter breed-
ing industriеs ехist in Britain and Irеland
but are not found in othеr сountriеs wheIe
lеss emphasis is givеn to thе sport.
Stаg, boar and fallow buсk werе thе
main quarry for hounds in Еurope for сеn-
turiеs, and сontinued to be so long aftеr
William thе Conquеror brought disсiplinе
to thе Chasе. Тo pursuе thesе, the hunting
horsе neеdеd staminа for thе long days in tury whеn huntsmеn of thе Lеiсеstеrshirе
thе grеat гoyal hunting grounds, of whiсh
thе New Forest in
surviving еxamplе, ...aсross grass аnd fеnсеs with тhе mountеd
rеquiremеnt for a .l.,,fiеld riding as сlosе to hounds as тheiг
ing vеrtiсal obstас
fiеld
tееnтlr сe
morе popular
Thе сlеаranс
еspесially the еnсlosurе of fiеlds in thе
еaгly еightееnth сеntury, inсrеased the
еmphasis on hunting thе fox in thе opеn,
rаther than pursuing the dеer in the wood-
lаnd. Thе greatgrazing grounds ofLeiсеs-
tеrshire allowеd hounds to run fast in thе
opеn сountry, and thе fox proved a worttrу
quarry in suсh a sеtting. In the latе еigh-
teеnth сеnturу Williаm Childе сamе to thе
Quorn сountry from Shropshirе аnd is
сreditеd with introduсing thе art of riding
.to hounds' as opposеd to .aftеr hounds'.
Now the hunting horsе was requirеd to
gallop and jump fепсеs and take ditсhеs in
his stride. Hе had to сlеar without hеsitа-
tion thе nеw .oxеr fеnсe' - a hеdgе with a
rail in front dеsignеd to kееp young bееf
сattlе from damаging the hеdgе. A doublе
oxer, a hеdge with timЬer rаils standing on
Ьoth sidеs, was a formidаblе obstaсlе
indееd, аnd is still еnсountеrеd in somе
arеas in the hunting field, аs well as in a
more sophistiсatеd form in show jumping
сoursеs.
As foxhunting gainеd strength' thе
hunting mаn in Lеiсеstеrshirе requirеd far
more quality in his horsе and it bесame
еssеntial to use Thoroughbrеd sirеs in
produсing hunters. Not еvеryonе approved
of the trеnd. Hugo Мeуnеll Мastеr of the
Quorn, сomplаined thаt aftеr thе young
.Ьloods' еmulаtеd .Flying, Childе's
mеthods .hе had not еnjoyed a day's hаp-
Dlпеss .
The rаtе at whiсh Childe and his friends
сrossеd сountry in pursuit of hounds wаs
to bе fаr еxсеedеd in thе ninetееnth сen-
pасks dеvеloped thе art of providing .t}rе
quiсk thing'. This was a vеry fast Ьurst
nervеsJ and thеiт horsеs' ability, would
days of thе nine сrn-
tioning of huntеrs
thе nеw
sing1у
 тHE HUNт|NG H0RsЕ

hunting. Charlеs Jamеs Appетlеy, who

was thе most сеlеbrated hunting сorrеs-
pondеnt of thе pеriod, writing undеr thе
nom de plume Nimrod, advisеd: .Do not
trеspass too far on thе willing powеrs of
уour horsеs. Rather than insist upon thеir
сoming homе, when showing signs of dis-
trеss, let thеm геmain at somе villagе for
thе night. lеaving a whippеr-iп in attеn-
danсe. }Iundrеds of good huntеrs have
bеen dеsшoyеd bу thе nеglесt of this mеге
aсt of humanity towards еxhацsтеd nature
in a noblе and willing animаl.'
Thе praсtiсе wаs growing of tаking out
two huntеrs for a day's sport' pаItiсularlу
in the gтass сountries of Lеiсеstеrshire,
Rцtland and Northаmptonshirе. Frе-
quеndy thе hunting man would аlso usе а
.сovеrt haсlc as well, riding this horsе to
thе flrst сovеrt to bе dгawn bу hounds.
Thеre hе would сhange to his first huntеr
whiсh would havе beеn takеn on ahеad by
thе groom so as to bе fit and frеsh for the
first run of the daу.
The growing dеmands for suitablе
horsеs wеre immеnsе, аnd providеd
impеtus for еnormous growth in all thе
аnсillаry aсtivities suсh as growing сorn
and haу, horsе doсtoring and dеaling' and
mаking saddlery.
Nimrod had grаnd idеas, but hе wаs a
good теportеr, and hе еstimated that a Мas-
tеr hunting hounds would nееd 14 huntеrs
to ridе himself, and a furthеr 12 for thе usе
of whippеrs-in. Labour was сheap, but thе
priсе of rеally top-сlass hцntеrs сould bе

Below Hunting _ one of the greаt British

trаditions that hаs spread to other сountries
Тhe hUntsman сasts his pасk бf houndsforthе
fi rst drаw to piсk u p the sсent of the qцаrrу', in
this сase a fox.
Аbove

the 1

the
тHE HUNтING н0пsЕ
exшеmеly high as сan be realizеd Ьy trans-
lating several thousand guineas in thе last
сentury into today's monеу valuеs.
A1rеady Iгеland was reсognizеd as a
sourсе of supеrЬ huntеrs. The mild сli-
mаtе and аbundant grass produсеd horsеs
of bone аnd substanсе; as Nimrod said,
.It
is owing to thе praсtiсе of the young horsеs
of Irеlаnd sсampегing aсross thе сountry
in their сolthood, that theу arе suсh good
fеnсеrs as we find thеm, unlеss it be аt
timber, at whiсh thеу havе no praсtiсе.'
Irelands importanсe as a produсer of
huntеrs is as strong now аs then' Ьut today
the Еnglish hunting mаn finds it inсrеas-
ingly diffiсult to сompetе with buуers from
thе сontinеnt of Еuropе, the Unitеd Statеs
and even South Afriса, who pаy high
priсes foг Iгish horsеs аs potеntial show
jumpers and еvеntеrs.
At thе top of thе sport in thе nineteenth
сenfl.rry suсh сolourful сhаraсtеrs as
Squirе osbaldeston and Thomаs Asshе-
ton Smith wеrе pегforming еxшaordinаry
fеats ofеnduranсе and сourage with thеir
huntеrs. Yet the Ьottom of tlre huntег mar-
kеt wаs oftеn appalling, Ьoth in the laсk of
quality of horsеs availablе, and thе
diffiсulty of finding a sound onе. Robеrt
Surtееs wrote аmusinglу, yet sсаthingly, of
thе triсks emploуеd by horse deаlers who
found а nеw markеt of
.mugs' in thе influx
of newly-riсh, middlе сlass mеrсhants and
businеssmen Ьenеfiting from thе indus-
triаl геvolution and sееking to gain status
in the hunting field. This was obviously a It is impossiblе, howеvеr, to сonsideг thе
gulliЬlе and reаdilу eхploited maгket.
Thе new dеmand for riding horsеs in thе
hunting fiеld was suсh thаt nearly t7 mil-
lion wаs spent aЬroаd on importing horsеs
into Britain in tlrе ten yеars up to 1882. In
1885 thе ЕIunters' Improvеment and
Nаtional Light Horse Breеding Soсiеty
was foundеd to еnсouragе breeding in Bri-
tain, аnd it сontinues to pеrform аn invalu-
able sеrviсe today. The Soсiety distributes
tlrousands of pounds еaсh yеar in thе form
of prеmiums, or suЬsidiеs, to thе ownеrs of
аЬout 60 stallions sеlесted at thе Soсiеqy's
annual stallion show, hеld еaсh spring at
Newmаrket.
The owner of еасh stallion awardеd a
prеmium, reсеivеs a grant' and in аddition
.supеr prеmiums'
theге arе a numbеr of
reсеiving еxtra awards. Through thеsе
subsidiеs the stallions arе madе availablе
to non-Thoroughbred brood marеs at
rеduсеd fееs. Fееs for Thoгoughbrеd
marеs аге madе by aгrangemеnt with thе
ownеr of thе stallion сonсerned. The stall-
ions, seleсtеd from rеgions throughout thе
сountry, are rеgulаrly and rigorouslу
сhесked to еnsurе that thеy remain sound
and therеfore fit for tlrеir work.
тop The West Wаteгford foxhound paсk in
IreIand, aгguabIy the best hunting сountry in
the woг|d and oroduсeг of some of the finest
norses.
Bottom An Еng|ish hunt going on to draw.
hunting horsе in isolation for it was from
the hunting field that stееplесhasing, show
jumping and horse tгiаls еvolved. Thе HIS
sсhеme, tlrеrеforе, hаs produсеd disting-
uished winners in Nationаl ЕIuntraсing as
well as other typеs of equеstrian sports and
its basiс influеnсе on the quality of horsеs
in the hunting fiеld has doubtlеss Ьеen
immensеly bеnеfiсiаl.
Thе HIS summer show for mагes аnd
youngstoсk, held at Shrеwsbury, is a won-
dеrful shop window, displaying muсh thаt
is Ьest in modеrn hunter Ьrеeding. Irе-
lands grеat eхhibition of hunters is in
August at thе famous Dublin Horsе Show.
This еvеnt is аs muсh a fair as a show, for
nearly еvеry еxhibited аnimal is availablе
for buyеrs, who сome from аll ovеr thе
world. In Еngland thе gгeat сounty shows,
аnd thе Royаl Internationаl and ЕIorsе of
thе Yеаr Shows at \urеmblеy in London,
provide thе stagе for the show hunter
сlаsses. Dеspite inсreаsing сosts аnd
muсh lower prize monеу thаn is available
in show jumping, thеsе сlasses are kеenly
сontеstеd.
Judging thе riddеn huntеr сlassеs in the
main ring at say' the Roуal at Stoneleiglц
requirеs сonsidеraЬlе aplomb as wеll as
skill and ехperiеnсе from the judges.
Thеiт own pеrformanсe in thе saddlе аs
they ridе аnd assеss еасh entry in thе ring
is as kееnly notеd as thе qualitу of the
animals on show. Thе judgеs who offiсiatе
at thе wеalth of in-hand and ridden сlassеs
throughout thе summег sеason shows pro-
vide an immеnse sеrviсе in helping to
maintain standards. But thе grеаtest boon
of аll to thе huntеr type is that it is still a
genuinе working horse for whiсh attеstеd
performanсе is thе priority. It is never iust
.how doеs hе look7 ttrе morе
a question of ;
important quеry in thе mind of a huntег
judgе is.how does hе move7. Мany a good
looking horse nеvеr gеts into the front row
of a huntеr сlass Ьeсausе he doеs not gаl-
lop well.
The rесеnt growth and populаrity of thе
working huntег сlаssеs plaсes the
emphasis еvеn morе fumly on pегfor-
mаnсe' and hеrе the huntеrs arе rеquirеd
to jump as well as woгk on thе flat in front
of the judgеs.
It is, howеvеr, thе сontinuanсе of morе

rJtan245 pасks of foxhounds in Bгitаin and
Iгеland, plus nеaгly 60 harrieг pасks, аnd
half a dozеn еaсh of stаghounds аnd
draghounds' tlrat ensuгes moгe work and
demаnd than еvеr bеforе for thе hunting
horse. Foxhunting, in partiсulaг' has sееn
an immensе boom in tlrе postwаг yеaгs and
therе aге ovеr 30 morе paсks of foxhounds
in existеnсе in Еngland 4nd Wales now
thaп at thе turn of thе сеntury. ЕIunts arе
bettеr supported аnd morе pеople аrе fol-
lowing hounds on hoгsеbaсk t}ran eveг
Ьеforе, in spitе of thе faсt that thе quаlity of
сross-сountry гiding avаilablе to the hunt-
iпg field hаs dеtеrioratеd сonsiderably in
manу arеas. This is mаinly attributable to
modеrn farming,s inсrеasing rеlianсе on
агable land instеаd of grass, and tlre
еnoгmous inсreasе of Ьаrbed wiтe in the
шаditionаl bееf' dairying and shееp farm-
ing arеas has bееn anothеr Ьlow to the
mountеd fiеld.
Thе biggest problеm in tеrms of the
hunting horse in rесent yеars hаs Ьеen in
finding а suitable mount for thе
hеаlrywеight mаn. ЕIе rеquirеs a sеvеn-
еighths bred hoгsе with quаlity and sub-
stanсе, but not only is this thе hardеst to
сomе by, it is also thе most eхpеnsivе to
purсhаsе аnd maintain. Suсh a horsе сan
fеtсh sеvеrаl thousand pounds nowadays
as an untried youngster if it has real potеn-
tiаl foг show jumping or horsе triаls.
In thе Еnglish and Irish hunting fiеld
сlеаn Ьrеd horses аre still in a minoritу,
Ьut those pеoplе who aгe of thе гight
weight, and possess thе skill to ridе
Thoгoughbгeds out hunting, сlaim tlrat no
bеttеr hunteг eхists. The thrееquaгtеr-bгеd
тHЕ HUNт|NG н0пsЕ
аnd half-bгеd huntеr is still hеavily relied
upon for adults in the Unitеd Kingdom
and lгеland.
Therе has bееn сonsidеrаЬlе disquiеt
and сonсеrn ovег thе dесrеasе in thе Irish
dтaught horsе, whiсh probаЬly сonstitutеs
thе bеst foundation stoсk of all for produс-
ing huntеrs of substаnсе. Thе Irish
draught is not a healry horse of the ilk of the
Shires used on thе land in Еngland. As a
bгееd, it was traditionally usеd by thе Irish
faгmег on thе lаnd' Ьut whеn сrossеd with
а Thoroughbrеd, the maге would providе a
first rate hunter _ no douЬt a great help in
augmеnting the fаrmеt's inсomе whеn
sеnt to thе loсal horse fair, or up to Dublin.
Thе Iгish ЕIorsе Boaгd, formеd Ьy the
Govеrnment to safeguаrd and improve thе
breеding industгy, has rесently гeсognized
thе importanсе of ttrе drаught hoгsе and
сuгrеnt еfforts to save this foundation
stoсk dеsегve every еnсouгagеment.
The rеal wеight-сaгrying сob is sadly a
muсh rarеr sight in ttre hunting fiеld now-
аdaуs than at one time, Ьut there is a сon-
sidегablе inсгeаsе in middlеwеight гiding
horsеs whiсh gеnеrally сontain а large
pгoportion of ThoroughЬrеd blood. Thеsе
arе suitaЬlе mounts for many of thе ladу
гidеrs who nowadays oftеn form thе major-
ity of the mounted followегs in thе hunting
fiеld, еspeсially on wееkdays. Top Тhe winning line-up at а reсent sta||ion
The nativе pony brеeds havе had сon- show at Newmarket, England. Тhe Hunters,
sidеrаble influenсе on horsеs usеd in the Improvement Soсiety sсheme he|ps to make
Еnglish hunting field. Their inhеrent hаr- good quaIity sta||ions аvаiIabIe a|| over the
dinеss, toughnеss and agility aге all traits сoUntrv for reasonabIe stud fees.
rеquired whеn following hounds in the Above An Irish Draught horse whiсh, when
еxtrеmеly varied сountries whеrе hunting сrossеd with а Thоroughbred produсes the
still flourishеs. Galloping on thе moors of renowned lrish hunter.
т||Е HUNтlNG H0RsE
thе !7est Counшy and thе north, traversing
hillу traсks in Wales and thе Boгder сoun-
tries, sсrambling ovеr Ьanks, or nеgotiat-
ing stone wаlls, all сall for physiсal and
Foхhunting originated in Great Britаin but
hаs spread with remarkаb|y litt|e сhange to
other parts of the Wor|d. top: Аn Irish ditсh in
Tipperаry. Mаny young lrish horsеs are
,made,in the hunting fieId, and aгe mUсh
sought after as show jumpers аnd event
horses' middIe: Тhe Ra||ye Piqu,avаnt
Nivernais hunt in Burgundy. Hunting in
сontinenta| Еurope is threatened by the
spread of rabies. bottom: There are about a
hundred paсks of hounds reсognized by the
Ameriсa n Masteгs of Foxhou nds Assoсiation.
Both the indigenous grey and the imported
red fox аre hUnted.
102
mentаl qualities whiсh сan Ье well sup-
pliеd Ьy holsеs сontaining \0felsh Pony or
сob Ьlood.
Thе Connemara is аnothеr highlу
favouгed foundation stoсk for produсing
еxсеllent huntеrs, and thе native ponies
thеmsеlvеs havе sцссеssfully inшoduсеd
many an aspiring Nimrod to the hunting
fiеld in his youth. Thе modеrn riding ponу
сontaining ThoroughЬrеd blood, may pеr-
form brilliantly in thе hunting field' but
tlre nativе pony's sеnsiblе tempеramеnt'
surе-footеdлess and instinсtivе knowlеdgе
of his own еnvironmеnt still makе him thе
Ьest сhoiсe for a сhilds fust pony to Ьe
riddеn аftег hounds. Indееd thеу arе not
еxсlusivelу for сhildrеn_ in Wales, and the
.Wеst
Counшy partiсularly, you will sее
manУ an аdult enjoying his hunting on а
pony. Thе Е:сnoor shephегd, on his sturdy
little mount, his legs dangling Ьy its sidеs,
will seе more of the spoгt than most fol-
lowеrs when thе Devon and Somеrsеt
Stаghounds arе running.
In Franсе, whеre dеer, harе, and wild
boar are still huntеd, therе are in gеnеral
far fеwеr obstaсlеs to bе iumpеd in the
hunting fiеld than in thе majority of
Еnglish hunting сounuiеs. A blood horsе,
or nеarly сlean bred horse, would bе
appropriatе to follow staghoцnds whеn the
spееd of the quarrу аnd the strongеI sсеnt
assoсiatеd witlr dееr, dесreе manу long,
fаst points tfuoughout thе day.
Foxhunting еnjoys popularity as a sport
in thе United Statеs and thе Thorough-
brеd horsе is usеd far more widely in fol-
lowing hounds than in Britаin. In Virginiа
and Маryland, partiсu1arly favoured for the
sport' thеre is still plеnty of grass, and thе
horsеs аre mаinlу faсеd with timbеr fеnсеs,
somе of whiсh arе imposing in height and
solidity. Amеriсаns who visit Britаin usu-
ally find the hеdges and ditсhеs of the vale
сounшies and High Lеiсеstershirе a most
novеl сhallеnge.
Australiаns and New Zealandеrs often
usе Thoroughbrеds in thе hunting fiеld,
but again thе naturе of thе tегrаin is a
major faсtor. In Nеw Zealand thеrе аre no
foxеs' аnd it is the harriеr paсks that are
frеquеntlу
е еаsе with
habituallу
jump foтmidaЬlе barbеd wirе fеnсеs, fivе
or six strands high.
Teaсhing horses to jump wirе is а
somеwhat inсrеasing trеnd in thе Еnglish
hunting fiеld, b by
manу ridеrs. In of
Co. Меath, and сh
fаmous hunting сountriеs as Limеriсk,
Tipperary and I(ilkеnny offеr a speсial
сhallеnge to thе hunting horsе and his
intrеpid rider.
It is still сonsidеrеd advisablе to buy
Irish horsеs уoung if thеy arе to hunt in
Еnglаnd or еlsеwhеrе. Thе experienсеd
Iriф huntеr tеnds to take his fеnсes slow-
ly, often fгom a tlot or a wаlk. Hе will
usuаlly jump on to an obstасlе rather than
over it, whiсh works brilliantlу over an
Irish сountry, but woe bеtide thе horsе
who takеs off slowly and attеmpts to bаnk
an Еnglish thorn hedge with a widе ditсh
on the landing sidе! Propеrlу сut and laid
hеdg
hedg
еven
for the hunter. The Blaсkmorе Vаlе in
Dorset' thе Bеrkеlеу сountry in Glouсеs-
shire and
areas of
сoцntriеs
offеring thе stiffest fеnсеs still taсkled by
thе modern huntеr.
Thе hunting horse is a miraсle of evolu-
tion аnd survival; hе is muсh in dеmand,
and still pеrforms a tough job in аn еxшa-
ordinаry divеrsity of environmеnts. And
bесаuse hе rеmains a truе working animal,
hе has avoidеd the dеstruсtivе fаds аnd
fanсiеs whiсh have ruined so mаnу brеeds
of pеt dogs.
 SHOW JUMPING

fl I-тнouсн mеn havе Ьееn riding

lf, horsеs foг morе than 3,0OO yеars, pеr-
suading thеm to jump ovеr obstaсlеs is a
сomparativеly new idеa. Show-jumping,
whiсh has gтown out of this, is thus also a
fairly rесent innovation сomparеd with
othеr еquestrian aсtivitiеs. Only in thе
sесond hаlf of thе eighteеnth сеntury did
jumping on horsеs bеgin to aсhiеvе somе
reсognition and then it was slow to gain
gтound. The fust mеntion of it bеing
inсluded in anу сavalry mаnual bеlongs to
thе Frеnсh, in 1788 and although thе
Bгitish foxhunter thinks of his prеdесes-
sors going aсross сountгy from time
immеmoгial, it was thе Еnсlosure Aсts of
thе еightееnth сentury, bringing about thе
сonsidеrаЬlе inсгeasе in the numbеr of
hedgеs and fеnсеs to еnсlosе fiеlds, that set
thеm jumping.
It wаs somеthing likе anothеr hцnфed
years bеfoге jumping, as opposed to
stееplесhasing, was offiсiallу rесorded,
аnd thеn it sprang up in vагious pаrts ofthе
world within a very short pеriod. Irеlanф
in whiсh сountry steеplесhasing hаd its
infаnсy, was again a ftont runnеr in show-
jumping, аnd at the Royal DuЬlin Soсiе-
qy's annual show in 1865 thеrе wеre сom-
pеtitions for.widе' and.high' leaps. Thеrе
wеIе сompеtitions in Russiа at about thе
samе time) аnd in Paгis in 1866, although
hеге' thе сompеtitors parаdеd аt thе show
and thеn wеnt out into thе сountry to iump
ovеr mainly natuгal fеnсеs. Ninе уеаrs
later the famous Frеnсh Cavalry Sсhool at
Sаumur inсludеd an еxhibition of jump-
ing in theiт display of hаute ёсole.
In Еnglаnd jumping wаs primarily a part
of agriсultural shows, and was fust offi-
сially rесorded at thе flvе.day show at thе
Agriсulturаl Hall, Islington, London, in
1876. Hoгses еntered for тhe show сlassеs
wеrе also еligiblе for the leaping, whiсh
was dесidеd solely on stylе, аnd judgеd by
Мasters of Foxhounds. Еvеn whеn a fеw
rulеs сonсеrning jumping abilitу wеrе
introduсеd, srylе was still an important faс-
tor' It еnablеd thе judgеs to arrivе аt thе
most diplomatiс result for it would never tions werе inсludеd, а High Jump, a Long Тop-с|аss show jumpinQ hаs beсome the
havе donе for the loсal squirе to be bеaten Jump and Prize jumping. Thе following major money sport in the eqUestгian Wor|d
bу one of his tenantsl yеar inTurin' saw thе first rесordеd offiсial apaгt fгom raсing. Тhe Germаn гiders and
In the Unitеd States thе National Horsе intеrnational show-jumping, with Ger- hoгsеs are a|wаys hard to beat.
Show was stаrted at.&tadison Squarе Gar- man Aгmy offiсеrs invitеd to pit *rеir skill
den, New York, in 1883. Thе .Gardеrf has against thеir Italian сounterparts. men from mаny Еuropеаn сoцntriеs and
bееn movеd twiсе sinсе thеn but the show In London thе fust Intеrnational ЕIorsе фе United Sвtеs. High and widе jumps
goes on as strongly as еvеr. By thе turn of Show (forеrunner of thе Roуal Intеrna- wеre inсludеd in thе progгammе, and thе
тhе сеntury, thе .nеv/ sport was very fumly tionаl), was hеld at Ol}тnpia in 1907, as a prizе monеy was quite сonsidеrаЬlе. Two
estаblishеd intеrnationаЦy; Gеrmanу hеld result of а mееting hеld аt Thе Haguе two Bеlgian ridегs _ llaеgеmann and Van
shows in towns а1l over thе сountry and in yеаrs еarlier. The Еаr1 of Lonsdalе Langеndonсk _ had won at thе Paris
тhе sесond of the Мodеrn Olympiс Gamеs, direсtеd thе International ЕIorse Show, thе Gamеs, аnd thе samе сountfy, and Hol-
at Paris in 1900' thтее jumping сompеti- board and direсtoгs of whiсh. сomprisеd lаnd, dominatеd that first Intеrnational.
103
sн0W JUMP|NG
Tommy Glеnсross' who was to play an
important pаrt in the devеlopmеnt of
show-jumping in Britаin, won a ЕIigh
Jump сompеtition.
In 1906 thе Swеdish Count Clarеnсе
von Rosеn had put a proposition to thе
Congrеss of ttrе Intеrrrationаl ol1тnpiс
Committee that еquеstriаn sports should
bе inсludеd on a pеrmanent basis in thе
Games _ theге had bееn nonе at all in St
Louis in 1904 _ and although thе suggеs-
tion was not grееted wiтh abundаnt
еnthusiasm, Baron Piеrrе dе Coubеrtin,
ttrе foundеr of thе Мodеrn Gаmes, аsked
von Rosеn to pгesеnt more dеtаiled prop-
osals to the 1907 Congrеss. Thеsе wеге for
threе evеnts _ drеssagе, аn еquеstrian pеn-
tathlon and a gamе саlled Jеu dе Rosе.
The British mеmbers of thе IoC agгeеd
that these should bе inсluded in the 1908
Gamеs, whiсh wеrе to bе hеld in London,
and thе сommittее of thе Inteгnational
Horsе Show сonsеnted to organizе thеm,
provided there was a minimum of 24
еntriеs from siх diffеrent сountriеs. In faсt
thеrе wеrе 88 еntriеs from eight сountries'
whiсh pеrhaps provеd too muсh for thе
Internationаl Show, itsеif still in its infan-
сy. At thе last minutе thе еquesшian еvents
wеrе droppеd from thе olуmpiс prog-
raпunе. Von Rosеn did not losе hеart,
howеvеr. Thе nехt olympiсs werе to bе
hеld in Stoсkholm, and in 1909 a сommit-
tее, with himself as sесretary-gеneral and
Prinсе Carl of Swеdеn as prеsidеnt, pro-
duсed thrеe еvents for the L9I2 Gаmes.
Thеsе wеrе, drеssage, a thrее-dаy еvent'
othеrwisе known as the Military, and
show-jumping.
Intеrnationаl jumping was inсrеasing.
In 1909 the first Luсеrnе show was hеld,
with Itаlians, Gеrmans, Frenсh and Bеl.
gians in opposition to thе swiss. That
sаmе уеar thе National Horsе Show in
Nеw Yoгk introduсеd international jump-
ing. A tеam of fivе British Army offiсeгs,
сaptainеd bу Мajor J. G. Berеsford, took
part, and won onе ofthе еvents. Four yеars
lаtеr, а Мilitаry Team сompеtition'
forеrunner of thе Nations Cup, was held at
thе show.
Tеаm 1.umping was hеld at the London
Intеrnational for the first timе in 1909'
when thе Frеnсh won ttrе inaugural I(ing
Еdward VII Cup. Bеfore thе show, in
сommon with аlmost all othеrs, was sus-
pеndеd foг the First World l0Иar' аnd beforе
Speаkeаsy jumping at Hiсkstead, with Harvey
Smith, one of the sport,s gгeat persona|ities
аnd а big winneг.
thе Russian rеvolution, thе Czarist сavalrу
сame to London to сomplеtе a glorious
hat-triсk of wins of thе Cup, in L9I2_I4'
under thе leadеrship of thе Captain, Paul
Rodzianko. He and his сompatriots took
thе l(ng Еdward VII Cup, whiсh theу hаd
thеn won outright, bасk to Russia, in 1914
and it was nеvеr seen again.
Til,e L9I2 olуmpiс show-jumping was
run undеr a сompliсatеd sеt of rulеs. Tеn
marks wеre givеn for еaсh fеnсе, with
deduсtions for faults, for еxamplе a first
rеfusal сost two marks, a sесond, or fall of
horsе аnd rider, four, a thiтd, or fall ofridеr
only, six. Clеаrly it was сonsidеrеd morе
ignominious to fall off a horsе than to
сause him to fall too. Thеrе wеrе mаrks for
hining a fеnсe with hind or forelegs, for
landing on or within thе dеmаrсation linе
of a spread fеnсе, and altogеther so many
сompliсations that judging must hаvе
Ьееn far from easу.
Pеrhaps onе of t}rе grеat аppеals of
show-jumping nowadays as a publiс spес-
taсlе is thе еase ofits judging. Еvery ring-
sidе speсtator сan sеe for himsеlf whеthеr
or not а horsе has hit a fеnсе and lowerеd
it, and only thе watеr still produсеs dis-
puted judgemеnts. Thеsе arе now Ьeing
еliminatеd by thе use of plastiс strips on
thе lаnding еdgе. In thе early days how-
ever, it wаs so сompliсated that at thе Lon-
don International for еxamplе, еvеry fеnсe
had its own judge, who would sеnd his
maгks baсk to thе main judging box, all to
bе added up bеfore thе winnеr сould bе
аnnounсed.
In thе 1912 Games еaсh сountтy was
allowеd to еntеr six сompеtitors for thе
individual jumping and four, with thе bеst
thrее sсorеs сounting, for thе team. Еight
сountriеs - Bеlgium, Chilе, Franсе, Gеr-
many, Britain, Norway, Russia and Swе-
dеn - еntеrеd a total of 31 ridеrs in thе
a individual, whiсh was won by Captain
Cariou of Fгanсе, also the winner of a
Ьronze in thе Tfueе-Day Еvеnt. Swеden
won thе team gold mеdаl, from Franсе and
Germаny, followеd, in ordеr, by thе United
States, Russia and Bеlgium. The nеxtyear
Germany founded their own olympiс
Еquеsшian Committее, Ьut of сoursе thе
wаr brought thе sport to a stаndstill in
Еurope. In thе Unitеd Stаtes in 1917 whаt
Was to Ьeсomе known as thе Amеriсan
Horsе Shows Assoсiation was foundеd'
with reprеsеntatives of 50 shows at its
inaugurаl meeting. Thе AHSA was to bе
thе offiсial rеpresеntativе body for the
United States in internitional affairs.
The еffесts of thе famous Italian,
Fеdеriсo Caprillis systеm of training was
givеn dramatiс еmphаsis at the first post-
I07ar Olympiсs hеld at Antwеrp in 1920
When two Italians sсhoolеd undеr his
mеthods, Lt Tommaso Lеquio, and Мajor
Valегio, won thе gold аnd silvеr mеdals.
The Itаliаn tеam took the bronze, Ьеhind
Swedеn аnd Bеlgium. No British ridеrs
took pаrt in thе 1920 Games, bесausе of a
сattlе-disеasе ban, Ьut the London Intеr-
national was reopеnеd that same yeаr.
Although еquеstrian sports Wеrе now а
reсognйed part of thе olympiс movеment,
they had no ruling Ьodу of thеir own. But
Baron dе Coubеrtin, looking ahead, had
еnсouragеd thе сrеation of lDИorld fеdeгa-
tions for еасh sport' so thаt thеy сould
standardizе thеir rulеs and Ьring аn overall
uniformity and сontrol into sports, Com-
mаndant Gеorges ЕIесtor, of Franсе, drеw
up statutеs for the Fеderation Еquеstге
Intеrnationale, whiсh were adopted at a
Congrеss in Paris in November I92I.
Thus Swеdеn and Franсе wеre thе prime
movеrs in thе еstaЬlishment of the FЕI'
and thе othеr siх foundеr-mеmbеrs wеrе
Bеlgium, Dеnmаr\ Italу, Japаn, Norwaу
and the Unitеd Stаtеs. Gеrmany beсаmе
affi'liatеd to the Intеrnational Fеdеration
in йe уеаr of its сrеation, and Switzеrland
joined in L922.
Canadа Ьеgan to takе an aсtivе intеrеst
whеn thе Toronto !иinter Fаiг startеd in
1922, and thе first Cаnadiаn Nations Cup
wаs hеld fivе yеars later. Show-jumping
was Ьy no meаns сonfinеd to thе Nortlrеrn
hаlf of thе Amеriсаn сontinеnt. Thе first
intеrnational show in Buеnos Aiтеs was
hеld in 1910, with rideгs from Italy, Spain
and Frаnсe as wеll as other South Ameri-
сan сountries. Two Chilеan ridегs had
also сompеtеd in London and thе olym-
piсs in 1912.
Britain s fаirly сhaptiс show-jumping
situаtion was grаduallу sortеd out aftеr thе
foundation of thе British Show Jumping
Assoсiаtion in I92з. Lord Lonsdаlе
aссеptеd thе position of President of thе
Assoсiation, with Colonеl v. D. s. '$иil-
liаms, father of tеlеvision сommегrtator
Doriаn Yy'illiams, аs sесretary. A mixturе
of militаry men аnd thе top сiviliаn ridеrs
hеlpеd to form thе Assoсiation, whiсh' by
improving both judging and the сourses
thеу jumpеd, Ьеgan to produсe British rid-
еrs and hoгsеs of intеrnational standard.
A reсord entry of 99 ridеrs on 1 10 horses
from 17 сountriеs аt тhе flrst Olуmpiс
events to be held undеr FЕI rulеs, at Pаris
in 1924' showеd that thе sport was сon-
tinuing to grow in populaгity. Swedеn
аgаin won the tеam event, but Leсquio, thе
individuаl winnеr four years езrliеr' was
now bеаtеn bу thе Swiss, Alphons
Gеmusеus.
Britain joinеd the FЕI thе following
yеаr аnd in 1926 thе Royаl Dublin Soсiеty,

hаving hеlpеd to gеt the sport offthе start-
ing Ьloсk somе 60 yеars еarliеr, intгoduсed
intеrnаtional jumping.
Although suссеssеs for Unitеd Statеs
show-jumpеrs аrе no гarity nowadаys,
their rider Fred Bonteсou was something
эf an еxсеption whеn hе won thе сovеtеd
King George V Gold Cup at the London
lnternationаl in L926.
Jасk Talbot-PonsonЬy, thе fust man to
win thе King Gеorgе V Cup thrее times,
and latеr to bесome onе of Britаin's finеst
сoursе buildеrs, hаd thе fiгst of his thrее
viсtories in the 1930 show, at whiсh Mikе
Ansеll аlso hаd his fust tastе of interna-
tional suссеss. Both wеnt with thе suссеss-
Еul British Aгmу tеam to Nеw York the
Гollowing yеar, hеlping to fostеr in Ansell
an enthusiasm for thе sport whiсh grew
and in turn helpеd Britаin devеlop into а
World powеr in show-jumping.
olympiс еquеstrian evеnts wеrе hеld
outsidе Еurope for thе fust time, when thе
Gamеs went to Los Angеlеs' but thеy wеre
hardly a suссess. Only six сountries and a
total of 34 ridеrs сompeted. Intеrnаtional
travеl for hoгses in thosе daуs was a long,
aгduous and еxpеnsive business, аnd only
Frаnсе, Holland, Swеdеn and Japan sent
horsеs to takе on the Unitеd Stаtеs аnd
Меxiсo. Franсе and Holland did not enter
show-jumpеrs, and no сountry had thгее
finishеrs ia thе show jumping, so ttrегe
wеrе no team аwards. Baron Takeiсhi
Nishi won thе gold for Japan, bеating thе
Amегiсan Harry Chambеrlin, onе of the
most Ьrilliant horsemen his сountry has
еver produсеd.
Thе Bеrlin Gаmеs in 1936, provеd a
show сasе for Germаn superioriry, and
thеiг ridеrs won thе individual and tеаm
gold mеdаls at show-jumping, dгеssagе
and thе Tfuee-Day Еvеnt.
During tttе war, whilе a prisonеr, thе
now lеgendary figure ofBritish and intеr-
national show-jumping, Мikе Ansell,
started to work on his mastеr-plan for
Ьringing ttre sport in his homе сountry up
to tlrе top intегnational 1еvе1. It was fortu-
nаte that Ansеll, who had bеen partially
blindеd and was to end up сompletely
wit}rout his sight, should havе found him-
sеlf in the samе prisoner-of-wаr сamp as
two othеr show-jumping еnthusiasts and
old team mates of his, Nat I(indersley and
Bedе Camеron. From thе idеas they tossеd
tr
SHUW JUMPINLi
Two leading figures in British show jumping.
above: Co|' Sir Miсhael Anse||, сhief аrсhiteсt
of modern show jumping in Britаin even
though blinded in WoгId \Ilar ||. below:
DougIas Bunn, founder of Hiсkstead.
around grew the dтеam whiсh, as soon as
hе was гepatriatеd in L944' Ansell started
to mаkе into a геality. In Dесеmbеr of thаt
yеar hе wаs invited to beсomе сhairman of
thе British Show Jumping Assoсiаtion, a
post he hеld for moге than two dесadеs.
ЕIe сhosе foг his сommittеe, mеn of like
mind, intеnt on making show-jumping
into thе еxсiting, сrowd-pulling spoгt it
hаs beсomе. Thеy had a lot to do. In thosе
days thеre was virtually no limit to tlrе timе
a ridеr сould takе to сomplete his round,
сirсling as oftеn hе wishеd to make his
approасh to а fenсе exасtly right, unilip-
ping his mаrtingalе as hе сame to thе watеr
jump. On еaсh fеnсе wаs а slаt, a thin lаth
of wood whiсh, if knoсkеd off, сost half a
fault. Thus aссuraсy was еssеntiаl, no mat-
tеr how long it might takе. Thе сouгsеs
wеге unintеrеsting, normаllу сonsisting of
a fеw uprights аlong еaсh side ofthе ring,
bеfore tuгning into a watеr jump or big
spгеаd in thе middlе.
Gгadually thesе impеdimеnts to a sliсk
show wеге wееdеd out. A grading systеm'
on prizе monеy won, was introduсеd, so
that horses would сompetе аgаinst others
of гougЫy similаг ability aпd experienсе.
Thеn Ansell and his mеn looked for a
vеnue at whiсh to put thеir new-look
show-jumping to the publiс tеst. They
сhosе thе Vhitе City' London, аnd so
Ьеgan what wаs to Ье a long and suссessful
assoсiation. Thе fust show inсluded thе
Nationаl Championship, won with thаt
story-book touсh whiсh Ansеll so oftеn
sееmеd to сonjurе out of ttrin air, bу a
rеpatгiаtеd Nat l(indeгslеy. Thе following
yеaг, two shows wеre hеld at thе ltr7hitе
City, and thе Viсtory Championship wеnt
to Colonеl Hаггy Llеwеllyn, who iп thе
jump-off bеаt tlrе 18-yеаr-old Douglas
Bunn _ two mеn who wеге to havе inсal-
сulablе influеnсе on Bгitish show-
jumping ovеr thе next fеw deсadеs.
Thе Nationаl Show in New Yo..1k
105
SHOW JUMPING
in I945i thе FЕI rеopened its
restartеd
shop in |946, and throughout Еuropе
show-jumping, in сommon with othеr
sports, was restartеd. For thе fust timе
сivilian ridеrs took thе International stage,
inсluding one of thе grеatеst of all, тtrе
Frеnсhmаn Piеrrе Jonquerеs dOriola, a
merсцrial man whosе саrееr hаs beеn a
suссession of ups and downs. The ups
Zurich
startеd with the 1946 Grаnd Prix in
and took in two olympiс Individual Gold
Мedals _ a fеat no ottrеr ridеr hаs aсhiеvеd
_ tn 1952 and 1964. The Intеrnational wаs
re-born, аt thе l0rhitе City, whеn d oriolа
won the I(ing Gеorgе V Cup. For thе fust
timе thе show was tеlevisеф so beginning
thе build-up of а massivе аudiеnсе whiсh,
in turn, hаs had a сonsiderаЬlе еffeсt on тhe
growth of the sport.
Thе Olympiс Gаmеs restarted in 1948
when thеy wеrе hеld in Еngland. Thе
Roуаl Intеrnational Committeе, undеr
N1ikе Ansеll, wеre givеn the job of prеpаr-
ing а сombinеd tеam аnd individual сom-
petition' for thе show-jumping whiсh' was
to bе the last сompеtitivе еvent beforе the
сlosing сеremony, in thе vast lDИemblеу
Stadium. Gеtting thе сoursе built in timе
was a hеrсulеan task, for wееks of rаin hаd
lеft thе ground a quagmirе and work сould
only start after thе Soссеr final had
finishеd the night Ьеfore. A1l thе fеnсеs
had to bе mаnhandled onto the ground,
and thе wаtеI jump dug by hand beсausе of
the statе of thе ground. Fiftееn tearвs of
thrеe startеd' and фe Individual Gold was
won by thе Mexiсan ЕIumЬerto.lV1arilеs on
106
thе onе-еуed Arete. His tеam, too, emеrgеd
triumphant, beating Spain, with thе
British gaining thеir fiтst Ol1тnpiс show
jumping mеdаl, thе tеam bronzе.
The following wеek, thе British tеam
саptain, Harry Llewеllyп and Foxhuntеr
won thе first of their thrее I(ing Georgе V
Gold Cups - Foxhuntеr is the only horse
so far to have won this сlassiс thrее timеs.
And four yеaгs lаtег in Helsinki, Foxhunt-
еt's finаl сlеar round сlinсhed thе tеam
gold medal for Britаin. \0Йi1f White and
Nйеfela might wеll havе takеn thе Indi-
viduаl gold too, but for a bеlаtеd deсision,
by onlу onе of thе two judges, thаt he had
gone in thе watеr. In thе еnd thеrе wаs a
fivе-sidеd jump-off for thе mеdals, won by
doriola, with Chilе's Osсar Christi win-
ning thе individual silvеr and ensuring
that his tеam аlso finishеd sесond.
That yeаr was notable also for thе fust of
the offiсial FЕI Championships, for
_ intеrspеrsеd Ьy thе Еuropеan сhampion-
Juniors _ thosе bеtwееn 14 and 18 years
in whiсh thеrе wеrе only two teаms. Thе
Italians' inсluding Graziano lVlаnсinеlli,
bеat Belgium. Gradually thе Intеrnational
Fеderation introduсеd othеr сhampion-
ships' for seniors also, bеginning with thе
Мen s \0Иorld Championship, hеld for thе
first time in Paris in 1953. It was won by
thе popular Spaniard Franсisсo .Paсo'
Goуoaga, аn aсhiеvеmеnt made more
remarkable by the faсt he was riding a
horsе who had, or so it sееmеd bеforеhand,
lost his enthusiasm for thе gаme. Thеу
bеat Gеrmanf s Thiedеmann by just half a
point. D'Oriola was third' followed Ьу
Piеro d Inzеo, an auspiсious сast indееd to
тhе nеw сhаmpionship.
Initiallу thе !7or1d Chаmpionships werе
hеld evеry year and two yеаrs latеr ЕIans
Guntеr !07inklеr, won thе first of two suс-
сеssivе \world titlеs on Hallа. This horsе
wаs аrguably thе grеatеst show-jumping
mare of all time, on whom \DИinkler аlso
won thе Individual olуmpiс gold in
Stoсkholm, 1956, whеn she had praсti-
сally to сarry him round the sесond сoursе
аfter hе had Ьadly hurt a musсlе. lDИinklеr
was аlso in thе winning tеam, a fеat hе
rеpеated in Romе, Tokyo and Мuniсh, to
givе him fivе golds, more thаn any ottrеr
rider in olympiс history.
Raimondo dInzеo, the morе suссеssful
of thе two сlassiсal Itаliаn brothers, won
.!i7orld
the nеxt two tit1еs - aftеr going
down to.Winklеr and Halla in a jump-off in
1955. By this timе, фе !Иorld Champion-
ship had setded down to а four-yеаr сyсlе,
ships, whiсh are now hеld evеry other yеar.
I0Иinklеr won the fust of the сontinental
titlеs, in |957, and Thiеdеmаnn thе sес-
ond. Thеrе was often a сhаllеnger from
outsidе Еuropе for thе title, and in 1966
Nelson Pessoa, thе Brаzilian who spends
his summеrs in Еurope, won from Frank
Chapot of thе Unitеd Stаtes, with Нugo
Aтrambide of Argеntina third. Soon after
this the FЕI dесreеd that thе Еuropеаn
сhampionship should bе сonfinеd to thе
ridеrs that its titlе suggestеd, a sеnsiblе
enough movе, for it makеs thе lDИorld
Championships rеlаtivelу morе impoгtant.

Thеrе is a fundamеntal differеnсe in thе
two сhampionships. The Еuropеan is
dесidеd on а basis of tfuее rounds, with
points from еaсh aссumulаting to dесidе
thе сhampion, while thе World Champ-
ionship has thlеe qualifying rounds.
These produсе thе top four ridеrs who, in
thе final' all ride еaсh othе1s horsеs. This
has bееn a somеwhat сontrovеrsiаl for-
mulа evеr sinсе its inсеption, and thе
opposition to it is still growing. It would
тherefore bе no suprise if the еvеnt еventu-
allу falls in linе with thе Еuropеan
sсhеmе.
A Еuropеan сhampionship for womеn
in |957, going to Pat
was аlso intгoduсеd
Smythе, who is сonсеivably the greatеst
womаn rider thе spoгt hаs produсеd. Bri-
tain has dominatеd this titlе ovеI thе yеars
(until it was amalgamatеd with the mеris
title in 1975), but no-onе morе so than Pat,
who aсhiеvеd.Whеn
a hat-triсk in 1961_63 on
Flanаgan. women wеrе first admit-
ted to olympiс show jumping, Pаt Smythе
and Flanаgan wеre in thе tеam in Stoсk-
holm, 1956, togеther with Wilf \Иhitе and
Pеtеr Robeson' and thеy took thе bronzе
Ьеhind Germany and Italy.
Pat Smуthе аnd Flanagan wеre baсk in
фе British squad four уeаrs latеr in Romе,
togеther with anothеr of thеir sex, Dawn
\0Иofford, nёе Palеthorpe. Thе brilliant
young David Broomе joined them in the
Individual on Sunsalvе, а horse hе hаd
riddеn to viсtory in thе I(ngis Cup within
two wееks of fust trying him, and now took
thе bronzе. It was Italy's day, howеvеr and
sH0W JUMPlNБ
ri*r
Four of the world's leading international show
jumpers. above far left: CapL Raimondo
d,|nzeo and TаIky. Cаpt. d,|пzeo won two world
tit|es and With his brother Piero hаs formed the
baсkbone of the ltа|ian team for some twentУ
уears. above: United states team сaptаin
Frank Chаpot сompeting at the InternationaI
Horse Show in London. He was a finalist in the
,l974
WorId Championships he|d in аt
Hiсkstead. above right: AIwin SсhoсkemсihIe
of Germany, goId medа||ist аt the Montreal
o|ympiсs. Due to гeсurring baсk troubIe this
greаt сompetitor has now retired from the
show jumping arena. right: David Broome of
Great Britain, who won the World
Championships in 1970 on Douglas Bunn's
fine horse Beethoven. He is aIso joint masteг of
his IoсaI fox hunt in Wa|es, the Cuгre, whiсh
oссupies muсh of his time duгing winter
months.
Raimondo dIrиeo took thе Gold and his
brottrеr, Piero, the silver. Thеir tеam сould
finish only third bеhind Gеrmany, in
whiсh \0Иinklеr and Thiеdemann wеrе
joinеd bу anothеr dеstinеd for thе highest
honours' Alwin Sсhoсkеmсihlе, who, hav-
ing bееn rеsеrve for Ьoth the show-
jumping and Tfuее-Day Еvеnt tеams four
yеars earlier, was making his debut.
Alwin, aftеr winning this tеam gold,
wеnt thтough an aggravating seriеs of
individuаl neaт-misseS for majoг titlеs,
thrее timеs sесond and twiсе third for thе
Еuropeаn, and fourth for thе World in
1970 behind Dаvid Broome. He finallу
broke his duсk in 1975 in thе fiгst running

of thе Еuropеan Amateur Championship
(until thеn Profеssionals and Amatеuгs
alikе wеrе еligiblе foг all FЕI titlеs), аnd
thеn wеnt on to tаkе thе olympiс Gold in
Мontreal. Hе did not havе a t'rorsе good
еnough to mаkе his сountry's tеаm in
Tokyo, wheге \0Иinklеr was joined Ьy
ЕIеrman Sсfuidde аnd I(urt Jаrasinski,
who сollесtively provеd good еnough to
сomplеtе а Gеrman hat-triсk of tеаm
golds. f/oriola hеlpеd his tеam tаkе thе
silvеr, Ьut for himsеlf it had to bе the gold,
riding a horsе who had only madе his
intеrnational dеbut that samе sеason.
With doriola in the Frеnсh tеam at thе
Tokyo Gamеs, was a giгl, only 18 yеars
old, whose brillianсe was on a par with his,
Janou Lefёbvге (now Janou Tissot). Shе
wеnt on to takе anothеr tеam silvег in Меx-
iсo, and holds two of thе only thrее
women's \DИorld сhampionships tо be hеld.
Thе first of thеse was in 1965 at Hiсkstead'
thе ground that Douglas Bunn had
foundеd in Sussеx fivе уеars еагliеr. With
its еxсiting peгmanent oЬstaсlеs and
gradually improved faсilitiеs, it hаs had a
profound effесt on show-jumping in Еng-
land' introduсing thе soгt of сoursе that
had prеviously on1y bееn found on the
Show jumping is one of the few sports where
men аnd women сompete on equа|terms; аnd
the women are just as suссessfuI as the men.
/eft: Marion MouId аnd Dun|ynne cIeaгing thе
Hiсksteаd Water in immaсu|ate style. She wi||
alwаys be гemembered foг heг unique
paгtnership with the great |ittle pony StгoI|er
on whom she won an o|ympiс silveг meda| in
Mexiсo. below far /eft: Ameriсаn Bil|
Steinkraus desсending the formidabIe
Hiсksteаd Derby Bank. He was a go|d medа|
Winner atthe Mexiсo oIУmpics.below middte..
Kathy Kusneг, one of Ameriсa's Ieading
Woman jumpers. She also hаs a keen interest
in raсing. bеlow гight: Frenсh rider Janou
Тissot, former women,s show,iumping wor|d
сhаmpion, shown here сompeting in the 1968
Championships at. Hiсkstead, Bгitain,s on|у
permаnent outdoor show jumping аrenа.
SHOW JUMPING
Continеnt. I(athy I(usneг, ttrе Ameriсan
giгl, with two viсtoriеs in thе Dublin
Grand Prix to hеr сгеdit, was сonfidently
ex1rесted to takе this first l0foгld tidе' Ьut
сould finish only seсond to Мarion Coakеs
(now Nlarion Ntould) and her brilliant
pony Strollеr. This pаir had just Ьесomе
the youngest rider and thе smallеst horsе
to win thе Quеen Еlizabеth Cup.
Hiсkstеad was to provе thе hаppiеst of
hunting gгounds for fulaгion аnd Sшollег,
where thеy also won thе British Jumping
DеrЬу two yеаrs latег. Thеy аlso won thе
silvеr medal in Ntеxiсo in 1968 bеhind Bill
Stеinkraus, who сlimаxеd a brilliant
сагееr Ьy giving thе Unitеd Statеs their
first еvеr individцal show-jumping gold.
Thе сoursе for the tеam сompеtition wаs
gеnerally сondеmnеd as onе of thе worst
еvеr for an Olympiс Gamеs, primаrily
bесause of thе awkward plaсing of fеnсеs,
whiсh produсed somе аstronomiсal
sсorеs. It was finally won by the Canadians
with IО2з/+ fаults. By сontrast Gеrmany
won in Tokyo with 68И _ itsеlf a rесord _
and in Мuniсh with З2' Thе сoursе in
Мuniсh was a muсh morе sensiblе one,
although still demanding еnough. Thе
Мonшеаl сoursе had to Ье rеduсed iп sizе
Ьесausе of the torгential rain whiсh neaгly
prevеntеd thе сompеtition bеing run in thе
main olympiс stаdium at all.
Thеrе has long bееn dеbatе whеthеr thе
olympiс сoursе should bе of a sеt pattern'
ratlrеr than lеft to thе loсal сourse-
dеsigner. As it is thе suprеmе tеst thеre is a
lot to bе sаid in fаvour of suсh a proposi-
tion. Thе шaсks for аthletiс raсеs аrе, aftеr
all, uniform to a large dеgrее, Ьut this doеs
not in thе lеast dеtгaсt from thе еxсitе-
mеnt' nor make winning any еasiеr. It
would hеlp еliminatе thе elеmеnt of luсk
аnd makе for а fairеr геsult.
Thе tendеnсy among сoursе-buildеrs to
ereсt еvеr highеr, moгe dеmanding
сoursеs for thе major сhampionships'
givеs an advаntage to those, suсh as the
Gеrmans, with big, powerful hoгsеs, rаthеr
than giving sсope for thе skilful rideг to
сompеnsatе for anу laсk in his horsе's
make-up. This is a fashion whiсh may, and
onе hopеs wi1l, swing thе otlrеr way.
It was in 1'975 that all еquesшian сom-
petitions Ьесаme opеn foг men аnd
Womеn. This madе sensе, for in the olyn.
piс Gamеs thе сompеtitions wеrе mixed,
аnd thе women, though numеriсally out-
numbегed, геpеatedly showеd thеir mеrit
by taking a largе peгсentage of thе medаls'
It was in that samе yеaг also, that сhangеs
to thе vaгious сhampionships sеparatеd
amateuгs from profеssionals. Thus thе
Еuropеаn сhampionship, won Ьy Alwin
Sсhoсkеm6h1e, wаs for аmatеuгs on1y, as a
result of whiсh, aftеr somе arguing, no
British riders took paгt. Thе British fеdеra-
tion was thе only one whiсh hаd tаken
Prinсе Philip s striсturеs to .put thеir
housе in ordеt' sеriously, сreaming off tlrе
top sсorе or so, of their ridеrs into profеs-
sional status аnd putting thе сountrу at а
gIеat disadvantage in olympiс сompеti-
tion. The World Profеssional Champion-
ship that should havе Ьeen hеld in 1975
was not' beсeusе the FЕI refusеd to allqп
109
 sн0W JUMP|NG

thе sponsors to appеnd their namе to it. It

seеms likеly that thе flцid situation will
rеsolvе itsеlf аgain' into .Opеni сompeti-
tions evеrywhеrе, savе in thе Olympiс
Gamеs, ovеr whiсh thе FЕI doеs not havе
thе final say. Onе day thеy too may be opеn
but that is surеlу a long way off.
Although Sсhoсkеmohlе's viсtory in thе
1975 аmаtеur сhampionship was a fаiгly
Ьloodlеss one, with his сompatriots also
filling thе minor plaсеs, he undoubtеdly
gave a supеrlаtivе pеrformanсе to win thе
Gold Меdal in N{onшеal. Thе Individual
was hеld in thе stadium at Bfomont, somе
70km (43 miles) from N4.ontrеal, on a dirt
sцrfасе whiсh rodе dеep aftеr a lot ofrаin.
Ovеr two big сoursеs, thеrе was onlу onе
сlеar round еасh timе, both from
Sсhoсkemсihlе. His hoгsе was thus first
ever to wiтr an ol1тnpiс gold with two сlears.
Bесausе of thе unеxpeсted rаinfall
bеfore and during thе Games, on ground
whiсh had not bееn drainеd Ьeсausе it wаs
aftеrwards to havе аn artifiсial surfaсе,
thеrе wеrе doubts until thе vеrу last
minutе whеther or not it would bе possiblе
to hold thе tеam jumping therе. Luсkilу
thе wеathеr геlеntеd suffiсiеntlу just in
timе; the сourse was reduсеd in sizе, the
final fеnсе, whiсh should havе Ьееn a
treblе bесamе а douЬle, and thе сompеti-
tion wеnt on. At halfivaу, the Frеnсh and
Germаn tеams wеrе levеl in the lеad' thе
pеndulum slightly tippеd in favour of thе
сonsistеnt Frеnсh qualtet' and although a
сlеar by Sсhoсkеm<ihlе would havе
сlinсhеd anothеr team gold for Gеrmany,
they hit twб fеnсеs. Thus Franсе асhievеd
thеir fiгst show-jumping tеam gold in
Olуmpiс history.
Thе British, labouring undеr thе handi-
сap of hаving most of their top гiders
inеligiЬlе Ьесausе of thеir profеssional
status, never got into thе running. It is
doubtful if аnything is likеlу to bе donе,
еithеr to leinstatе thеm' whiсh thе IoC
havе refusеd to сountenаnсе' or to еqualizе
' mattеrs bу making their main rivals alsо
iу turn profеssional.
Show-jumping is еssеntiallу an indi-
i"l
ii vidual sport, but to еnсouragе tеаm spirit
the FЕI inшodцсed thе Prеsidеnds Cup in
1965. It is basеd on еaсh сountry's six bеst
iil results in Nations Cups throughout thе
season. Five points are givеn if thеrе arе
llt fivе tеаms or fewеr (therе havе to Ьe at leаsl
thrее for а Nations Cup), six for six tеams,
Ir and sеvеn for sеven or morе. Bу сonfining
the numЬеr of сompеtitions that сoцnt tс
six, thе сountlies whiсh hаvе a long wаy tс
Eavеl arе not pеnalizеd too muсh сom-
parеd with thе сеnшal Еuropеаn nations
who сan gеt to many offlсial Internation-
als with littlе diffrсulty or еxpеnsе. So fаl
the Prеsident's Cup has Ьеen dominatеdbу
Britain, Gеrmanу and thе Unitеd States.

Two of Britain,s top internationа|

showjumpers. fop: Ann Moore on April
Love' bottomi Pat smУthe on F|anagan,
with whom she mаde history, аt the height
of heг |ong сareer, аs the first womаn rideг
to сompete in the oIympic Games at
,|956
Stoсkho|m in when her teаm Won the
bronze mеdа|.

f rш term .Tfuее-Day Еvеnd is
l. vеry inadеquate for an еxсiting,
еxhilarating sport whiсh сalls on thе full
range of a horsе's ability and his ridе1s
skill. Though thе nаme implies somе form
of thrееfold сompеtition' it divulgеs
nothing of the qualitiеs to Ьe tеstеd.
Thе Thrее-Daу Еvеnt was dеsignеd
originally as a trial for military сhargеrs'
and was in faсt known as thе .Мilitaц/.
Thе rеquirеmеnts of a сharger w€re that he
should bе fit to сover sometimеs long dis-
tanсеs at a good avеIagе speed, travеl ovеr
open сountry jumping whatevеr oЬstaсlеs
stood in his path and Ьe bold enough to
taсklе anу цnkown hazаrds at whiсh his
rider prеsеnted him. For his part, the ridеr
had to bе аЬ1е to produсе a really fit horsе
and kееp him that way) to know just how
muсh hе сould ask of his mount and judge
exaсtly the right paсе' or сombination of
paсes' to reасh his target safеlу and quiсkly
_ bцt without exhausting his horse,
bесаuse а nеw day would bring frеsh
dеmands.
Thе hard сore of thе .Nlilitaqy', thеге-
forе, was an еnduгanсе test at working
pасе' with a sесtion aсross сountrу
nеgotiating natural obstaсles, and gener-
аlly somе form of steеplесhasе сoursе to Ьe
riddеn аt speеd. Later, a drеssagе test was
added to dеmonstratе тhе сhargeis physi-
сal dеvelopment, his mastеry of thе bаsiс
paсеs ' and obеdiеnсе to his ride1s
unspoken сommands. Finally therе was a
simplе show-jumping tеst) to rеpгesеnt thе
еvеryday lifе to whiсh a сhargеr must Ьe fit
to return' еvеn аftеr an еxсeptionally
dеmanding еxеrсisе.
The arts of military еquitation have long
bеen praсtisеd and admiгеd on thе сonti-
nеnt of Еuropе аnd for mаny yeаrs this was
striсtly a сontinental sport. Franсe's milit-
ary aсadеmу of equitation at Saumцr still
maintains thе highеst сavalry tradition,
while thе Spanish Riding Sсhool in Vien-
na is famous to this day for its сultivаtion of
сlаssiсаl еquitation, using thе whitе Lipiz-
zanеr stаllions thеy havе used for gеnеra-
tions.
Thе British - possiblу beсausе thеir
nativе hoгsеs wеre thе small, stoсky, hardy,
Mountain and N{oorland brееds _ had no
suсh tradition of high-sсhool equitation.
l0Иith thеir tеmpеratе сlimatе they сould
ridе out-of-doors thloughout the yеar and
hunting was their nаtional еquеstrian
sport. I0и'hеn they did import Arabian
horsеs to found the fleеtеr, morе rеfinеd
Thoroughbred strаin, it was for the headiеr
delights ofraсing, both oп thе flаt and ovеr
fеnсеs.
For most sports, intеInational сompеti-
tion got under way with thе foundаtion of
thе modеrn olympiс movеmеnt by Bагon
dе CouЬertin in 1896, but еquеstrian
events wеrе not intгoduсed to thе Games
цntil 1912, in Stoсkholm, largеly at the
instigation of Count von Rosеn, Mastег of
thе ЕIorsе to thе I(ing of Swеdеn. Hе
rеalizеd their trеmеndous valuе _ that of
the .Мilitart' in partiсular _ in stimulаting
intеrеst and improving standards of еquita-
tion аnd horsemastеrship, and hе saw thе
olуmpiс Gamеs as a mеаns of sprеading
this impгovеment ьeyond aгmy сirсles to
all hoгsemen.
Еnшiеs for thе olympiс еquеstrian
еvеnts were eхсlusivеly from thе military
аt fust, Ьut gradually сivilians took part
too. Thе Thrее-Day Еvеnt bесame known
as thе .сonсours Compled' oI сomplеte
сompеtition, and today hardly a militаry
rank is to Ьe found amongst the сom-
pеutors.
Thе form of the Conсours Complеt was
fаirly fluid аt first' Ьut betweеn thе wars it
settlеd down into morе or less thе form in
whiсh wе know it now. Thе сompеtitols)
following еaсh othеr in suссеssion, mцst
undеrtаkе thгеe diffеrеnt tests on thrее
sеparatе days. These arе:
(i) Drеssagе _ a sеt programmе of somе
20 differеnt movemеnts of mеdium
diffiсulty, to Ьe pеrformеd аt thе walk,
trot or сantег' in an arеnа 60 x 20 m in
aгеa. lvlaгks aге аwaгded by a pаnеl of
thтeе judgеs, who assеss fluenсу and
aссurасу of pеrformanсе, balanсе,
impulsion' гhуthm аnd supplеnеss in
thе horsе, as wеll as the ridеt's seat
аnd appliсation of thе aids (or direс-
trons).
(ii) Spеed and еnduranсе _ a four-phasе
test сonsisting of: Phasеs A and C
hеld over roаds аnd traсks totalling
10-20 km (6_12 milеs) to Ьe riddеn at
the trot or slow сanter; Phase B, a
stееplесhase сoursе, roughly 24kгт:.
(1_2.5 milеs) long with 8-12 fenсеs,
to Ье гiddеn аt thе gallop; Phаsе D, a
сross-сountry сoursе' Ьetweеn
5-8 km (3-5 miles), with 20-32 fixed
obstaсlеs, to bе riddеn dt thе gаllop.
IHt ll-tнtt-uAY tvtN I
. Pеnаltiеs are inсurrеd for fаlls or
rеfusals at thе oЬstасlеs and for
еxсееding thе minimum timе
allowеd for еaсh phasе.
(iii) Show-jumping _ a сoursе of
700-900m (750-1000yds) with
10_12 obstасlеs. Penаltiеs arе inсur-
red for fаlls or refusals at thе oЬstaсles
and for exсеeding thе timе allowеd.
llorses аrе suЬmittеd to a veterinary
inspeсtion bеforе the staгt of thе сompeti-
tion, anothеr during the speеd and еndur-
anсе tеst аnd а final onе bеfore thе show-
jumping test on the last day. Thе samе
horsе and ridеr havе to сomplеte all three
tests and the сompetitor with thе lowеst
total pеnaltiеs is the winner. In a tеam
сompetition, thеrе may bе tfuее tеаm
mеmbеrs or fouг, and it is thе thrеe bеst
final sсorеs that сount for thе tеam's final
plaсing.
The sсalе of mаrks weights thе valuе of
thе thrее tеsts in thе ratio ofthrее for drеs-
sagе, 12 for speеd and enduranсe, and onе
for jumping. lDИhilst thе гulеs lay down the
spееds and distаnсеs, and thе dimеnsions
of the oЬstaсles' thе сoursе and сondtions
should bе so planned as to сonform аs
сlosеly as praсtiсable to this ratio.
Although this is thе Ьasiс task сonfront-
ing a Tfuее-Day Еvепt сompеtitor, it is
rеallу only thе bеginning. No two events
аrе alike; the еssеnсе of thе сompetition is
thе natural сountryside in whiсh it is sеt
aпd this, of сoursе, сan vary еnormously.
Bеsidеs thе tуpе ofterrain, thеrе arе аlways
variations in thе statе of the going, thе
altitudе, thе сlimatе, фе wеathеr _ and that
is all quite apart from thе oЬstaсlеs. The
pегmutаtions arе еndlеss and thе horsе
must Ьe fit and bold to сope with them all,
as hе gallops and jumps ovеr а сoursе hе
has nеvеr sеen bеfore.
Thе ridеr hаs thе аdvаntagе of bеing
allowed to walk thе сourse the daу before,
to аssеss thе proЬlems it posеs аnd dесidе
how to taсklе them in thе light of his
Еventing is a tough sport. Here the rider is
about to tаke a bath in the wаter jump, one
of the formidab|e obstaс|es on the сгoss-
сoUпtгУ сourse at Goodwood in Susseх.
тHE тHREЕ.DAY EvENт
horse's partiсular саpaЬilitiеs. ЕIе must
work out thе spеed, thе linе of approaсh to
an obstaсlе, and thе anglе and еxасt point
at whiсh to lump it (thеrе is oftеn a сhoiсе,
with one аlternative perhaps еasier but
more time-сonsuming than anoтher). He
must not bе tеmptеd to ridе thе stееple-
сhasе faster thаn neсessarn or hе will takе
too muсh out of his horse too еaгlу in thе
day, and hе must keep up a good stеady
paсе on thе сross-сountry, taking thе
jumps in his horsds stгide without any
waste of timе, if hе is to esсapе pеnalty.
-bе
The hoгsе maу tiring Ьy thеn and it will
take all thе ridе1 s strеngth and skill to get
him safelу round without unduе еffort.
Both horsе аnd rider must bе supremеlу
fit, With steady nеrves and сonsidеraЬlе
сouragе' аnd thе grеatеr thе experiеnсе
they сan mustеr _ preferаbly in paгtnership
_ аnd thе gleatеr theiг murual undеrstаnd-
ing аnd сonfidenсе, thе bеttеr.
There is a notаЬle absеnсе of pеrsonal
rivаlry amongst сompеtitors. For thеm thе
сhallenge liеs in the сoursе гather thаn the
othеr сontestants' and it is with thе сourse
that еaсh onе must sеttlе his own ассount.
Furthеrmorе, viсtory for thе teаm is, in
gеnеral, muсh morе higЫу prized than
individuаl suссess.
Thе roаds and traсks for Phases A аnd C,
whiсh сonstitutе the enduranсе elemеnt,
аre perfeсtlу straighdorward. So is
stееplесhаsе сourse for Phasе B, although
thе dеfinition of a stееplесhase fеnсe may
vary in diffеrent сountriеs.
Thе сrux сomes in Phаsе D, the сross-
сountry. Foг this the traсk maу bе flat or
steеp, and the oЬstaсlеs arе fixеd, solid in
appеaranсe аnd built of thе sшongest mat-
еrials. Thе stronger аnd morе solid thе
oЬstaсlе, thе more inviting and rеassuring
it will appеаr to thе horsе, and thеrеfore the
safеr it will Ье to jump. Also, eaсh obstасlе
must bе аblе to withstand the assault of
wind and wеather, so that it is thе sаmе for
tlrе hundrеdth сompеtitor as it was for thе
fust.
Thе сoursе-buildеr must сontrivе to tеst
thе ridе/s judgеment and nегvе, and thе
horsе's sсopе' сouragе and obеdiеnсe, but
without making any unnatural dеmаnds or
springing any unfair surprisеs. ЕIis сouгsе
must produсе a worthy winner, Ьut must
not destroу thе losers and it is uпdoubtеdly
a joЬ whiсh сalls for speсial skill аnd great
expеrienсe. Like any othеr сrаft that is
exposed to сonstant сomparison and сriti-
сal inspeсtion, сoursе building in general
is improving all thе timе and thе intеrnа-
tional standаrd is now vеry high indеed.
Cеrtаin obstaсlеs havе Ьeсome bywords
in the sport and will bе found in moге or
lеss thе samе form on many сourses. Thе
Coffin' at Badminton, is one and сom-
prisеs a narrow trough at thе bottom of a
widе ditсlц with a post-and-rails on both
banks, Ьefore аnd aftеr. The Tгout Hatсh-
еry' at Burghlеy, is another - a pool
approaсhеd downhill, with a trее trunk oг
rails to bе jumpеd on the waУ in or out, or
both. Thе Normandy Bank, whiсh is
jump up on to a flat bank with a rail on thе
еdgе of the drop on the far sidе, was
unknown bеforе tlre Еuropeаn Champion-
tt2
ships in Normаndy in 1969. The Hеlsinki
Stеps _ rails forming thе outlinе of stеps
dropping down a hillsidе _ first appearеd in
thе 1952 ol1тnpiс Gamеs, whilе the
Trakеhner - a tall post-and-rails sеt in thе
bottom of a ditсh - is familiar in Gеrmany.
An Irish Bank _ а high bank whiсh is too
thе big to fly at а single lеap, so that thе horse
hаs to touсh down fleеtinglу on thе top, _
саn bе very disсonсerting to a horsе thаt
hаs nevеr met onе bеfore. As сan be seen,
evеry сountry has its own stylе of obstaсles
and thе more distinсtivе onеs arе suге to
find a plaсе, soonеr or latеr, in thе rеpеr-
toire of ottrer сoцrsе-builders.
Thе first Olympiс Tfuее-Day Еvеnt, at
Stoсkholm in L9L2' startеd with spеed and
endurаnсе tеsts, followed by thе show-
jumping. The dтеssagе сame last. Swеdеn
won both thе tеam and individuаl gold
mеdals, as shе did again at Antwеrp, in
1920, when the dтеssagе was replaсed by a
seсond endurаnсe tеst.
For thе 1924 Gamеs in Paris, the
Tfuее-Day Еvent took shapе as thе сom-
petition wе know today, with drеssagе first,
speеd and еnduranсе seсond and show-
jumping lаst. Holland managed to brеаk
Swеdеn's grip and won both team and
individцal сompetitions.
A rесord numЬеr of 20 nations took part
at Amstеrdam in 1928' inсluding Japan,
Argentine and thе Unitеd Statеs. onсе
again, Holland won both titlеs' the indi-
vidual gold mеdal going to Lt. C. P. dе
Мortangеs on .Nlarсroix, who together sеt
up a rесord nеvеr yеt Ьrokеn, by winning
again in Los Angelеs in 1932. On that
oссаsion only six nations wеrе rеp-
rеsеntеd, proЬably bесausе of the enorm-
ous сost to Еuropеan сountries of trans-
porting thеir tеams halfwаy round the
world. Thе Unitеd Stаtes took the gold in
the tеam evеnt.
At Berlin in 1936, thе сross-сountry
сourse was a partiсularly stiff onе and the
a fourth obstасlе, a pond, with sloping bed
аnd swollen with rain, сaused havoс
аmongst thе сompеtitors. Germany won
both tеam and individual eold mеdals. For
тhe тrout Hatсhery at the BurghIey Тhree-Day
Event. Тhe ju mp into the Wаter is a good test of
the horse,s obedienсe and tгUst in his ridеr.
the London Games, in 1948, thе rесеntly-
formed British ЕIorsе Soсiеty wаs сhargеd
with thе orgаnizаtion of thе Tfuеe-Daу
Еvent аt Aldеrshot - thе first time Grеat
Britаin had ever hеld suсh an еvеnt. Thе
Unitеd Statеs won thе tеam сompеtition
and Capt. Chеvallier, of Franсe, the indi-
vidual' but this was а turning-point for Bri-
tain in thе history of thе sport.
Despitе the сompletе aЬsеnсе of
Thrеe-Day Еvеnt baсkground, Britain hаd
got along well еnough so far, rесruiting
and шaining аrmу tеаms for еaсh Gamеs as
thеy сame аlong. But in 1948 thе Duke of
Bеаufort, thеn Мaster of thе ЕIorsе, саmе
to the сonсlusion ttrat this was a sport at
whiсh British hoгsеs and riders ought to
eхсel' ЕIе was dеtеrmined that at thе next
Gamеs in Hеlsinki in|952, Britаin would
put up a teаm whiсh was not only pгopеrly
trainеd, Ьut hаd gainеd somе ехpеrienсe at
the gamе befoге bеing thrown into thе
international arеna.
The park of the Dukе of Bеaufort's
home at Badminton, in Glouсеstегshire,
сovеrеd somе of thе finest open сountry in
Еnglаnd, аnd аs Viсe-Paшon of thе British
Horse Soсiеty' hе invitеd thе B.H.S. to
hold a nаtionаl Thrее-Dаy Еvеnt thеre in
thе spring of L949.It was to be саllеd thе
.olympiс ЕIorsе Trials'. Thе еvеnt
attraсted а grеat dеal of interest and
quiсkly Ьeсamе popular, so muсh so in
faсt, that it turnеd into а highly suссessful
annual fixturе and soon gаinеd a rеpцta-
tion as the forеmost Three-Day Еvеnt in
thе world. As a гesult, Britаin was to
beсome a lеading Olympiс сontеnder, with
more intеrnational honours in Tfuее-Day
Еvеnts to hеr сrеdit than any othеr сoun-
шy, аnd rеgarded as an authoritу both on
сoursе dеsign and organization in gеnеral.
But baсk in 1'952, a small Ьand of British
riders and horsеs who had shown up wеll
in national еvеnts wеrе sеnt for sеvеrаl
months of сonсentrated trainins under thе

dirесtion of Capt. Tony Collings (winnеr
of the sесond Badminton)' at his riding
establishmеnt at Porloсk, in Somersеt.
Two yеагs later, Capt. Collings was trаgi-
сally killed vrhеn onе of thе еarly Comеts,
in whiсh hе was шavelling on a lесtuгing
аnd judging tour' сrashеd into thе
Меditеrгanean. In his lifеtimе' howеvеr,
he had a tтеmendous influеnсе on
Thrее-Day Еvеnting in Grеat Britain and
must take his plасе amongst thе sport's
foundеrs.
Thе British tеam at неlsinki (Rеg Hind-
lеy, Bеrtiе Hill and Lauгenсе Rook) put up
а vеry good show, but Laurеnсе RooКs
horsе unfortunatеlу put his foot in a holе
towards thе еnd of thе сross-сountry
сoursе and his ridеr was сonсussed in thе
fall. Rook гemounted аnd сomplеted thе
сourse, but pаssеd ttrе wrong sidе of the
finishing post and was еliminatеd. In тhosе
dаys еасh сountry was аllowеd to enter
only thrее сompеtitors, so this put thе
wholе tеam out of thе running. Swеdеn
rеgained both teаm and individual titlеs,
their gold mеdаllist bеing Baron Elans von
Blixеn-Fineсke'
Thе suggеstion wаs then put forward
thаt a Еuropeаn Championship should bе
hеld in non-Ol1тnpiс уеаrs and Badmintoп
was аskеd to bе the fiIst to hold it' in 1953.
Sadlу, Badmintorris April datе proved too
еarly in the yеar foг most Еuгopean сoun-
triеs to produсе rеally fit horsеs, and only
Switzеrland and lrеland, apaгt from thе
hosts, wеrе аble to raisе a team' so the
сhаmpionship was аbandonеd.
That аutumn, the B'H.S. startеd up an
аutumn Three-Day Evеnt at llarеwood, in
Yoгkshirе, bу permission of thе Prinсess
Royal. Vivien Мaсhin-Goodаll won, to
bесomе thе first lаdy winnеr of a Threе-
Day Еvеnt.
In 1954, Switzегland voluntееrеd to
hold thе сhampionships and put on an
еvеnt of high standard аt Baslе. Britain s
Bеrtie Hill wаs the Winnеr and British rid-
еrs fillеd four out of thе nеxt siх plaсеs, so
thеу took thе tеam сhаmpionship as wеll.
Among thеm wеге the first lady ridеrs to
сompеte in аn offiсial international
сhampionship _ Margarеt Hough, who
finished sixtЬ аnd Diana Маson riding for
the team, who finished sеvеnth.
This was a rеd-lettег Yeaг for Britain on
sеvеral сounts: thеir nеw-found suссess,
proof that girls сould hold their own in
what had been regarded hithегto as too
tough a game for them, and thе еmergеnсе
as a tеam of three ridеrs, Bеrtiе Hill' Frank
ID7еldon and Lаurеnсе Roo\ who, apart
ftom thеir outstanding rесord of suссеss'
weге all to plаy a leading part in thе
Thrее-Day Еvеnt world. Hill was to pro-
duсe some superb hoгsеs and trаin manу of
thе lеading ridеrs of futurе gеnеrations;
Wеldon was to сaptain thе British team
whеn he gavе up сompеting and Ьесame a
world аuthority oп сross-сounEy сourses
whеn he suЬsеquently took ovеr the dirес-
tion of Badminton, and Rook was to
beсome сhаirman of thе spoгt's govегning
Ьody in Britain and the tесhniсal delegаtе
of thе Fёd6ration Еquеstrе Intеrnationalе
at manу offiсiаl сhampionships and Olуm-
piс Gamеs.
In 1955, the Еuropеan Chаmpionships
wеrе held at l07indsor, bу invitation of
HRH Queen Еlizabеth II. Britain suссess-
fully dеfеnded hеr tidе with thе samе tеam
аnd Wеldon сaгriеd off thе individual
сhampionship. In sevеntееnth plaсe was a
youngstеr from Lanсashiле who had won
йе Pony Club сhаmpionships, Shеila
Willсox on High And Мighty.
In thе Olympiс Gаmes at Stoсkholm in
1956 Britаin s hopes wеre high and theу
wеre rеprеsеntеdby thrее vеry expегiеnсеd
aцd suссessful ridегs, mountеd on proven,
high-quаlity horsеs. Thеy didn t havе it all
thеiг own way (Bеrtie HilГs Counгyman
slippеd in the hеavy rain аnd got hung up
on a trakehnеr fеnсе, but was salvаgеd and
went on to finish thе сouгsе), but theу
еstablishеd a сlеar lead whiсh thеy
retainеd to thе еnd. So Britain won heг first
tеam gold mеdal, whilе Frank l0Иеldon
took thе individual bronzе. Sweden's
Kastеnman won thе individual gold medal.
In L957
' Britain won the Еuropean
Chаmpionship at Copеnhagen, whеrе
Shеila !0Иillсox on High And Мighty
beсamе thе fust lady сhampion. She madе
history again in 1958, with hет third suс-
сеssivе viсtory аt Badminton.
In 1959 Haгеwood was thе sеtting foг
ТHt ТHпЕL-DAY tvtNТ
thе Еuropеаn Championships, in whiсh
the U.S.S.R. еntеrеd for thе fust timе. Bгi-
tаin's sвr had wanеd, and Gеrmany won
thе tеam сhampionship and Switzeгland's
Hans Sсhwarzenbaсh thе individual, on а
hoгse hе hаd puгсhasеd ftom Frank Wеl-
don. In thе intеrim, l0Иеldon hаd suffеrеd
thе tragiс loss of his grеat horsе I(ilbarry,
who had broken his neсk in falling at an
innoсеnt-looking fenсе in a onе-day еvent
at homе.
In 1960, Ausшalia sеnt a possе of horsеs
and riders to trаin foг six months in Britain
before taсkling thе Olympiс Gаmes in
Romе. Thеy joinеd thе сirсuit of national
horsе trials, as thеy had done in 1956, Ьut
this timе with mаrkеd suссеss. Bill Roy-
сгoft won аt Bаdminton, and thе tеаm wеnt
on to сapturе thе gold mеdal in Romе (Bill
Royсroft was tаkеn to hospital with a
Ьroken сollar-bonе aftеr thе сross-сountry,
but dеfiеd doсtors' ordеrs to ridе in thе
show-jumping nеxt day). Austrаlia's
Lauriе Мorgan won thе individual gold
mеdal and his сompatгiot, Neal Lаvis took
t}rе silver. Thе ottrеrs wеnt homе to
Austrаlia aftеrwards, but Morgan rеturnеd
to Еngland, to ride in thе Grand Nationаl
and win at Badminton thе following
sprшg.
A new Thrее-Dаy Еvеnt was staгtеd up
at Burghley, homе of thе Мarquеss of Еxе-
ter, in 1961, to takе thе plaсе of thе
ЕIarеwood еvеnt, whiсh had сlosеd down.
It wаs won by Annеli Drummond-ЕIay on !*
ffi
Мегеly-A-Мonarсh, thе gгeat horsе with п
whiсh she wеnt on to win at Bаdmintoп in
|962 and then to bесomе a suссеssful
intеrnatioпal show.jumpеr. In |962,
Burghley was thе sсеnе of the Еuropеan
Championships, whiсh wеrе won Ьy the
U's.s.R.' thе individual сhampion bеing
Britain's Jamеs Tеmpler.
Below left The first stage of the Three-Day
Event is the dressage test. Heгe Bгuce
Davidson and |гish Cap perform we|| at
.l976
Bromont' Cаnadа, for the o|ympiсs.
Below one of the greatest Тhree-Day Event
horses, Mere|y-a-Monarсh, with AnneIi
Drummond-HaУ сompeting аt Hiсksteаd. Afteг
winning аt BUrghIey and Badmintoп they
turned to show jumping With some suссess.
 тнпЕЕ-DAY ЕvЕNт
.'тHE
At thе 1964 olуmpiсs, thе only .firsd
sсorеd by the British horsеs wаs thаt of
flying ovеr the Noгth Polе on thе nеwly-
opened route to Tokyo! Riсhаrd Nleadе,
frеsh fгom winning at BurgЫey, had led at
the end of the spееd аnd enduranсe test - сеdеntеd аltitцdе in lVlехiсo wаs not а
only to jump a disаsшous round on thе
finаl day. Italy won bottr tеam and indi
vidual tit1еs.
It wаs fitting that Russia should win thе
Еuropеan tеam сhampionship at Мosсow
in 1965' whilе Polаnds &larian Bar-
Ьiеrесki on Volt won thе individual, gаin-
ing this сountrt's solе viсtory in thе history
of thе sport.
Thе flrst l0Иorld Championships werе
sсhеdulеd for Burghley in 1966, Ьut an
outbreak of Afriсan Horsе Siсknеss pre-
vеnted thе movement of horses throughout
Еurope. Nеvеrthеlеss, Ireland, the
U.s.s.R. and the Unitеd Statеs ovеrсamе
the veterinary ban Ьу flying their horses
dirесt to Еngland and a gallant band from
Argentine made the mammoth journey by
sеа, their horsеs rеgaining hеalth and vig-
our during a month' s enforсеd quarantinе.
It provеd worthwhilе' sinсe Argentine's
Tokyo silver medallist, Carlos Мoratorio,
put up а pеrformanсе worthy of thе first
ID7orld Champion. Irеland, аlways а dash-
ing and joyous partiсipant in Threе-Day
Еvents) aсhievеd the tеаm titlе at lаst, with
their supеrb tеam of Еddiе Boуlаn, Tom
Brеnnan, Pеnny Moreton and Virginia
Freeman-Jасkson.
Irеlands first internаtional еvеnt wаs
thе Еuropеan Championships, held at
Punсhеstown, in L967 . The organization
was good and thе hospitalitу genеrous, but
thе Argentinian teсhniсаl delеgatе had
thought it Ьеst to add an apron of gorsе to
thе front of eaсh stеeplесhasе fеnсе, with
disastroцs еffесt. Irelands Еddiе Boylan
won the individuаl titlе with Durlas Еile,
on whiсh he had won Bаdminton two yеаrs
earliеr, аnd Britain сarried away thе team
title.
Britain s star was in thе asсendаnt onсе
morе аnd Ьy 1968 she was аgаin in а posi-
tion to sеnd a team of еxperienсеd, suс-
сessful ridеrs on top-quality hoгsеs to the
olympiс Games. Thе сourse at unprе-
diffiсult one and was approvеd as suсh by
Bгitain's teсhniсal dеlеgate Laurenсe
Rook. Halfiмаy thIough the spееd аnd
enduranсe test tlre rain stаrted to fall hеаvi-
ly, turning тhe сouгsе into a quagmire and
the wаtеr jumps into torrents. Dеrek
Allhusen on Loсhinvar was safеly round,
but Jane Bullen's our NoЬby (thе littlе
horsе ttrat had won at Badminton in the
spring) slippеd and fеll twiсе. It was lеft to
Bеn Jonеs on The Poaсher and Riсhard
Меadе on Cornishman V to perform epiс
fеats of valour to bring thе tеam out on top.
They took thе gold mеdаl and Allhusen
thе individual silvеr, bеhind Franсе's
J. Guyon on Pitou.
Rеunitеd with his ownеr' Маry
Gordon-\07'atson, Cornishmаn won thе
Еuropеan individuаl сhampionship at
Haras-du-Pin thе following year and Bri-
tain thе tеam titlе' with what amounted to
her .sесond elevеn', although it inсludеd
Bеn Jonеs on The Poaсher. These two
greаt horsеs (who both have thе distinсtion
of сonшibuting to thе British tеam's viс-
tory in fivе suссеssivе intеrnationаl
сhampionships or Olympiс Games)
figured in thе tеаm again in 1970, for thе
World Championships at Punсhеstown'
Thе Poaсhеr riddеn this timе by Riсhаrd
.Nlеаdе.
An insubstantial fеnсe сonstruсtеd on
thе brink of a shаrp drop сausеd а lot of
trouЬlе at Punсhеstown and сollесtеd
muсh сritiсism, but thе British tеam sur-
vivеd to win the tеam сhampionship and
Мary Gordon-IJfаtson, on Cornishman'
thе individual.
Nobodу was surprisеd whеn Britain won
thе Еuropеan Championships at Burghley
the following sulnrner, but thе individuаl
titlе wеnt to something of an outsidеr,
Prinсеss Annе on Doublet. This brilliant
horsе she wаs lаter to losе in most distres-
sing сirсumstanсеs' the horsе brеaking a
hind leg during gentlе еxerсisе at home.
Dеspitе hеr suссеss at Burghlеy, Prinсеss
Annе was сonsidеred insuffiсiеntlу
expeгiеnсеd for thе olympiс Games at
Мuniсh in 1972. Thе British tеam, how-
еvеr, took thе gold mеdal, and Riсhard
Меadе, at last, аftеr many yеаrs' sterling
sеrviсе in thе tеаm, won a well-dеserved
(and Britain's first) individual gold.
This momеnt of triumph markеd the
end of Britain's sесond сyсle of intеrna-
tional suссess. Gеrmany won thе tеam'
and Russiа thе individual Еuropеan titlе at
I(iеv in 1973' and thе Unitеd Statеs took
the \DTorld Championships by storm at
BurgЫеy 1I:,I974. Amегiсa's Bruсе Dаvid-
son) on Iгish Cаp, won thе individual title.
Things perked up a bit for Britain at
LuhmuЫen in 1975' whеn Luсindа
Prior-Palmer won on Bе Fair and Prinсess
Anne was seсond on Goodwill, but thе
team сhampionship slipped from thе grаsp
of thе first all-giлl tеam, lеaving the USSR
to сollесt thе lаurеls.
The various phases of the Three-Day Event.
below left: Riсhard Meade and Mаj. Derek
AlIhusen,s Lаurieston in the show jumping
ohase' below middle.' Тhe sаme horse and
rider on the сross сou ntrУ сou rse at the M u niсh
o|ympiсs where they Won individua | а nd teа m
go|d medаIs. below right: Here they both
сonсentrate on their dressage phase. right..
HRH Prinсess Anne and DoUblet at Badminton
,l97,l'
in Thev were to win the Еuropean
Championships at Burgh|eу |ater the sаme
yeаr. Тhree-Day Eventing is the сomp|ete test
for hoгsе and rider, аs it сovers aIl aspeсts of
horsemanshio: obedienсe аnd сaImness for
the dressage on the first dаy; bo|dness and
speed aсross countгУ on the seсond day; and
the abiIity to jUmp a smaIl сourse on the third
and finа| dav.

Top Ameriсan rider Mike P|umb аnd his
horse Better and Betterwel|through the Wаter
сomp|ex at Bromont neаr Montreа|, 1976.
Above сapt' Mark Phi||ips on Favour in the
Lake аt Badminton'
Both thеse leading ladiеs wегe in thе
Bгitish team for t}rе Мontrеal Olympiсs in
|976, bllt Bе Fair slippеd a ligament on
сompleting the spееd and еndurаnсе tеst,
Prinсеss Arrnе was сonсussеd in a fa||
(though shе геmountеd аnd сomplеtеd фе
evеnt most сrеditаbly) аnd Hugh
Thomads horse broke down. OnlY
Riсhаrd lVleade, riding аn inexperiеnсеd
horsе and сomPеting now iл his fourtlr
olympiс Gаmеs, was аblе to finish wеll up
thе linе, in fourth plaсе. Thе muсh-
fanсied Unitеd Stаtеs tеam on tlre сrеst of
thе internationаl wаvе, took a riсtrly-
dеsеrvеd team gold mеdаl, and also thе
individual gold and silvеr by Tаd Coffin
аnd ,&likе Plumb rеspeсtively.
For Britаin tlren, Three-Dаy Еvеnting
stаrted with а bang in 1949. Badminton
sparkеd off а suссеssion of prеParatory
onе-day evеnts and thеsе have grown
stеadily in numЬеr' еffiсienсy аnd populaг-
ity evеr sinсе. Controllеd by thе B'H.S.'s
Combinеd Trаining Committее, the spoгt
has taken firm root, with a paсkеd pгog-
гaпlmе of annuаl fiхtцrеs and a гegistry of
hundrеds of сompetitors, most of whom
tаke part simply for fuц witlr no aspiтa.
tions to ridе foг their сountry'
Populаr though tlrеsе еvеnts are witlr
сompеtitors, howеvеr, it is diffiсult for
tlrеm to mаkе еnough money to bе really
self-suffiсiеnt, and сommеrсiаl sponsors
have providеd invaluаble support. Bad-
minton and BurgЫey, boт}r hаvе thеir
sPonsors, аnd т1rе prizе money тhey сontri-
butе аt lеast hеlр thе winпers towards thе
high сost of keeping а hoгsе for tlrеsе сom-
pеtitions. |n|969,*rе B.H'S. had thе good
fortunе to find a sponsor for its offiсiаl
horse trials, in thе lVlidland Bank, a part-
nегship whiсh has playеd an im1rortаnt
paft ifl сonsolidating the spoгt in Britain.
Britаin is not the only сountry to havе
ещ>еriеnсed a postwar boom in Three-Dаy
Еvеnting. Irelands progrЪss hаs beеn
similaг, sinсе Irish сompеtitors havе тid-
dеn at Badminton ftom the start. Interеst
sprеаd to Australia and thеn to Nеw Zeа-
land, who гесёived grеat stimulus from
Australia,s gold medаls in 1960.
The Unitеd Statеs hаs had а vеry сonsis-
tеnt olympiс rесord right from the stаrt,
and thеir progIammе of national fixtцrеs
has gтown eпormously in thе last сouplе of
dесadеs. Canada is a kееn pаrtiсipant too.
Мexiсo and Argеntina havе alwаys had а
strong еquеstrian шаdition аnd thesе four
сountriеs havе been thе mainstay of thе
Pan-Amеriсаn Thrеe-Dаy Еvеnt, held at
regular intеrvals sinсe 1955. Jаpan, too,
has adoptеd tlre spoц though it has lеss
oppoгtunity thаn most for intеrnational
сompeuuon.
In Еuгo1rе, thе TЬrее-Day Еvent tradi-
tion has сontinuеd to grow' notаbly in
Swеden, Holland, Germany, Swiиеrlаnd,
Italy and Fгаnсе. Therе hаvе bееn ups aпd
downs (in Swеdеn, for instяnсе' Thтeе-
Day Еvеnts disappеarеd altogеtheг for
almost a dесadе, following a fatal aссi-
dеnt), but тhе genеral devеlopment has
beеn maintаinеd. Еastern Еuropеаn сoun-
шies hаvе followеd suit - pаrtiсulагly thе
U.S.S.R., Poland, Bulgaria and Rumania.
lVlost сountriеs havе at least one intегna-
iional Thrее.Day Еvent a year, in addition
to thеir domеstiс pгograпrme. Thеsе сom-
фtitions, rеlievеd of the impoгtarrсе and
solеmnity of аn offiсiаl сhаmpionship, are
extrеmely friеndly, еnjoyablе affаirs and
do muсh to fostеr intегпаtionаl goodwill.
But тlrе large-sсalе dеvеlopmеnt of
Tfuее-Day Еvеnts as a wholе hаs hаd
anothег rеsult _ onе whiсh would havе
фaddеned thе heaп of Count von Rosеn -
аnd that is a stеаdy improvеmеnt in thе
stаndаrd of fimеss аnd training of the
horses tаking part and thе general stаte of
Prеpаration amoпgst сompеtitors'
Ofсoursе therе is still plеnty ofroom for
improvеmеnt, but it must bе a sourсе of
сonsiderable sаtisfасtion thаt, by сon-
tinual сompаrЬon with thе bеst hoгsеs аnd
most suссеssful ridегs ovеr thе best-built
couгsеs iп all сountгiеs' and сonstаnt striv-
ing for suссess' standаrds arе being sеt
whiсh arе improviпg thе lot of hoгsеs tlrе
world ovеr. ЕIorsеs аre no longeг a neсes-
sity of lifе to most pеoplе, but а souгсе of
plеasure. It is fitting thаt they should rеap
thе bеnеfit of a sport in whiсh thеy play
suсh а vitаl аnd gallаnt 16lе.

ЕJв haа a lеg аt еaсh сornеr, a head at
t. J. onе еnd and a tail at thе othеr. His
Ьасk had nеveг fеlt a saddlе and he was
only a littlе ovеr 12 months old. So what
mяde thе сhеstnut yeaгling сolt worф thе
s1'500,000 _ a world-rесord pгiсe for any
аnimal_ that a syndiсatе of Cаnadiаns paid
foг him аt thе l(ееnеland Salеs in Ken-
ruсky in thе summеr of L976? Thе short
:цlswег is thаt hе wаs, or would be whеn
mаtured, a raсehorsе, аnd his pеdigrее
iлdiсatеd him to bе a prime ехample of that
swiftеst of all thе equinе brееds, the
Тhoroughbгеd. This supеrb brееd was
еstаblishеd in sevеnteenth сenturу Britаin,
pегfесtеd thтough a judiсious prograпrmе
of sеlесtivе breeding in manу of thе сoun-
ттiеs to whiсh it has sprеad and now, in thе
final quartеr of thе twеntiеth сentury, it is
thе bаsis of an intеrnationаl industry link-
irrg five сontinеnts.
Тhis global сonnесtion bесomеs еvi-
dеnt from an еxаmination of thе rесord-
priсеd уеаrling,s аnсestors' ЕIis siгe wаs
Seсretariat, onе of thе grеatest Amегiсаn
horses of rесent yеats who, on rеtiring to
stцd in1973, had won $1,316,808 in
stаkеs. His dam was the top Amегiсan raсе
marе Charming Alibi, whiсh makes him а
half-Ьrothеr to thе сhampion filly Dahlia.
owned by аn Amеriсan but trаinеd in
Fгanсe, Dahlia twiсе won Bгitairt's riсhеst
гaсе' thе King Gеorge VI and Quееn
Еlizabеth Stаkеs аt Asсot. Shе also
геtцrned to thе land of hеr birth to triumoh
in thе important intеrnational invitation
event гun еvеry NovеmЬеr at Lauгеl Park,
Мarylаnd.
Dahlia was Charming Alibis daughter
by Vaguеly Noblе, a stallion who wаs a
produсt of thе bеst British Thoroughbrеd
linеs аnd won Franсе's riсhest raсе, the
Priх dе l'Aгс de Tгiomphе, befoге being
sеnt to stud in thе Unitеd Statеs. onе of
Vaguеly Noblе's many suссessful sons,
Еmpеry, was shippеd from Amеriсa to
Franсe to lеаrn the raсing gamе and thеn,
in 1976' сrossеd thе Еnglish Chаnnеl to
win Britain's pгеmiег сlаssiс гaсе, thе
Dеrby at Еpsom.
Еmpery, likе DaШia, ran in thе ownег-
ship of an Amеriсan, lVIг Nеlson Bunkеr
Hunt, who сontrols a raсing еmpire with
rеPrеsentativеs in Australia, Nеw Zеaland,
Canada, Franсе, Еngland, and Ireland, as
wеll аs in his homе сountry. Aпother pег-
son who oPеrates on an intегnаtional sсale
is an Еnglishmаn, Mr Robert Sangster,
who аt the most rесеnt сount had 95 marеs
sprеad аround studs in Еurope, Ameriсa
аnd Australia, in addition to owning or
having shaгes in numeгous stallions.
Somе of thеsе аrе flown to Austrаliа for thе
southеrn hemisphеrе сovеring sеason
whiсh runs from August to Novembеr,
bеforе rеturning to stand in Irеland foг thе
sеason thеге from February to May.
The British rасеhoгsе Gгundy, bгеd аt
thе Overbury Stud in Glouсеstershirе, net-
tеd 1188'375 with suссеssеs in thе Dеrby
аnd King Gеoгgе VI аnd Quееn Еlizаbеth
Stаkеs in L975 for Dr Carlo Vittadini, an
Italiаn whosе horsеs сompеtе аl1 ovег
Еuropе. But it is Jаpаn that has shown thе
gтeatеst inсrеаsе in raсing and breеding
interеsts in the yеars sinсe 1945. Onе lеad-
ing Japanеse owner, I{Lr Zenуa Yoshеda,
has stud farms in Hokkаido and Kеntuсky
maintaining somе 250 brood mаrеs and25
stallions.
Thеsе, of сoursе, arе thе men at thе top.
But raсing,s pyramid rеsts firmly on thе
сountless enthusiasts whosе plеasure is
t|AU|Ntj & HAсEH0RsЕs
gаinеd from owning pеrhaps just one
raсеhorsе1 from sеeing it саrry thеir сol-
ours in somе minor raсе аt an unfashion-
aЬlе tгасk, whеrе thе prizе money - еvеn
assuming it managеd to win _ would go
onlу а littlе way towards гесouping thе сost
of kеeping it in trаining. In Britain, whеrе
prizе monеy lags faг Ьеhind most ot}rеr
important raсing сountriеs, tгaining fees
саn amount to as muсh аs !2'500 a year,
and саlсulations hаvе fixеd thе .aveгаgе
loss еxpeсtаtion' _ а figurе aсhiеvеd bу
mеasuring annual сosts against winning
potеntial (аssuming еqual shaгеs of the
total) _ at about pеr annum.
'1,800
Thаt suсh a loss in faсt rеpresеnts pay-
mеnt for sport еnjoyed might аppеar small
сonsolаtion, yеt thе lurе of the raсetrасk
rеmains. A raсеhorsе с аn provtde thе royal
road Io riсhеs аlthough thе vast mаjority
simply rщn up bills. But the glаmour of thе
сoursе' thе tingling ехсitеmеnt of thе raсe,
аnd еven thе attraсtion of thе additional
soсial doors that ownегship саn opеn,
mеаns that thеrе is no shortаgе of willing
losers.
In its еаrliеst days the сost of raсing
would havе bееn of sсant сonсern to par-
tiсipants. Not foг nothing doеs it still сaгry
thе old tag .thе spoгt of kings'. It wаs a
rеigпing monarсh _ King Charlеs II _ who
was responsiblе foг its fiгst major stеp for-
ward in Britain, а сountry whеrе raсing in
some form or anothег had been praсtisеd
siтrсе тhe arrival of the Romans. Thе
Romans had probablу piсkеd it up from thе
Grееks, for еvеnts involviлg mounted
horsеs wеrе rесoгded in thе olympiс
Gamеs of 642 вс.
Rесords of horsе raсing in Britain prior
to thе sixtееnth сеnnlry аrе fеw. It was
mеrеlу a knightly pastime, with one
noblеman matсhing himsеlf and his horsе
The sport of kings and the king of spoгts. The
arena for the Thoroughbred, swiftest of all
equines. bred to raсe and possib|y to net mа ny
thousands on the traсk.
 RAсlNG & вAсEH0RsЕs

agаinst anothеr' rathеr as thеy tеsted thеir Arabians _ aсhiеvеd littlе aсtual raсing sire of pеrhaps thе most fаmous raсеhorse
prowеss with lanсе and sword in thе joust- suссеss, but thеir blood, mixеd with thatof of all timе, Есlipsе:
ing tournamеnts. Roуаl sflrds wеrе еstaЬ- the nativе stoсk was to havе a profound Есlipsе wаs bredin |764Ьу thе Duke of
lishеd under the later Tudors and еarlу
Stuarts, at нampton Court, Tutbury and
еlsеwheге' only to bе dispегsеd aftеr thе
Civil \Иar had lеft Olivеr Cromwеll as thе
powег in thе land.
With thе Rеstoration саmе IGng ous еastern stallions - thе Byеrlеy Tur\ ing 1 l IGng, s Platеs - rасеs run in heаts of
Charlеs II, a mаn of sevеral passions _ one the Darleу Aтabian and thе Godolphin 6.4km (4 mi]es) in whiсh runnеrs had to
оf whiсh was for horse raсing. ЕIe Arabiаn - who rеaсhеd Britаin as the six- carry 76kg (l2 st). Onе of thе Ьеst-known
dеvеlopеd thе sport гound the litt1е town of tеenth сentury was moving into thе sevеn- pfuasеs in the annals of the British Turf'
.Есlipsеfirst,therеstnowhеrе',wasсoinеd
Newmаrket in Suffolk, whеre his grand- tееnth. At thе time thеir importеrs сould
fаthеr' Jamеs I, had еstаblishеd а hunting havе had pгесious littlе idеа of thе-еnoтm- by his ownеr' a somеwhat disrеputable
lodgе, and whеrе his father, Chaгles I, had o,.,, .o.'..q,'.nсes of their aсtion. Irishman namеd Dеnnis o'I(еllу' whеn
еndowеd thе fust сup raсе in 1634. Charles First to аrrivе was thе Bуerlеy Turk. He сalled upon to forесast the result of his first
II wаs ЬoЙ сompetitor and orgаnizer, got his nаme from his owneт, а Colonеl
using his roуal authority to arlangе raсеs' Bуeгlеy, who сaptured him from thе Turks
еstablish rules and arbitrаtе in disputеs. at thе Battlе of Budа. For sevеral yеaIs thе
Until his timе most raсеs had bееn сolonеl usеd the horse аs his сhагgеr, and аway from his opponents thrее-quaItеrs of
mаtсhеs' thаt is just гwo horsеs laсing to
sеttle an аrgument of wagеr Ьetweеn thеir
owners. Thе king еnсouraged thе provi-
sion of speсial prizеs _ сups or сash _ to bе
сontеsted by largeт fiеlds' and the lеvel
hеathlands аround Newmarkеt wеre idеal
for the staminа-testing 6.4 km (4 mile) gal-
lops to whiсh thе horsеs wеrе subiесtеd. In
fасt, it wаs not iust a mattеI of distanсe,
most of the rасеs weге only dесidеd aftеr
thrеe or fоur heats, separated by about
hаlf-an-hour bеtwееn еaсh running.
Up to this time, horses usеd for raсing
wеre nеarly all nativе-Ьrеd, and proЬаbly
diffеred littlе from thе animals whiсh сar-
riеd thеir owners on thеir evеrydаy jour-
- nеуing. In the north there weгe fast poniеs
.HobЬy
саllеd.Gallowaуs; Irеland had its
horsеs'' But fгom thе rеign of Quеen

Thе Darlеу Arabian was desсгibеd aftег 1729from Franсе, whеrе he is said to havе
hе had bееn sent homе to Еngland iп О4
17 beеn disсovеred pulling
а сoal сaп tfuough

by Thomаs Dаrley, British сonsul in thеstrееtsofPatis

Al.ppo,,. .a horse of еxquisitе Ьeauqy'. He Cokе. Coke lаtеr s

did-makе a mаrk with his first gеnеration phinandthеhorsе

progeny, siring Flying Childеrs - thе firsт
rulу grеat raсеhotsе - and through thе
lаttеl s brothеr, Bartlеtd s Childers (usеless
оn thе raсесourse bесаusе of,wеak blood-
vessе1s), hе bесarne thе grеat-grеаt graпd- raсеhorsе Nlan O'Wаr, who, affeсtionatеly

nаmеd .Big Red Was to Amеriсan
'
IaсеgoеIs of thе l920s whаt Sесrеtаriat
rvаs to Ьe 50 уеars later.
!(zhilе Есlipsе was еnjoying his suprе-
maсу on thе Tuгf and аt stud, the
Thoroughbrеd was still еvolving. Consi-
dеrеd in tеrms of Darwinian theory its
dеvеlopment proсееdеd at an outstаnding
гаtе, for aftеr less than 100 уеars it wаs
еstablishеd as аn indеpendеnt Ьгeed,
rvhosе abilitiеs hаvе геmainеd largеlу
unсhangеd еvеr sinсе' The еvidenсе thаt
thе гaсеhorsеs of thе 1970s саn сovеr a
given distаnсе slightly fаstеr thаn their
ninetееnth сеntury сounterpafts, сan
suгеlу bе laid аt thе door of irnprovеd
сoursеs and сonsequent ЬеttеI going,
togеthеr with morе еnlightеnеd аnd sсiеn.
tifiс training and managеmеnt mеthods'
and the modеrn riding stylеs whiсh
aсtivеly assist thе horsе's movеmеnt.
Iting Charlеs II won at lеast onе raсе аt
Nеwmarkеt, where his favouritе horsе*
fully old Rowleу, gavе his nаmе to raсing,s bеst
known l,600m сourse, the Rowlеу.Ivlilе.
In his daу thе аristoсrаtiс ownеrs not
infrеquеntly rodе their оWn horsеs' but аs
the sportprogrеssеd, so еntered thе agе of
the pгofessionel joсkеy, to bе followеd
latеr bv thс profеssionaI trai;rеt- Cоцrses
RAсlNG & BAсEH0пsts
Above George stubbs, portгаit of Eс|ipse,
one of the outstаnding raсehorses of al| time;
foa]ed in 1-]64 and n€vег bеaten.
Below Еar|у mоrning exerсise fоr a trainer,s
string at Newmarket, one of thе world.s most
fаmous гaсing сeпtres.
bеgan to sрring up all ovеr thе сounшу in
the еаrly eighteеnth сеltury but.lт'аny of
them werе disrеpuтablе plaсеs. Ехсеpt аt
Nеwmaтket, whеre King ClЙr:lеs тrladе j
and kеpt thе rulеs, оvеrall сon-trol was.lах. .
Chатlеs wаs aidеd Ьy.a Dotsеt squirе . .].
named
_^l
Trеgonrгell Ftаmрfon,
т-^-^--..^11 D.-_:.^-
a^ sort
^^-. of.
-t
royal. rаring rnanаgсr-сiim.trаinеt 1ryho;
 RAс|NG & вAсЕH0RsEs
following his mastе1s dеath' maintainеd
his position of influenсе undеr four suс-
сessivе sovеrеigns. Onе was Queen Annе,
who was responsiЬle for thе сonstruсtion
of thе rасесoцrsе at Asсot in Berkshire'
now thе venuе of what must bе the most
notаЬlе Iaсе mееting in the world _ the
four days of Royal Asсot еvеry Junе.
Thе gаp lеft whеn Frampton diеd was
not fillеd for a сouplе of dесadеs, but
around 1750 сame an event whiсh was to
havе tlrе utmost signifiсаnсе. This wаs thе
formation of thе Joсkеy Club by а group of
sportsmen at Nеwmаrket. Its original aim
was to regularizе аnd сontrol raсing аt its
own сеntrе, аnd this wаs evеntually
aсhievеd over a fаiтly lengthy period Ьy
methodiсal aсquisition of thе frееhold
thеre of all lands on whiсh thе sport took
plaсe. \DИith this proсess сomplеtеd, thе
Joсkеy Club bесamе the suprеmе author-
ity over this small сornеr of Suffol\ аnd its
right to .wam off аny whom it сonsiderеd
undеsirablе wаs rесognized Ьy thе сourts
in 1827.
Graduallу thе сlub's influеnсе was
extеndеd until аll raсeсoursеs in thе сoцn-
try сame under its aеgis. It assumed
rеsponsiЬiliry for sanсtioning traсks,
approving prograпlmes, liсensing offiсials
and framing thе rеgulations. Its rulе wаs
absolute and it bесаme thе modеl on whiсh
similar authoritiеs wеrе set up in the mаnу
othеr сountriеs to whiсh the Thorough-
Ьrеd was spreading.
Thе Joсkey Club was, and still is, a sеlf-
еlесtеd Ьodу, with еxесutivе powеrs
invеstеd in its stеwards. In thе latе еight-
eеnth and niлеteenth сеnturiеs' suсh
powеr was oftеn in the hands of onе forсе-
ful personality. One of thе first was a thе Dеrby аnd oaks (for fillies, first run in
foundеr-memЬer, Sir Charles Bunbury'
whosе еаrly сlaim to fаmе was as thе
Ьrееdеr of Highflyеr. Undег his rulе thе
Joсkеy CluЬ was strong еnough in 1791, to
warn off the Prinсе of Valеs, later Gеorgе
IV, aftеr аn inquiry into thе suspiсious
сirсumstanсеs сonсеrning thе running of
a horsе саlled Еsсapе.
Bunburу ownеd Diomed, winner of thе
first running of a rасе at Еpsom thаt was to
bесome thе worlds prеmier .сlassiс', the
Dеrby. This wаs in 1780 whеn thе move-
ment away from tlre 6.4km (4 milе) raсеs
of old was gаthеring momenrum and when
thе raсing of younger horses wаs bесom-
ing morе fashionaЬlе. Halfiray through
the sevеnteenth сеntЦry fеw horses raсеd
bеforе thеу wеrе fivе уеаrs old. In 1744'
fouг-yеar-old raсing was introduсеd, to bе
followed a dozen yеars later Ьy raсes for
threе-уear-olds. SuЬsequently rасеs werе
brought in for two-yеаr-olds and еven, for a
fеw sеasons, for yеarlings. The oldеst
two-yеar-old raсе in existenсе - the July
Stakеs, thеn of 50 guinеas eасh _ was fust
гun over 1,000m (five furlongs) in 1786 at
Nеwmarkеt, whеre it hаs Ьееn hеld еvеry
уear sinсe.
But it was thе thrее-yeаr-olds whiсh
bесamе thе аnimals for the pattern of sup-
reme tests _ thе сlаssiс raсes _ designеd to
еstablish thе ideai ThoroughЬred сapаЬlе
of raсing over 1,600m (1 mile) in thе
spring through to 2,800 (1% milеs) in the
autumn. Thе series begins with thе raсеs
at Newmarkеt in April over thе Rowlеy
Мile, thе 2,000 Guinеаs for сolts (estaЬ-
lishеd in l809), and thе filliеs' equivalеnt,
thе 1'000 Guinеаs (18r4). Thеse are fol-
lowеd by the 2,400m (1Иz milе) tеsts on
Еpsom's downland сirсuit in.&lay or Junе,
1779). and tlren thе oldеst of thеm а11. thе
An engraving саptures unсhanged eхсitement
as the winners pass the post at the end of a
rасe at Asсot Heath.
2,800m (17+ mile) St Lеgеr (1778) at thе
Donсаstеr Sеptеmbеr mееting.
Sir Chаrlеs Bunbury's era _ and it was
onlу thе toss ofсoin that dесidеd it would
a
Ьe Lord Derby's name and not his that
would bе pегpеtuatеd by thе Еpsom сlassiс
- also saw anothеr signifiсant dеvelop-
mеnt. This was thе introduсtion of thе
handiсap, a raсе in whiсh thе wеights сar-
riеd Ьy thе horses are allottеd in aссor-
danсе with thеir known ability so as to
еquаlize thеir сhanсеs. In thе first impor-
tant handiсap, thе Oatlands Stаkеs аt
Asсot in 1791, the Ьurdеns imposed
rangеd ftom 57 kg (9 st) to 33 kg (5 st 3 lb).
Handiсаps grеatly inсrеаsеd rасing,s hold
on the puЬliс, as they beсamе thе most
populаr mеdium for Ьеtting. Bеtting
rеmains thе spords prinсipal attraсtion
and, in the modern era, its main sourсе of
finanсе. Wagеring bеtwееn individuals
had always еxistеd, but as publiс interest
grеw so did publiс bеtting, their needs
being сatered foг bу mеn who offеrеd vаry-
ing odds agаinst еасh horsе. Thesе mеn
earnеd thе nаmе of bookmaker, through
their hаbit of reсording details of transaс-
tions in notеbooks.
Sir Chаrlеs Bunbury was followed at thе
hеad of Joсkey CluЬ affairs by Lord
Gеorgе Bеntinсk. During his сompara-
tivеly short rеign, this gеntleman was
responsiblе for numеrous innovations,
among thеm thе numbеring of horsеs, thе
introduсtion of raсесards and modеrately
еffiсiеnt starting Ьy means of a flag' Hе
played an important part in exposing the
Running Rein fraud, when the сolt of thаt

Тhe FIying DutсhmаnNo|tigeur raсe at York in
1851 . Тhe former horse won this gieat matсh, a
triumph in hаndiсapping.
nаmе who won the 1834 Dеrby was later
proved to hаvе bееn а four-year-old namеd
Массаbеus.
Lord Gеorgе аlso еаrnеd a niсhe in rас-
ing history whеn thе horsе Еlis was
'vannеd to Donсastеr to win thе 1836 St
Legеr. At that timе horsеboxеs wеrе virtu-
ally unknown and horses wеге rеquirеd to
.Whеn
walk to thе rасесoursеs. it bесamе
known that Еlis was still in his stablе in thе
south of Еngland a fеw days bеforе thе St
Lеger' thе Ьookmakеrs, assuming a non-
appеaranсе on thе day, еxtеndеd thе odds.
Еlis wаs plасеd in a spесially-built van
drаwn by teams of horsеs аnd аrrivеd in
timе to land a substantial gamble for his
сonnесtlons.
Third and last of thе Tцrf .diсtators' wаs
Admiral Rous. Though hе was сorrесtly
desсribеd as the .first grеat handiсapper',
and spеnding a grеаt dеаl of his timе саl-
сulating thеse wеights, paradoхiсally he
cisapproved of handiсaps, rеfегring to
thеm as.boons to bad horsеs'. Hе is prinсi-
pally rеmеmbеred for thе sсalе of wеight-
[or-agе allowanсes hе drеw up to bе usеd in
non-handiсap raсеs. Rous's sсalе is basi-
сally thе same as that still in usе today) oveг
100 yеars latеr.
One of Rous's most famous handiсap-
ping aсhiеvemеnts was foг thе Grеаt
Mайh of 1851 betwееn Thе Flying
Dutсhman _ thе winnеr of thе DerЬу and
St Lеgеr in 1849, and Voltigеur, who won
the samе two raсеs thе following year. Thе
Admiгal is said to havе spеnt manу hours
dеlibеrаting, but finally dесrееd that thе
oldег horsе should сonсеde 4 kg (8 7z lb), an
amount idеntiсal to thе allowаnсе whiсh
his published sсalе indiсatеd a fivе-yеaг-
old should give а four-yеar-old over 3.2 km
(2 milеs) in Мay. In thе еvеnt Thе Flying
Dutсhmаn won thе сеlеbratеd сoпtеst bу
what is quaintlу dеsсriЬed as .а short
1еngttt'.
Throughout this timе raсing had been
dеvеloping in othеr lаnds. In North
Ameriсa' a сontinеnt dеvoid of horsеs until
thе arrival of the settlers from thе еastеm
hemisphеrе, it еxistеd in еarly сoloniаl
days. As suсlц howеvеr, it сannot havе
bеen of muсh aссount, sinсe thе first prior-
ity was to import horsеs suitable for
agriсulturаl work.
Quarter ЕIorsе raсing_ so сallеd beсause
it was pгасtisеd on rouglц quartег-milе
sшips сlеared in thе virgin forеsts _ еnj oyеd
bгief popularity and the Quarter Еrorsеs of
todаy aге thе fastеst of all еquines over a
4oorn (2 furlongs) gallop. But thе sport
proper did not gain a real hold until aftеr
thе revolutionary war' whеn among manу
influеntial horsеs importеd from Britain
was Siг Chаrlеs Bunbury's Dеrbу winnеr
Diomеd. A failurе at sfud in Еngland, hе
was 21 Ьefore aгriving in North Ameriсa
whеrе he soon bеgan to produсе offspring
of fine quality. Anothеr horsе, .Nlеdlеy,
who rеaсhed Ameriса in 1784' was also to
havе аn enormous effeсt on thе еvolution
of the Amеriсan Thoroughbгеd, whilе two
of thе most suссessful sirеs in thе history
of raсing in thе Nеw World wеrе
Lеviathan, who arгived in 1830 and was
fivе timеs lеаding sirе, and Glеnсoе, who
lеft an indeliblе mаrk on both sidеs of thе
oсеan.
The greatеst Amеriсan-brеd stallion of
thе ninetееnth сentury was Lexington,
сhampion sirе on no fewеr than 16 oссa-
RAс|NG & RAсЕн0RsЕs
sions, but stigmatйed in Britain Ьy Ьeing
pronounсеd ineligiblе foг tЬe Gеnerаl Stud
Book. The геstliсtivе сlauses whiсh pre-
vеntеd thе inсlusion of аny of his stoсk,
prinсipally inшoduсеd in 1913 by thе thеn
sеnior stеward of thе Еnglish Joсkеу Club,
Lord Jersey (thе mеasurеs were rеfеrred to
as .thе Jеrsey Aсt') rеmаinеd in еxistеnсe
until aftеr thе Sесond lD7orld War.
Lexington's сareer spanned the pеriod
.War,
of the Civil whiсh shattеrеd raсing
and brеeding in thе southеrn statеs. But
dеvеlopmеnt сontinuеd apасе in thе north
_ wheге Nеw York bесamе а ma jor сentrе
-
togеther with thе mid and far wеst, as well
as thе
.borde1 statеs of мaryland and Ken-
tuсky. Thе сlаssiс thrеe-year-old raсеs
wеrе all institutеd in thе dесadе following
the Civil Waг. First сamе the Bеlmont
Stаkes in l867, сommemoгating the namе
of а leading owner аnd brееder of the day,
August Bеlmont. Sinсe 1905 this raсе has
bееn run at thе famous Nеw York сoursе'
Bеlmont Park, ovеr 2,4О0rn (1Уz milеs). It
was followеd bу thе Prеakness Stаkеs
(1,900 m' I rnile IУz furlongs) еstablished
in 1873 on thе Pimliсo сourse near Bаlti-
morе, Мarylаnd, аnd in l875' by thе I(en-
tuсky Dеrby (2,000 m' 1У+ miles) at сhur-
сhill Downs, Louisville, I(еntuсk1'. Thus
тhe Amегiсаn .Triplе Crown' prograпrmе
is of an ovеrаll lеssеr distanсe than its
Еnglish аnd Frеnсh сountеrpаrts' a trеnd
сontinuеd throughout the Unitеd Statеs
сalendar, whiсh has relativеly fеw impor-
tant tests longеr than 2'4o0rn (1Уumiles).
.!Йar
Thе 40 years following the Civil аге
somеtimеs tеrmed thе .Goldеn Agе' of raс-
ing in the Unitеd States (and during it
Amеriсan-brеd hoгsеs Ьegan to сomе to
Britain aсhiеving no littlе suссеss, notablу
Iroquois, winnеr of thе Еpsom Dеrbу- jn
t2l
RАс|NG & RAсЕH0RsEs
1881)' but they also had a darkеr side. The
sport's image was beсoming inсrеasinglу
tarnishеd through thе mаlpraсtiсes of
tflosе сonсernеd solеly with .making a fast
buсl{. Еvеn the formation in 1894 of a
Joсkеy CluЬ on simi].аr linеs to thе British
orgаnizаtion failеd to stеm thе rising tide
of puЬliс indignation, whiсh was
suffiсiently strong to lead to raсing being
banned or severelу сurtailеd in stаtе after
statе.
only Мarylаnd and I(еntuсky еsсaped
and еvеn in l(еntuсky thе thrеat was Ьut
narrowly avеrtеd. Shortly bеfore thе 1908
I(еntuсky Dеrby, the lVl'ayor of Louisvillе,
bowing to prеssuге fгom reform groups,
еnforсеd an almost forgottеn law prohiЬit-
ing bookmakеrs. Without the draw of bet-
ting it sееmеd аs if Churсhill Downs
would have to сlose its gatеs. ЕIowеvеr,
Col Мatt l0Иinn' thе man primarily respon-
siblе for raising thе сlassiс to its plaсе of
honour, ovеrсamе the problem Ьy borrow-
ing an idеa from Franсе and introduсing
pari-mutuеl or totаlizator wagering. In this
system thе odds - or dividеnds_ arе deсided
in direсt relation to the amounts stаked on
еасh horsе.
Faсing no сompеtition from Ьookmаk-
еrs, this .maсhine bеtting, provеd an
instant suссеss _ a suссеss whiсh soon
attraсtеd thе attеntion of lеgislators, who
sаw in it a luсrative and easily workablе
form of tаx gаthеring.
Now thе pendulum bеgаn to swing, and
rасing slowly сame bасk into favour, with
the Joсkey CluЬ and its аssoсiatеd Ьodiеs
exеrсising ovеrall сontгol and guidanсе.
Еaсh statе, howеvеr, еstаblished raсing
сommissions to liсеnсе tтaсks and supeг-
visе mееtings within its Ьoundaries. The
only authorizеd form of gamЬling was
through thе totalizаtoгs' a pеrсеntage of
the totаl stаkеs being сreamеd off for thе
stаte's сoffеrs аnd аnothеr proportion
being сhannеlled Ьaсk into the sport itself.
Thus thе mole attraсtivе the raсing and
thе raсесoursеs' thе morе monеy the pub-
liс stakes _and thе more money the various
statе govеrnments wеrе aЬlе to takе out
(аnd put bасk in). Now thе states thеm-
selvеs had а vеsted interеst in thе suссеss
of thе sport, but still its reсovеry was slow,
for the аlmost total stoppagе had bееn a
virtual bodу blow. Thе bottom had drop-
pеd out of thе bloodstoсk markеt during
the period whеn thеrе wеre so few raсing
opportunitiеs and a great dеal ofthе bеttеr
stoсk had Ьеen sold, muсh of it at givеaway
priсes owing to thе protесtivе measurеs
intoduсеd by Britain and Franсe.
ЕIowеvеr, with thе money supply sесurе
the resurgеnсе of Amеriсan rасing,
gradual though it may hаvе bеen, was сеr-
taiщ and now the Unitеd Stаtes holds the
prеmier position on thе world raсing stagе.
Ptize monеУ annually totals аbout
$172'000,000 аnd foal produсtion eaсh
yеаr stands at about 26,0o0, morе than
tfueе times thе Bгitish figurе and about six
timеs grеater than the other grеat blood-
stoсk produсing] сountry, Franсе.
The prinсipal brееding аrеa is in Kеn-
tuсkу, thе world-renowned .Bluе Grass'
сountry сonсеntrated around thе town of
Lexington. The I{ееnеland Salеs, where
ttrе reсord-pгiсed Seсrеtariаt yearling
refегrеd to еarliеr was sold, offеr thе high-
еst quality Ьloodstoсk anуwhere in thе
world. suсh is thе сonсеrn for stаndards
that thе auсtionееrs rеfusе to aссеpt anу
but thе сhoiсеst for their сatаlogues, and in
thе July L976 sa|e' thеy turned away nеarly
700 from аn еntry of ovеr 1,000.
Amеriсаn brееding is heavily inсlinеd
towards sаtisfуing the needs of owners
anxious for quiсk rеrurns, and this has
rеsulted in a high produсtion of sprint-brеd
stoсk dеsignеd to win as two-year-olds.
ЕIowеver, thе supеriority of its middlе-
distanсe hoгses in thе 1960s аnd 1970s has
Ьееn proven in Еuropеan сlassiс raсes.
Ameriсan ownеrs and Ьrееdеrs havе nеver
Ьeen аfraid to tеst thеir bеst animals to thе
limit and, beсause of the sheer volumе of
Tattooing the Upper Iip of Ameriсan hoгses
safeg uards a gainst frаuduIent substitution i n
vaIuаbIe raсes.
woгthwhile opportunitу, а сhampion may
raсе as mаny as 30 timеs during his сareеr.
Defеаt in a major handiсap сaгrying a big
wеight is сonsidеrеd no blot on а reсord.
Suсh a rigorous testing programmе, plus a
voraсious aсquisition of representativеs of
thе worlds bеst bloodlinеs, has brought
the Ameriсan-brеd raсehorsе to an аsсen-
danсу wеll еxemplifiеd by thе Еnglish
Derby suссеssеs ofsuсh as Sir Ivor (1968),
Mill Rеef (1971) and RoЬerto (L972). In
between сamе thе viсtory of Canadian-
Ьred Nijinskу in 1970.
Мost rесеntly tlrеre has Ьееn a сonfined to weеkends, with Sunday thе
rеsurgеnсe of thе Fгеnсh-brеd. In 1976
suссess in four ofthе fivе Еnglish сlassiсs
wеnt to horses from aсross the Chаnnеl,
аnd thеy also won numеrous other big
prizes, inсluding the I(ing Gеorgе VI аnd
Quееn ЕlizaЬеth Stаkеs. Frаnсe, in сom-
mon with othеr Еuropеan сoцntriеs, wаs
latе to entеr thе rасing sсеnе. Thе sport
thеrе did not bеgin to gеt under way in anу
гeсordaЬlе mannеr until more thaл 2a
уears aftеr thе Еnglish hаd thеir Joсkeу
Club. Thеn whаt littlе oгganization therе
was disappеarеd in the holoсaust of thе
Revolution and thе еnsuing еbb and flow
of thе Napolеoniс Wаrs.
It was an Еnglishmаn, Lord Hеnry
Sеymour (slightlу ессеntriс and Pаris-
Ьorn) who wаs largely insшumental in thе
rеnаissanсе of Frenсh raсing in the sесond
quartеr of thе ninetееnth сentury. With his
сlosе friеnd the Duс dorl6ans, thеn hеir
to thе thronе, hе foundеd the Joсkey CluЬ
in 1833 and, whеn it Ьeсamе аppaгеnt tha1
thеir fellow-membеrs wеге гпorе
intеrеsted in thе soсial aspесt of thе сlub
than in raсing, thеy lеd а brеakaway group
to form the Soсi6t6 dЕnсouragеmеnt poul
]]Am61ioration dеs Raсes de Chеvaux еn
Franсе. Literally, this was thе Soсiety to
enсouragе thе bеtterment of horsе raсing
in Franсе and it wаs soon аbЬгеviatеd
evеrywhеre to thе Soсi6t6 dЕnсouragе.
ment.
Onсе еstablished and rесognйеd by thе
Governmеnt, thе Soсiёtё movеd rapidlу.
In 1836 a nеw raсeсoursе was opеned nol
far from Pаris at Chаntilly, and thе training
сenше whiсh has grown up around it now
rivаls thаt at Nеwmarkеt. T};.e2'4oО rn(Il/z
milеs) Prix du Joсkey Club, equivalеnt to
the Еpsom Dеrby, was foundеd therе in
1836, and was followеd within 10 yеаrs Ьу
thе other сlassiс raсеs, ttre Poulе d'Еssai
dеs Poulains аnd thе Poulе d'Еssаi des
Pouliсhеs (equivalent to the 2,000 and
1,000 Guinеas), thе Prix de Dianе (Frеnсh
Oаks) and thе Prix Royal Oak (St Leger).
81oodstoсk in Franсe was based entirelу
on imports from Еngland _ thе Frеnсh
Thoroughbred wаs and still is named thе
Pur Sаng Anglаis - but the raсеs werе
almost ехсlusivеly сonfined to horsеs
foalеd in Franсе аnd this protесtivе rеstriс-
tion was not totally removеd for ovеr 100
уеars. Pаris soon hаd its own гaсесoursе,
Longсhamp in the Bois dе Boulognе, and
the swift advаnсе of thе brеeding industry
wаs сrownеd in 1865 with the viсtory of
Gladiateur -.thе avengеr of \07atеr1oo' _ in
thе Еnglish Triplе Cгown. Two yеars ear-
liеr an еxtra .сlassiс', thе 3,000-mешe
(1 mile 7 furlongs) Grаnd Prix dе Paris,
onе of thе fеw raсеs opеn to foreign сhal-
lеngers, had Ьeеn foundеd.
Thе First !Иorld War dеlivеred an
apparently shattеring blow to raсing in
Franсе, yеt rесovеry was drаmatiсallу
speеdу, as it was to bе again after thе
I939_L945 сonfliсt. The Prix dе I]Aгс dе
Triomphе, now thе gгeatеst of all thе
international raсеs, was founded in I92О at
Longсhаmp. Raсing is still on a morе
limited sсalе than in Britain and thеrе aгe
fеwer mаjor сourses. Мost meetings are
most important day. But prize monеу is
largеr, thanks to the hugе сash intakе from
thе peгсеntagе dеduсtion from thе pari-
mutuеl, the onlу lеgal form of betting. Thе
most popular pool is thе Tiеrсё, on whiсh
millions of franсs arе invested on, and off
thе сoursе, by punters attеmpting to forе-
сast the first *шеe in thе big raсe ofthе dаy.
 пAс|NG & RAсЕH0RsЕs

Аbove Raсing at Deauvi||e, Franсe. The

Frenсh Тhoroughbred is based entire|y on its
EngIish сounterpаrt аnd has aIways been
bгed for its stamina as we|| аs speed
Right A Thoroughbred stud in the fabled
,BIue
Grass, region of Kеntuсky, where many
of Ameriсa,s fastest horses hаve been bred

Frеnсh Ьгееdеrs аrе аlso happiеr than thеir

сross-сhаnnеl сountеrparts' sinсе this
monеy also аllows for thе provision of
brееdеrs' prizеs.
Thе еmphasis in Frаnсе has always
bеen on stamina аs wеll as spееd, and
two-уear-old raсing is opеratеd on a muсh
lowеr sсalе than in Britain. Although up to
thе 1939_1945 war only thrее Frеnсh
horses hаd won thе Еnglish Dегby, tlris
poliсу Ьorе fruit thereаftеr, with seven
Frеnсh-brеd winnегs from 1947 (Pеarl
Divеr) to 1965 (Sеa Bird II). Sеa Bird was
onе of the outstаnding DеrЬy winnеrs, аnd
his unЬеatеn five-raсе threе-уеaг-old
саreeг еndеd with аn astonishing six-
length viсtory in thе Priх dе ГArс dе
Triomphе from Rеliаnсе, the Prix du Joс-
kеy CluЬ аnd Priх Roуal Oak winnеr. A
grеat hofse himsеlf' Relianсе was madе to
look almost a sесond-ratе handiсappеr.
Thе immеdiatе post-wal era will be
forеver rеmеmbеrеd in Britаin for thе emi-
nеnсе of horses ownеd by.N1. Мarсеl Bous-
saс, a lеading ownеr-brееdеr sinсе the
l920s. Thаnks to his possеssion of two
|2з
вAс|NG & RA0EH0вsЕs

grеat stallions, Pharis II and Djebel' hе to produсe tough horsеs, with endurаnсе Еnglish rеsidеnts around Yokahama about
аttainеd аn aurа of invinсibility, winning and as muсh spееd аs possiЬlе. Еaсh statе 25 years earliег. Sinсе thе Sесond \DИorld
.Waг _
thе Еpsom DегЬy and Oaks in 1950 with hаs its individual сlassiс programme, but аnd in 1945 only 542 mares
Galсаdor and Asmеnа, and hеading thе ttrеsе raсеs are supplemeпtеd by valuablе remained _ Japanеse raсing and breeding
list of winning ownеrs in Britаin. ЕIe was long-distanсe handiсaps, like thе 3'200m has made immеnsе stridеs. Foаl produс-
thе fust Frеnсhmаn to do so sinсe (2 milе) Меlbournе, Sуdnеy and Brisbane tion is now гunning at 7,000 аnnually, but
Gladiаtеu/s owneг, Count de Lagrangе, Cups, whiсh саrry big prize money and аlthough Japanesе buyеrs hаvе patгon2ed
in 1865. offег attгасtive bеtting opportunities. thе woгlds bеst markеts for their founda-
Italy is thе most important of the othеr Ausшaliа is onе of thе few сoцntriеs out- tion stoсk, thеy hаvе yet to show that thеу
Еuropеаn rасing сountгiеs, Ьut again hеr sidе Britain whеre bookmakers сan opег- сanproduсе animals of intеrnational сlass.
start was latе' Мilan, now thе prinсipal atе frееly on т]rе сoursеs. Raсing as hе doеs in about 50 сountriеs,
сentrе' had rеgular mееtings only from thе It was from Australia ttrat thе fust thе Thoгoughbrеd has undoubtedlу
1840s' аnd raсing in Romе did not begin Thoroughbrеds reaсhеd Japan in 1895. proved himsеlf to bе аn еxtrеmеly adаpt-
until 1868. Although the Italian Ьrееding Thе publiс гeadily took to thе nеw sport of ablе аnimаl. But his suссеssful breеding to
industгy is small, it hаs hаd а dispropor- raсing, whiсh had bееn introduсеd for high stаndаrds dеmands an equablе, temp-
tionately laгgе intеrnational influеnсе, native-bred horsеs аt thе instieаtion of erate сlimatе, suсh аs thаt existing in pаrts
primarily duе to thе genius of one man,
Fеdегiсo Tеsio. Hе foundеd what is now
thе Dormеllo-Olgiata Stud on тhе shoгes
of Lаke &laggiorе in 1898. Betwееn 19l 1
аnd his dеath in 1954 Tеsio produсed 20
winnегs of thе Italian DeгЬy, a dozen or
morе horsеs of top international сlаss аnd
two world-Ьeаtеrs, Nеarсo аnd Ribot, both
undеfеated throughout thеir саrееrs.
Nearсo and anothеr Tеsio сhampion,
Donаtеllo II, both Ьeсamе leading sirеs in
Еngland, аnd Nеarсo's son Nasrullah and
grandson Bold Rulег reignеd suprеme in
the Unitеd Statеs, whеrе Ribot еvеntually
hеld сourt.
Thе horsе was unknown in Ausшalia
аnd New Zealand whеn thе early Еnglish
sеttlеrs landed thеrе in thе latе eighteenth
сentury. Now thе Antipodеs rank sесond
only to North Ameriсa in numеriсal terms,
with more than 25'000 raсehorses сompеt-
ing foг prizеs worth an annual A$25 mil-
lion. The breeding industry is thriving, but
imported stallions still сonstitutе over 50
per сent of thе leading 500 siгes list.
In Ausшаliа thе poliсy has always bееn

of Еuropе, North Amеriсa, Argentina,
Australia, New Zеalаnd, Japan and, to a
lesser еxtеnt, South Afгiсa. ]Vlodern аiт
tгanspoгt faсilitiеs havе led to thе spгеad of
intеrnationаl bгееding, but intеrnational
сompеtition on a global basis is still prе-
vеntеd by insupеrablе diffеrеnсеs in sеa-
tтасks, aссlimiti-
sons' training mеthods,.Washington
zation and so on. Thе Intеr-
national, гuп еvеry Novеmber at Lаurel
Park in Маrylаnd, is аn еxсеption, but this
is an invitаtion еvеnt whiсh owеs its suс-
сеss in no small mеаsuгe to thе еffoгts of
Lauгеl Park presidеnt John D. Shаpiro,
who sсouгs the ma!or raсing сentrеs of thе
world seеking possiblе сontеstаnts. Еvеn
so hе does not always suссееd in obtаiniпg
the bеst аvailablе гeprеsentativеs.
The grading ofraсеs in еасh сountry has
grеatly assisted the worlds breedеrs to
сlassifu thеiг hoгsеs. Usually suсh gгading
dеpеnds on prizе monеy and thе numЬеr of
gтadеd еvеnts for eасh сountry is in dirесt
pгoportion to thе totаl numЬer of гасes run'
In Britаin the Pattеrn of Raсing Com-
mittее wаs sеt up in 1960 with thе аim of
pгoviding a сompletе systеm of tеsts for ttrе
Ьеst horsеs of all аgеs ovеr all distаnсes.
Otlrеr сountries adoptеd similаr poliсiеs.
Iп Britаin and Еuropе therе rпеrе 297 Pat-
tеrn rасеs in 1976; North Аmeтical:ad27З
Grаdеd Stаkes.
Prizе monеу геmаins thе inсеntivе irr all
сoцntriеs oтlrеr than thosе wherе raсing is
totally statе run. Thе monеy dirесtly
аffесts thе quality of thе horsеs, thе lеvеl of
entertainmепt offеrеd to thе publiс and thе
pгospеrity of the supporting brееding
industгy. Bеttiпg, through тlre perсеnвgе
deduсted fгom totаlizаtors, pгovidеs а Мatсh Book to the Joсkеy CluЬ in 1773.
lаrgе, аssurеd inсomе whеrе maсhinе bet-
tiпg has а monopoly. In Britain this is not
so and Ьookmakеrs аnd totаlizators еxist
sidе-Ьy-sidе, Ьut thе formеr makе thеir
сontгibution in thе sums еxtгасtеd from
thеm annually by thе Lеvy Board. lVtost
British wagеring is off thе сoursе, еithеr by
сrеdit or in саsh thгough thе 14'000 or so
bеtting .shops' of whiсh only very fеw are
run by thе.totalizator. Thе Lеlry Board is
able to providе ovеr !6 million аnnually
from а totаl bеtting tuгnover of !2'000
million. Raсесoursеs reсеivе fixеd
amounts aссoгding to thеir grading, and
also put up monеy themsеlvеs. ownеrs
сontributе to thеir own prizеs by way of
еntгy fеes and stаkes, and ovеr a quaгter of
thе totаl is provided through sponsors.
Although thе bаsiсs remаin thе same'
thе rасing sсenе hаs alterеd dтastiсаlly
sinсе Admiгаl Rous's daу' I0Иith iпсrеasеd
publiс mobility, fust via rail transport and
latег thе motoг сar, thе sport has bесomе a
major entеrtainmеnt. Tесhniсal im-
Provеmеnts havе inсludеd thе mесhan-
iсal stаrting stalls to геplaсе the rising tapе
.gatеs' whiсh еvеn Rous nevеr sаw' At the
other еnd thе photo-finish has bесome an
indispensiblе аid to judges, аnd indееd thе
wholе rасе is rесordеd on film by mеans of
paшol саmегas mounted at vantage points.
Suсh film is immеdiatеly availablе to thе
stewaгds аt the еnd of thе гaсe to hеlp thеm
сome to а dесision if аny inquф should bе
nесеssaгy.
Thе Joсkеy Club геmains in disсipli-
nary сontrol, with finanсе in tlrе hаnds of
the I-еvy Board, but dаy-to-day administгa-
tion is still саггied out by thе fаmily fum of
.Weаthеrbу,
foundеd by Jamеs Weathеrby
whеп hе was appointеd Kеepег of tlrе
Shoпly aftеrwаrds hе began publishing
the Rаcing Cаlendаr and thеn, 20 years
вAсING & RAсЕH0RsEs
latеr' thе fust volume of lhe Generаl Stud
Boo&. This now appеars еvеry four yеars
and rеgisters the dеtаils of еvery
Thoroughbrеd foalеd in Grеat Britаin or
Irеland. Thе 1Wеatherbу firm has bееn
trаnsformеd into a highly еffiсiеnt modеrn
businеss, with the quill pеns аnd high
stools of Jamеs's dау rеplaсеd by a сompu-
tеr whiсh storеs thе rесords ofеvеry horse
and ownеr, вbulatеs thе form, gradеs thе
horsе for еntry and еvеn, with a littlе
human assistanсe, produсes thе hand-
iсаps.
Raсing on the world stage is flаt raсing.
In thе Unitеd Statеs it opеratеs all thе yеаr
гound, with meеtings on rеgular, oval-
shаpеd .dird traсks lаsting a month or more
аt а time' In Еuropе, thе raсing-on-grаss
season runs only from Мarсh to early
Novеmber, but thеrе is also thе .wintеr
gamd. This is National llunt rасing,
sиgеd ovеr fеnсеs or hurdlеs and, in Bri-
tain and Iгеland at lеast' attlaсting almost
.thе flad.
as largе а following as
National Hunt raсing сan nеvеr gain the
intеrnаtional importanсе of its еldеr
brothеr, mainly bесausе it doеs not, by
Raсing has become a huge industry round the
wor|d, with mi||ions invested in breeding аnd
betting. opposite top: Rасing on a snowy
сoUrse at St. Moritz, Switzer|and. opposite
bottom: A rасe in the A|garve rggion of
PoгtUgа| -afar cry fгom Epsom, Longсhаmp
or LaureI Pаrk, but sti|| hot|y сontestеd
whаteveг the prize. below left: Тhe paddoсk
sсene at F|emingtoп Raсeсouгse in
Me|bouгne, AustraIiа, with runners being
esсoгted to the staгt. New ZeаIаnd and
AustraIia have some 25,000 horses сompeting
annu a||у' b e l ow ri g ht.' r he start of а f at гасe i n
I
Frankfuгt, Geгmany, using the stаfting sta||s.
RAс|NG & RAсЕH0пsEs
The wor|d,s g reatest steep| eсhase, the
Nationа|, inсorporates 30 fenсes in 4Yz mi|es'
Probab|y the most fаmous fenсe is the
formidab|e Beсher,s Brook' whiсh has to be
negotiаted twiсe on the сourse.
itsеlt support a largе brееding industry.
Some horses are Ьrеd with jump raсing in
mind and most of thе lеading performers
stem from rеnowned Anglo-Irish jumping
.familiеs., Ьut thе majority of the run-of-
thе-mill partiсipants аrе horsеs who, for
onе rеаson or anotllеr, havе eithеr proved
unsuitaЬlе for flаt raсing or hаvе outlived
thеir usеfulnеss in t}rat sphеrе.
The raсеs, either ovеr fеnсеs of birсh or
gorsе (сalled steеplесhases) or huгdles, arе
longеr (thе minimum is 3,200 m, (2 miles))
and сontested Ьy older animаls. Nlost of
the male horses taking part are gеldings
anф whilе thе suссessful jump raсing
mаrе will fтеquеntly be used for Ьreеding'
she will have сompеtеd until muсh latеr in
life than her flat raсing sistеrs аnd so will
nothavе as grеat an opportuniry to produсе
offspring. In this sphеrе stallions often
bесomе known as bеgеttеrs of .jumping
blood only aftеr thеy arе dеad, sinсе
steеpleсhasers usuаlly do not aсhieve thеir
Ьеst until thе agе of nine or tеn.
Hunting is thе dirесt anсеstor of
steеpleсhasing. Time was when man
huntеd to livе; whеn this Ьесаmе no longеr
nесеssary' hunting сontinцеd as a sport'
mаinly indulged in Ьy the aristroсraсy of
the day. &lountеd on horseЬaсk, thеy pur-
sued a vаriety of quaгry; thе stаg, the Ьoar,
аnd later, thе fox. Еarlу hunting in muсh-
forеstеd Britain was a slow business,.but'
as thе land bесamе morе open, so the spееd
inсreasеd. ЕIounds werе brеd to run faster,
and horsеs had to Ьe faster to kееp up.
Jumping in thе hunting field wаs still
G га nd something of a rarity. On onе oссasion
whеn thе Duke of Dеvonshirе was
obsеrvеd gаlloping hеadlong over a gаte,
his сompanions assumеd his horse was
bolting. Thе British Еnсlosurе Aсts of thе
seventeenth and eighteenth сеnturies,
howеvеr' brought thе spread of hеdgеs,
ditсhes, timbег rаils and othеr obstасlеs
aсross thе lаnd аnd the followеrs of thе
сhаsе found it essеntial to teaсh their
horsеs to jump if thеy wеrе to staу with thе
hunt to the end. Еnthusiasts so muсh
enjoyed this nеw аnd exсiting devеlop-
mеnt that a сompеtitivе elеment arose,
whiсh found expression in matсhеs in
whiсh onе young Ьlood would test his
horsе and his ability against another aсross
fiеld, hеdgе and ditсh, usually with а sub-
stantial sum wagеrеd on the outсome.
Thеsе mаtсhеs wеre ovеr nаtural сoun-
шy, from onе landmаrk to аnother, and
whаt morе oЬvious landmark in thе еigh-
tеenth сentury British сountгyside than
the stееple ofthe villagе сhurсh. ЕIеnсe thе
name stееplесhаsе. One of thе еаrliеst
rесordеd matсhes, and сеrtainly the most
сelebrаtеd, took plасe in Co. Cork, Ireland,
in1752' whеn Cornеlius СlCallaghan and
Еdmund Blake sеttlеd an аrgumеnt as to
thе relаtive mеrits of thеir huntеrs by gal-
loping the 6.4 km (4 milеs) from Buttеvant
Churсh to St Leger Steеplе. Blakе won,
and his prize was .а hogshead of сlarеt, a
pipe of port and a quartеr саsk of old
Jаmaiсa rum'.
Thе first half of the nineteenth сеntury
Ьrought a gradual division oftlrе sport' onе
half retaining thе еssеntially amatеur,
hunting-Ьased elеment whiсh was to
Ьeсome the foundation of point-to-
pointing, аnd thе ottrеr gathеring round it
аn inсreаsingly profеssional аura, with
rасes on rеgular publiс сoursеs
ovеr hurdlеs and fenсes. The fiлst annual
jumping meеting was inauguratеd at Sl
AlЬаns in 1830' organizеd by thе prop.
riеtor of thе Turf ЕIotel, an eх-гaсеhorsе
traineг namеd Tom Colman. Thе first St
Albans' Steeplесhasе -. .a sweepstakеs ol
25 sov еaсh' _ drеw 16 Stаrtеrs аnd rvas
rеpeаtеd еaсh season, attraсting thе Ьеst
horsеs аnd riders, until l839. This was to
be a уear of сonsiderable signifiсаnсe in
stееpleсhasing historу sinсе it brought the
fust running of whаt has Ьeсome the
grеatest steеpleсhаsе of thеm all, thе
Grand Nаtional at Ainшее, near Livеr-
pool. This raсe - .a swеepstakеs of 20 sov
еaсh, 5 forfеit, with 100 sov addеd _ wаs
won by Lottеry, a 16 hands bay horsе, rid-
dеn by one ofthе lеading professionals of
t}rе day, Jеm .Nlason. Еaсh horsе сarriеd
76kg (L2st), and thе 6.4km (4 milе)
сoursе' most of it ovеr plough, сontаinеd
29 oЬstaсlеs. Thеsе variеd from smаll
banks to mаssive stone walls, and inсludеd
two brooks to bе jumped. One of them is
still known today as Bесhе1s Brook aftеr
thе Cаptаin Bесher who сamе to grief
therе riding Conrаd. Lotteгy's time wаs
rесorded as 14 min. 53 sес. _ wеll ovеr five
minutes longеr thаn is tаkеn in presеnt daу
Grand Nаtionals.
IJntil soon after the Seсond World Wаr
the Grаnd National сontinued to hold
sway as thе only worthwhilе prйе for the
establishеd'сhasеr, bеing at least a dozen
timеs morе vаluаble than thе Gold Cup
whiсh was еstаblishеdjn 1'924 as thе prin-
сipal lеvel wеight tеst for thе staying'сhas-
ers. Aintrее's сoursе was uniquе' and its
big, upright hеdges paсked with gorsе
annually еxtrасtеd а hеavy toll. Although
theу havе Ьeen modifiеd in rесеnt уeаrs
they rеmain formidablе obstaсles. The
nаmеs of some of them - Bесhe1s Brook,
thе Canal Turn' Valеntinе's Brook' the
Chair - are emblazonеd in thе history of
the world's grеаtеst stееplесhase.
Somе magnifiсеnt horses hаvе won thе
Grand Nationаl. Golden Мiller, сlaimеd
bу manу to havе bеen the finеst of t}rеm all
and suссessful in five сonseсutivе сhеl-
tenham Gold Cups, won in I9з4.
Rеynoldstown Ьeсame a duаl winnеr in
1935 and 1936' a fеat not surpassed until
thе mighty Rеd Rum triumphеd io L973'
I97 4 and 1977 . L,Еsсargot, who bеat Red
Rum in a memoraЬlе 1975 сontest, had
landed Gold Cup viсtories in 1970 аnd
1971 for his Ameriсan owner, Ra5lmond
Guеst. But it is thorougЫy appropriatе
that thе fifst nаmе on the ro11 of honour
should have been that of Lottery, for with
thе hugе fields _ oftеn 30 oг 40 strong - and
with the handiсap wеights асting as thе
grеаt lеvеllеr, thеre hаvе Ьeеn some
remarkаblе upsеts and dramas.
By thе 1960s the Grand National was no
longеr out on its own in thе prizе money
stakеs. Thanks to thе аdvеnt of сommеr-
сial sponsorship there arе now a seriеs of
riсh prizes to bе won bу'сhаsers and hurd-
lеrs, whilе thе injесtion of Lеvy Board
funds has lifted the value of established
raсеs likе thе Chеltеnhаm Gold Cup and
Champion Hurdle - both also partly-
sponsoгed _ to morе respесtаblе levels.

Nаtionаl ЕIunt raсing now hаs a Pattеrn
Committее of its own to plan thе main
еvеnts ofthе sеason and stееplесhasers сan
саrvе out a worthwhilе сarееr without
undеrgoing rhе gruelling tеst at Aintrее.
onе who did so in thе 1960s was thе now
legendary Irish'сhasеr Arkle, who bеforе
his еnforсed rеtiremеnt in 1966 with a
сraсked pеdal bone, had won 27 races,
inсluding thrее Chеltеnham Gold Cups,
еаrning а total of f73'6L7 for his owner,
Anne, Duсhеss of Wеstminstеr.
In operation in Britаin todaУ I}:ere are62
raсесoursеs' staging somе 5,500 flat and
Nationаl Еrunt raсеs annuаllу. Nеwmar-
kеt rеmains еxсlusivelу a сentrе for flаt
raсingl Chеltеnhаm is thе iumping сount-
егpalt. But mаny othеr сourses promotе
both.сodеs' and in the spring and autumn
.mixеd mееtings аге еxtremеly popular.
Thе .jumping gamе' hаs never гeally
сaught on othеr than in Bгitаin аnd Ire-
land. Еuropе has onе oI two annual .spес-
tасulаrs', like thе Grand ParduЬiсе in
Czeсhoslovаkia (геаlly moге of a сIoss-
сountrу raсе). Thеrе arе somе wintег
opportunities for hurdlеrs and stееplе-
сhasеrs in Northеrn Itаly, whilе thе bеst-
known сentrеs in Frаnсе arе аt Autеuil
and Enghien.
Autеuil is thе venuе' еvеry Junе' for the
6.4km (4 milе) Grand Stееpleсhаsе
A noviсe hurdIe raсe at Kempton Park in
Eng|and. HurdIing often forms the trаnsition
between f|at rасing аnd steep|eсhаsing for the
sIightIy sIower-paсed f|at гасe horses'
Paris' oftеn гefеrrеd to as the Frеnсh
Grand National, though thе oЬstaсles arе
very diffеrent from Aintree. Somе arе littlе
morе than hurdles, othеrs arе Ьig privеt
hеdgеs, and thеre is thе oссаsional Ьank
with a small brush fеnсе on top. It was in
this raсe in1962 that Frеd l0Иinter, perhaps
thе grеatеst Еnglish steepleсhаsing rider
of а1l time, асhiеvеd undying famе by rid-
ing to viсtory on thе gallаnt littlе Frеnсh-
Ьrеd bцt Еnglish-trаined Мandarin, aftеr
its rubbеr Ьit had brokеn bеforе thе fourth
fеnсе. Thтее months еarlier Мandarin had
won the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Though Frеnсh stееplесhasing is
definitеly thе poor rеlation of thе flat' somе
dе
of thе prizes on offеr arе still mouth-
wаtering by British standards. Thеrе is
also good monеy to be won in Frenсh
huгdle raсing, thе prinсipаl еvеnt ofwhiсh
is the Grаndе Colцsе dе Hаiеs dAuteuil.
Again thе obstaсlеs аrе somеwhat diffеrеnt
from thosе found on British сoursеs'
whеrе thе hurdles arе rathеr similar to
those wiтh whiсh a fаrmеr would pеn his
sheep, but lасed with gorsе and stuсk into
thе ground so as to slope away from thе
approaсhiлg fiеld. Thе hеight from top Ьar
to ground is l06сm (3ft 6ins). Frenсh
hurdles arе lowеr and fixed upright, and a
horsе саn Ьrush through the top half.
Еаrly Amегiсan jump raсing was' likе its
British сounterpart' bаsеd on the hunting
whiсh ехistеd on the Еastеrn sеаboard.
But on regular traсks it had a latеr Ьegin-
ning and it was not until 1865 that thе fust
Amеriсan stееplесhasе was rесordеd.
Thirty years latеr Ьrought thе formation of
the National Stееpleсhase Assoсiation,
Ьut thе sport nеvеr асhievеd thе enormous
publiс following ассorded to flat гасing
and, as еnthusiasm wanеd, гaсеs over ob-
staсles at. major сеntres grаdually
diminishеd. It is not еntirеly defunсt,
howevег' аnd thе Мaryland Hunt Cup is
often likеnеd to the Aintrее Grand
National, thouglrin reality thе two evеnts
arе totаllydissimilаr. Тhe Мaryland mееt-
ing is more likе an Еnglish point-to-point,
with thе сrowds piсniсking on а hillside
ovеrlooking thе сouгsе. Thе big гaсе is
over 6.4km (4 milеs) of muсh more
undulаting сountry than Ainшее. Fiеlds
are always smaller _ somеtimеs as fеw as
six startегs _ аnd all ridеrs must bе
amatеurs. Thе obstaсles arе fiхеd timЬеr
гаils, with whiсh no libеrties саn Ьe tаkеn.
Strаngеly, аt a time of dwindling intеrеst
a nеw $100,000 raсe' thе Colonial Cup
TIAUINLJ & HAUTHUHSTS
Тhе |egendary Rеd Rum at exerсise on the
sands at Southport, Еng|and, the setting for
muсh of his traiпiпg. Winner of three Grand
Nаtiona|s аnd twiсe rUnner-UD, he holds а
unique pIaсe in raсing history.
4.5km (2 milеs 67z furlongs) ovеr brush
fеnсes, was еstаblishеd in 1970 and hаs
Iесently beеn attraсting entriеs fгom
aсross thе Atlantiс. Thе New Zea7and-
brеd Grаnd Canyon, шаined in Britain,
won in Novembеr 1976.
Rubio (in 1908) and thе 15 hands Bаttlе-
ship (1938) wеrе Amеriсan winnеrs of thе
Ainшеe Grаnd Nationаl and in 1965 Jay
Trump bесamе thе first horsе to pull off
thе Мaryland Hunt Cup/Grand National
douЬlе. }Ie wаs ridden in Ьoth his rасеs Ьy
his owner, thе then lеading Amеriсan
аmаtеur, Мr Tommy Crompton Smith.
Thе amatеur has always been strongly
reprеsentеd in thе jumping gamе. on the
flаt, joсkeys and trаinеrs arе liсensеd pro-
i
fessionals and although few rасеs arе sеt I
aside for both malе and fеmalе amateurs'
thеу саn nеvеI сompetе agаinst thеir paid
сounterparts. This is not the сasе in
National ЕIunt raсing, whеrе thе two sidеs
litеrally rub shoulders in raсe and
wеighing-гoom. In Britаin a Nаtional
ЕIцnt traineг holds a professional liсеnсe,
but а wholе аrmу of men аnd women prе-
paring thеiг own horsеs, or thosе of their
immediаtе family, arе issued with .pеr-
mits' to train. SuЬjeсt to сеrtаin rеstriс-
tions thеsе .аmаteur' trainers сan put йеir
mounts agairrst horses trainеd Ьy profеs-
sionals and, likе thеm, сan usuallу сhoosе
eithеr amatеuг or profеssional joсkеys.
In point-to-pointing, thе third еlemеnt
of thе гaсing sсеnе in Britain and Ireland,
the professional is pгohiЬited. Prizе monеy
is rеstriсtеd to altifiсially low lеvеls and
727
RAс|NG & RAсЕH0пsЕs
thе organizаtion, subjeсt to ovеrаll сontrol
bу the National Hunt Committее, is
dесеntralizеd and in amateur hands. It is,
in faсt, still based faiтly and squarеly on thе
same hunting fiеld from whiсh its sеnior
Paгtnеr sprang. Somewhеre along thе
ninetееnth сenпlry road of devеlopmеnt a |аrge folIowing.
fork was rеaсhеd; thе infant National
Hunt Committее, fully oссupied with its
efforts to rеgulаrizе jumping mееtings on
еstаblished сoursеs, was quitе сontеnt to
leavе individual ЕIunts, whiсh through
theiт Mastеrs еxerсisеd геsponsiblе
аutlrority, to run an annual fixturе for their
own еnjoуmеnt. Thus thе privatе matсhеs
from whiсh steеplесhasing grew сon-
tinued аmong hunting folk and bесame
еnd-of-sеаson .jolliеs' whеrе tlrе sports-
men rасеd thеir huntеrs аgainst one
anothеr aсross natural сounшy. These
were the rеаl .point-to-points', with thе
fiеld dеspatсhеd from onе sPot by thе staт-
tеr and ordered to gallop to аnothеr'
pеrhаps 8 to 10km away (5 to 6 milеs),
сhoosing thеir own routе. Little attеntion
was paid to thе nеeds of speсtators. Thе
loсаl сountry pеoplе would gathеr at van-
tagе points еn гoute, or morе likеly nеаr the
finish itselt whегe the brеathlеss winnеr
would rесеivе his pгizе, whiсh might bе a
small pursе madе up from a swееpstakе, or
a trophy presеntеd by thе Hunt.
Gradually the oссаsion bесаmе a foсal
point in thе Hunds сalеndar and thе soсial
аspесt gainеd emphаsis. A marquее or two
would be erесtеd nеar thе finish аnd thе
oppoгtunity sеized to entеrtаin thе loсal
fаrmers by way of thanks for thеiг having
дllowеd thе Hunt ovег тhеir land during
the prесеding season. Thеsе slightly
buсoliс farmeгs' lunсhеs rеmainеd an
important fеaturе of thе day for mаny yеаrs,
but now have almost еntirеly disappeared.
t28
Тhe field streams over а fenсe at a
point.to-point these oгigina||y began with
Wagers between hUnting men on raсes run
Iiterа| |y from,point to poi nt,. Now they a гe rU n
on a more sophistiсated and orgаnized basis
bУ hunts, Iike mini rасe meetings and аttract a
To add to thе intеrеst, thе litеrаl point-
to-point aspeсt gavе way to а start and
finish sitеd at t}rе samе spot' so сoursеs
bесame round, ovаl, oblong' triangular or,
oссаsionally .thеrе-and-bасlc wittr flags to
mark turning points. Thе еarly point-to-
points wеrе solely for mеmbeгs of thе
ЕIunt, with a prize for thе fust
hеarrywеight, the first sеrving offiсer, the
first farmеr and so on - a шadition main-
tainеd to this day in сеrtаin сross-сountry
raсеs likе thе Мelton ride, whiсh regularly
draws fiеlds 60 to 80 sшong in Lеiсеstеr-
shirе еaсh FеЬruary. Latеr, programmеs of
four or fivе гaсеs wеrе introduсеd, drawing
сontеstants from nеighbouring ЕIunts.
Courses were still ovеr nаtural сountry,
although, to еnсouragе fastеr raсing, somе
of thе hеdgеs bеgan to be a littlе
.improvеd.
Thе horses wеrе still thе huntеrs that
hаd сarriеd their owners in pursuit of fox or
stаg from Novеmbеr to Mаrсh, but thе
neеd for spееd in thе hunting fiеld was
lеading to a greatеr use of the
Thoroughbrеd, or аt lеast thе pгogеny of а
Thoгoughbгеd sirе and a huntеr mare.
Еvеn early in thе ninеtееnth сеntury, Diсk
Christian was proсlaiming, .I nevеr hеard
of a grеat thing in the hunting field yet it
was done by a Thoroughbrеd, and today
.in
thе maiority of horsеs сompeting arе
thе boolc.
Thе evolution of point-to-pointing in
thе twеntiеth сentцry was mouldеd by the
есonomiсs of thе сountrysidе and thе
inсreasеd moЬility of thе uгЬаn population
providеd by the advеnt of the motor сar.
ЕIunt сommittееs wеre finding it inсrеas-
ingly diffiсult to rаisе thе monеy еssentiаl
to maintain thеir usual levеl of sport аnd
the annual raсe mееting сhangеd from a
loсal soсial oссаsion into a mаjor
monеy-making aсtivity, with еvery еffort
madе to draw thе paying сustomеrs. The
National Нunt Committее, jеalous of thе
rival attraсtion offеrеd to raсе mееtings
proper' has alwaуs sеt its fасe against pеr-
mitting individuаl admission сhargеs, but
сar-pаrking fеes сould not Ье rulеd out. In
сonsequеnсе, these now make up thе prin-
сipal sourсe of rеvеnuе for thе nеarly 200
mеetings staged in thе Fеbruary to early
Junе sеason. Venuеs arе сhosеn with thе
visitor in mind, and сar-parks, feеs foт
whiсh rangе from !1 to !5, are prefеraЬly
sitеd on hillsidеs from whiсh all the day's
raсing сan bе seen.
Nаtural сoцntry has givеn way to madе
fenсеs, idеntiсal in struсturе, but slightly
smаllеr thаn those on steеplесhase
сoursеs. Indeеd, somе meetings arе stagеd
on defunсt rасeсoursеs' likе Twеsеldown,
Buсkfastleigh аnd Bogsidе, whеre thе
pепnanent buildings and grandstands that
rеmain сan аlso bе utilizеd' Fгequеntly
sеverаl Hunts will sharе thе sаmе сoursе,
whiсh hеlps гeduсе finanсial outlay.
Thе normal progгammе сomprisеs five
or six raсеs, аll of thеm a minimum of
4.8km (3 milеs). Onе will bе сonfinеd to
mеmbers of thе promoting Hunt (this is
whеrе one usuаlly sееs thе genuine hun-
tеrs), thеn thеrе arе a сouplе for horsеs
from thе half-a-dozеn or so adiaсеnt
ЕIunts, and two so-сallеd Opеn raсеs,
whiсh, as thеir namе impliеs, сan bе сon-
tеstеd bу horsеs quаlifiеd with anу Hunt in
thе Unitеd Kingdom.
Sinсе thе advent of sex еquality' ladies
аnd mеn may сompеtе against еасh othеr.
Bеforе the nеw lеgislation thе ladiеs' opеn
raсe was oftеn thе most popular on thе сard
and, with a minimum wеight геquirеment
of 70kg (11 st) instеad of 80kg (12 st 7lb)'
wеre run at a sсorсhing pасe thfoughout.
Bесausе of thеir popul4rity the division
has beеn retained, with thе othеr Opеn
raсе сonfinеd to mеn.
Thеrе is not inсonsidеrablе шaffiс be-
tween а1l the typеs ofraсing that have bееn
disсussеd in this сhаptег. From flat raсing
to hurdling is a simple stеp. Thе hurdler
сan grаduatе with great diffiсulty to stееp-
lесhasing, and then еnd his daуs happilу as
a huntеr/point-to-pointеr.
Part of the fasсinаtion of horse raсing
has always beеn its .glorious unсеrtаinty'.
Shining сlassiс prospесts at two сan turn
into bottom-weight failures in minor hur-
dlе hаndiсaps at fouг - and a point-to-point
сhampion at sеvеn. A sprint-Ьrеd two-
уeаr-old сan еnd up а triplе Grand
Nationаl winnnеr _ as Red Rum provеd.
Breeding hаs always bееn an inеxaсt sсi-
enсе and .paying for pedigrее' hаs often
геsultеd in badly burnt fingers. Thosе who
bid thе $l,500,000 for the sесrеtariat yеarl-
ing mentioned аt the outset will bе hoping
that this time thеу have got things right.

p шouкяшсв riding and its геlаtеd
.t-z еquеstrran еndеаvours' сompеtltlvе
trаil аnd long distаnсe riding arе сompara-
dvеlу rесеnt additions to thе great vаriеty
of spoгts in whiсh mаn and horse partiсi-
pаtе together. Grеat effort and сouragе is
геquirеd ftom thе hoгsе in this instanсе, as
wеll as an appliсation аnd dediсаtion from
tЪе гidеr. As its namе sцggests it is a sup-
rеme test, for grеаt distanсеs aге сovеrеd
ovеr all types of tеrrain) in sometimеs
diаboliсal сlimаtiс сonditions. At the
finish of a 120 km (75 mile) or 160 km (100
milg) 1idg' !6th partiеs must be in а fit state
to пrгn aгound аnd go again - шuly a feat of
еnduгanсе.
.\lthough the yoцngеst of thе еquеstrian
чrопs, endurаnсe riding has a large intеr-
паdonal following. In its prеsent form it
bеgan litdе morе than 20 years ago in thе
Unitеd Statеs whеrе it flourished for
dесаdе Ьeforе сatсhing on in Austгalia.
.\!'oгe гесеndy, Grеat Britаin' South Afri.
са, New Zea|and, and !Иеst Gеrmanу hаvе
Ьесomе similаrlу involvеd.
Among its еnthusiasts, may bе found ttrе
widеst rangе of ridеrs mountеd on thе
gгеатеst variеty of horses and ponies
imяginaЬlе. Indееd it is onе of thе sport's
mяin агtraсtions thаt no spесifiс typе of
hогsе is nеedеd in order to partiсipate and
сompletе thе сourse suссеssfully. In
еnduтanсе rides in Amеriсa, I havе сomе
астoss the typiсal Ameriсаn brееds suсh as
Appаloosa, Мorgan, Quartеr llorsе,
^\[oуlе, StandаrdЬred, SаddlеЬrеd аnd
Еаlkiтrg llorsе, as well as thе AraЬian,
Тhoгoughbrеd, Connеmara and l0Иеlsh. In
Bгitаin йе rangе of Ьrеeds is not so grеat,
Ьuт тhе AraЬian and Thoroughbrеd аnd
thеir сгossеs are a popular сhoiсe, as arе
huntеrs and a variеty of сobby types.
T .гger nаtivе brееds arе usеd, somе
сrossed witlr AraЬian oг Thoroughbrеd, as
lгеll as many importеd brееds. On Gеr-
m2nf S l60km (100 milе) ridе from Ham-
buгg to ЕIanover, rеpгеsеntativеs of suсh
nаtionаl Ьгeеds as ЕIanovеrians, Trakhеn-
егs' Vestphalians, Holstеinеrs, Gеrman
Tгotteгs аnd Bгаndеnburgs will bе seеn as
тгеll as suсh non-Gегmаn brеeds аs Noг-
wеgian Fjords' !Иelsh Cobs, AraЬs, Lipiz-
z:ianeгs' ЕIungarian Halfbloods, Hafl ingers
and Iсеlаndiс poniеs.
Fгom just thesе thrее partiсipating
сountriеs it сan bе sееn that thе sсopе for
тhе t-vpе of horsе used is verу wide indеed,
аlйough thosе pеoplе who геally bесomе
involvеd, gеnerаlly find the lean аthlеtiс
цpе of hoгsе is thе most suitаblе аnd suс-
сеssful. AraЬs and Aгabian сrossеs are not-
аЬlе for еnj oуing markеdly greatеr suссess
а A group of сompetitors on a |ong-distanсe
ride. This spoгt, a|though its origins date from
|ong ago when horses weгe man,s only form
of tгаnspoгt, is one of the most гесent of
сompetitive events. Very popuIar in the US, it
is a suoreme test of a horse's stamina.
ovеrаll than anу other brееd. lloгsеs are
rеquirеd to be fivе yеаrs of agе or older
bеforе thеy сan сompеte; thеrе is no max-
imum or minimum agе for ridетs and vеry
young сhildrеn oftеn сompete, aссom-
paniеd by an adult.
The сollесtive tепn .long distanсе rid-
ing' сovеrs thе sport's thrее major aspесts.
In its lowеr есhеlons it offеrs an introduс-
tion to nеwсomеIs by paгtiсipating in
shorter-distanсed plеasurе ridеs, of bet-
wееn 23km (15 milеs) and 46km (30
milеs). Thеsе arе idеal for noviсe ridеrs,
andi or horsеs and Ьеing non-сompеtitivе,
provide an opportunity to learn to travеl
quietly аnd сompеtеntly over а variеty of
terrain. Young horses bесomе usеd to
travelling in сompany, so that whеn а ridеr
wants to turn to сompetitive гiding' his
mount will have aсhiеvеd a fair amount of
mеntal аnd physiсal stability on the trail
and is thus aЬle to сopе with thе stгеssеs
еngenderеd by сompеtition.
Compеtitivе trail гidеs arе thе nеxt stеp.
Тhеse are judgеd ridеs in whiсh therе is a
speеd braсket whiсh vаriеs slighdy in dif-
fеrеnt сountriеs. Thе primе judging fасtoг
howеvеr, is overаll fitness of horsеs
bеforе, during, аnd aftеr thе сompеtition.
All CTRs havе winning and plaсеd horsеs,
thе сritеria usеd bеing pеrfесt time sсorе
and a vеlеrinаry assеssmеnt еnсompassing
many aspесts that indiсаtе fitnеss. Thе
major strеss faсtors аrе thosе relating to
pulsе and rеspiration and thе speed of
ЕNDUпANCЕ R|DING
Ieсovery to normаl aftег healry еxеrtion. If
a fit young horsе has sеttlеd into thе
routine of trаvelling smoothly аnd
еffiсiеntly аnd is unflustеrеd by extranеous
aсtivity, hе will rеgistеr be,ttеr rесovеry
than onе who is аlarmеd by all the unusual
happеnings of thе ridе.
CTRs rangе in distanсе from thе lower
limit of 40 km (25 milеs) to thе upward
limit of 96km (60 miles) in onе day in
Bгitain. Amеriсa stages a great numbеr,
rаnging from 40 km (25 miles) in one day
up to 160krn (100 milеs) run ovеr thrее
days. Gеrmanу has many гidеs run along
similar' although not idеntiсal linеs, with t
awards going to horsеs in thе bеst сondi- I
tion and also to thosе сomplеting thе
сoursе in fit сondition and approхimating I
to idеal timing.
Thе top rung of thе long distanсe riding
Ё
laddеr is еnduranсе riding with сoursеs
гanging in Britain from 80 km (50 milеs) to
160km (100 milеs) in one day, and in
Amеriса from 40km (25 milеs) up to
Thеrе is a strong movе
163 km (102 milеs).
in Amеriсa now to hаvе a lowег limit of
80km (50 milеs) to stop ovеr-stтеssing
horsеs at too high а spееd, thе feеling
bеing that гidеs of this distanсе аnd aЬove
induсе greater сaution in сompеtitors.
Gеrmanу has rides of 80 km (50 miles) up
to 160 km (100 miles); Nеw Zеaland has a
lowеr limit of 72krn (45 milеs) and а prеs-
entuppеr limit of l20 km (75 milеs), whilst
Austrаlia has the famous Quilty 160km
(l00 milе) ridе and a numЬеr of shortеr
80km (50 mile) ridеs. Souttr Afriсa has a
series of 80 km (50 milе) rides and a major
220fur, (130 milе) ride eaсh year.
An еnduranсe ridе winnеr is the fastеst
fit horsе over thе distanсе, and thе timеs
turnеd in on somе of thе еndurаnсе rid-e.д
t29
ЕN0URANcЕ R|DING

arе a tributе to thе stamina and сouragе of

thе horsеs taking part. Somе of the 160 km
(100 mile) rides hеld ovеr rеally tough tеr-
rain are rеpeatedly won in riding timеs of
undеr 12 hours. Thе 80 km (50 miles) ridеs
сonsistеntly show winning timеs around
thе fivе-hour mark.
Thе leading сountry in this sport is
undoubtеdly still thе United States, whose
inaugurаtion Ьegan in 1955 with thе first
running of thе Tеvis Cup. This 160km
(100 milе) ride was originallу run from
Lake Tahoе to AuЬurn, California ovеr
the Siеrra Nеvаda and was mappеd out
.Westеrn
along thе old Statеs Trail that
сarried hordes of hopеful minеrs during
thе Cаlifornia Gold Rush, as wеll аs thе
equаllу aсquisitive pionееrs, hеаding foт
thе Nеvadа Silvеr Lodе.
Sinсе thеn, endurаnсе riding has
grippсd thе еnthusiasm of thousands of
Ameriсan horsеmen so that this ridе has
blossomеd into a fistful of similar dis-
tanсеd ridеs run nationwidе, with morе
thаn 150 shorter, Ьut dеmаnding, events
filling еaсh yеa1s long distanсе сalеndаr.
Assoсiаtions еxist solely to hеlp run thе F
sport's mаnу aspeсts. Мanу of thеsе аrе
rеgional, as would Ье еxpесted whеn suсh
enormous tеrritoriеs arе сovеrеd, but two
in partiсular сan bе termеd nаtional. Thе Аbove Тhe AppaIoosa gained its name from One of the most gruelling - and the most
Amеriсan Еnduranсе Ridеs Confеrеnсe the PaIouse river in the Iands of the Nez Perсё fаmous - of the Ameriсan rides is the Тevis
сontrols thе еnduranсе sidе and thе North Indians; thе bгeed descends from Spanish Cup, so named аfter a president of the WeIIs
Ameriсаn Trail Ridе Confеrеnсе govеrns stoсk. Тhe AppaIoosa Hoгse CIub Registrу was Fargo Compаny, L|oyd Tevis The ride foIIows
.l9З7
сompеtitive trail тiding. other гegional founded in to Iook after the interests of the route of the CompanУ,s express riders and
bodiеs arе thе Paсifiс Northwest Еndur- the bгeed, and is one ofthе breed assoсiations stage сoaсhes, and takes УoU over the Sierra
anсе Systеm; thе Мidwest Еnduranсе Sys- testing and promoting horses by entering Nevаda range, from snowy mountain с|imbs
tеm] the Еast Coast Trаil Ridе Assoсiation them in enduranсe rides. to valleys in sweltering heat. 100 miles must be
whiсh сatеrs for both enduranсе and сom- Below A sсene аta veterinary сheсkpoint on сovered in one day, and onIy the fittest
petitivе trail ridеs, and thе Еastеrn States thе San Antonio 50-miIe ride Тhe hea|th аnd possibIe horses сomp|ete the ride opposite
Compеtitivе Trail Ridе Assoсiаtion. The wel|-being of the equine сompetitors is .bottom: Тhe аpproach to Cougar Roсk, one of
Roсky Mountаin Trail Ridе Sуstеm opеr- гigorousIy sсrutinised on all rides by the |andmarks of the ride and a stiff с|imb, fop
atеs ovеr Мontana and Idaho, and thеrе are veterinary speсiaIists; the fitness of the horse left: АtCougar Roсkitse|f toprighti AсooIing
manу loсally based groups that run unoffl- is аn important paгt of winning in сompetitive moment for both horse and rider in thе San
сial rides prior to joining into thе systеm riding. |t is not еnough just to reaсh the Antonio 50-mile ride. Variety of terrain is part
bеst suitеd to their aсtivity and loсale. finishing post first. of the сha|Ienge of endurаnсe riding.
Мany of thе brееd assoсiаtions аrе
realizing фаt distanсе riding is thе idеal
tеsting ground for thеir horsеs, and many
brееdеrs arе using thе sport to plovе their
stoсk. Thе undoubted leader in this is thе
Appaloosa Horsе CluЬ Rеgistry. Thеre is
аlso а сonsidеrable аmount of vеtеrinary
rеsеarсh bеing donе in Amеriса on dis-
tanсe rides, in an еffort to determinе what
rеаl1у makеs a horsе suссessful. From thе
results it is apparent that thе lightеr typе of
horsе is moге to thе fore, and winnеrs and
plaсing horsеs сonsistеntlу weigh aЬout
430kg (960lbs) or lеss.
A real сross-сountry еnduranсe test, run
in thе 1976 Biсentеnnial year, was тhе
Grеаt Amеriсen ЕIorsе Rасе from New
York to Saсrаmеnto, Cаlifornia. For the
4,800km (3,000 miles) plus сoursе еасh
entrant was allowеd two mounts _ onе lеd
whi1е thе othеr was riddеn. It Ьеgan ovеr
thе Nlеmorial Day wееkеnd in Мay and
thе sсhеdulеd finish was Labour Dаy in
SеptemЬеr, thus kееping horsеs еn route
for a littlе ovеr thrее months. Vеtеrinаry
supеrvision was drawn from top vеt-
еrinariаns on the Tеvis and othеr endur-
anсе ridеs. Thе winnеr from 100 еntries
was Vеrl Norton riding a mulеI

r30
;

l
p
 ЕNDURANсЕ R|DING
€#=
. partnership is Lаuriе Bethunе aпd Fliсka,
A Germаn сompetitor sponges down his dun
Norwegian Fjord sta||ion аt the ha|f-Way
сheсkpoint and veterinary inspeсtion on the
Summer SoIstiсe ride.
Three notаblе еnduranсе ridеrs in thе
Unitеd Stаtеs arе Dr. Riсhard Barsaleau,
DVNI, also onе of thе natiorfs leading
еnduranсе judgеs, and аs a rеgular and
suссеssful сompеtitor in the Tevis and
othеr enduranсе ridеs, he sееs both sidеs of
thе сoin; Appaloosа brеeder Shаron
Saarе, а vеry experiеnсеd дnd сonstаntly
suссеssful сompеtitor who ridеs a vагiety
of horsеs' аnd Jаn \trИorthington' who has
ttrе outstanding rесord in the Еastеrn
Stаtеs of having won еvery thrее-day
160km (100 milе) ride at somе timе with
her сrossbrеd Appaloosiarr/AraЬian marе,
Blаnс Sеurat.
othеr сountriеs hаvе drawn hеavilу on
thе triеd and proved formаt used in thе
Unitеd Stаtеs both for еndurаnсе and
сompеtitivе trail ridеs, with Australia
being onе of the fust to tасklе a 160km
(100 milе) ridе in onе day pattеrnеd on thе
Tеvis Cup. This was the Tom Quilty
Еndurаnсе Ridе first run in 1966 аnd won
in its inaugural yеar by Gabriеl Steсhеr on
his purеbred Arab stallion, Shalawi, in a
timе of 11 houгs 24 minцtеs. The
асhiеvеmеntwas еvеn morе rеmarkablе as
hе rode thе wholе distanсе baгеbaсk!
Stаged annually evеr sinсе, the winning
time has bесomе inсrеаsingly fаstег with
winnеrs now сoming in not mцсh ovеr the
lO-hour mагk. Thе гidе was namеd aftеr
Tom Quilry, a famous horsеman who was
pеrsuaded by Reg Williams, the Еditor of
Ausшаliа's premiеr еquеstriаn mаgazine
Hoofs аnd Horns' to sponsor thе ridе. It is
'"1,""'
й.
run in сlimаtiс сonditions whеre tеmpега-
turеs and humidity soar, and ovеr a tough
сoursе in thе Bluе Мountаins of New
South l0Иalеs.
Sinсе 1966, thе Austrаlian enduranсе
sсеnе hаs grown) with new ridеs сon-
stantly bеing inсluded and also with a
Nаtional Assoсiation being formеd to
guide thе spoгt along thе right linеs. As
with аll еnduranсе ridе systems thе help of
veterinary surgеons is еssеntial and the
Austrаlians hаvе bееn аble to са1l on thе
еxpеriеnсе of a tеam from the Sydney Vet-
erinary Sсhool аt сamden.
Nеw Zеаland also has a vеry thriving,
although young' endurаnсe riding struс-
ture аnd almost аll thе ridеs аrе in the
еndurаnсе сategory. orrly onе or two arе
run аlong сompеtitive trail ridе lines. Up
until rесеntly, thеrе havе beеn еight mаjor
еstablished еnduranсе rides, fivе in the
South Island аnd thтee in thе North
Island, but thеrе arе dеfinitе plans to
inсludе more in the annual саlеndar.
Rцlеs aге drawn from thе Tеvis and Quiltу
ridеs аnd thе variеd tеrrain inсludes many
stееply сlimbing sесtions. Veatheг сondi-
tions oftеn turn the ground in somе arеas
into boglаnd ovеrnight, making an addi-
tional hazard. Thе loпgest ridе is thе Roсk-
lands 80km (50 milеs) and 120km (75
milеs), run in January еaсh yеar. lDИinning
timеs for 80km (50 milе) ridеs rаnge
агound the fivе-hour mаrk with some сom-
pеtitors finishing in an apprесiably shortеr
timе. Leаding сombinations in Nеw Zеa-
lаnd ovег the past few years, arе Alastaiг
Flеming riding Joе Pittarrfs l0Иaimeha
l0Иhirlwind, a pure Arab gеlding; Pat Han-
sen and Silvеr l(ing, а purе Arаb stallion,
аnd Allеn on Roуal Bluе, an
Anglo-Arab gelding. An up-and-сoming
a partbrеd Aтab pаlomino mare) and Phil
Pгoсtoг with Fеlla arе notiсеablе for Ьгеak-
ing thе AraЬ dominanсe, Fеlla being a bay
gelding of mixed Standаrdbrеd аnd Haсk
blood.
Plans for Nеw Zеаlands futurе arе to
work towards thе 160 km (100 milе) ridе in
one day. As in otheг сountries wherе the
sport has not long emergеd аs a maior
horsе асtivitу, many ridеrs arе joinеd in a
dediсatеd group whiсh keеps еnthusiasm
gгowing by aсtive PагtiсiPаtion.
Currеntlу in Britain thеrе аrе two bodiеs
involved with long distаnсе гiding. Onе is
undеr thе аеgis of thе British Hoгse Soсi-
ety whiсh opеrаtes а sесtion for long dis-
tаnсе riding. It runs a series of loсаl Gol-
dеn ЕIorsеshoе Qualifying Rides of 64 km
(40 milеs) and а finаl сompеtition of
120km (75 miles) run ovеr two dаys on
Еxmoor, in Somеrsеt. Thеrе arе also plans
foг еxpanding thе sсopе of ridеs.
The othеr bodу is thе Еnduranсе Horsе
and Рony Soсiety (ЕHPs), a national body
whosе solе сonсеrn is the managernеnt of
rides and thе dissеminаtion of idеas and
praсtiсal information gainеd from veteri.
nаry гeseаrсh and асtual ridе datа. Thе
ЕHPS was foundеd in L973 and has a nеt-
work of ridеs thтoughout thе сountry, thе
enduranсе rides following thе Tevis Cup
formаt, the сompеtitive trail rides follow-
ing along very similar linеs to thosе usеd
by the North Ameriсan Trail Ridе Confеr-
еnсе. In 1975 the ЕHPS ran its first 160 km
(100 milе) ridе in thе Nеw Forest in
Hampshirе with а team of vеtеrinary
surgеons hеаded by the Soсiеty's veteгi-
nary advisors, l\,Lessrs R. G. Orton,
мRсvs, John Hartley-Sampson, B.V.
Sс.' МRCVS, and Petеr Hall-Patсh' B.V.
Sс.' МRCVS. Thе winnеr of this, in а rid-
was Niz-
ing timе of 12 hours, onе minute.l0Иinnеr
zo|art, a purebred Arab stallion. of
thе bеstсonditionprize was Мiss Маrgaret
Montgomеriе's blaсk gelding Tarquin,
also plaсеd third in thе ridе. It wаs this pаir
who journeyed to Hamburg in L976 to
taсklе thе Gеrman 160km (100 milе) ridе.
As a result of this ЕHPS ridе, vеterinary
rеsеarсh into haеmotology pеrtaining to
еnduranсе horsеs hаs bееn startеd' and
other arеas of rеsеarсh arе under way.
Similar to thе Ameriсan judging proсе-
durе, the ЕHPS also has a points system
whеre horsеs ассumulating points
throughout thе уeаr сampaign for High
Points Trophies. Thе ovеrаll trophiеs aге
thе Manar Trophy for the Lеаding SenioI
Horse of the Yеаr' and thе Zarpa Trophу
foг thе Lеading Junior Ridеr.
Thе South Afriсan Long Distanсе Rid-
ing Assoсiation hаs bеen opеrative sinсе
|972 and was initiatеd by МсFее Мoгgan.
an Aгab horse brееdеr in thе Transvaal.
Anothеr ArаЬ horsе brеedеr from thе
Transvaal, Diсk dе Voss, joined him аs
seсretary, and the group owes a lot to its
Vеtеrinaгу Advisor аnd foundеr mеmbеr
Profеssor Sаndy Littlеjohn. Aсtivе par.
tiсipаtion is rеportеd to bе growing, with
indications that the sport is soon to еnjoy а
tгеmеndous upsurgе. Thе South Afriсаn
 ENDUвANсE R|DING

\-дсвпд1 Chаmpionships are hеld ovеr а

пшЕ-dд.т 220kli (130 mile) ridе hеld at
FдьщеsmitЬ iп thе Orаnge Frее Statе. This
ЕJtrA ь чrоnsoгеd joindy, with trophiеs
.Wееklу
dпшдtеd Ьу ttrе Fаrmers Trail at
Fшдгe,miтh foг thе winner, and thе Ara-
fuдг. ЕIогsе Soсiеty, for the lеading Arab.
f,Ъе :l,-iе is run ovеr variеd tеrrain and
ml]IЕs аrе dтаwn from thе Tеvis Cup.
.чki],il.lф run ovеr threе dаys' it is judged
m п"lrтranсе |inеs.
hЦ1г to thе сhampionships, thеrе аre
fiшг to}m (50 milе) pге-rides from whiсh
пlmе ..опmiпееs dесide thе hoгsеs сapablе
шd тасklЬe thе longеr сoursе аt Faцrе-
m.Ч Тhе prе-ridеs аrе hеld in Nаtal,
tt*Ъ*зgе Fгеe Stаtе, Transvaal and Cape
h..тi.зсе. .\{inimum wеights of 73 kgs
lбi lЬs аre mаndatory еxсеpt in thе
lтшшог diгЬion, whеre ridеrs up to
yеars 16
шш-щв:idе ат саtсh wеight. Juniors must Ье
пс;ь:lгпpаniеd by an adult rider. Rеsults
tilт:m frе Pаst thJeе yеаrs indiсatе again
йв: тhе аЬility of thе Arab is prominent,
rmi jadgеd most horses usеd in South
-{Ёjsдд disвnсе тiding arе of AraЬ blood.
xЕ' t9:.1. .\тrglo-Aгabs filled fivе out of tеn
ш jrc highest plaсеs in thе NаtioIral
i&rа=рionships, аnd in following уеaгs,
JiA кiлnегs havе сonsistently bееn
:т::еЬгеd ^\гаbs.
S.lцth .\friсаn distanсе horsеs arе gеn-
е:а*5 of thе lеan аthlеtiс typе' that is
6g-.рming universally known foг its аЬility
те gз.jure as it is not hampеrеd by еxсess Conditions on the нamburg to llanover Paгt of the training for enduranсe гiding is to
Ьr:.пе а.nd flеsh. It is indiсativе of thе suс- ride аs I eхperienсеd thеm in 1976 tеndеd aссustom the horse to a ny stra nge encou nters
оеss оf тhis typе that throughout the еndur- to Ье vastlу diffеrent fгom similar distanсe or feats he may be asked to undertаke - suсh
Двсе гiding world, horsеs that are ridеs hеld in othеr сountriеs. Bаsiсаlly an as pulling his rider uphill.
:еgеаtеdlу suссеssful fаll into this саtеg- еnduranсе ride with thе fastest horse pro-
rцт Еnduranсе riding is сertаinly one of nounсеd thе winnеr (еxсеpt in a tiе whеn nings of organйеd distanсe riding arе
.iр еquinеsphеrеs wherе athlеtiс ability thе hoгsе's сondition was the dесiding faс- likelу to сomе. At present all long distanсе
в-.:.еаn fimеss аге definitely a major plus. tor), it also had а sеriеs of pеnaltу points riding is on a purelу informal friеndly
sеst Gегmanу is one of the Еuropеan аnd Ьonus points. Dеviating from thе bаsis, thе samе Way it hаs startеd in all
:l.luзгies with а majoг involvеmеnt in thе сoursе inсurrеd pеnаltiеs for so doing, as othег сountriеs.
ь.ъ.гt аnd a nationаl Ьody was formеd in wеll as loss of timе. Other pеnaltiеs сould It сan Ье sееn fгom this ovеrall piсturе
\сaЕеmьeг 1976 to аssist thе running of Ье inсurred for ovеrtаking unlеss prioг that еnduranсe riding is a major growth
j::-"впсe riding. Distanсe ridегs in Gеr- pеrmission from lеadеrs had bееn givеn sport intеrnаtionally. Thеrе is furthеrmorе
гятr tвvе long bеen well сaterеd for in а and аlso foг failure to nеgotiatе hаzaгds at a trеmendous гapport betwееn intеrеsted
т"*iещ of гidеs Ьut up until thе foгmation first try. A сurious featцrе of thе ridе was an аnd involvеd сountries аs еvidеnсеd Ьу
lE. frе nаtional body therе had been no 1 1 km (7 milе) seсtion that had to Ье riddеn сompеtitors who шavel abroad to сompetе.
sд.зdяrd guidеlinе for the managеmеnt of in a speсifiс timе, гidеrs not knowing how Thе Germans have sеnt a tеam to Britain
г:'jеs. Еасh organйеr thus had to lеаrn bу long or whеrе thе .timе trial' was to takе аnd in L976 t}:e ЕHPS гeсiproсаtеd.
г;] аnd егror. It says a lot for thеir plaсe until they arrived аt thе vеnuе. Pеnal- Sharon Sаarе of thе Appaloosa Horse Club
that thе spolt has flourishеd in ties wеrе inсurrеd if horses went outsidе of Amеriсa hаs сompeted in Bгitish ridеs.
Ёе waу it hаs. It is appаrеnt that thе major-
-::яеnuiц' thе timе limits, a onе minutе leеway bеing Thе intеrflow Ьetwеen Austгalia and
::г оf Germany's еnthusiаsts wish foг allowеd. The ridе itsеlf was wеllvetted and Amеriса for thе Quilty and Tеvis Cups is
.-t.hеsion amongst orgаnizеrs, so сom- there were no сasualtiеs, and thе аwаrds now сommonplaсe; Swizеrlаnd sеnds
3етiтoгs rr'ill know what to ехpeсt through- for first four plaсеs wеre fillеd by сom- horsеs to the Gеrman гides, and South
...ц.:t thе v.holе сountry. Rеgular сorrеspon- plеtеly diffеrеnt types of horsе, namеly an Afriсa has both hosted ovеrsеas ridеrs аs
iепсе has beеn hеld with the ЕHPS of Irish healrywеight gеlding, an Arabian wеll аs sеnding rеprеsеntativеs to сomPеtе
Gтеат Bгitаin, in efforts to асhiеvе an stallion, a 16-уear-old mагe of mixеd еlsewhеre.
=-.егnагionаl sеt ofrulings with only slight
Haсknеy typе (judging from hеr aсtion) Еaсh сounгy has its own minor diffeг-
н.тionяl аnd геgional diffегеnсеs - itself a and а Trakhenеr gelding. A 13 h.h. Nor- еnсеs in rulеs аnd rеgulations bцt it is
зеtSniтe help in the furthеring of еndur- wеgian pony, with a tеn-yеar-old ridеr won rеassuring that the bаsiс strцсturе is simi-
азu^е гidiлg. the сlаss for I{еin Pferdе (Small Horses), lar so that riders шavelling from onе сoun-
\!'ost сuтrеnt Gегman ridеs fall into thе proving that poniеs and young сhildrеn try to anothег know what to еxpесt. This
ез'lurаnсе сatеgory аnd rangе from 80 km сan rеadily tасklе ridеs of this distanсе. аlso givеs a цnivеrsal Ьаsis on whiсh to
5o milg5; to 160 km (100 milеs) in lеngth. Onе ottrеr сountry in Еuropе that is work towагds gathering infoгmation and
Sеsегal shortег гidеs аrе hеld throughout showing signs of joining thе еnduranсе relеvant statistiсs ftom ridеs so that
frе уеаr, Ьut thе major гides at prеsеnt aгe mеrry-go-round is Dеnmark. Disсussions rеsearсh and vеtеrinary knowledgе of thе
iе I-аiсhingen 100km (60 milе) ride held havе beеn hеld with thе ЕHPS Committeе strеsses involved саn be furthеrеd. This of
lеаr lЛm in Southеrn Gеrmаny ovеr and adviсе sought on the founding of a сoursе саn onlу Ье genеrаllу Ьenefiсial,
jеmапding tеrritory, and the Hambuгg to long distanсe group. It would sееm to bе еspесially to thе сouragеous horsеs that
ЕЪnovеr 160 km (100 mile) ridе held eaсh ftom amongst the Arаb brееdеrs and сonstаndy givе of their bеst thгoughout
зuЕцпlll. еnthusiаsts in Dеnmark that thе besin- еvеn the toughеst of еnduгanсe ridеs. ,"

13з

ir
ri
I averagе hеight is about 15.r h.h.
i In 1869 tlrе gamе wаs introduсеd into
I
f)oro, а stiсk and ball gamе playеd on
t. horsеbaсk Ьy opposing teams of four a
sidе, is a vеry anсiеnt gamе whiсh origi-
nated in the Oriеnt wеll ovеr 2000 yeаrs
ago. Thе earliеst rеfеrenсes to it are madе
in сonjunсtion with Alexandеr thе Grеаt
and Darius, I(ng of Pеrsia, from whiсh
сountry thе game is bеlievеd to havе origi-
natеd, although it was сertain1у playеd in
onе form or anothеr throughout the Еast,
from China аnd Мongolia to Jаpаn.
Thе .N{oslеm invаders from thе
North-\0Иest and thе Chinеse from the
:
North-Еast, took the gamе into India. In
the middlе of the last сеntury) Еnglish
plаntеrs disсoverеd it in Assam and
I
brought it Ьaсk to Еngland. In Assam it
wаs plаyеd on thе loсal Мanipuri poniеs,
I
somе of thеm barеly 12 h.h.' and сallеd
i hаngj аi' In Peгsia it was known as с hаug an
I
(аmallеt _ bу whiсh namе йе polo stiсk is
known in thе Unitеd Statеs todаy) and its
prеsеnt namе is a derivative of the Tibеtаn
wordpulu, meaning a root, from whiсh thе
woodеn polo ball is mаdе.
It did not takе thе British verу long to
otganize the sport in typiсal Еnglish milit-
ary fashion. Silсhar, сapitаl ofthe Caсhar
distriсt, wаs soon to Ьесomе the birthplaсе
of modern polo, and the Silсhar Club is thе
oldеst polo сluЬ in thе world. It was
founded in 1859, and thе rulеs drawn up
then аre those on whiсh thе present гules
arе basеd. Teams originаlly had nine rid-
ers, but this wаs latеr reduсеd to sеvеn and
eventuаlly to four, as thе poniеs bесamе
Po|o, one of the oIdest games on horsebасk
known to man, originated in Chinа and then
moved on to the Indian сontinent' In Assаm it
wаs p|ayed on these Mаnipuri ponies, some of
whiсh weгe sсarсe|y 12 hаnds in height.
biggеr and fаstеr. In 1876 thе hеight limit
in India was sеt at. I32 h.h., and in Еng-
land at 14h.h. Twenty yеаrs latеr it wаs
inсгеasеd to L42 h.h., and in 1919 thе
hеight limit was аbolishеd. Nowadаys, thе
Еngland by somе army offiсеrs from thе
9th Lаnсеrs, 19th ЕIussaгs, 1st Lifе
Guards and Royal llorsе Guards. Thеу
plaуеd polo, with eight aside, on ЕIouns-
low ЕIеатh, nеаr London and thosе who
watсhed dubbеd it .hoсkey on horsebaсlc.
It immеdiatеly сaught on and the Hur-
lingham Club bесаmе thе hеadquагtеrs of
Еnglish polo, issuing the fust Еnglish
rцles in 1875. At aЬout thе samе timе thе
Indian Polo Assoсiation was formеd. It
framеd its own rulеs until the Sесond
IDИorld l07ar.
1878 saw the first Inter-Rеgimental
Tournamеnt, аnd in 1893 the Nаtionаl
Pony Soсiеty wаs foцndеd, with thе pur-
posе of promoting thе brеeding of polo
poniеs. Thе gamе soon sprеad асross to
othеr pаrts of the worldJ pаrtiсulaгly thе
British Еmpirе, thе Unitеd Stаtеs and
Argеntina. In thе last-mеntioned сountry
it was an immеdiаtе suссеssr аs it still is
todaу. Indеed, Argentina beсamе the big-
gеst brеeders and еxportеrs ofpolo poniеs,
owing to thе sсalе on whiсh horsе breеd-
ing is сaгried out thеrе on thе еstanсiаs, thе
numbеr of natural horsеmеn availablе for
sсhooling poniеs on а low wage, and thе
toughnеss of the native brееd, whiсh еn-
аblеd poniеs to bе produсed extгеmely
есonomiсally. A numbеr of Еnglish deal-
ers have had сontaсts аnd сonneсtions in
Argеntinа for many years; othеrs went out
thеre to livе, so as to ехploit a luсrativе
markеt, аndmakе frеquent shipmеnts bасk
to Еngland.
Polo wаs inшoduсеd into the United
Statеsin 1876 .Western
by Jаmеs Gordon Bеnnеtt,
who brought horses Еast to be
шained for thе gamе. The .Goldеn Agе' of
U.S. polo was during the 1920s and'30s
whеn Tommy Hitсhсoсk, Сесil Smith аnd
othеrs сompеtеd in nаtional and interna-
tional mаtсhеs and tournamеnts. Now
polo is mаiniy plаyed on a сlub lеvеl undеr
thе aеgis of thе U.S. Polo Assoсiation.
International polo matсhеs startеd in
1886 with teams from Britain and thе
l
Аbove and opposite The essentiaI handiness
and сonsсious pаrtiсipation of top-c|ass poIo
ponies. A good pony will not just be obedient
but wiII foIIow the game on his own aссount,
with experienсe aImost antiсipating What the
rider wiI| аsk him to do. PoIo hаs not beсome
espeсia||y popu|ar as a speсtator sport in spite
of the spеed and exсitement of the game,
peгhаps beсause it саn be hard to fo||ow
progress in the me|ёe _ even though the
referee iswearing a striped shiгtto distinguish
him from the players.
Unitеd States сompеting for thе Vеstсhеs-
ter Cup. Bеtwееn the wars, skillеd teams
from India _ whеre most of the polo was
still сonduсtеd on a rеgimеntal Ьasis -
werе frеquent visitors to Еnglаnd. Tеams
аlso саme from Australia, but it was from
the Unitеd Stаtеs that thе most suссеssful
playеrs сame _ that is until Argеntina ovеr-
took thеm. Aftеr 1945 the Argentinians
rеignеd supreme аnd werе unbеаtеn in thе
Cup of thе Ameгiсas, thе only interna-
tional сhаmpionship whiсh rеmainеd in
еxistеnсe. Aтgеntina by then had some
3000 aсtivе playеrs to 1000 Ameriсans and
aЬout 500 British.
Aftеr thе war, llurlingham, Ranеlagh
dnd Roеhampton wегe no longеr the head-
quartеrs of thе gаmе and it nearly bесame
moribund. But thеrе was а rеnаissanсе in
1950,largelу thanks to the efforts ofLord
Cowdraу _ who was a prе-wаr player as thе
Hon John Pеarson _ along with a handful
of othеr pre-wаr players. The patronagе of
ЕI.R.н. Prinсe Philip, Dukе of Еdinburgh
_ whosе unсlе' Admiral of thе Flеet Еarl
.N,lountbattеn' was a distinguished writer
on thе gamе undеr thе pen-namе of Мarсo
_ was anothеr sшong сontriЬutory faсtor in
thе gеnеral upsurgе of intеrеst.
Thе latе Sir Humphrey dе Trаfford's
small Thoroughbrеd, Rosеwatеr, is gеnеr-
аlly сonsidеred to be the foundation ofthе
modern polo pony whiсh is brеd in Еng-
land. He was used on numеrous ponY
POLO
marеs who had Ьееn seleсtеd for thеir pеr-
formanсе on thе polo ground. His thrеe
most famous sons wеre: Sandiway, out of
Cuddington; Lord Polo, out of Ladу Flor-
еnсе1 and Hurlinghаm, oцt of Еsmeralda.
The pеrformanсе of anу polo pony is the
aсid test of pеrfесtion, for in this very fast
gamе hе must bе ablе to gallop flat out,
stop in his own lеngтh' .turn on а six-
pеnсe', swing round in a pirouеtte, and
start offfrom а standstill at top spееd in аny
dirесtion. \0Иhеn riding off other poniеs hе
must do two-шасk work at а gallop, and
flying сhanges of leg must Ьe sесond
naturе to him. Couragе is a primе еssеn-
tial, and so arе a long nесk, good shouldеrs,
a short, strong Ьaсk' depth of girth' exсеp-
tionallу strong quarters and hoсks that aIе
wеll lеt down.
Thе quiсk stop, аnd thе turn аt 180
dеgrеes are thе most important of all mаn-
oeuvrеs on thе polo ground. It is also
еssеntial that thе pony, гiddеn as hе is wit}r
onlу onе hand, should have been taught to
nесk rein. Thе mouth is unavoidaЬlу sub-
ieсtеd to сonsiderablе strаin from thе hasty
сhесks and turns. Likеwise, thе legs also
сomе undеr grеat stress, for whiсh reason
supporting Ьandаgеs are vеry neсеssary.
A polo ground may not eхceed 274r:r
(300yds) in lеngth and thе goals, 7.3m
(8 уds) widе' must not be less l}rarr 227 m
(250yds) apart. Thе goal posts ale at lеast
3 m (r0 ft) high. Thе ball is mаde of willow
or bаmboo loot' is not morе than 8 сm
Аbove A po|o ponу at speed disp|aying the
need for agiIity and perfeсt obedience to the
rider's aids.
(З|/цins) in diamеtеr and wеighs l20_1з0
gms (4Уa_4Уz oz). Thе polo stiсk (mallеt in
Amеriсa) is a сanе of somе I20-I37 cm
(48_54ins) in lеngth with a hеad set at
right angles. This forms thе hitting sur-
faсе, andis 2|-23cm (8Уz-9Уzins) long.
Thе stiсk is mаdе of sусamorе, ash or
Ьamboo and thе whippiness of thе сanе
variеs; a more whippy сanе allows lеngth
of drivе with a minimum of еffort' Ьut it is
lеss еasy to manoеuvre in сlose work. A
stiffer сane is more aссuratе but rеquirеs
morе strength' аnd morе aссuratе timing.
Thе grip сan be bound in lеаthеr, rubЬer,
lampwiсk or towelling' and a wrist sling
prеvеnts thе stiсk from bеing droppеd.
Thе аim of thе gamе, of сoursе' is to gеt
thе ball into the opposing sidе's goal' to
whiсh purposе, bесausе polo is еssentially
a tеam game, thе four plaуеrs _ thе for-
wards, numbеrs 1 and 2; thе сentre-hаlf,
number 3 and thе Ьaсk' numbеr 4_ сonnivе
and manoеuvrе to attaсk thе enеmf s goal.
Not all top-сlass polo plaуers аrе outstand-
ing horsеmеn, although bаsiс horsеman-
ship, good Ьаlanсе аnd a sесure seat arе аll
nесеssary attriьutes. -N4.ore important still'
howеvеr, is a good nаrurаl еye for a moving
bаll, whilе сourаgе аnd judgеment, plus a
sеnsе of timing, arе еqually еssential.
Plaуеrs аrе taught how to sшikе thе bаll
on a dummy horse in a polo pit. The
strokes arе: off side forward' offsidе bасk-
hand, offsidе undеr thе nесk of thе pony,
nearsidе forward, nearsidе Ьaсkhаnd'
nеarside under thе nесk, and offside and
neаrsidе baсk shots undеr thе tаil. Othеr
strokеs whiсh Ьаy be usеd to good еffесt
arе thе push, an offsidе strokе to аntiсipаtе
thе aсtion of an inсoming playеr' and the
latеral, that is undеrnеath the pony's bodу
and bеtweеn his lеgs. Foт a forward shot,
thе Ьall is sшuсk when it is in front of thе
withеrs' and a rеar shot is taken whеn it is
about lеvеl with thе quartеrs.
The noviсе thеn, having mastеrеd thе
strokes апd provеd ablе to hit the ball with
aссuraсy in thе pit, plogressеs to mountеd
work and thеn to slow сhukkas in praсtiсе
gamеs. The gamе itsеlf is playеd in сhцk-
kas of 7Уz minutеs еaсh. Thеrе maу bе
four, six, sеvеn or eight' although now
thеrе are usually Ьеtween four and six.
Thеre arе minutes Ьetwееn сhukkas, and
3
a 5-minutе brеak at half timе. Еvery timе a
goаl is sсorеd the teams сhangе еnds.
Thе numЬеr 3 playеr is the onе who
initiatеs attасks аnd сovers numЬеr 4 in
defеnсe. Thus it is еssеntial thаt he is well
mountеd, and is a long and aссuratе hittеr.
NumЬеrs I and 2 follow up the attaсking
movеs made bу numЬer 3' and in dеfеnсе
mаrk thе opposing numЬers 3 and 4.
Number 4 defеnds his sidе's half of thе
tеrritory, and is at thе same timе rеadу to
support numЬеr 3.
Мost gamеs arе plаyеd on a hаndiсap
basis, with all plaуers ratеd at thеir value in
goals or minus-goals, fгom minus-two to
tеn. In handiсаp touInaments thе total
individual handiсаps arе added togethеr
and thеn onе is suЬtraсtеd from the other,
in ordеr to assеss thе numbеr of goаls stаrt
givеn to thе tеam with thе lowеr handiсаp.
Thе rulеs arе prinсipally сonсеrnеd
with safеty, and thus arе mainlу сonсernеd
to сlaтify right of possеssion of thе ball.
Thеy lаy down penaltiеs for infringing this
right and сausing dаngеr - for examplе by
сrossing thе linе of the ball in front of a
playеr who hаs right of way, riding into a
playеr at a dangеrous ang|e, zig-zagging
aсross a ridеr at full gallop' intimidation or
sandwiсhing a playеr Ьetwееn two oppo-
nеnts. Pеnaltiеs vary aссording to the
offеnсе and its grаviry, whilе a dеlibеrаtе
foul to savе a goal inсurs the аward of a
pеnаlty goal. Dangеrous fouling сaries27
or 36m (30 or 40 уd) free hits at an opеn,
undеfendеd goal. Thе gamе is stoppеd if a
pony falls or is lamе, if a plaуer is injurеd, if
thеre is a potentially dangегous aссidеnt to
thе pony' s gеar, if a player loses his helmеt,
and finallу, if thе ball goеs out of play.
Polo is not a poot man's game, for poniеs
arе еxpеnsivе and at leаst threе poniеs arе
nеedеd to plау in a matсh. A pony сan onlу
plaу two сhukkаs, аnd thеrе must bе а
rеsеrvе in сasе of injury or lamеnеss. But
although thе old daуs of mounted сavalry
bеing able to use troop hoтses and
еnthusiastiс young offlсеrs bеing mountеd
Proteсtion for the legs of both horse and rider
is essentiaI to guard against tendon strain аnd
injury from hooves and stiсks.
through thе rеgrmеnt havе gonе, thеrе arе than thе whitе man. Polo in thrеe very different settings top: A
numегous polo сlubs whiсh еnable thе A variаtion of polo known аs polo- game in progress in West Pakistan oп the Gigi
ioung man to play thе gаme. Мost havе a сrosse, whiсh wаs playеd in Japan а Kaгаkoram Range' midd|е: Swift асtion on the
pool of сlub poniеs' whiсh thеy hiге out fol thousand yеars еarliеr аnd is now popular fie|d at the Lahore Rасe CIub. In India the gаme
а spесifiеd feе pеr сhukka. A сеrtaiп in Australia, had a brief vogue in Еngland,
.Wеst Was at its height duгing the period of the British
numbеr of young playеrs сome up through partiсularly in thе Coцntry. The Rаj, and used imported Thoroughbred ponies
thе Pony Club, whiсh enсourages the сlumsy instrument with whiсh thе Ьall is from the best stoсk. The Indiаns showed
gаmе inсrеasingly, and this has led to a sсoopеd up and thrown mаdе thе voguе а thеmse|vesto be formidabIe p|ayers bottom:
пumЬer of girls Ьeсoming aсtive playегs. short one, howеver, muсh to thе гeliеf of HRH The Prinсe of Wa|es, who hаs аn
Thе govеrning body of polo in Еngland those who wете dediсatеd to thе rеvival of obviousIy еnthUsiastiс tа|ent for the game,
is the Hurlingham Polo Assoсiation' but polo in post-waг Еnglаnd and rеsеntеd this warming up before playing for his team, the
sаdly thе intеrnаtionаl еffoтt is сurtailеd Ьy disшасtion to potеntiаl followers. Guards' CIub, at Windsor
lасk of funds. Argеntina and the Unitеd
States hеad thе world lеaguе from
Ausшаlia, Мexiсo and othеr South Ameri-
саn сountriеs. Polo is also plаyеd regularly
in Iтеland, Indiа and Pakistаn, Franсe,
Gеrmany, Italy, Nеw Zea|and, Rhodеsia,
South Afriсa, I(enya, Nigеria, Ghana,
^\lalaysiа and Jаmаiсa.
Thе сorrtгes in Еngland now аrе
Cirеnсеstеr, Cowdray Park and Windsor.
Thеrе аrе somе 49 polo сluЬs in еxistеnсе
in the Unitеd I{ingdom' with somе 400
plаyеrs, аnd thеre are anothеI 100 or so
.Wеst
plаyеrs within thе British army in
Gегmаny. Sponsoгship has Ьееn of grеat
bеnеfit to Еnglish polo, аs it has to а1l other
еquеstrian sports, and so has thе intеrest
еvinсеd by thе Prinсе of Wa1еs, who hаs
followed in the footstеps of his father as a
kееn and giftеd playеr.
A shoгtagе of wеll-sсhoolеd poniеs сan
onlу bе rеgardеd аs inеvitablе in view of
thе сurrеnt shortаge of high-сlass trаinеrs
of horsеs. Apparеntlу it tаkеs two уears to
tтаin а polo ponу ftom the timе of his initial
bгеaking until hе сan play fast сhukkas.
^\rgentina poniеs havе nеarly all bееn
п.orked on thе еstаnсiаs bеforе starting
thеir spесializеd training, but thеiI tlainеrs
still like to give thеm а further two yеars, to
агoid а high wastаgе ratе сaused by
unsoundnеss or proЬlеms of tеmpеrament.
Somе Еnglish raсеhorsеs havе bеgun play-
rлg fast polo in jцst one sеason' but thеy
hаvе usuаlly hаd а sеason or two in tгain-
iпg and are physiсally mature.
Тhе latе John Board, a gleаt ехpеrt on
polo, said that thеIе arе thrеe Е.ames of polo
_ Indiаn, Еnglish and Amетiсan. }Iе
йought thе Indian gamе the most attlaс-
dr,e, tlrе Еnglish thе most diffiсult and the
.\mетiсan infinitеly Ьest! Hе attributеd the
fасt that Еngland 1ast won the liИestсhеstеr
Cup as long ago as I92I to thе faсt thаt the
^\mеriсans havе adoptеd thе forward posi-
гion, ride a сouplе of holеs shortеr, kееp
rvеll forward on their fееt and seldom gеt
1еft bеhind. In addition thеir Ьalаnсеd for-
в-аrd position еnables thеm to hit morе
aссuгаtеly and gеt еnormous lеngth on thе
Ьail. Hе onсe saw Raymond Guеst hit a
Ьall oп a dtizz|у day, agаinst a light brееzе,
.rvЫсh would hаve travellеd at least 155 m
.l70уds) had it not struсk a pony.
Thе Indian is а natural horsеman and a
tЪrmidable opponеnt, partiсularly as he is
usually supеrbly mountеd on first-сlаss
pоniеs. Thеsе are thе stoсk of Еnglish and
.\тgеntinе Thoroughbrеds, imported by
йе Еnglish, as wеll as somе top-сlаss
Ausтalian stoсk. There is аlso a theory
that thе nativе atЫеtе сan see a Ьall'
rгhефеr сгiсkеt or polo, a full metre soonеr
 f, f ouштвo gamеs сonstitute thе
.l.Yl. oldеst of еouestrian skills and are
not' аs mаny beliivе, purеly pursuits for
thе young. Thе Book of JoЬ tеlls of
mountеd ostriсh сhasеsl iousting was а
populаr еntеrtainment during the .Nliddle
Agеs, and polo has its origins way bасk in
history. As еаrly as 600 AD the Chinesе
praсtised а form of polo with a light ball,
while thе Himalayаn peoplе of ЕIunza
сlaimеd thе sport originated with thеir
еаrly аnсеstors. Мodern polo is аlso simi-
lar to a gamе that was vеry popular with thе
AraЬs аnd Persiаns, who usеd headless
stiсks.
During thе 1860s, thе British in Asia
adopted polo and othеr mounted games in
an еffort to reliеve the tеdium of armу life
for offiсers, as well аs to improvе their
horsemаnship and to keep fit.
These еxerсisеs beсamе known аs
.gymkhana' gаmes, a word of Anglo-
Indian derivation meaning .a fiеld day on
horsеЬaсlc. By thе 1880s and 1890s,
mountеd gamеs, and in partiсular polo,
had bесome a major sourсe of entertаin-
mеnt in the Unitеd Kingdom. FashionaЬle
London soсiety spеnt summеr aftеrnoons
аt smart сluЬs with gymkhana games а fеa-
turе. The evеnts werе grеat fun for all сon-
сеrnеd, сompеtitors and speсtators alikе,
although thе еssеnсe of a suссеssful day hoгsе shows, thе general publiс wеre nativе Ьreеd soсiеtiеs whosе handy, agilе
was always organization and disсipline. introduсed to thе finer arts of suсh rасеs as poniеs wеrе idеal for gymkhana gamеs.
In the Unitеd States of Amеriсa, a thе saсk raсe and the egg-and-spoon! Thе еvent also gavе younger mеmЬers of
favourite (if rather gruesome) mounted Limitеd to riders undеr thе agе of 15 on the Pony Club something to strive for, as
gamе of Rеd Indian шibеs was to tеther a 1st Маy during thе year of сompеtition, all any inexpensivе, сross-bred, grass-fеd
live сhiсkеn to a stake, thеn, galloping at сompetitors' ponies must bе at lеаst foul ponу сan' wiй praсtiсе and patiеnсе,
full spееd, thе ridеr would leаn from his yеаrs old and undеr L4.2h.h. to сompetе in bесome еvеry bit as good as its Ьеаuti-
horsе in аn attempt to pluсk 1hе fluttering thе Prinсе Philip Cup. Thеre arе 18 to 20 ful and oftеn very еxpеnsive Ьettеr-bred
bird from thе ground. It wаs no mеan fеat, arеa meеtings, from whiсh 36 tеams arе сountегpart. Nowadays howеvеr, thеse
for the Indians sеldom rodе with a saddlе. piсkеd to go forward to thе zone finals. mounted gamеs _ in keeping with othеr
Thе onlу aid employеd to staу with thе Thеn there arе a furthег siх zonе finals to horsе sports - hаvе moved into the intеrna-
horse wаs а stIip of hidе plaitеd into thе sеlесt the six tеаms to fight it out at thе tionаl lеaguе and a good, proven pony with
animаl's mane through whiсh the ridеr ЕIorse of thе Yеar Show. Thе organizet еxpеriеnсе саn dеmand an extremelу high
сould sесurе а grip. has thе finаl say in сhoosing six gamеs prlсе.
So, through the ages, mountеd gamеs from a total of 15 prеviously selесted, his Tеams also get .professionаt' somе-
havе plаyеd аn impoгtant part in тlre еques- сritеria bеing to ensurе thеу are taxing times аt the еxpеnsе of thеir good name,
triаn world and today, as a rеsult of the еnough to makе for an еxсiting сompeti- and thе will to win oссasionally over-
еnormously inсrеasеd intеrest in horsе rid- tion Ьetween thе ridеrs' and variablе shadows the simplе good fun еlement. Thе
ing as a sport and hobby,loсal horsе shows enough to intеrеst thе audiеnсе. fасt rеmains, howеvеr, that this is onе аrеa
and gуmkhanas arе numerous during the One of thе most suссessful squаds to whеrе it doеs not matter what тhе brееding
sulnmеr monttts, wiф mountеd games a hаvе сompеtеd in the -N{ounted Gamеs is - аll an аmatеur neеds is a good mount'
most impdrtant fеaturе. Championship are from thе SшathЬlane good sportsmanship, a good sеnsе of
In |957, н.R.tI. Prinсе Philip insti- and Distriсt Ьranсh of the Pony Club in humour and a knowledgе of the game.
gatеd thе Pony Club Мounted Gamеs Sсotland. They won thе Cup two years The gamеs as wе know thеm todаy, arе
Championship in Britain for membеrs of running in 1972 and I97З. Thе brаnсh prinсipаllу a pursuit of the Еnglish-
tlrе movement. Aftеr аrea and zone finals, thеn split, thе nеw branсh Ьеing known as spеaking nations _ British serviсеmen and
thе Championship finаl is сompetеd for I(irkintilloсh and Campsiе аnd, with their fаmi1iеs no doubt having had a сer-
annuаlly аt thе Horsе of the Yеar Show in many of the pгevious winning tеam mem- tain amount of influеnсе. Thе British
London during oсtoЬer. As a result Qf thе Ьеrs, won аgain in 1974. Pony CluЬ is affiliatеd to сlubs in morе
British Broadсasting Corporation's prеvi- Thе inauguration of this еvеnt in the than 20 othеr сountriеs woгldwidе, inсlud-
ous deсision in L949 to tеlеvisе maior l950s provided a grеat boost to thе British ing Botswana, Еthiopia' Japan' Saudi
138

.{тabia and'ZarnЬia, although this doеs not
:nеаn to say that thеy arе all familiar with
lrе skills of applе duсking and Gтеtna
Grееn raсing I In the Unitеd Statеs, Cаnada
and Australia' games on horsebaсk suсh as
Llrе сowhidе raсе (whеn hoтsе and ridеr
Jrаg а tеаm member lying on a shееt of
hidе down thе arena) and barrеl raсing
ехplained latеr in thе sесtion) have long
bееn popular and arе сlosеlу сonnесtеd to
-trе work of thе сowboy; сonsequently'
thеv arе genеrallу pеrformеd bу horsе and
гidеr in westeln saddlе and drеss. Мorе
angliсized gamеs arе a rеlatively nеw
innovation though, and it is only in thе last
rЪrr.уеars that thе North Amеriсans havе
takеn part in Intеrnational Compеtition.
In Еurope the story is quitе diffеrеnt. If
:hе gamеs wеrе a pastimе of the уoung in
.Jrе
сonfinеs of thе paddoсk or baсk yаrd,
until сompaтativеly rесеntlу thеy wеrе сег-
:ain1у not сonsidеrеd suitablе entеrtain-
mеnt fol thе massеs. Thеn in |974' tl;le
four lеading tеams сompеting in thе
Prinсе Philip Cup at Thе Horsе of thе
Yеаг Show шаvеllеd to Amstеrdam to
.ompеtе аgainst eaсh othеr onсе morе in a
jеmonsffation to show what mountеd
gamеs arе all about. Thе following уeat,
1975, thе top four branсhes onсе again
3асkеd thеir bags for a display abroad' this
time at the Paris llorsе Show. In both
сasеs' thе loсa1 audiеnсes rеspondеd mag-
nifiсеntly, саtсhing on vеry quiсklу to
сhееring a сhosеn tеam homе, howling
thеir dismaу whеn a тidеr droppеd an еgg)
or was just pipped at thе post Ьу an oppos-
ing tеam. Al1 in а1l, thе visits proved a grеat
suссesS.
In L976, gymkhana tеams from Canada
and thе Unitеd Statеs visitеd Britain for a
most suссеssful intеrnational сompеti
tion. It was trеmеndously exсiting' with
еvеrything in thе balanсе until thе еigh-
teenth аnd final gamе. This was thе
еvеrgrееn-favouritе' thе bеnding raсе,
whеn Grеat Britain just hеld thеiт 1еad-by
onе point only - to emеIgе winnеrs ovеr
thе Canadian visitors.
As prеviously mentioned' most horsе
shows inсludе mountеd gаmеs еvеnts and
many gymkhanas сonsist of nothing еlsе
with opеn сlassеs in whiсh adult сom-
pеtitors сan dеmonstratе thеiI еxpеItisе.
Britain undoubtеdlу owеs muсh of hеr
intеrest and sllссess in gymkhana gamеs to
hеr small nativе pony brееds whiсh arе
genеrаllу nippy. In thе Unitеd Statеs and
Australia, it is a diffеrent story. In Ьoth
thеsе plaсеs, horsеs arе morе gеnerally
riddеn bу Ьoth сhildrеn and adults. How-
еvel thе сutting and quaтtеr horsеs' whiсh
lvl0UNтЕD GAMЕs
Тwo different approасhes to mounted
equestrian games, both devised to test the
pony's ability and rider's skill as well as to
providefun. /elt: EngIish gymkhanаs are fair|y
forma|, as this nеat|y tUrned out сompetitor
shows' above'' In North Ameriсa games сan bе
strenUous - in the сow hide rасe' teams are
pulled along on hides
arе brеd for thеiт quiсk rеflехеs and agiliry
neсеssary in сattlе and shеep hеrding, arе
aсtuаllу ideal mounts for thе gуmkhana
r1ng.
No mattеr how agilе a horsе is' trаining
and obеdiеnсе must be taught and praс-
tised bеforеhand. Thе animal should bе
taught to nесk rеin (movе awaу from thе
prеssurе ofthе rеin on the oppositе sidе of
thе nесk), stop instantlу at thе slightеst
touсh, bе riddеn one-handеd and go for-
ward on сommаnd of thе lеgs and sеat
(nеithеr whips nor SPuIs arе pеrmittеd
undеr British rulеs). It must also bе ablе to
Ье rеlied upon to stand quitе still whеn
аskеd _ no matter whаt the prеssurе of
exсltеmеnt.
Anothеr important point for а good
gamеs horsе or pony is thаt it bе rеady and
willing to movе awаy from its tеаm-mаtеs.
Маny is the timе onе sееS сompеtitors try-
ing in vain to pеrsuadе thеir mounts to
Iз9

lеavе a linе ofothеr horses) even to gеt ovеr
the starting linе. You сan bе surе suсh
сombinаtions аrе not destined for suссеss!
Basiс faсilities nесеssary for training а
gymkhana horsе or pony are simplе and
within еveryone's rеасh, All that is nеedеd
arе somе polеs, old motor tyrеs, bаrrels or
oil drums, buсkets аnd pеrhаps somе plas-
tiс сonеs of thе typе usеd by poliсe and
highwaу maintеnanсе sеrviсes. A11 will
benеfit from а good сoаt of pаint so thеy
саn bе easily sееn bу horsе and ridеr and
аlso aссustom thе horse to Ьright сolours.
Colleсt togethеr a few suсh inсidеntаls as
saсks, stakеs and flags and you сan Ьegin.
Thе sсhooling of thе horsе or pony is
mostly сommonsеnsе аnd а сase of praс-
tiсe mаkеs perfесt. Watсh anу gymkhana
еvеnts аt thе loсal horsе show or riding
sсhool and you will see that it is nесеssary
for trаnsitions into hаlt, walk, шot and
саntеr to bе fast and easy; Ьending and
lеading the ponу should bе praсtised; and
ridеrs should bе аble to opеn gatеs and
move through oЬstасlеs with the
minimum of fuss. A rider must lеarn to
mount quiсkly (idеally to vault on) and to
dismount, also at spеed; to саrry oЬjесts
whilе in thе sаddlе; to ridе pеrfeсtly bal-
аnсed without rеins, stirrups or sаddle, and
to тhinkсlеarly and саlmly, аnd aсt ассord-
inglу. An еxсitеd, muddlеd ridermаkеs for
an еxсited, muddlеd pony.
Tгaining аnd ability arе as important for
mounted gаmеs as they are for othеr equеs-
trian sports. A ridеr doеs not еntеr for a
show-jumping evеnt if the horsе does not
likе jumping, or for сombined training if
eithеr hе or his horsе arе not up to сomplet-
ing thе rеquirеd tеsts. so it is with
mountеd gamеs. Еvents should bе сhosen
in the light of suсh faсtors as whethеr thе
pony is bеtteг at raсing in а sшaight linе or
at making rapid manoеuvrеs аnd tuIns _
еithеr way thеrе is a wеalth of сhoiсе.
As always whеn dеаling with horsеs and
poniеs the preparation and training of аny-
thing new should not be hurriеd. Stаrt
slowly with strangе ехerсisеs, pеrfeсdng
thе aсtioп аt еaсh paсe bеforе advanсing to
a faster gait. And nеaer over-ptaсtisе. A
horsе or pony will quiсkly Ьесome stаle
r40
BаrгeI raсing in Canadа; it is a|so a popuIar
sport in the U.S. and Australia.
аnd borеd if it is asked to do thе samе
movеmеnts timе and again. It is always
bеttеr to run through а gamе twiсe and
finish on a hаppу note, тhan to try just onсе
morе аnd еnd up badlу. Anothеr important
point is for thе horsе to Ье propеrly bal-
аnсеd at all times, always lеаding with the
сorгесt lеg' othеrwise time may bе lost аnd
еvеn а fаll inсurred. Finаlly' learn to
understand thе pony, nеvеr ask too muсh
аnd always reward it whеn it doеs well.
At most horsе shows or gymkhаnas,
mountеd gamеs arе stagеd in hеats, thе
winner of еaсh hеаt, or those plaсed first
and sесond' сompeting in a final. As diffег-
ent сountriеs fаvour a numbеr of diffеrеnt
gamеs, rules tend to vаry. Gеnеrally, how-
еver, riders will bе еliminatеd if thеy:
(i) rесеivе outsidе hеlp from anyonе
othеr than stеwагds or hoгseholdеrs
(ii) break a post or mаrkеr or knoсk it to
the gгound
(iii) fall off and not rе-mount in thе samе
plaсe
(iv) fall off and lose thе ponу
(v) fail to dismount to piсk up any drop-
pеd artiсlеs сonneсtеd with thе rасе
(vi) ride dangеrously or intеrfеrе with any
other сompеtitors
(vii) do not сross thе finishing linе or pass
thе wrong sidе of a post or markeг
withoцt сorrесting their mistake
It would bе а mammoth and аlmost
impossiЬlе task to givе аn ассount of all
thе mountеd or gymkhana gamеs on
reсoгd, partiсularly аs many hаvе bееn
altеrеd or adаptеd to suit loса1 сonditions.
ЕIowеvеr, it is worthwhilе mentioning a
fеw of the more popular or unusuаl raсes.
In thе Barrel Rасе, thrеe bаrrеls arе set to
form a шiangular сouгse whiсh thе сom-
petitors must сomplеtе at сantеr' doing a
360-dеgrее turn аt еaсh baгrеl bеforе сross-
ing thе finishing line. Еaсh сontеstant
rides sepaгately and is timеd _ the fastеst
Ьеing thе winnеr. This raсе is partiсularly
populаг in thе United Statеs and Australia
wherе it is often inсludеd in rodеos. One of
thе most populаr gymkhana еvents in Bri-
tаin is the Bеnding Rасе. This is a raсе of
between four and six сontеstants, еасh of
whom must ride through a line of polеs,
bеnding bеtweеn еaсh, beforе rеturning
аlong the samе сourse. Nlusiсal сhairs is а
grеаdy-likеd gymkhana gamе in thе
Unitеd Statеs, in whiсh ridеrs go аround
the ring, then whеn thе musiс stops' has-
tеn to thе nearеst сhаir or Ьalе of hay, dis-
mount) and sit on it. Thеrе is always onе
less .sеat' than rider. The .sеatlеss' ridеr is
еliminated aftеr eасh round, until onlу one
pеrson _ thе winnеr - rеmains.
Thе Applе Ducking Rасе is аlways a
favourite with spесtators. ЕIеrе, сom-
pеtitors rасe towаrds а buсkеt of water, in
whiсh an apple is floating. Thеy have to
dismount and piсk thе apple out of thе
watеr with thеiг tееth, bеforе rеmounting
аnd raсing Ьасk to the finishing line. In thе
Polo Raсе, the ridеrs еquipped with a polo
stiсk аnd ball, raсe down to a post' hitting
thе ball as thеy go. Then thеy havе to turn
around thе post and raсе baсk to the finish'
still hitting thе bаll. Thе first bаll ovеr thе
finishing line hеralds thе winnеr.
Tеam rасes usuаllу сonsist ofthe гidеrs
raсing bеtwееn given points' hаnding over
a bаton to thе nеxt team mеmЬеr as thеy
arrivе. An amusing variation is the Bananа
Rеlay Raсe, in whiсh a banana is usеd
instеad ofа baton. Spееd is ofthe еssеnсe,
but so is саutious handling, for the team is
ratеd on time and the сondition of the
bаnana! If it Ьreaks during thе raсе thе
rесеiving ridеr hаs to dismount' rеtrievе аl1
thе piесеs whiсh hе thеn has to pass on to
thе next person. At thе end of the raсе'
еасh bгokеn sесtion сonstitutеs а two-
seсond pеnalty, and еaсh lost seсtion а
fivе-sесond penalгy.
Finallу, one of thе most fаmous
mounted games also happens to be аn
ехсеllеnt inшoduсtion to hunting аnd in
somе islаnd сountries, suсh as Cуpгus аnd
Malta, is the only form of hunting praс-
tisеd. This is, of сourse, the moсk hunt, the
kёy to whiсh liеs in good planning
Ьefoгehаnd аnd thе atmosphеrе сrеated bу
thе .hunt stаff on thе dаy.
Thе prinсipal players arе the Fox,
ЕIuntsman and Field маstеr who
Ьеforеhаnd survey the сountry ovег whiсh
they intend to hunt, plan thе jumps, with а
wау round еaсh obstасlе so thаt no.onе is
ovеr-faсеd, and dесidе on where the .kill' is
to bе. Thе Fox lays thе trail of wood shav-
ings or sawdust whiсh is huntеd by the
}Iounds, ЕIuntsmаn and lD7hippers-in who
are followеd Ьy the fiеld. Chесks should
lastfor up to tеn minutеs to givе anу stragg-
lers timе to join the rеst of thе fiеld. At thе
еnd of the trаil, thе Fox is .сaught'.
opposite A se|eсtion of events popu|аг at
gymkhanas he|d in the U'K.top /eft: Тhe sасk
raсe гequires an obedient pony whiсh wi||
readi|y fo||ow its rider. top right: Аpp|e
bobbing orduсking is usuaIIy he|d atthe end of
the day, аs the riders get Very we|. middle:
|VlusiсaI ooIes, а vаriаnt of musiсаI сhаirs.
bottom /e//: Bending between poles is a good
test of sсhooIing' bottom фht: Potаto аnd
spoon raсe _ an understandab|e adapiation of
the egg and spoon veгsion.
I

El oтн аnimаls and hцmans play in
.l.l ordеr to еxеrсise mind аnd bodу in
prеparation for the otheг dеmands of life.
For еarly man, thе dеmands wеrе mainly to
hunt for food and to makе war, and thе
mountеd man had еspесial need to praсtisе
his skill. Sport wаs not only a nесеssity Ьut
rесreation as wеll, alЬеit in prepаrаtion fol
wars in whiсh unеxpесted situations oftеn
аrose. Longusе ofspесifiс еxеrсises in onе
plaсе rеsultеd in Ьorеdom of horsе and
man, so that ovеr thе сеnturiеs а variеty of
сontеsts werе dеvisеd to providе еxсitе-
ment and maintain fitnеss and skill.
For the horsemаn, skill-at-arms rеquirеd
thе training, and thе сo-opеration of the
horsе so that he aсtеd as one unit with his
rider, mаn dominаting mеntally and diсtat-
ing thе strаtеgies, but mаking usе of thе
physiсallу stronger partnеr, thе horsе, Ьy
using its exсeptionаl mеmory. No man сan
oЬtаin obеdiеnсe from an аnimal far
stronger than himsеlf unlеss its training
hаs bееn patiеnt and kind, for сruеl
mеthods сould baсkfuе with disastrous
results.
From еагliеst times mountеd games of
.сatсh-as-сatсh сan' wеrе played. Thе
Мongolian bаz-kiri, for еxamplе, lаsts for
severаl hours, with horses and ridels at full
strеtсh as the ridеrs try to wrеst from еaсh
othеr, thе сarсase of a goat and сarry it off
to a .goal'. It is often plaуеd ovеr rough
ground, whеrе hardy аnd aсtivе ponies
nеgotiatе roсks, gulliеs, and brush.
A form of polo was playеd in the Еast
from verу еarly timеs аnd was adopted by
Еuropе and lаter by Ameriсa. The Ti!еtаn
lra;эne \rlas pulи; thе Pеrsiаns ca1|edi|c'hаn-
gar, ,a malled, and in the rеign of I(ing
Chosroеs II it was playеd Ьy womеn. Nur-
еl-Din who fought thе Crusadеrs, сlaimеd
it was morе than a pastimе. If mеn and
horses werе waiting in thе prеsсiеnсе of the
еnеmy) thеy must bе rеadу аt all timеs to
take up arms. ЕIorsеs hobbled in thе linеs
would get fаt and soft and no1 Ье nimblе
еnough for сlose сombat. Polo was еvеn
plаyеd by аrtifiсial light, and this and othеr
ball gamеs wеrе ехсеllеnt praсtiсе to kееp
horse and man fit and the horsе hаndy and
oЬеdiеnt. Мodеrn polo is not playеd on
horses required for war, but has long bееn
a favouritе gamе for сavalry offiсеrs, and
thеrеаftеr for сivilians. Polo-сrossе is also
popular and is a devеlopmеnt of tskhen-
burti, a national gamе in the USSR.
The maidans and raсeсoursеs from
Japan to Turkеу werе used foг aгсhery and
jаvеlin thтowing from thе saddlе, аnd for
tеam сontеsts, whеn сontestants wеre
armеd with woodеn javеlins. Teams took
turns to ridе bеtwееn thе opposing гanks
who rеpliеd with a volleу, and points wеre
givеn. The individual winnеr was thе one
who sсored mosi direсt hits, but points
were also awаrdеd to thosе who сaught or
сarriеd thе glеatеst numbеr. Other tradi-
tional gаmеs atetсhigаn,.kiss thе girl'аnd
.grаb thе had in the еast; Irеland had its
.wild goosе сhase', forеrunner of thе steеp-
lесhasе, although it is moгe of a moсk hunt
of one rider bу othеrs асross opеn сountrу
and obstaсlеs.
Thе most fаmous сontests were the
tournamеnts and jousts, populаr in thе
daуs of сhivalry. At first, riders еngagеd in
Mounted games MongoIian stуIe, with a goat
саrсase as the ob,jeсtive for the horsemen in
this gаme of baz-kiri'
The medievа| tourneУ, wheгe the knight and
his mount showed their skill at jousting, was a
re|аtive|y Iight-hearted preIiminary to the
rigours and possibIe disаsters to bе met on the
battlef ield.
wrеstling, oI tilting аt the ring' (thтеading
a ring suspеndеd on a gallows through a
lanсе at full gаllop). The quintаin was
pierсing or Ьеhеаding аn еffigy at top
spееd. Aftеr this сame duels with thе lanсе,
call.ed jeuх de tаblе rondе or jousting,
dеsсribеd as .nаkеd spесtaсlеs that
banishеd thе virgin and the matrorf, but
latеr thе lists or aгеnas, wеlе dесorated and
.сrownеd with the prеsenсe of сhastе and
high born Ьеauty from whosе hаnds the
сonqueror rесeivеd the pгizе'. Frenсh
сhivаlry dесidеd thаt only thе lanсe should
Ьe used, either blunted or with а сrown of
small points at thе head.
Lаws govеrning thе tourney (medieval
tournamеnt) were сodifiеd by Gеoffri dе
Preuillу at thе еnd of the еlеvеnth сentury'
and thе knights of Еngland, Germany and
Franсe organizеd thеmsеlvеs into jousting
assoсiations. only knights who сould
provе four аnсеstors of equеstrian rаnk
сould Ьe еntеrеd in thе indеx and сompеte,
a.lthough thе sovеrеign сould сonfеr а
right. Courts of marshаls, heralds аnd
arЬitrators wеrе in сontrol. Thе lists wеrе
oval with rаisеd seатs for spесtators and a
barriеr down thе сentle to prevеnt сolli-
sion. I(nights and thеir squirеs еntеrеd to a
flourish of trumpеts, thе knight taking his
plaсе on thе lеft ofthе bаrriеr. The objeсt
was to unhorsе his opponеnt, to what
Shakеspeаrе had сallеd .the grating shoсk
of wrathful iron' аs mеtal-еnсasеd horsе
and ridеr сhargеd at .full tilt'. Thе horsе
was hаulеd on tо its hаunсhеs at the еnd of
thе сhargе bу forсеful usе of а brutаl bit.
Knights had to be hoistеd into a saddlе
whеrе thеy wеre wеdgеd bеtwееn high
supports. Crown and Churсh both tried to
supprеss tourneys bесausе of the loss of

Some mounted games, still known as
ski||-at-аrms, were devised to improve the
aссuraсУ of the rider in batt|e: ti|ting at a smalI
ring heIped to perfeсt the aim and required
сonsiderabIe сontro|.
must evеr bе givеn to the horsе. Philip III
held a gгеat tournamеnt to сelеbrate thе
knighting of his youngest brothеI Robетt,
who Ьeсamе so stifled bу the hеat, thе
rvеight of armouг аnd сloцds of dust, as
rvеll as hеa'"ry Ьlows, thаt we arе told.he fell
iтrto idioсy for the rеst of his lifе'. After
Henry II was killеd whеn a lаnсе shiverеd
on his сuirass, or brеast plate, liftеd his
visor and piеrсеd his еyе, knights no longer
fought in earnest as a show. Thеrе werе
сombats with lanсе, sword' pistol, maсе,
dart, pike аnd battleaxе, so that spесtators
saw .an exaсt piсturе of wa1 but no onе
rvas huгt. Еaсh dukе or prinсе who lеd a
Squаdron ofknights had to exhibit a dеviсе
pаintеd on a сanvas сurtain and .an inven-
tion mobilе' suсh as an allеgoriсal сhаriot.
Assаilant and tеnant Ьrokе three lanсеs
аnd pеrformed with various differеnt kinds
of wеapons.
Fеats of horsеmanship imprеssеd rulегs
аnd thеir suЬjесts, and thosе who per-
foгmed thеm werе thе .pop hеroеs of our
rirnе. Whеn Totolа faсеd Wеstеrn forсеs
undеr Naтses In 552 hе gainеd timе for
гeinforсеmеnts Ьy сasting his lаnсе in thе
aiг, сatсhing it With onе hand and shifting
it to thе other and thеn thгowing himsеlf
Ьасkwаrds and rеgaining his sеat whilst at
the samе timе riding his fiеrу stееd in dar-
ing lеаps and Ьounds.
Thе Еmperoг Basil startеd lifе as a slavе
Ьoy whose еquеstlian сirсus triсks gained
him rесognition and thеn powеr. Еquеs-
trian aсts in the сirсus, indeed may bе
palt-еntertainmеnt and pаrt-bravado, Ьut
they arе nеver far from thе supегb horsе-
manship rеquirеd to exсеl with arms. In
ttre ninеteеnth сеntury, Bauсhеr trained
his horses to pеrform in suсh a way that
many Еuropean militarу leаdеrs and
rN
.r.-1.
s:i_-r'
instruсtols studied his mеthods and
bесamе his pupils. Anothеr suсh ridеr wаs
Jamеs Fillis who bесame сhiеf Instruсtor
to thе Imperial Cavalry Sсhool in Lеnin-
grad.
Dе Pluvinel, Riding Nlaster to Louis
ХIII, dеvisеd mountеd games to oссuPy
and еntегtаin the Court' аnd on onе oсса-
sion thе King won а prize of a gold watсh.
Compеtitions in whiсh riders nееded no
armouт and rodе hаndy, light horsеs whiсh
the new Italiаn sуstеm (Ьasеd on thе
Sсhool of Naplеs initiatеd by Grisonе in
thе previous сеntuly) rеquirеd wеrе hеld at
the Royal staЬlеs, аnd dе Pluvinel said.thе
offiсers of the Cadre Noir in fu|I dress eсhoing
the miIitаry origins of the sсhool. The ear|y
European Sсhoo|s were origina||y to providе
training in mounted warfаre.
sKILL-AТ-ABMs
favours of ladiеs hаve аt all times donе
wonders for hoгsеmen'.
From thе tournеy and thesе sports сame
thе сarousel whiсh Ьесаmе very popular in
sеvеntеenth сеntury Viеnna. A ballet on
horsеs was pегformеd at thе Imperial
Pаlaсе tn L667, for tlre Hаpsburg family
who were all aссomplishеd horsеmеn.
tDИhеn thе gleat Spanish Riding Sсhool
was сompletеd its mаin purposе was to
train ridеrs, and thе fаmous Lipizzaner
horses for skill-at.arms and for wаr but
mаnу pеrformanсes took plaсe thеrе suсh
as quadrillеs aссompаnied Ьy аn orсhеstra,
аnd а .kind of dаnсе' pеrformed by two
partiеs of 12 aссompaniеd Ьy thеir pagеs.
(These pagеs wеrе permitted to bе
insшuсtеd in thе Sсhool.)
Thеrе was also a-сontеst for bеhеading
thе efЕgу of a Turk at full gallop, аnd
othеrs whеrе a dummy was piеrсed with
lanсе аnd sword. In thе timе of thе
Еmprеss Mariе Thёrёse, a сarousеl was
hеld in whiсh ladies took part, dressеd as
lеgеndary Amаzons' Onе quadгillе Was on
horsеЬaсk and anothеr in сarriages. Thе
Еmprеss won a prize for skill with hеr
lanсe, and piесеs of jеwеllеry werе offеred
as prizes for skill with thе sword and dag-
gег. So famous wеrе thеsе сompetitions
thаt a Sultan of Constantinoplе rеquеstеd
hе should bе allowеd to sее thе pеrfor-
manсeS.
Thе Riding Sсhools of Еuгopе, whiсh
gгеw up around the roуal сouгts from thе
Renaissanсе pеriod onwards, wеге
intеndеd to providе training in thе аrt of
mountеd warfarе. Thе inшiсatе movе-
mеnts of the horsе, pеrformed without any
visiЬlе aids from its гidеr, wеre dеsigned to
pеrplеx thе еnеmy infantry, who by now
wеre еquippеd with firеarms. Thеy also
tаught thе ridеr to manoеuvrе and tцrn his
mount using only onе hаnd and thе prеs-
surе of his legs, so that he сould usе his
wеapons to thе best advantagе. Thе сlassi-
сal training pillaгs, фе invention of de
t43
sк|LL-Aт-AвMs
Pluvinеl, werе usеd to tеaсh thе аirs abovе
thе ground, as thеy still arе today at the
Spanish Riding Sсhool. Thesе .airs' wеrе
еssential for сavаlту leaders, and horsеs
wеrе trained to Ьe сompletelу obеdiеnt
whеther thеy wеrе in а body or alonе,
within thе manёgе or in thе opеn.
Thе Frеnсh Cavalrу sсhool, the famous
Cаdre Noir, transfеrrеd from Pаris to thе
small town of Saumur, аnd employеd
N.C.o.s for thе .sautе/ horsеs who werе
trainеd in thе сapriole, thе levade аnd thе
сouгbеttе. As wеll as the art of сlassiсal
drеssagе, thе offiсеrs of thе Cadre Noir
аlso inсluded сross-сountry work and
jumping in their сurriсulum. Thе Spanish
Riding Sсhool alonе prеsеrvеd сlаssiсal
riding exсlusivеly, аnd а tablet тherе had
an insсription ending .for thе instruсtion
and training of young noЬlеmеn and their
horses for sсhool riding and сomЬat'. Both
sсhools allowеd spесtators at various
timеs, and to watсh morning еxerсise
when the Arсhdukes were riding was a
fаvouritе pastimе. Thе Hoцr of the
Cavаliеrs, from noon to 3 p.m., was a timе
whеn any ridеr сould usе thе sсhool.
As lаnd beсаme enсlosed, it Ьесamе
neсessary for horsеs to jump. Thе Dukе of
Nеwсastlе (|592-L676)' dеsсribed аs .thе
bеst riding master and the worst сavаlry
leadеr of thе еntirе sеvеntееnth сеnturf ,
insistеd thаt horses must perform Ьoth in
thе mаnёge and in the opеn. As a result,
onе of his pupils, Prinсe Rupert_thе dash-
ing, Ьut somеwhat inеpt сommandеr of the
Royalist сavalry in thе Civil
.Wаr
- onсе
еsсaped his pursuеrs by putting his horsе
at a hеdgе and сlearing it so that his
еnemies сould not follow.
Thе Tilting Yard had allowed thе
knights of а former agе to test thеir horsеs
r44
Tent pegging, orthe use ofthe Ianсe at speed,
is sti|| praсtised by both miIitary and po|iсe
riders in Britain. lt figuгes in а thгee-part
сompetition, involving the use of pisto|, sword
аnd Ianсe, in whiсh points are given forthe skiII
with whiсh thev аre used.
and thеir skill, and to apprесiatе obеdiеnt
and supplе horses. In aсtual bаttlе, if
nеither sidе had won' more сharges werе
made until thе horsеs tirеd. At that point
Ьrokеn spеаrs wеIе tfuown away and thosе
still lеft fought with haсking swords and
maсеs. Suсh wаrfarе dеmanded а horsе
aссustomеd to trumpеts аnd shouts; onе
whiсh would stand when held by thе
squirе, аnd еvеn if demеnted with pain
from aгrows, might be restrained from
сrеating havoс. Thе nеw wаrfarе with
firеarms rеquired thе manoeuvrаble,
supple, lighter horse сapablе of speеd, and
thеrеfore unhampеrеd by thе wеight of
hеavy armour.
Nеw demands wеrе made Ьy obstaсlеs
and roads, so, in thе ninеtееnth and еаrly
twеntiеth сenturiеs, the Military Vеrsatil-
ity Test was dеvisеd from whiсh сame thе
Еvеnt. Thе drеssage phasе hаd 36 movе-
mеnts in ninе sесtions, entry into thе аrеna
bеing аt a.gаllop (in fасt probaЬlу а сallt-
er). Thе sесond day сonsistеd of fivе sес-
tions riddеn without pausеl сomprising
22krn (IЗ milеs) of roads and traсks, 8 km
(5 miles) сross-сountry over 35 obstасles,
аnd 2km (1 milе) on thе flat. Thosе who
survivеd - usuаlly aboцt half who hаd
bеgun _ сompеtеd in a show-jumping
event on thе third day. Cross-сountry
fenсes inсludеd jumping into girth-dееp
watеr with а muddy bottom, strеаms and
ditсhes at thе bottom of banks on steеp
sloоеs. аnd fenсеs sеt on eiтhеr sidе of
ravinеs. For сavalry opеrаting in thе age of
modеrn wеapons' suсh skill and aЬi1iry
wеre a matter of life and dеath.
othеr sports to exеrсisе thesе skills wеrе
pig stiсking (an ехtеnsion ofspеaring lions
and wild Ьoar whiсh саllеd for сourаge as
wеll аs skill)' hunting foxеs, dееr and harеs
аnd thе papеrсhasе. ЕIorsеs did not always
bеnеfit as muсh as it was bеliеvеd, pаrtiсu-
larly whеn they wеrе in the hands of inеx-
pert riders' Ьut the сompеtitivе еlеment in
hot blood aсross сountry provided аt lеast а
сivilian sourсе of ablе men if needеd.
.Nlusiсal drivеs by аrtillеry tеams are
remindеrs of anсiеnt times whеn thе
сhаriot was thе signifiсant wеapon of war.
Chariot raсes wеre in fасt often morе
dangerous than war itsеlf and suсh сon-
tеsts аt thе early olynpiads werе made
deliberately more hazardous Ьу thе intro-
duсtion of all solts of distraсtions,
designed to frightеn the horses. Al1 equеs-
trian gаmes and сontеsts, howеver, werе
dеsignеd to keep skil1 and intеrеst alivе by
сompetition' аnd also to dеmonstrаtе in
puЬliс the might of mountеd mеn.
one intеrеsting tеst in mass dеfеnсе,
originating in Russiа but somеtimеs
inсludеd in Pony Club Gamеs, is pushЬall,
whiсh еntails two tеams аttеmpting to
push a hugе ball ovеr thеir opponеnts' goаl
linе. Combinеd wеight is nееdеd to push
it' and аn unЬroken linе of dеfеnсе
rеquirеd to stop it onсе it starts to ro11.
Teшаthlon and Pеntаthlon сontеsts' for
сhildrеn аnd for thе sеrviсеs arе othеr tеsts
of thе аll-гound сompetitor in usе of arms,
riding and swimming.
In Britain,s Royal Tournamеnt' held
annually in London, thе British сavаlry-
mаn is put to sevеre tеst Ьy a сompеtition
involving thе usе of sword, pistol and
lаnсе, ovеr a сoursе whiсh has manу sharp
turns, hе starts holding his sword аt thе
slopе, саnters ovеr a jump аnd
immediatеlу has to piеrсе a disс аnd thеn
jump аnothеr fenсe. Inсreasеd momentum
is nеeded to pierсe thе disс whiсh is on a
spring. Hе thеn swings to a line of targеts,
hаving left his sword in thе disс, to tеst his
marksmаnship with a revolver. The flrst
target is a balloon to thе right of and аbovе
a fеnсе; thе nеxt а bloсk of wood on thе
ground, аnd thе third a Ьalloon on the lеft
of a fenсе' Turning onсе morе hе sеizеs his
lanсe, whiсh has bееn plaсеd in thе ground
point uppermost, and still at the gallop
must tаkе two rings suspеndеd from a gal-
lows, thеn lowering the laпсе to .tаkе' a
tentpeg whiсh has bееn drivеn into thе
ground lеаving a fеw inсhes protruding.
A1l three trophies hаvе to Ье сarriеd on thе
wеapon to thе finishing linе. Points arе
given for performing all stаgеs сorreсtly
and also for .srylе'. The sаme tests of skill-
аt-аIms аrе inсludеd in thе trаining of
mounted poliсе.
-N{usiсal ridеs and drives сall for sup-
гЪme judgеmеnt and timing to аvoid aссi-
dеnt, and although thе tаnk, armourеd саr
and thе aеroplanе, as wеll аs nuсlear pow-
er, hаvе mаdе thе horse redundаnt in wal-
farе, t}re pегpetuаtion of thesе military
skills is still an inсеntivе to sood horse-
manship.
 WESTERN SPORTS

'T.'" еvеnt that to most pеoplе is syn-

J. onymous with Wеstеm sports is that
of thе rodеo. The roots of rodеo liе in the
woгk and lеisurе aсtivitiеs of ninеtееnth.
сеntury сowboуs in thе Amеriсan West. In
т}re deсadеs prесеding thе Civil Waг of
1860_65, grеat numbеrs of Amеriсans
went to the south-wеstern rеgion of tlre
Unitеd Statеs to work on ranсhes. Latеr,
suсh postwar indusшialization as railroad-
ing, openеd lаnds wеst of thе Мississippi
Rivеr and hugе ranсhеs wеrе сarvеd out
from Tеxas to Мontanа.
Rаnсh lifе was demanding and hard.
Hеrds of сattlе had to bе brought еасh
spгing from wintеr pastures, so thаt сalves
сould Ье brаnded, аnd altеrеd into stеers.
Then thе hеrd had to bе tеndеd until thе
autumn шail drivеs to thе railroad dеpots.
Еасh сowboy rеquired a sшing of horsеs for
this work, and no onе сould afford thе timе
foг thе niсеtiеs and refinеments of train-
ing. Grееn horsеs would bе ropеd, sаddlеs
thrown on thеir baсks, сowboуs would
сlimb aЬoard, аnd thе eduсаtion proсess
went on until thе аnimals _ or thе ridеrs'
Ьonеs _ wеrе Ьrokеn.
Onе of the fеw rеspitеs from this exis-
tеnсе сamе at thе еnd of annual traildrivеs,
whеn evеryЬodу got togеthеr in thе
sаloons and gamЬling halls. Convеrsa-
tions soon turnеd to prowess with lariat or
hoгsе, and proof of allеgеd expеrtise woцld
soon Ье dеmandеd. Thе town] s main strееt
oг stoсkyard Ьесame thе sсеnе of thesе
impromptu riding and roping сontеsts'
вrith part or all of the уеa1s wagеs Ьеt on
thе outсome. Compеtitions of this sort
quiсkly саught on. Callеd а .rodеo' (from
the Spаnish word for .round-up'), a molе
.!Иуoming
formal еvеnt wаs stagеd in and
anothеr in I(ansas during thе 1870s. In
1883 thе town of Pесos in Tеxаs offеrеd
pгйе monеy for a steеr-roping сoпtest, and
fivе уears latеr, whеn a Dеnvег, Colorado
гodеo сhargеd admission to speсtators'
rodеoing bесame a fully flеdged businеss.
Two of thе fivе .сlassiс' or standard
еvеnts stagеd аt гodеos todаy havе theiг
oгigirrs in aсtual ranсh work. Calf-гoping
Ь onе' and it demаnds dexterity with а
lаsso as wеll as а well-шainеd horsе. The
idеа is to гope, thеn tie a сalf, as if to prе-
pатe it for brаnding. A сalfis givеn sеveral
sесonds' hеad stаrt down thе arena, bеforе
hoгsе and rider gallop in headlong puгsuit.
Тhеn the сowboy tossеs his lasso ovеr thе
аnimal's hеad, and almost iп onе motion,
he sесurеs the othеr еnd of thе rope around

Cа|f roping in Western rodeos is а basiс test of

а сowbov,s skiII.
his sаddlе horn, throws himsеlf from thе various аsoeсts of rodeos stеm fгom the
AII the intrepid сowboy attempts to cling on whiIe аn
saddle and runs towаrds thе сalf. Thе dаys of the rаnсh сowboy, though the eVеnts angry bulI twists and turns in his effoгts to be
horsе has Ьeеn trained to stеp baсk to kееp now hаve аn imoortanсe of theiг own. Еven rid of his rideг_this is one of the с|assiс rodeo
thе ropе tацt. Thе сalf is thus restrainеd, today, сatt|e have to be herded over enormous even|s' below: The end of the ride foг а bronс
and bесomes fair gamе for the аpproасhing aсreages, aпd horses mUst stilI be broken in busteras he hitsthe dustofthe arena.opposite
сowЬoy, who flips it onto its side and tiеs fгom the Wi|d state to beсome usefu|, wi|Iing top : Call roping is an important feature of work
threе of its four lеgs togеthеr with a short partners. тhe events in rodeos are aII based, on the range. below left: In this сontest the
lеngth of ropе (сallеd a piggin stIing) though some Ioosely, on work tгаditiona||y rider has to throw the steeг to the ground by
whiсh hе hаs beеn holding in his tеeth. done on саtt|e rаnсhes in North Ameriсa or the taiI before reaсhing a speсified part of the
Time is thе dесiding faсtor' although a Austга|iа. above left: Bronс riding imitates the arena. below right: rhе тoronto Winter Fаir
сowboy will Ье automatiсally disqualifiеd diffiсuIties of breаking in wiId horses and сombines pаgeantгy with trаditiona| сowboу
from thе сompеtition if thе сalf slips out of shows the сowboy,s skiII on аn unbroken spoгts and a disp|ay by the fаmous Canadian
the tiе within five seсonds. horse. above'. Using only one hand, the Mou nties.
The other evеnt is saddlе bronс riding
whiсh еvokеs mеmoriеs of thе method
usеd Ьу сowboуs to.Ьrealt thеiт mounts for
riding. The saddle in this instаnсe is а
modifiеd stoсk sаddle, smallеr аnd without
a horц whilе the rеin is mеrеly a Iope
attaсhеd to thе horse's haltеr.A buсking
strаp istightened around thе animaГs
flank to еnсourage its aсtion. Horses and
thе order of going arе sеlесtеd by lottеry.
Bеforе thе ridе Ьеgins, the сowboy lowеrs
himself into thе stаrting сhute and onto thе
baсk of thе horsе hе has drаwn. l07hеn hе
hаs seсurеlу wrappеd thе lopе around onе
hаnd, hе signаls for thе gatе to bе opеned,
аt whiсh point thе horsе buсks wildly out
into the ring. Thе rider is rеquired to plaсе
his spurs on thе horsе's shouldеrs аt thе
start and to usе them on thе first jump out
of the сhutе. Thе aсtual ride, whiсh must
last ten seсonds, сalls for еxtraordinary
balanсе and timing to aсhievе maximцm
sсorеs.
Sсoring foг bгonс riding follows a Iес-
ognized proсеdurе. Two judgеs еaсh
award from zеro to 25 points for thе ridе/s
pеrformanсe and thе samе rangе of points thе ground. Narurally еnough, from this, thе girth grip, аnd again they must try to
for the horsе's, whiсh explаins the rеason sprang the сontеsts of barеbaсk Ьronс rid- last until thе eight-sесond buzzеr sounds.
whу сowboys hope to drаw diffiсult ing, bull riding, and steеr wrеstling, whiсh Steеr wrestling or Ьull-dogging, bеgins
mounts. Thе aggregаtе is thе ride/s sсorе is also known as bull-dogging. whеn a stееr is rеleasеd from a pеn and
for thаt round. Disquаlifiсаtion results Although barеЬaсk Ьronс riding сеr- mаdе to run thе lеngth of thе аrеna. The
fтom a гidеr сhanging hands on thе lеin' tainly rеquires brutе strength, thе ridеr сan сowboу gallops aftег it, with anothеr ridеr
touсhing thе horsе with his freе hand, or usе only onе hаnd to hold thе gгip, whiсh (сalled ahazer) raсing on thе other side to
Ьеing thrown beforе thе tеn-sесond bttzzet is attасhеd to a strаp around thе hoгsе's kееp thе animal running straight. Whеn
sounds. girth. Rulеs and sсoring aгe similаr to sad- thе сowboy drаws levеl with thе stee1s
The tfuеe rеmаining .сlassiс' еvеnts thаt dlе Ьronс сompetition, еxсept thаt еight, head, he flings himsеlf from thе saddlе'
form part of every rodеo arose out of.!(еst- not tеn' sесonds is thе time limit. Bцll and grаЬs the animаl's horns as hе plants
еrnеrs braggiлg, аlong suсh lines as .Гm гiding is partiсularly pеrilous, sinсe a Ьull his boots in the dirt to get а fiтm grip. His
so tough I сan ride a bronс Ьarebaсk, stay will сhasе and gorе an unseated сowЬoу. аrms tightly wrappеd in a dеadloсk on thе
aboard a brаhma bull, or wrеstle a stееI to Riders arе permitted to цsе both hands on animal, thе сowboу thеn wrеsdеs фе steer

146
I
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lr

l
I
a.

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' ,i '--i

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Ё ,tl
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| ъ'
t,'
'; ii

, i '''' ,-
. ;+., i r-.' ':

_.'] its sidе. Thе deсiding fасtoт in this
: -::i 1s tlmе.
З::rе1 raсing is an еvеnt for сowgirls.
l--.:ее 1arge oil drums arе plaсеd to folm a
- l=.lgular сouгsеr around whiсh hoгsе and
]]]:: gallop in a сloveгleaf pattеrn. Thе
....э.t timе of all сontеstаnтs wins.
] :rgеr rodеos fеаturе othеr еvеnts,
..: jе thе flve staпdard onеs. One popular
: .::эеution is for сutting horsеs, trainеd
:..aratе a
.- ']iеrpose сalf
' or stееr from a hеrd, thеn
itself to plеvеnt the animal
-- '::l геturning to thе group. AnothеI is
=.:: roprng whiсh involvеs two сowЬoys.
Onе of thеm lassoеs a сalf аround the hеаd
whilе his ParuleI ropеs thе animal's hind
legs. Colouгful and wild affaiгs are thе
сhuсk wаgon гaсes, whiсh are reminisсent
of something olt of Ben Ё/иz. Tеаms of
fouт or six horses pull Connеstoga wagons
around a trасk at a madсap spеed.
A rodеo is also a great display of pagean-
try, from thе opеning grand еntrу of all
partiсipants to thе сIowning of a rodеo
queеn and hеr сourt ofаttеndants. Еxhibi-
tions put on foг general amusеmеnt and аs
part of thе day's ploсеedings may inсlude
triсk riding, fanсу roping, or a musiсal
ridе. Onе group of rodeo еmploуеes whosе
funсtion maу аppеar to be primarilу еnter-
tainmеnt, although thеy aсtually fulfil a
vital purposеJ arе thе сlowns. Theу divеrt
thе bulls and wild bronсs from fallеn rid-
еrs. Мorе thаn a fеw сowboys owе thеiI
livеs to the quiсk rеflеxеs and сouragе of
rodеo с1owns. Еquаllу essеntial to thе сon-
tеstants, arе thе mountеd piсk-up mеn,
who hеlp Ьronс and bullridеrs dismount at
thе сonсlusion of thеir rounds.
Dеdiсation, as wеll as aЬilityJ is a prerе-
quisitе for profеssional rodeo сowboys.
Лhе .suiсide сirсuit', as the toul is wrуlу
r47
WESтEпN sP()втs
known, goes oп all уear and involves
шavеlling aгound vеry grеat distаnсеs.
Unlikе most othеr athlеtes, rodеo ridеrs
pay their own waу throughout, and that
inсludes еntry fееs' room and board, and
stabling fееs for thеir horsеs. As may bе
imaginеd, injuriеs arе сommonplaсе, yеt
still еvеryonе will strivе for the .pot of gold
at thе еnd of this rainbow. It сontаins prize
money' whiсh will help rеalizе a profit for
thе sеason, but morе important it mеans
the gain of thе titlе of All-Around Chаmp-
ion. Based on the аmount of prizе monеy
won ovеr thе yеar, the Championship also
opеns thе door to аdditional inсomе from
sponsoring сlothing mаnufaсtuгers, freе
bеer, and oтhеr produсts whiсh аrе somе-
how еquestrian-relatеd. Among thе bеst
known All-Around Champions are Casey
Tibbs, Jim Shoulders, аnd Larry Мahаn.
In 1974' Tom Fеrguson sеt thе all-time
monеy mark of $120,000. A yеar latеr he
tied with Lеo Camarillo for thе titlе, еaсh
having won exaсtly $90'240'
Thеre arе morе than 1,000 rodеos held
аnnuаlly in thе Unitеd Stаtеs and Cаnada.
The .big lеаguеs' inсludе thе Chеyеnnе
Frontiеr Days in !0?'yoming, Pеndlеton
Round Up in Orеgoщ Dеnvеr Stoсk Show
in Colorado, аnd the oklahoma City All-
Amегiсan Finals. Small сitiеs and towns
hаvе thеiл own fixturеs, many of whiсh aгe
sponsorеd by сiviс or сhaгitable organiza-
tions. on a younger, but сеrtаinlу not
small, sсalе, univеrsity аnd high sсhool
A rodeo queen on parade, dressed in
traditionаI Indian сostume'
.Wеst,
stцdеnts throughout thе еngagе in
thе sport as Pаrt of intеrсollegiаtе, varsity,
and сlub athеltiсs.
Lеss dangerous and perhaps spесtасular
than rodеos, but еqually as enjoyаble in
.Wеstеrn-
thеir way arе thе four sесtions of
stylе riding found at horse shows around
thе Unitеd Statеs. These four sесtions
сompгisе stoсk sеat еquitation сlassеs,
stoсk horsе сlassеs' шail horse сlassеs аnd
plеasure horsе сlassеs. Ridеrs wеar thе
шaditional and сolourful gear of broаd-
brimmеd hаts, high-hееled boots, and
сhaps or \DИеstern pаnts. In somе instanсеs,
а rаin sliсkеr is worn or sесurеd to thе
saddlе. ЕIorsеs are shown in stoсk saddlеs
and bridlеs, with сurb bits and split rеins.
Thе tесhniquе of \0Иеstеrn riding rеquirеs
that ridеrs hold thе гeins in only onе hаnd,
and sit with their legs hаnging straight аnd
slightlу forward to thе stirгups. They must
not post to thе iog trot.
сontеstants in stoсk sеat equitation
сlаsses arе judgеd on thеir riding skills,
аlthough the pеrformanсe of their horsеs
сontributes immеasuгably to thе final
sсorеs. Riders and thеiг mounts arе аskеd
to walЬ jog, and lope (thе Wеstегn tеrm for
сantеr) in both dirесtions, and the horses
should bе in pегfeсt balanсе at all timеs,
working off their haunсhes. Somе сlassеs
involvе a variеty of tests' suсh аs figures-
of-eight at thе jog and/or lopе' riding with.
out stifrups' flying сhangеs of lеad at thе
lopе, 360o turns, and the imprеssivе sliding
stops.
Thе stoсk horsе seсtion demonstrаtes
the kind of qualitiеs and teсhniquеs
neеdеd for ranсh work. Еaсh еntry goеs
tfuough thе !0Иеstегn equivalеnt of а drеs-
sagе test, whiсh сomprisеs figuгes-of-eight
at thе iog and lopе, tuгns on thе forеhand
and haunсhеs, and halts. Partiсular qual-
itiеs of stoсk horsеs arе good mannеrs'
handinеss' rеsponsе to light rеin сontaсt,
and thе аbility to work at reаsonablе speеd
whilst rеmаining сompletеly undег thе
ride/s сonrol. Hеsitations' antiсipations,
аnd disobedienсеs arе deemed faults.
Trail horses arе аsked to nеgotiatе ob-
staсlеs whiсh might bе found on a сгoss-
сountry ride. A сourse sеt up aгound thе
аrеna would probaЬly inсludе a gatе
(whiсh has to bе opеned, passed through,
and тhеn сlosed), logs, a ditсh' a bridgе, an
еЦ)anse of water (simulating a strеam to be
forded), and balеs of straw thгough whiсh
the horsе is made to bасk. Performаnсе
аnd mannеrs arе thе сritеria for judging.
Plеasure horsе сlassеs plaсе greаt
еmphasis on suitabiliry аnd manners to Ье
a good.Wеstern hасk. Horsеs аrе shown at
thе walk, jog, and lopе on a reasonаbly
loose rеin. In somе сlassеs, сonformation,
as wеll as еquipmеnt may be tаkеn into
ассounт.
In аddition, сеrtаin breеds' suсh as
Appаloosas, Arаbians, Мoгgans, Palo-
minos' Pintos, and Quаrtеr ЕIorsеs, arе
еligible to bе shown in Wеstern sесtions of
their divisions.
Dude ranсhing or paсk tripping has long
bееn an intеgral part of \D?'еstеrn riding.
ЕIowevеr, as it really сomprisеs more of а
vасational aсtivity than а sport, it is
inсluded in .Holidаys with Horsеs'.
 AUSТRAL|AN B|DINБ

fat'. It sееms thе mеat from his old friеnd although the popularity of this littlе ani-
did not stiсk in Burke's throat as onе might mаl has гeaсhеd thе сitу and manу aгe
have imаginеd. finding good homes or being usеd as foun-
As thе сolony bесamе morе sеttlеd and dation stoсk bу newly formеd donkey
mail and сoaсh routеs wеrе еstablishеd, studs.
thе bandit or bushranger made his appеar- Yeaгs ago pгofessional horsеbгеаkеrs
anсе. often еxсеllеnt hoгsеmen from Ire- шavellеd from station to station breaking
land, these esсapеd сonviсts or.еasy-living in mobs of horsеs, аt thе rаtе of dozеns a
men' wеre fеarlеss гiders. Thе priсе on day. Today thе propеrty's animаls arе
their hеads made thеm pаrtiсular about brokeп by the stoсkrnen as Part ofthe sta-
thеir mounts and they stole only thе best _ tion routinе. Thе hoгses aге mustеred and
well-bloodеd horses in fасt, whiсh сon- brought to thе statiorf s yards, from whеre
tinuе to provе their worth todаy as stoсk- marеs with foals аt foot aгe гeturned to the
f.f oвsвs havе made аn еnormous horsеs. paddoсks, yеaгlings аrе branded and also
l.,l. сonшibution to lifе in Australiа. In a сountry with an еvеr-еxpаnding retuгnеd' whilе thosе rеquired for brеaking
Vittr unflagging enеrgy and unfailing loy- bееf and wool industгy, horses play a major аrе геtаinеd. Today most stoсkmеn usе thе
part. Мotor bikes, шuсks, even light аiг- .Jeffеlt' mеthod of brеaking whiсh relies
аlty, they hеlpеd mаp out thе vast аrеas of
агid dеsегts, grassy plains and ruggеd сraft and hovеrсraft havе failеd to provе as on gaining tlre horsе's сonfidеnсе and in
пouпtains, and сould wеll bе dеsсribed as еffiсiеnt in thе managеment of stoсk. Now nеarly all саsеs this mеthod suссeеds. Thе
pionеeгs in thеir own right. Although not largеr pгopеrtiеs саrry sеveral hundrеd horse is dгiven by himsеlf into а smаll yаrd
infigenous to thе сountry thеy sеttled hap- head of hoгsеs whiсh arе bгеd (usually and сaught with а loop ofrope or grееnhidе
pilу aпd rеmаin today in univеrsаl high from thе propеrqy's Thoroughbrеd stаl- сarriеd on thе еnd of а long polе. onсе
еstеem. lion), born, work and diе on thе same stа- seсured aгound thе nесk, hе is gеntly
Govегnor Phillip bгought the first tion. Thеy run oftеn viлtually wild in large еnсouragеd to move сloser to the breakеr.
hoгsеs to Australia in 1788 whеn hе paddoсks, so фat thе ovеrsеas visitor Then hе is tied up, handlеd, and the Ьridlе
аrгived with thе Fiтst Flееt. Landing at thе travеlling in thе outbaсk, may, on sееing a aпd sаddlе put on him. This part of his
Cаpе of Good Hopе to tаkе on suppliеs, he largе moЬ, assumе thеy arе .brumbiеs' or bгеaking usually takes aЬout three houгs,
юok aboard a stallion, thгеe maгеs and two wilф unownеd horsеs. This is sеldom thе after whiсh he is turnеd loosе in the yаrd to
yеаrliпg filliеs. Unfortunatеly, on landing, сasе and сloser inspесtion would show t}rе gеt thе .feе]] of the saddlе. Caught again hе
аll but thе stаllion and one maгe еsсаpеd propеrty's brаnd mark. will Ье mountеd. Somе arе lеd aгound the
йе lаx еyе of thеir сonviсt gгoom, and fled Thе wild brumbiеs aге still to be found yards from а геliablе brеаking horsе;
iптo thе ЬusЫаnd. ]Vlore horsеs wеrе in the dеsегt or mountain аrеas, howеvеr, oтhеrs arе rеquirеd to walk around witlr thе
imported over thе nехt tеn yеars from the espeсiallу in thе Northеrn Tеггitory. ridег nесk-rеining thеm as thеy approaсh
samе sourсе, along wiф somе Еnglish Gгаziегs геsеnt shaгing their gтаsslаnds, thе сoгnеrs of thе yaгd. Thеy aгe thеn
Тhoгoughbrеds and Arаbs from India and so wild hoгsеs in thе Tеггitory arе сlas- tаkеn to а laгgеr yard and wаlkеd around
Pетsiа, and although these fust impoгts sifiеd as vermin and shot, or fеnсеd off that for somеtimе longer. Thе whole opеr-
s'еre not first сlass brееding stoсk, thеy fгom watеr' so thеу pеrish. The same fatе ation сlеaгlyгеquiтеs a good dеal ofpatienсе.
цogтеssivеlу impтoved with еaсh suссеs- awaits ttrе wild donkеys who гoаm the Thе stoсk saddlе hаs a high pommеl and
sive gеnеration. grassy plains iл mobs of a hundrеd oг so, knее pads and is fastened by сanvas girths
Bу 1798' thеre wеre 117 horsеs in the that аrе lасеd to rings or buсklеd in thе
new сolony, 73 of *rеm mares. The fust Austra|ian stoсkmen at work rounding up сonvеntional mannег. Thе stoсkman ridеs
sсrious step to improvе thе stoсk сamе сatt|e oп one of the Vast ranсhes in the in a loosе, сomplеtеly .fluid mannеr. His
with thе importation of the Еnglish brеd Austra|ian outbасk. The horse is stiI| аn hands are fеatherlight on thе long геins,
horse Roсkingham. By thе еaгly 1820s essentiaI paгt ofthe everyday Iife ofAustraIian his lеgs hang almost straight аnd slightly
lhеrе were 5,000 horsеs, although Roсk- farms and is гenowned for its stamina. forward in long stiгrups.
Ьghяm сannot bе сredited wi*r siring
аIl of thеm! During thе 1899_1902 Boer
Wаr, 16'375 horsеs wеrе gathегed from all
ovег Austгalia to mount thе гegiments.
It was from thе miхеd brееding linеs of
thе еaгly imports, that thе famous
Ausrтаliаn \0Иаlеr wаs foundеd. Standing
Ьtrпeen 15 and 16h.h. hе was of .dеnsе
Ьonе' and сapablе of сarrying up to 108 kg
(l7 stone) all day. Thе \trИalеr provеd him-
sеlf to Ье a сouragеous mount and is on
rесord as hаving out-lastеd and out-paсеd
фе саmеl in thе dеsеrt сampaigns.
Duтing thе First \DИorldl0Йar, Ausшalian
horsеs, by now famous foг ttrеir сouгagе
rnd stаmina' wеrе еxportеd to India аnd
Еurope. In faсt, moге than L2I,324 wentto
wаr. But thе еnd of thе war аnd ttrе dесline
of тhe сavaф saw thе еnd of thе \trИalеr.
Now hе is viгtually еxtinсt and no longеr
rесoгded in thе stud books. If thе еarlу
ехploтers wеrе gratеful for this toughly
bred сoloniаl horsе, whiсh proved himsеlf
indispеnsablе to thеm, thе faсt is not
гесorded.
Robегt СlHaга Burke, travellеd асross
rhе сontinеnt and hаlfwaу Ьaсk again on
Ьis hq15g Billy bеforе starvation mаdе him
shoot it. Thе diariеs rесord ttrat thе; .flеsh
ваs healthv and tеndеr. without a traсе of
 AUsтRAL|AN R|D|NG
After a pеriod of work - maybe mаny
months _ thе horsеs are turned out' or
.spеlled and a nеw lot brought in for work.
In еvеry mob of horsеs thеrе is nеarly
always thе .гogue' that doеsn't takе kindlу
to working with or for man. ЕIe is thе sort
*rat will buсk with real dеtеrmination
until thе day he diеs. Thеsе were фe
.unridеаbles' that were talkеd about гound
bush fuеs in drovеrs' сamps уears аgo, аnd
mеn who had suссееdеd in riding thеm
bесame lеgеnds, held in high еsteem. Thе
сhallеngе to prove themsеlvеs as horsе-
mеn wаs grеat аmong thе drovеrs and Ьets
wеrе .;agеrеd as to whеthеr, and for how
long, a man сould ridе a partiсular outlаw
horsе. This was the еarly beginning of
rodeos - a rеal Ausшalian sporting еvent
thаt саrriеs big prizes and аtшасts the
toughest ridеrs in thе сountry. Thе sport is
now organizеd and сontrolled bу thе
Australian Rough Ridеrs Assoсiаtion.
Saddlе bronсo riding is onе of the
foundаtion events ofthе spolt, and onе that
requirеs skill, balanсе, timing and experi-
еnсе. As in thе similar еvеnt in Amеriсan
rodeos thе сontеstаnt literally сlimbs
aboаrd thе horsе whiсh is сonfinеd bе-
twееn high wooden rails with a gаte at
еither end. As thе horse Ьuсks and plungеs
in this .сhutе', mounting саn bе а hаzard in
itself! Onсе mountеd, thе ridеr tаkеs thе
ropе of thе headсollar in onе hаnd and
positions his legs forward onto thе horsе's
shouldеr points. Thе gatе is openеd and hе
lеаvеs thе сhutеs for his tеn-sесond ride,
throughout whiсh hе must leavе onе hаnd
frее of all equipmеnt, the horse and his
own body. Staying on is not thе only judg-
ing сriteria though. Two judges, onе еithеr
sidе, note how wеll hе ridеs thе buсks, how
widе thе sweep of his spurs and with what
stylе the horsе buсks.
Thе standагd saddle for these еvеnts has
two giтths, onе positioned furthеr baсk
thаn usual to prеvent it bеing buсkеd ovеr
thе horsе's hеad. A hеadсollаr with a ropе
from the сеntral dее is the onlу means the
ridеr has to guide his mount _ if indeed
thеre is any guiding to Ье donе!
Bаrеbaсk riding is another сrowd
plеaser at rodeos. In this instаnсе thе horsе
-g is unhaltеrеd and wears only а surсingle to
whiсh is attaсhed a leathеr loop for thе
ridеr to hold. Again it is а onе-handеd ridе,
lasting this time for еight sесonds and
judgеd on thе сompеtito1s stylе and thе
tr
horsе's ability to shift him.
i Anothеr evеnt whiсh has been handed
down from the everydау work of thе
stoсkman is сalf roping and hеrе, a сlеvег
fаst horse that сan antiсipatе his ridеt's
neеds is invaluablе. A ropе is attaсhеd to
thе sаddlе hoгn аnd on a given signal the
ridеr sets oцt aftег a саlf whiсh is rеlеаsеd
from the сhutеs. ЕIе ropes thе саlfaтound
its neсk, аnd exaсtly at the moment thе
ropе touсhеs thе bеast's neсk, thе horsе
skids to a halt on its haunсhes, thus pulling
thе ropе taut. Thе сompеtitor ties the сalf's
lеgs as quiсkly as possiЬlе and rеmounts.
! Thе fastеst time wins.
Peгfесtly trained horsеs arе used for
stеer wrеstling too. A steеr is let loosе from
thе сhutеs аnd thе ridеr gаllops аlongside
it wаiting for an opportunе momеnt to lеаp
from his horse and grab it by the horns,
unbalanсе it and bring it to thе ground.
Thе wholе proсеss usuаlly only takеs bе-
nlteen 2Уz_LI sесonds, аnd is ridden at a
speed of 50-65 km (30-40 mph).
Thе horses used for rodeo work are
sometimes suppliеd bу loсal farmеrs who
have urгidеаble stoсk, or thеy may be the
propеrty of one person who travеls thе
rodeo сirсuit with thеm. The horses that
appеаr rеgulаrlу hаvе quite а reputation
and are often promoted as .killеrs'. Animаl
protесtion soсiеtiеs havе for somе years
Ьееn trying to havе all rodeos stoppеd on
thе grounds of сruelry to horsеs and сattle,
but suсh is their popularity, that аll
attempts havе so far bееn unsuссеssful.
No suсh movе hаs been madе against
сamp-drаfting еvеnts whiсh arе oftеn
stagеd аt rodеos, major shows and as сom-
petitivе attraсtions in their own right. This
stoсkman's sport саrries high prizеs and
has led to somе spесialized Ьrееding of
horsеs. Good drafting horsеs sеldom
сhаngе hаnds for undеr four figurеs. Thе
ideal hoгsе stands about 1 5 h.h. (аny larger
and theу find it diffiсult to exeсute the
aсutе turns nесеssary) and is up to сarrying
a fairly 1аrgе man while pushing a beast
аround аt thе samе timе. Hе has to bе fast,
and for this rеаson many good drafters
havе ThoroughЬred blood in them,
although rесеnt yеars havе sееn Quartеr
Horsе lines inшoduсed with suссess.
Camp-drаfting takеs plасе in naturаl bush
surroundings, and thе rider sеleсts a bеast
from the mob or сamp, and drives it to
another spot known as thе yards. In сom-
petition саmp-drafting' a сourse is marked
out Ьy pеgs or oil drums, and thе number of
саttlе in thе herd kеpt small. The feweг
falsе movеs mаde аlong thе routе, thе fast-
еr фe сourse is сomplеted, and thе highеr
ttrе sсorе. A good horse never takes his eyе
off the сhosеn bеаst and аny guiding
beсomеs unnесessary. Hе will lеan into
the Ьeast with his shoulder at the most
frightеning angles to prеvеnt it from turn-
ing. Еxесuted at great spееds, сamp-
drafting is a thrilling spесtator sport.
Cаmp-drаfting is not rеstriсted onlу to
adults. Pony CluЬ members learn thе rud-
imеnts during novеlty raсеs stagеd at thеir
ralliеs thтough suсh сompetitions as bеnd-
ing in аnd out of oil фums at a gallop. Of
сoursе somе сountry mеmbеrs gеt first
hand ехpеriеnсе аt thеir homе fаrms, but
thе Ponу Club in Austrаlia has givеn all
young ridеrs an opportunitу to lеаrn this
and othеr tесhniquеs.
In thе past horsеmanship skills werе
hаndеd down from ong gеnеration to thе
nеxt. For сountry сhildrеn thеrе wеге
alwауs ponies to ride and аdults to lеarn
from, Ьut nеw gеnerаtions growing up in
йе сitiеs аnd suburbs had pаrеnts, who
thеmsеlvеs hаd no knowlеdgе of horses.
To thеm thе Pony Clцb hаs bееn a Ьoon'
аnd thе intеrеst it hаs fostеrеd is еvidеnt at
thе surburЬan rallies wherе sometimеs
morе than 200 сhildrеn attend. Formеd in
thе 1950s, thе Pony Club in Ausшalia fol-
lows the same instruсtional lines as its
parent body in Еngland. Rеgulаr working
rallies make up a mаjor part of thе mееt-
ings whiсh arе stagеd аt 1oсаl show
grounds, raсe сoursеs or individual s prop-
еrties. Al1branсhеs _from thе tiny сountry
Ьranсh with a mеmЬеrship of maybе 50 to
thе larger inner-suЬurban onеs _ hold
сoursеs.
Camps arе гun during the holidaуs and
thе сlimate and opеn spaсеs makе
Austrаlian сhildren luсkier thаn many
othеrs. Informаl barbесue mеаls undег the
shade ofgum trееs and sing-songs or hor-
sеy quizzes and сompetitions around the
сamp firе at night add to thе fun.
Еaсh State runs its own affairs, but is
govеrnеd Ьy thе Austгalian Pony Club
CounсiI. Intеr-Statе сompеtitions arе
stagеs of thе biggеst еvеnt in the annual
сalendаr_ the Pony Club Сhampionships.
In rесent years thе Inter-Pасifiс
Еxсhangе Sсhеmе has bееn in operation.
Еvеry two уears, mеmbеrs visit a .host'
сountry and, as guests aIe suppliеd with
mounts and еquipmеnt, and takеn on vаri-
ous tours. Counшies pаrtiсipаting in thе

Left Highly trained horsеs are essentiaI foг
suссessful steer Wrest|ing, as the horse must
gаlIop а|ongside the steer UntiI the rider
эhooses his moment to Ieap, grаbbing the
stеeг by the horns in his attempt to bring it to
:г.тe grouno.
Below The Grand Parade at the Sydney
Roya| Еaster Show mаrks the beginning ofthe
Australian show season
Battom right rhe indomitable AUstrа|iаn
Thгее-Day Еvent гider, Bi|| Royсroft, who
;ompеted in the MontreaI oIympiсs at the age
of 61 аnd heloed to win thе team bronze
тпeda|. He was aIso a membeг of thе teаm at
Rome in 1960, when they won the gold.
Еsсhange Sсhemе are Ameriсa, Canadа,
\еп. Zeаland and Ausшalia. It hаs bеen
sаid that, per сapita, Australia has thе most
епthusiastiс mеmbеrs in thе world and thе
Ьtегest and enthusiasm is сertainly very
егidеnt at horsе shows hеld around thе
сountry.
Еvеry town, howеver small, holds an
аnnual show and somе of thе lаrgеr town-
sЫps may stagе more thап onе. Novеlty
гaсеs, jumping and riding еvеnts and dis-
plаvs Ьy the loсal brаnсh of thе Pony Club
аrе usually fеаturеd at these .familу
аttЪirs', but it is at еaсh State's Royаl Show
тhаt thе сountry really сomеs to thе сity.
^\mid an atmospherе, bustling with
t.aiт-gтound sideshows and stalls, сountry
lifе is well exhibitеd. Thе latеst in agriсul-
штаl еquipmеnt is on view; sheep shearing
сompetitions, buttеr making dеmonstra-
гions and wood сhopping raсеs аrе hеld;
кhile сattlе, sheep, poultry, pigs, сagеd
Ьirds, сats, dogs, goats аnd еvеn fashions
аrе judgеd, sold, viеwed and (in the сase of
Ьuпеr) tastеd, during the show. Grand
pагades of the winning animals arе hеld
еасh daу.
ЕIoгsеs геmаin onе of thе favourite
ехhiЬits amongst all thе сompеtition. Thе
pегmanеnt stablеs arе сrowdеd with
аdmiгеrs and thе еvеning iumping сom-
pеtitions, or displaуs oftеnt pеgging by thе
mountеd poliсе bгanсhеs arе grеat сrowd
plеasеrs. Thе jumping еvents are kеenly
сontеstеd foг it is from the .Royals' that
future Ol1тnpiс riders will bе piсkеd. At
Sydney's Royal Еaster show, a rеgulаr
Threе-Day Еvеnt is staged, whiсh is
сlosеly wаtсhеd by the olуmpiс selесtors.
Thе haсk' huntеr and otheг riddеn сlasses
attгaсt so mаny еntriеs that judgеs nеvег
ride _ it would takе too long. The Ьreed
сlаsses with thе hеavy horsе brееds, Arabs,
British nativе bleеds, palominos, harnеss
аnd Austrаlian poniеs tаkе hours to judgе
and the numbеr of еntriеs goеs up еvеry
yеar.
Nlost Statеs hold their Royal Show in
suсh high rеgагd that a publiс holiday is
dесlared during its running, to give work-
еrs and sсhool сhildren a сhanсе to attеnd.
It is interеsting to notе' that unlike manу
Australian publiс holidаys, show day is
aсtually spеnt at thе show, instеad of on thе
beaсh, or at homе. It dеmonstrates how
intегеsted сity dwellers arе in all things
from and of thе сountry.
a9i
AUsтRALIAN Rl0|NG
For thosе сompеtitors following thе сir-
сuit of shows, Еаster and the Sydnеy Royal
mаrks thе bеginning of thе sеason. Thе
Brisbane (Queеnsland) Еxhibition follows
in August with Мelbourne, Adеlaidе and
Perth in Sеptembеr and Tasmania in
oсtobеr. The enormous distanсеs bе-
twееn eaсh State сapitol makе showing an
expеnsive hobЬу, Ьut, thе prеstige attaсhеd
to winning a Royal сhampionship makеs
many сompеtitors trаvеl thе сiтсuit. Obvi-
ouslу а haсk that hаs won fivе or siх Statе
сhampionships in onе sеason is a vеry
valuable animаl.
Onе of thе highеst awаrds in the
Austrаlian showring, аnd onе сontestеd by
riders from all Statеs, is thе Garryowеn
event stagеd аt thе МelЬournе show. This
riding еvеnt is for lady ridеrs ovеr 18 уеars
of age and the winnег rесeives thе Pеr.
pеrual Garryowеn Trophy. Thе сup was
named after a top haсk who died in a fuе
morе than 38 yеaгs ago. The horsе's mis-
trеss, Violet Мuгrеll diеd too' шying to
savе him from thе flamеs. Thе winnеr of
thе еvеnt also rесеives a sash (sashеs arе
used instead of rosеttеs in Ausшalia) with a
portrait of Мrs. .Гvlurrеll on a Ьrooсh.
Nine olympiс Gamеs passed Ьеforе
Austrаliа сompеtеd wiф an еquеstrian
tеam. In 1956 whеn the Gamеs were hеld
in Мelbournе' thеу fеlt morаlly obliged to
еntеr' еvеn though thе еquеsшian еvеnts
were in Stoсkholm. Thеir fust threе-day
event tеam сonsistеd of Еrn Barker, Bеrt
Jaсobs, John \DИinсhеstеr, Bгian Crago аnd
Wyatt Thomson and they finishеd a vеry
сrеditable fourth. Thе Stoсkholm аdvеn-
turе fired thе Austгalian's еnthusiasm and
thenсeforth' threе-daу еvents Ьесamе rеg-
ular еvеnts in thе сounшy. In Romе, four
yeаrs latеr, thе tеam rеallу triumphеd, with
Bill Royсroft making his heroiс effort in
the finаl phasе аnd jumping а сlеar round
еvеn though hе had a brokеn сollar Ьonе.
As wеll as winning thе tеam gold, Lаuгiе
Nlorgan won thе individual gold. Ausшalia
was well and шulу on thе equеstrian mаp.
Thе 1964 Tokyo gamеs saw Australia,s
first show jumping team and Bill Roy-
сroft' s son Barry was inсludеd, while .Dad'
was onсе again in thе tfuеe day evеnt tеam.
 AUsтRAL|AN п|DING

'r*

.Meхiсo saw anoфеr Royсroft еntеr thе
гanks of olympiс horsеmеn, whеn Waynе
ioined thе tеam. Clarke was to follow years
lаter, and all the time Bill rodе for his
сounтry.
The peгformanсеs Ьу the Ausшаlians,
and in
partiсular фе vеtеran Royсroft,
dеmonstrate the great talent of Ausшalian
гidеrs and thе aЬiliry of thеir horsеs. In thе
сгoss-сountry phasе, both arе in thеir еlе-
mеnt and гесent years has sеen muсh
impгovemеnt in the dressagе whiсh is now
ап intеgral pаrt of all major shows. It has
dеvеlopеd quiсklу from bеginnеrs' сlаsses
to Pгix St Gеorge stаndards.
If it wаs Bill Royсroft who put Australia
on thе intеrnаtional еvеnting map' that Ьig
rеd gаlloper, Phаr Lap сan сlаim the сoun-
щJs raсing famе. Although hе has Ьеen
deаd for morе than 40 years, the nation
гemеmbеrs him with great affесtion,
hеightеnеd maybе, Ьy his mystеrious
dеай in thе Unitеd Statеs in |932. Phat
I-ap diеd aftеr a raсing сareer of only three
геaгs in whiсh hе amassеd morе stakе
monеy than аny othеr Australian horse
Ьеfoге him, winning 37 timеs from 51
sвпs. Suсh was thе affeсtion of his fans
that his Ьody was flown bасk to Australia,
dissесted and divided. His hеart is now in
thе саpital, Canbеrra, his skin in Мel-
bouгne and his skеlеton in Nеw Zea7and_
thе сountry whеrе hе was brеd.
Thе fiгst rасe to Ье run in Austrаlia was
in 1810 at Sуdneу and thе sport soon
proved popular. Thе first Меlbournе Cup-
probably Ausшalia's most famous rасе _
was stagеd at Flеmington, nеаr ]VlelЬourne
in 1861. It wаs won by Arсheг, a big horsе
who gallopеd along with his tonguе lolling
out' his long stridе earning him thе niсk-
Austrа|ians in sport. top |eft: Kevin Baсon, a
member of the Australian show jumping tea m
in aсtion at the MontreaI o|ympiсs. top right:
Po|oсrosse is a unique|y Austra|iаn spoгt
whiсh has deveIoped sinсe the introduсtion of
reа| poIo. below left: A pаnoramiс view of
MeIbou rne,s fаmous F|emington Raсeсourse,
showing the Lawns аnd the various traсks. In
Austra|ia many raсes are he|d oveг dirt traсks
rather than turt. inseti One of the renowned
two-time winners of the Melbourne Cuo. Rain
Lover' below righf : Another horse whiсh hаs
won the Me|bourne Cup twiсe, the
formidabIe Тhink Big.
AUs I tlAL|AN п|DING
namе, the Bull. Hе won it the following
yеar too) a гесord only rеpеatеd twiсе (at
thе timе of going to print) - by Rаin Lovеr
in L96819, and Think Big in 197415.
Thoцsаnds of еаgеr raсing enthusiasts,
from all parts of the сountry, floсk to
Flemington eaсh yeаr for this popular rасе
whiсh is traditionаlly held on thе first
Tuеsdау in Novеmbеr.
llowеver, suсh is thе nаtion's interеst in
thе sport of raсing, that even thе small
bush tгaсk (whiсh аlso sеrvеs as an аiт-
strip) сan attraсt a mighry сrowd. Мany
falsе starts may bе mаdе and the horses lost
from view in thе dust, but thе еnjoymеnt
amongst thе heat and thе flies is as rеal аs
thе plеаsurе for those on thе wеll kеpt
lawns of Randwiсk raсесoцrsе in Sydnеy
or that in Flеmington.
A fеw yеагs аftеr thе introduсtion ofraс-
ing, fox hunting took on a popularity.
Еnglishmеn, borеd with сhasing kangaroo
and dingo, impoгtеd a fеw foxеs to bгigh-
tеn up their sport. In Tasmania naturаl,
indigenous, quarry is still hunted,
although the hunts do not last long. The
laгgеst hunting fratеrniry now is in
Adеlaidе' South Australia, whiсh has 11
Hunt Clubs. The Adеlaidе Hunt CluЬ
Cup is run in Julу eaсh yеar for $1,700, thе
highеst stakе in thе сountry for a }Iunt
Crrp.
Thе oldеst hunt in Australia' The Меl-
bournе Hunt CluЬ, mеets on Saturdays
and onlу hunts the fox. It gathers a rеla-
tively small fiеld, usuаlly of about 60. Thе
sеason is from lVlay to Sеptеmbеr, аnd dur-
ing thеse months, thе aim is to kill the fox,
for from thosе few еarly imports, thе
bushy-tailed predator hаs multipliеd. Hаrе
and fox аrе huntеd Ьу аnothеr old еstab-
lishеd сluЬ while somе use а drag, in
whiсh сasе hunts usually last no more than
thтеe to four hours, and arе ovеI stfategi-
сallу plaсеd jumps. As in Great Britаin,
thеrе аrе а fеw dеmonstrations еvеry yеar
to have foxhunting bаnnеd.
The inшoduсtion of polo сamе not long
aftеr rасing and hunting, but it wаs sinсе
thе end of thе Fiтst World War that thе
gamе rеally went аhead. In 1925 thе
Austгalasiаn Gold Cup was introduсеd
and was сompеtеd for Ьеtwееn thе differ-
еЦt AustIalian Statеs аnd Nеw Zea7and.
Bесause station-ьIеd poniеs arе геadily
adapted to polo, thе gamе is muсh played
in the сountгy аrеаs аnd Queеnsland has
produсed a numbеr oftop сlаss players. A1l
matсhеs aгe well attendеd by spесtators
during thе sеаson. Polo сrossе is аlso
populаr аnd is playеd by Pony Club and
Riding CluЬ mеmЬеrs'
Ausшalia's links with the horsе аrе as
sшong todaу as thеy wеre at thе birth of thе
nation and thеre еxists а dеep lovе and
rеspeсt for thе аnimаl. Offiсе workегs on
thеir way to work will stop аnd pat thе
poliсе horse on point duty; thе gambler
will tаlk affeсtionаtеly of.his horsе', еven
though hе might losе; and sсhool сhildren
are sdll hеld spеllbound bу the skill and
dariлg of .Clanсy' and thе .Мan From
Snowy Rivеt', who сhasеd thе .сolt from
old Regrеt'. To Australians, the horsе is
part of thеir heritage
l)J

of the iаmе spесiеs аnd Ьrеed staпed
somе 200 уеals аgo. It spтang from thе
nдtural dеsiтe ofbrееdеrs ofhorsеs to provе
tсi othеrs, that thеy hаd used thеir skiil and
knо..tлrlеdgе to produсе an animаl that wаs
biggег, bеtter made for thе job in life to
whiсh it was to be put, and pоssеssеd of
пrore stlength, stamina, workmanlikе
quаlitiеs and сlassiсal сonformation than
thоse produсеd bу othеr brееders. Its
movement' quаlity, s}.rnmеtriсal pтopor-
tions and gеnеrаl bеauty of out1ine werе,
and still arе) thе yardstiсks Ьy whiсh it was
аssеssеd.
In addition, by produсing thеir produсts
in thе show ring' to win ovеr thosе of their
fеllow-brееdеrs whеn judgеd by ехpегts,
thеу wеrе ablе to сommand the top markеt
priсе for their young stoсk. Altеrnativеly
othеr Ьrеedеrs would Ье attrасtеd to sеnd
marеs to ttrеir stаllions. Sho'rvs hаvе
alwауs bееn сonvivial mееting plaсеs fоr
thosе of similаr intеrests and enthusiasms,
bound togethет _ дlbeit in friеndlу гivalry _
Ьу the samе сonсеrn foг good husbаndry
and the imрrovеmеnt of thе Ьreеd towaгds
thе ideal: thе perfесt horse. Although this
individuаl has prоbaЬly yеt to Ье foalеd,
just as thе pеrfесt human bеing has уet to
bе boгn, thеrе is еndless fasсination in pur-
suing а quеst to aсhiеvе it.
Probably thе purеst form of showing is
фаt of showing the уoung horsе in-hand.
Showmanship, whiсh is a сonsidеrаЬle art
must always plaу its part in showing an
аnima1 to its Ьеst advantagе' аnd а rеal
altist is able to disguisе fаilings of movе.
mеnt' or evёn lamеnеss, bу thе way hе
lеads a horsе, or runs him out in hand.
Thеrе aте шicks in еvеry tradе, and thеy
сomprisе еvеry profеssioпal showman's
stoсk-in.trаdе, but therе is lеss opportunity
for artifiсе in the сlasses in whiсh thе
exhibits arе lеd in.hand thап in thosе
where thеy arе riddеn. Thеn аn ехaggеr-
аtеd thтowing of thе toе in thе trotJ or a
flashy display at thе gallop, саn bе цsed to
disguisе, or to divеrt the attеntion from,
suсh failings аs fаultу асtion or somе othеr
shortсoming.
Тhe аim of the showman is to produсе a
horsе that will .fill thе eуe', as thе saying
goеs, and no hoгsе wins manу сhampion-
ships without thе ultimate blеssing of а
hard-to-definе quality knоwn aS prеsеncе.
This is thе quality whiсh Ьestows upon its
fortunatе possеssol thе аЬility to сommand
thе атtention of whoеvеr beholds it _ а
qualiry whiсh not only says, Ьut dеmаnds:
..Look at mе I'm thе grеatеst!'' A horsе
-
mаy bе bеttеr madе and а bеtter movеr thаn
othеrsJ Ьut if hе laсks presеnсе he will gеt
no furthеr in thе rvorld than thе man who is
dеniеd thе bеnеfit o nсe.

Thе hunter сlassеs arе the most impor-
tаnt of all thе сlasses in the show ring, for
thеy sеt thе stаndard of thе bеst sort of
hoгsе to breed аnd thеrеforе wield а widе
influеnсе upon brееdеrs and buyeгs alikе.
Thе уoungstoсk сlassеs, for brood marеs
and for foals, yеаrlings' two-yеаf-olds and
thrеe.yеar.olds arе largеly patronized Ьу
pеoplе who brеed horses for a hobbу, or by
fагmеrs who breеd thеm as a luсrаtivе
sidеlinе, to thеir sеrious farm work. Thе
riddеn сlassеs) on thе other hand, although
тtrеy too сontаin manу pеoplе who show
horsеs for the sheеr fun of it' аrе also thе
happv hunting ground foт thе professional
showmеn who produсе horsеs for othеr
pеoplе _ and in so doing, еnsurе thаt thе
stаndards of trаining, riding' produсtion
and prеsеntation arе mаintainеd аt a сon-
sistеntly high levеl.
I
Тhе basiс proсеduге fог thе lеd hцnter
!i сlasses nеvеr vaтiеs. Thе уoungstеrs are
lеd into thе ring сirсlе around thе judgе at
I,
I
t а r.valk (оссasionally at а trot for a shoгt
I
spell' а valuablе innovation borrowеd from
йе \7e1sh ооnv сlasses _ movеmеnt frоm
thе sidе bеing just as impoтtant as movе.
mеnt from thе Ьaсk oг the front) until thеy
arе сalled in Ьу thе judgе or his stеward to
stand in a straight linе, in prеliminаry
ordеr of mеrit. Thе judgе thеn walks down
thе line sсrutinizing eaсh animal, Ьeforе
pulling еaсh otrt in turn to iпspесt it again
аs its lеadеr .stаnds it up (i.е.' mаkеs it
stand fouг-sqцaтe). Thеn the judge sееs it
run oцt in hand; .\wаlk awaу, and tтot baсl{
is thе usual rеquest' Ьut if hе is duЬious
аЬout somе small point - doеs il swing a
leg, or throw a foot} _ hе will ask it to go
agаin to сonfiтm or allaу his еarliеr suspi.
сions.
In thе last analуsis, lrе has thе linе of
horsеs сiтсlе around him onсе morе Ьеfоre
сalling in his winnеr and then thе lowеr-
plaсеd horsеs' In almost еvеry сlass, hе
will оnly havе suссеedеd in plеasing onе
pеrson' аlthough thеrе сan еver only bе
onе winnеrl Thosе lеss fortunatе will tеll
thеmselvеs and сеrtain sеlесted friends
that thе judgе is a fool; tеll thеmsеlvеs and
onе or two others, in striсtеst сonfidеnсе,
thаt the judgе is а knаve; or tеll themsеlves
тHЕ s|-i0W в|NG
thаt this is onlу one man's opinion, аnd
thеrе is аlways another day. A fourth
сatеgoгy of eхhibitor goеs and attaсks thе
judgе, Ьut this person is vеry rarе, and
indееd gеts inсrеasinglу morе таre as he
hаs his errtiеS rеfusеd by othеr shows for
his reputation will quiсkly gеt around.
Therе is an old and truе show-ring saуing,
to thе effесt thаt: .If you сan't takе dеfеat,
dorit shov/.
Thе riddеn hunter сlass may hаvе еithеr
one or two judgеs, who arе сallеd upon in
Еnglаnd and Irеland (though not in thе
Unitеd Stаtеs or Сanada) to гidе the
horsеs. This they do having sееn thеm
walk, trot' сantеr and gallop round thе
ring, whеrеupon тhе samе systеm of саl.
ling the horses into a linе prevails.
If thеrе arе two judgеs thеу thеn stаrt
riding' vеry oftеn' from oppositе еnds; if
thеге is only onе hе starts аt thе top and
woгks his way down. It is dеsirablе for
еvеry hоrsе to bе riddеn, evеn if thosе at the
bottom of thе linе stаnd no сhanсе what-
soever of Ьеing plасеd' Aftеr all, thе
еxhibitors hаve all paid thе samе еntry fеe'
Тwo aspeсts of the show ring: showing
in'hаnd and the ridden pоny. Pony stаIliоns аt
the Ascot stallion show, where they are judged
on theiг suitаbiIity for breeding good nаtive
ponies and сhildren.s riding ponies. lлset:
Showing саn begin at a very early age,
espeсiaIlу in Ieading гein с1аsses whеre the
pony is judged on its suitаb[[itу for a сhild.
*ё=
=
 тHЕ SHOW в|NG

most have gonе to thе samе tloublе aпd

еxpеnsе to produсe thеir horsеs and bring
thеm to the show, and it is disсouraging, to
say thе lеast, to Ье dismissеd with a сurt
nod. Еven if timе doеs not pеrmit the
judgеs to ridе еvеry horse' (and judgеs arе
all too oftеn not givеn suffiсiеnt timе to do
their job' bеing сonstantly hurriеd along
by a stеward who is himsеlf being сhiwiеd
from highеr up' vеry often bесausе of thе
dеmаnds of the tеlеvision pеoplе, impa-
tiеnt for thе show-jumping to bеgin on
timе!) thе bеttеr judgеs arе puпсtilious
about having a final look and a сhееry word
with thе pool man or woman who is unfor-
tunatе to stand at thе vеry еnd ofthе linе. A
pat of the horsе's nесk, and an admiring: .I
Ьеt hе's a supеr hцntеrl' goеs а vеrу long
wаy towards mollifying an еxhibitor who
;1
is about to bе sеnt out of thе тing with .thе
ruЬbish'.
tl
Thе biggеr shows will put on сlassеs not
onlу for thе сonvеntional thrее wеight
divisions - lightwеight, middlеweight and
hеalrywеight _ Ьut also for four-yеar-o1ds,
I

noviсеs. smal1 huntеrs. and ladiеs huntеrs

to bе riddеn sidе-sаddlе (аnd judgеd' of
сoursе, by а lаdy iudge who is profiсiеnt in
thе art of riding side-saddlе). Lady judgеs
arе among thе most long-suffеring of all,
for thеy oftеn havе to сlimb up into sidе-
saddles of еxtrеmе disсomfort whiсh сamе
out of somе dank attiс and аrе almost prе-
historiс in dеsign! Happily' many of suсh
oldеr sidе-saddlеs havе bееn sold аbroad as
antiquеs to hаng on thе walls of thе homе
of somе tyсoon in thе Nеw World.
Suffiсiеnt теmain in usе, howеvеr, to сast
a сloud ovеI thе most stout hеartеd of
lady iudgеs.
Thе winning side-sаddle horse does not
quаlify for thе ovеrall show сhampionship'
and nor do the four-yеar-old oI the small
huntеr, bцt thе first and sесond in thе
wеight сlasses meеt agаin to сompеtе for
the аwаrd of thе сhampionship and rеsеrvе
_ thе final ассolade in thе life of the show
huntеr.
\Иorking hunters havе to iump a small,
сompalatively natural сoulsе of somе six
show jumps bеforе being judgеd for сon-
formation. Jumping pёгformanсе сounts
for somе 40 pеr сеnt of thе wholе assеss-
ment.
Weight-сarrуing сobs with show quality
alе, alas, a vanishing brееd as the small
demand for thеm mаkеs them unесonomiс
to brееd. Thе haсk сlassеs arе quite wеll
filled and thе big shows stagе сlаssеs for
noviсеs' and for ladies' haсks to Ье ridden
sidе-saddlе, in addition to thе usua1 с1asses
divided by hеight (not еxсееding 15h.h.
and not ехсeеding 15.3h.h.).
A haсk is an еlеgant, wеll-trainеd ani-
mal. In daуs gonе Ьу' thеy wеIe a сommon

Judging for three verу different сlasses at

а horse show. top: After giving a ridden
dispIay and а|so being ridden by the.judge, a
lady's hack is then 'stood up'for the judge to
assеss its оonfoгmation middle: A riding
pony mare and foa l сome forward for judging
in hand - the mare will not be ridden in this
class. bottom: A beautifulArab is here being
shown under saddle.

t56

sight in Hydе Park whеn гidden by ladiеs
аnd gеntlеmеn for аn hour or so on a sunny
moгning - partly, no doubt, to aпraсt thе
admiring аttention of some membеr of the
oppositе sеx. Nowadays thеy arе vеry
lаrgеly сonfined to thе show ring. A rеally
good haсk, of true .haсК typе, is lighter
built and moгe graсеful than a hunter, with
а beаutiful hеad and outlook. It is indеed a
thing of bеauф аnd, likе it, a joy foг as long
as it lasts. Few modеrn hасks howеvеr
sееm to bе sсhoolеd with that lightnеss in
hаnd whiсh, with its fгeе and flowing
movеment' was so very сhaгaсtеristiс of
ttrе сhampions of 30 yеars ago.
The British show ponу, a miniаtцге
Thoгoughbred, is a rеmaгkable phеnome.
non whiсh is found nowеhеrе еlse in thе
woгld and is grеаtly admirеd in othеr сoun-
triеs although sеldom сovеtеd, ехсеpt
pегhaps in thе Unitеd Statеs. A fair
пumbеr of British show ponies hаvе Ьеen
ехportеd to Amеriса, but on thе Continent
thе buyеrs sеem to fееl, with somе jus-
rifiсation, that thеse poniеs arе altogethеr
too light, too finеly-brеd аnd too preсious
to be suitablе for the avеragе сhild, who
will hаvе a greаt dеal morе fun гiding а
nаtivе pony, or one only a gеnеration
геmoved from foundation stoсk.
Еvеn in Еngland, thе showing сlasses
today arе largеly thе hunting ground of the
pгofеssional сhildren on professionally-
produсеd poniеs, and few Paгеnts want
thеir сhildrеn to gеt involvеd in this sort of
гat-raсе. I was at l0Иindsor show onе day
whеn I heard a pгofessional produсеr mus-
ing to himsеlf: .Therе are fi.oe pеoplе rid-
ing tlris pony!' _ and so thеrе wегe! Thеrе
wаs thе сhild herself, him, thе pony's own-
er' and thе сhild s mother and grаnd-
mothеr, all саlling out instruсtions to thе
poor unfortunatе joсkеy every timе she
саmе past. Small wondеr thаt сhild now
hatеs showing and far prеfеrs working
pony сlasses and Pony Club hцnter trials
аnd onе day еvеnts _ аnуthinв' in fасt,
whiсh avoids swanning around thе show
ring looking prеtty on a prеtty ponу whiсh
is not сapаЬlе of doing anything elsе' аnd
oftеn has to bе riddеn-in by an adult for an
hour or two at thе show Ьeforе it is safе for
а сhild to гide.
It is thе woгking ponies' I am quitе сon-
vinсеd, that аIе thе ponies of the future,
аnd thеsе сlassеs' whеrе the poniеs аге
геquired to jump, arе fillеd to сapaсity.
They kееp both сhild and pony in а happy
frame of mind аnd in thеir сomparativеly
nаtцral statе.
Thе in-hand riding ponу сlassеs arе on
тhе wholе a grеat deal morе sporting' than
фe ridden show ponу сlassеs, with thе pгo-
fеssional studs wеll bаlаnсеd Ьy privatе
Ьгеedеrs who keеp thе odd marе or two as a
hobbу. Yеt pеrhaps thеrе is still too muсh
monеy in t}rеse сlassеs, dеspite thе
есonomiс situation, for their own good.
The dealеrs аre аlways on the look-out for
a top threе-year-old to sеll on to somе
deеp-poсkеtеd parent and thе whole thing
stагts again, with thе pony bеing sent on to
а profеssional to produсе for the show ring.
Hugе priсеs arе involvеd and lаrge sums of
monеy сhangе hands.
Thе nаtivе pony сlassеs arе far lеss pro-
fеssional, largеly Ьесausе thеrе is muсh
lеss monеy at stakе, аnd the atmosphегe is
generаlly faг morе friеndly. This is pаг-
tiсularly notiсеаblе among thе Ьгeedеrs of
Connemara and \DИеlsh ponies, both of
whom havе a dееp lovе for thеir prot6gё.
Bеing sеnsiblе, down-to-еаrth folk, who
know poniеs, thеy аrе also vеry kеen on thе
perfoгmanсe sidе. Thе hardy, surе-footed
poniеs, rеaгеd on thе l0Иеlsh hills for gеn-
eгаtions and usеd as shеpherding poniеs
by thе hill farmеrs, produсe offspring that
arе ablе to do any job thаt is rеquirеd of
them, from hunting and jumping to Pony
CluЬ еvеnts and driving сompetitions.
Thе Arab еnthusiasts are a law unto
thеmsеlvеs, for thеir breеd is a brеed аpart
whiсh hаs littlе appеal for thе foxhunter or
for those who гequiтe a horsе to еntеr in
thтeе-daу еvеnts or show-jumping сompе-
titions. Мost people rеgаrd thе Arab
mаinly in the light of an outсross of blood,
and many сonsider that it should idеаllу bе
found quitе a long way baсk in the pеdi-
grеe. But thе tгue Arаb lovеr сonsiders his
Ьrееd to be a .pеarl bеуond pгiсе'. As аn
еxamplе, I havе а friеnd who, having
aсquirеd an Arab stallion somе yеаrs ago'
sold it to somеonе in thе United Statеs,
and was ablе to build a swimming pool and
lay out an ехtensive sfuubbеry on thе pro-
сeеds ! Маnу, indеed sadly most, of thе Iгish
A sсene at the Dub|in Horse Show, one of the
greatest disp|ays of hoгsеf|esh in the wor|d,
and a speсtaсuIar oссasion.
Pridе of plaсе at thе сlаssiс shows, how-
eveг аnd at all thе major agriсultural meеt-
ings suсh as thе Royаl, the Bath and Wеst,
Pеtеrborough and the Great Yorkshiте,
and of сourse at thе annual show of thе
Royаl DuЬlin Soсiety hеld еасhAugust, at
BаllsЬridge' is givеn to thе huntегs mеn-
tionеd еarlier. Perhaps Dublin is thе most
intегesting of all, for whеrеas thе Еnglish
shows tеnd' towards thе еnd of thе show-
ing sеason' to bе simply a differеnt pеrmu-
tation of thе same horsеs, mееting аt show
after show, all thе Dublin horsеs are nеw
тHE sHoW R|NG
еaсh yеar. It is the еxсеption, ratlrer than
thе гulе, for а horse to be shown therе morе
than onсе, for ifhе is any good hе is usually
sold. The onlу rеаson a horsе maу appеar
thеrе for two years is that he is somеonе's
favouritе аnd is not for sаlе.
Thеrе is аn еndlеss fasсinаtion in
watсhing thesе horsеs, thе сrop of thе сur-
rеnt season' as thеy сasсаde into thе ring
on the fiлst two days at Ballsbridgе _ light-
wеights, middlеweights, and finally
hеavyweights. Thе last arе thе riсhеst аnd
rarеst' and гeally what thе Irish half-brеd
breeding industry is all аboцt. Еaсh year
thеy appеaг to improve in quality, but is
this really so or is it simply thе inеvitаblе
grading-up proсеss' whеn Thoroughbrеd
sirеs arе used еxсlusivеly on thе Irish
Draught maге? And will Ireland еvеntu-
ally сomе to thе Еnglish irnpаssе, when
almost еvеry horsе is praсtiсally сlеаn-
bred, bесausе of thе prеvаiling shortagе of
hеavyweight foundation stoсk?
Pеrsonallу, I doubt it, beсausе evеn the
Irish Horsе Board sеems to reаlizе that it is
impегаtivе to return Io t}:.e stаtus quo bу
mеans of thе Irish Draught mare, the sup-
rеmе shееt-anсhor of thе Irish half-brеd
brееding industгy' Irеlаnd is uniquе in thе
world in having this сlеаn-limbеd Ьrееd on
whiсh to draw and it has beеn thе foundа-
tion stoсk of mаny famous show-jumpеrs.
Draught foundation mаrеs wеrе sеnt to
Bеlgium and еatеn during thе years
immеdiatеly following thе Sесond l07or1d
!Иar. Еnough marеs and stаllions howevеr
werе lеft to providе а nuсleus, whiсh hopе-
fully is bеing сhеrishеd аnd nurtured, to
ensulе a foundation stone. Crossed onсе or
twiсe, or еvеn morе oftеn with
Thoroughbrеd stallions, it will assurе thе
rеtention of a brееd suffiсiеntly unique
thаt thе Italian dеalеrs will сontinuе to
maintain stud farms, or at least dеpots, in
Irеlаnd to supply at lеast thеir intеrna-
tional teams with Olympiс-mеdal winning
horsеs, whilе other nаtions turn to the
сold-bloodеd riding horsе of Gеrmаny.
Britain hаs no suсh foundаtion stoсk to
put to Thoroughbrеd stallions in thе hopе
of breеding a viаblе сompetition horse.
Thе сarthorsе breeds _ Clydеsdalе, Shirе
and SuffolЬ - havе all bееn шiеd and found
wanting. Thе Clеvеland Bау' with its long
barrеl, сan throw up thе odd frеak ofbrеed-
ing, suсh as Williаm Barkе1s North
Flight, who was resеrvе for the 1964
British olympiс show jumping tеam in
Tokyo, but by and large this is not thе most
suссessful foundаtion stoсk for the top-
сlass international сompеtition horsе.
Sinсе thе еnd of thе Sесond \yy'orld l07ar'
no fewеr thаn tеn Olympiс сhampions (i'е.
thе winnеr of a team or individual gold
medal) havе Ьeen brеd in Irеland from
Irish Draught foundation stoсk, while
sеven havе beеn brеd in Еngland. Irelаnd
has to heг сredit Colonеl Hаrry Llеwеl-
lуn's Ahеrlow, Colonеl Frаnk l0Иеldorf s
I(ilbarry, Tеd Мarsh's Vild Vеnturе,
H.M. Thе Quееn's Counшyman III, Cap-
tain Мartin \07hitеlеy's Thе Poaсher,
Мajor DerеkAllhusеn's Loсhinvar, Itаly' s
Sunbеam (a doublе gold medallist -iд
r57
тHЕ sH0W R|NG
Tokyo), I(ing and Roуal Lovе, and
Graziano Маnсinеllis Ambassador. Еng-
lands home-brеd сhampions are \DИilf
Whitе's Nizefеla, Colonеl Harry Llewel-
lyrfs Foxhuntеr, Mary Gordon-\DИatson]s
Cornishman V, Jаne Bullen's Our Nobby,
Bridgеt Parkе1s Cornish Gold, Мaioг
Dеrеk Allhusеn's Lauriеston and Captain
Nlark Phillips's Grеаt ovation.
This сonсentration of suссеss in onе
small сornеr of the globе is not simplу a
fortuitous сoinсidеnсе - the rеsult of a
happy сhanсe. The fасt thаt only \ilиest
Gеrmany hаs 13 сhаmpions' all in thе
field of show-jumping, plovеs thаt the
powerful Gеrman horses are thе bеst pеr-
formеrs ovеr really Ьig artifiсial fenсes in
thе world. But it also provеs that for going
aсross сountгy' with safеty, at spееd, jump-
ing whаtеvеr fate or the сouгse dеsignеr
еleсt to put in the way, thеIe is nothing to
touсh thе Irish huntеr, although thе
Еnglish Ьrеd onе runs him very сlosе.
Nor is it а сoinсidеnсе that Еngland and
Irеland are the on1y сountriеs whеrе show
сlassеs for hunters exist аs they do, without
the neсessity to bring fеnсеs into the гing
to find the winner. Conformation is
exшеmеlу important to anу horsе. How-
еvеr good a performеr, however bravе his
heart, he will nevеr last unless he hаs thе
sound сonstitution and thе сorrесt сon-
formation to stand up to the strains аnd
strеsses of work in holding going. For 200
yеars аnd morе' foxhunting has imposеd
thеsе strains and strеsses, and out of it all
has сomе a tough brееd of hoгsе, аs wеll аs
а numЬer of human bеings who under-
stand сonformation' fortunatеly for thе
сontinuation of тhe huntеr-typе horse.
Luсkily thегe is absolutely no sign that
huntеr showing is on thе dесlinе. It will
alwaуs Ьe а pаrt, and an important onе, of
thе Irish sсеnе Ьесаusе Irish horses arе
nеarly all foг salе, and a horse who has won
in thе show ring must inеvitаЬly сommand
a highеr priсе than one whiсh has not. But
in Еngland, too, showing is еnjoying а
vasdy inсrеаsеd support. Sponsorship,
onсе thе prеrogative of thе show-jumpers'
hаs now bееn eхtеnded to the huntеrs too,
thanks initially, to thе support of thе
British аnd Irish Steam Paсkеt Company,
and latеr to thе l0ratеrford Crystаl Com-
pany _ both Irish сompаniеs, not slow to
rеalizе the valuе of showing.
Thеrе сould be said to bе a dесline in thе
ranks of the pгofessional nagsmеn who
aboundеd in thе show ring Ьеtween thе
wars, but therе arе still young mеn сoming
on to follow in the footsteps of thе Hаrrу
Bonnеrs of фis world. Thеrе is of сouгsе а
vast numbеr of amatеurs who havе all thе
kеennеss and enthusiasm for aсquiring
and riding a good horsе in thе show ring,
еven if thеy do not rеасh quitе thе sаme
hеights of ехpertizе of mеn whosе livеs arе
spent sеeking out, sсhooling and produс-
ing thе сhаmpions.
Judging, too, is going through an intеr-
regnum, аnd for muсh thе samе rеаson.
ltrИith thе сavalry regimеnts mесhanizеф
and thе Army Еquitаtion Sсhool at
Wеedon a thing of the past, young men aIе
forсed to look bеуond thе horse to makе а
living. Thе fortunаtе fеw to whom this
doеs not аpply arе denied the opporrunity
of leaгning in quitе thе samе sсhool. Thеiл
еxpеrienсe сannot extend to riding as
many diffеrеnt horsеs as thеir prеdeсеssors
wеre luсky enough to enjoy, and thеir
knowlеdgе is inеvitaЬly more limited. But
the reаlm of thе tfuee-day еvеnt is a natural
reсruiting ground for young judgеs, and so
аrе thе ranks of young Мasters of Fox-
hounds, who aгe vеry wеll plасеd to know
what is rеquirеd of а horse.
one often hеars it said' although I do not
Ьeliеve it, that horsеs arе no longеr as
sound as onсе thеy wеrе, and that inhеrent
wеaknеsses arе bеing brеd into Еnglish
and Irish horsеs. Thе myth сould havе
bееn given сrеdеnсe by thе fасt that in thе
old daуs, unsound horsеs just disappеarеd
from the publiс еуe, and vast numЬеrs werе
simply put down, or еlsе fеll upon hагd
timеs. Now, thanks to тhе еvеr-inсгеasing
storеs ofvеtеrinаry knowlеdge and еxpегi-
еnсе, palliative mеasures and tесhniquеs
аrе Ьеing improved еvеry yеаr. Thus many
horses whiсh would onсе havе Ьeеn
regaгdеd as сfuoniсally unsound сan now
bе rеstorеd to sound working.
All this must bе to thе ultimatе good of
thе horse, whiсh is surely the most impor-
tant сonsidеrаtion, еvеn though vаrious
govеrning Ьodiеs сonneсtеd with showing
both huntеrs and hасks havе dесrееd that
сеrtain сategoriеs of operаtion rеndеr thе
subjeсt inеligiЬlе foг the show ring. Thе
rights аnd wrongs of thе matter arе end-
lеsslу dеЬаtablе, and I do not Proposе to
enter into tlrеm heгe, sаvе onlу to rеgrеt
thаt this does somеtimеs lеad to horses
hаving their show сarееrs сut short to vеry
little purposе.
Although fashions сhangе in thе show
ring, as everywheге еlse the huntеr сlasses
arе ultra-сonseгvative; аny innovation is
rightlу rеgardеd with suspiсion and
frownеd upon Ьy фе morе сonsеrvativе
еxhiЬitors. Suсh prасtiсеs as Ьringing а
horsе into thе show ring with сountless
tiny plaits up his nесk, sесurеd Ьу ruЬЬеr
Ьands, rаthеr thаn with thе шaditional onе
in front and sеvеn up thе сrеst, nеatly sewn
in plaсе, is to be dеploгed.
There is сonsidегablе pгestige attасhеd
to Ьеing аskеd to judgе at a lеading show,
Pгize-giving for beаutifu||у tUrned out ponies
at the RoУa| Windsor Horse Show.
in
and partiсularly to bеing invitеd to judgе
Irеlаnd. Thе Irish havе always askеd
Еnglishmеn to judge at thеir major shows,
suсh as Dublin' Cork and Clonmеl. This
is partlу Ьесausе an Еnglish judgе should
have a good ideа what sort ofhorse would
win in Еnglаnd, and thеrеforе will selесt
thе typе of hoгsе that сould pгobaЬlу bе
sold to an Еnglish buуеr. It is also fеlt that
an Еnglish judge is morе likеly to be сom-
plеtеly impаrtial, as he probably doеs not
know thе horses or many of thе exhibitoгs.
It was thе latе Nаt Galwaу-Greer, thе
wizatd of DunЬoynе, a world-famous and
delightful horse dealer who won ten sup-
rеme сhampionships at DuЬlin in thе
yеars followiлg thе SесondWorld War who
fust hit upon thе brilliаnt notion of bring-
ing Еnglish ridеrs ovеr to ridе his horsеs аt
BallsЬridge. Thеrе was ostеnsibly a vеry
good rеason for this; thе Еnglish showmеn
аrе a grеat deаl morе ехperienсed in show-
ing a horsе thаn thеir Irish сounterpаrts,
and with thеiг mеtiсulous attention to
dеtail they аrе aЬlе to show a horsе offto faг
bеttеr advаntagе. But thеre wаs also а morе
suЬtlе bеnеfit' аnd this wаs thаt thе
Еnglish ridеrs would bе known to, and
rесognizеd bу thе Еnglish judgеs' аnd the
horsеs that thеy rodе would аt lеast bе surе
to gеt a sесond look.
Although somе of thе othеr exhibitoгs
wеrе known to rеsеnt thе prеsеnсe of thе
Еnglish ridеrs (beliеving thеy gavе Nat
Greеr an unfair advantage), the authoritiеs
rесognizеd thаt it gavе addеd intеrest to thе
proсeеdings and rаised thе standаrd of thе
gгeеn Irish hoгses.
Thеrе is сonsidеrаblе vаriety in thе
standard of horsеmаnship of thе vаrious
huntеr judges. The сritеrion is thаt еvеry
horse should go wеll for a judgе, аnd so
сеrtain idiosynсrasies arе ovеrlookеd аs
long as this prinсipаl requirеmеnt is mеt.
Pеrhaps thе worst failing in a judgе is Ьad
hands, whiсh must upset any horsе unlеss
hе happens to hаve a worsе mouth. Onсе a
judgе aсquires the rеputation foг bеing
'mutton-fisted he will not remain long in
ignoranсе of his failing! Thеге will be sev-
еral horses produсеd for him to ridе with

their сurb сhаins wrapped in сhamois
lеathеr, lеst hе hаng on to their hеads.
Thеrе is also thе oтhеr sidе of thе сoin,
whеn еxhibitors produсе horses in thе ring
whiсh arе quitе insuffiсiеntly prеpaгеd and
шainеd and еxpесt йе poor, unsuspесting
ludgеs to ride thеm, somеtimеs аt grеаt
pеrsonal risk. A сеrtain wеll known Маjor
Gеneral, whеn faсеd with one of thesе
animals _ and а woman's horse, to Ьoot,
notorious for Ьеing allowed to do whatеver
it wishes _ brought it sшaight baсk to its
ownеr and dесlinеd to ride it anу morе,
thundering: .Мadаm, I hаvе not сome 200
miles to nag othеr pеoplе's horsеs!'
Thе judgе who Ьasеs his dесisions on
thе form whiсh hаs prеvailеd at othef
shows is eithеr unsurе of himsеlf, аnd thus
pгеfеrs to Play it safe Ьy tаking thе linе of
lеаst rеsistanсе, or hаs vеry littlе know-
lеdgе. Thе form judge soon Ьесomes
known for what hе is, аnd of сoursе hе is all
at sea at thе first shows of the sеason'
bеfore thе form book has Ьееn.writtеn'. It
is onе of thе worst brеaсhеs of еtiquеtte for
any judgе to Ье sееn with a сataloguе in his
hаnds until he has finished his work in thе
гing. Of сourse, judges who are in dеmand,
аnd arе сonstantly on thе сirсuit, сan
haгdly гemain in ignoranсе of thе horsеs
who havе bееn winning аt еarliеr shows,
еvеn if they havе nеvеr aсtuаlly judgеd
thеm Ьeforе. Luсkily, thеrе аrе manу
ludgеs whose integгity is so well knоwn,
аnd whosе reputations аге so wеll еstab-
Шshеd, that thеy arе abovе сritiсism.
It must Ье rеmеmЬerеd that judging is
Ьound to bе а pеrsonal matter of opinion,
аnd fеw pеoplе think аbsolutеly alikе
аbout a horsе. A Ьig, hеavy man is likеly to
lеan towards thе big' wеight-саrrying type
of horsе that he woцld сhoose to ride him-
sеlf. Thе slim, lightwеight judgе on thе
othег hаnd prefеrs a Thoroughbrеd typе.
Dublin s grеen horsеs' too' are grеat
levеllеrs, for riding greеn Irish hoгsеs is a
pесuliаr art, espесiallу whегe they have
done most of thеir work in a snafflе and arе
Ьut newly introduсеd to a doublе bridlе.
In an аgе whеn еverу hunter is so muсh
infused with ThoroughЬrеd Ьlood, Harry
Bonnеr hаs sаid that years ago thе baсk
row of a huntеr сlass was morе imprеssivе
than thе front row is today. Apart from thе
faсt that the stаmp of horsе is often not so
good as it used to bе, hе fееls that ttrе
standard of produсtion has sufferеd еvеn
morе. It is impossiЬle, he is sure, to spend
too long in riding and making before the
aсtual nagging bеgins. Мost pеoplе
indulgе in far too muсh of thе lattег, plus
an inordinate relianсе on taсk аnd similаr
сontrivanсеs whiсh arе somеtimеs
wrongly regarded as a short-сut to suссеss.
Dесlining standards arе also manifеstеd by
thе speсtaсlе ofhorsеs _partiсularly уoung
horses - Ьеing forсed bеyond thеir nаtural
paсеs. .Thеy lеarn to сut their сornеrs and
Ьесomе ring-сrafty quiсklу еnough, with-
aut aсtually showing them thе way.'
Looking at photographs of somе of thе
grеat huntеr сhampions of thе past, with
their abundanсe of bonе and thеir great
dеpth, onе must сonсedе that suсh spесi-
mеns аrе bесoming inсrеasingly raге
today. Bad hoсks, weak hind lеgs аnd long
сannon bonеs were not so prеvаlеnt in the
old days, pеrhaps bесаusе thе stallions of
thе time wеге biggеr and strongеr, with
moге Ьonе аnd morе substаnсе.
Thе stallions that are shown at thе
National Stallion Show of thе Hunte1s
Improvеmеnt and National Light Horsе
Brеeding Soсiеty аt Nеwmarkеt eaсh
МarсЬ foг the award of thе Soсiеqy's pre-
miums, aге judged Ьy a hunting man and a
гaсеhorsе trainer, working togеther. This
is an unusuаl allianсe, as thе hцnting man
rеquires qualitiеs in a horse that will еn-
aЬlе it to stay all day, while thе rасing man
_ pаrtiсulаrly thе flat гaсe trainer _ looks
for thе type of horsе that will stay for no
morе than 1.5km (1 milе) oI so at top
spееd. Yet sшangеly еnough, thеy usually
sеem to sее еуе to eyе.
The rеаlly knowlеdgеable judgе of еvеry
Ameгican ridden show с|asses сater for three
distinсt riding styles аs welI аs the mаny
different breeds.
П-tt st-tuw HtNU
horse аnd pony looks for good limbs, a
wе11-s1opеd shoulder going oЬliquеly bасk
into thе bodу' dеpth in the girth and the
loin, a niсе front with genеrous outlook'
and sшong quartеrs and seсond thighs _ in
this ordеr. Conversely, bаd limbs, shortаgе
of bone, Ьad walkегs, straight shouldеrs, a
shellу, shallow body, and wеak hind lеgs
arе an anathеma to all.
Мanу of the horsеs whiсh arе brеd
bеhind the Iron Curtain have many of
thеsе faults, whiсh leads onе to supposе
that bгеeding is not аs sеlесtivе as it might
bе on thе Statе Studs, or еlsе that the
prioritiеs arе differеnt in palts of the world
whеre foxhunting is not endemiс. It may
also bе that whatеvеr the Ьrееd, if all thе
еmphasis is plасеd upon pеrformanсe,
rathег tlrаn at lеast half of it Ьеing on сon-
formation, therе must inеvitably bе a
dесline.
Thus thе show ring is of vеry rеal valuе
to any bгеed of horsе or pony' and while
therе аre still pеoplе who сare аbout a
Ьгееф as thеrе always will Ьe, thеrе will Ьe
shows аt whiсh brееdеrs and ownеrs сan
еxhiЬit their stoсk in сompеtition with
A сhampion obviously сommаnds
othеrs.
a highеr priсе than thе run-of-thе-mi11
horse or pony, and grеat sums of money liе
bеtwеen thе suссеssful show horsе аnd his
full brothеr who has nеver provеd himsеlf
in thе show ring.
In disсussing thе show ring it is inеvita-
blе thаt muсh еmphasis will be plaсеd on
thе wеll-еstablished Bгitish and Irish pat-
tеrn whiсh has providеd the standard for
shows held in other Еnglish-spеaking
сountriеs, partiсularlу in Australia and
Southern Afriсa. Indееd, Ьoth thеsе сoun-
triеs frequеntly invitе British judgеs to
offiсiаtе at thеir major shows аnd thе сlas-
sеs hеld approximatе, with loсal variа-
tions, very сlosеly to thosе hеld in Britain.
Amеriсa, dеriving its шadition from the
same sourсе' has' howеver dеvеlopеd its
own сlassеs and establishеd a sуstеm of
judging thаt inсlines strongly towards pеr-
formаnсe in thе ring and, in many
instanсеs, takеs partiсulaг aссount of style.

f]f orrолv riding is a romantiс
.l.J' notion. It holds out hopеs ofсarеfrее
сantеIs along thе sеashorе, or sauntеring
through new and supетb sсеnеry, whеrе
thе sun shines сontinually from a сlеar'
Ьluе sky. Сertainlу this is thе waу it сan Ье,
Ьut bе warnеd _ reality doеs not always
matсh suсh high еxpесtаtions. ЕIorsеs
kеpt at holiday riding сеntrеs arе oftеn list-
lеss, thеir mouths hard аnd thеir baсks dis-
playing tell-talе signs of saddlе sorеs.
Taсk, too, is somеtimеs sadlу nеglесtеd'
and somеtimеs downright dangеrous.
A thoughtful approaсh to your holidау
nееds сan often divеrt disastеr, howеvеr. If
you simplу want sun and sand with a littlе
riding' then the сasual haсking organizеd
by thе 1oсal stablеs at your сhosеn rеsort
may Ьe suffiсiеnt. Thе еssenсе is to do a bit
of rеsеаrсh bеforеhand, so that you arе
morе or lеss аssurеd of a deсent ridе. It may
meаn limiting your сhoiсе of rеsorts, еspе-
сiallу in thе Меditеrranеаn, or еvеn going
slighdy inland, but it is wеll worthwhilе,
for nothing doеs surpass thе joy of
ехperienсing the sights of a forеign сoun-
trу from thе baсk of a well-сarеd for and
саpaЬlе horsе.
This prе-plаnning rеquisite appliеs to
аl1 kinds of holiday riding _ bе it trеkking,
trailriding (whiсh variеs in dеfinition fгom
сoцntry to сountrу), or simplу а fеw hours
hасking.
Often you will havе to makе your own
riding arrаngеmеnts on arrival, but if givеn
notiсe, somе шаvel firms, еspесially those
spесializing in a set arеa, will сrеatе a spе-
сial еquеsuian paсkagе dеal. Thus' you
сan still Ьеnеfit from сharter flights' spе-
сiаl inсlusivе farеs availablе to trаvеl сom-
panies, bloсk bookings ofhotеls аnd so on.
Inсrеаsingly, howеvеr' aсtual horsе-riding
holidays аrе bеing offеrеd а11 ovеr the
wo11d.
Somе сountriеs sее riding as an aсtivity
to promotе _ sцсh as thе British Isles,
whеrе thе range of riding aсtivitiеs is
enormous. others, likе Italу, will happilу
find уou a sеasidе nag but tеnd to hаvе thеir
bеst horses at thе riding сluЬs. Almost
anywhеre, howеvеr, а good man5r doors
will opеn onсе pеoplе arе awarе уou havе а
gеnuinе interеst in horsе riding аnd not
just a passing holiday intеrеst. Language
barriеrs quiсklу brеak down, tooJ as a
muшal lovе of hoтsеs forms an inеvitablе
bond.
Thеrе arе two othеr vital faсtors' whiсh
must Ьe сonsidетеd _ your riding expеri-
enсе and thе wеathеr. Nothing is worsе
than bеing сaught in еithеr ехtrеme hеаt or
сold аfter some еight hours, or maуbе lеss,
in thе saddlе whеn уou are usеd to
wеekеnd riding in more еquablе сondi-
tions. Altеrnativеly, as a morе еxperiеnсеd
and profiсient ridеr' yorr mаy bе еxpесtеd
to fаll in linе with а
the Daсе of thе sl
-.jФ1
J
I
{
I
with horsеs inс|ude ponу
which q,Uiet riding to those with
'tike to explore the
derstrom one of the many
 H0L|DAYS W|тH H0RsЕs

Тhis саn oftеn hаppеn on trekking holi- leggings, but this is no timе foг flapping of the NеwForеstinthе Souttrof Еngland,
daуs, so find a сentrе whiсh mаkеs speсial сyсle сapes! аlong with its wild poniеs аnd dееr, pro-
arгangemеnts for those witЬ ability. Thе stаndard of riding holidays and vides a good holiday sеtting' as аlso doеs
Rеmеmbеr, though, that шekking, by horsеsusеdinthеBritishIslеsisgenerally thе South Downs Vaу in Susseх.
dеfinition, really means wаlking. Any- high. You сan ride virtually anywheге, Onе of the Ьiggеstbooms intrеkkinghas
thing faster сould Ье moгe rеadily сlassеd ассoгding to loсal privatе property rеstriс- beеn in !Иаlеs and thе Pony Trekking Soс-
as haсking. tions аnd thе diсtatеs of thе tеrrain. Sсot- iety of Walеs has produсed а Ьook on
Trail riding may bе сonsidеrеd аn landisadmirаblysuitеdbottrtotrаilriding аpproved сentrеs. Somе ofthе biggеr onеs,
advаnсеd foгm of trеkking, although thе - or post trеkking _ as rпеll as simplе trek- suсh as Rhayadеr and Tгegаron, сan Ьe a
distinсtion is а littlе blurrеd depеnding in king. Еither way thеге is little road work bit ovеrwhеlming with thе sheer number
whiсh сoцnшy you аrе loсated. Thе \DИеlsh involvеd and tough HigЫаnd poniеs arе of poniеs and ridеrs, a high pеrсеntage of
Tourist Board sum it up as bеing foг thosе vlidеly usеd. Мany сеnтrеs arе аpprovеd Ьy thе lattег bеing beginnеrs. This applies to
.аble to ridе at sustainеd spеeds for long thе Sсottish Sports Counсil and a list of somе Sсottish сеntres, too' so deсidе on
distanсеs ovеr tough сountгy'. thеse, along with othеrs, arе availaЬlе fгom one that suits your aЬility and tеmpere-
Clothеs must also bе сaгefully seleсtеd, thе Sсottish Tourist Board. mеnt.
тoo. Pгanсing thтough thе wavеs on a Dropping south into Еnglаnd, therе is Thе British Horsе Soсiеty handЬook, or
horse, in a bikini or а pair of shorts might finе гiding in Northumbria, Cumbгia and thаt of thе Assoсiation of British Riding
sеem prеtty on a postеr' but is sсarсеlу Yorkshire, with muсh admirable sсеnеrу. Sсhools arе usеful publiсations to сonsult
Pгaсtiсal if you аrе going any furthеr than Thеsе rеgions aгe genеrаlly unсommer- foг instrцсtional holidаys. Also invaluаblе,
t}re bеaсh _ and dесidеdly unсomfortablе сializеd, so stablеs havе to Ьe sought out. is the list of trеkking and riding holiday
aftег an hour or so. Convеrsеly, in сold Thе rеwаrd tеnds to bе smallеr groups' сеntrеs approvеd by the Poniеs of Britain.
wеather, do make sure уou are warm. Sцсh pгobaЬly сompгisеd of morе еxpегienсеd Irеland has always bееn synonуmous
undеr gаrments as long johns, whilе riders.
.Wеst
with thе horsе, аnd the sсope for holidaу
inеlеgant, hеlp to kееp down thе bulkyIn the wаrmеr Еnglish Country, riding is сonsidеrablе. In thе Rеpubliс
itеms you might othеrwisе neеd. oil wool
thеге is unlimitеd riding сountry among сlose to Shannon, Cork,
swеatеrs and lightwеight windсhеatеrs thе high tors of Dеvon, or thе.wild moors lin. яnсi rvitЬ rпяrlq rrirfir-
сan bе а boon, as сan plаstiс сoаts and оf Cornwаll. The morе gеntle сountrysidе

+:;! i-i..

Right Anintroduсtiontotheponyforagroup
of сhildreп on аn adventure holidаv in the
BIaсk Mountains of Wales. Тhe сhildren,s
somewhat uпorthodox headgear proteots
to switсh from onе area to anothеr. сoцn-
tiеs Wiсklow аnd Wеxford in thе еast and
Connemara in thе west offеr piсturеsque
possibilitiеs for manу riding holidaуs'
whilе County Cork offеrs horsе-drawn
сaravаns, oftеn based on trаditional
Romany linеs.
In Northern Irеland thеre arе numеrous
hunts, аs wеll аs trеkking аnd riding
around Rostrеvoг in thе mountains of
.Nlourne in County Down. Sеa, forеst and
mountain viеws form thе attraсtion.
Basiсally British, but with a strong
Frenсh influеnсе, thе Chаnnеl Islands
offеr а novеl еxpеriеnсe for thе holidaу
rider. Jersеу, kееn1y аware of family holi-
day needs, has good riding at St ouеn's
Bаy. Nеighbouгing Guеrnsey, an island
with a glut of good сountrysidе, has four
stаblеs, onе nеar St Peter Port providing
some good haсks and plеasant riding on
UAnсrеssе Common сlosе to thе bеaсh.
Franсe vies sшongly with Grеat Britain
in thе rangе of еquеstrian holidays offered,
Corsiсa, the Fгеnсh island in thе
as сan be sеen Ьу a glanсе аt thе hаndbook
of thе Assoсiation Nаtionalе pour 1е Меditеrranеan has somе imprеssive
Tourismе Еquеsше at ]]Еquitation de mountain and сoastal sсеnеry and is quiеt
Loisirs (A.N.T.Е.). Еmphasis is oftеn and virtually unсommеrсiаlized. Somе of
plaсed on drеssаgе, and instruсtional holi-
days arе numerous. Thе Еtampеs Riding
Soсiеty, for instanсе, in thе I1е de Franсе,
55 km (34 milеs) south-wеst of Paris, has
both Portuguеsе аnd Lip:иzarrer horses for
amаtеur dressаgе ridеrs. For those keen on
driving, thе Еquestriаn Cеntre at ValеnEay
in the South Loirе hаs tеn саrriagеs for
onе' two or four in hand.
Brittanу hаs long Ьеen popular and suit-
аble for familу holidауs, еspесiallу сam-
pеrs and сaravanners. Thеrе are a number
of riding сеntres' inсluding onе halfwаy
bеtwееn Rеnnеs аnd Saint rtrlalo, at Lа
Bourbаnsais (Ilе еt Vilаinе) in the shadow
162
of а сastlе. Thе Dordognе rеgion offеrs
many opportunitiеs to тiding еnthusiasts
too.
Spесial holidays for уoung pеoplе arе
hеld in thе Poursaudеs Еstate in thе
Ardеnnеs аnd the Gunkеl Stablеs, Grаn-
j alnа in Alsaсе - a land ofvineyards, storks,
pinе forеsts and pasrurеs. Far morе сasual
is riding in thе Rh6nе dеlta arеa known as
the Camarguе, famеd for its whitе horsеs.
Thе mаin сеntrе is at Me janes, Ьut you сan
find plaсеs to hire horses along thе тoad to
Saint-Мariеs-de-lа-Mer. But do makе surе
you сhoosе сarеfullу Ьесausе some hiгеrs
offеr you littlе morе than a сhаnсе to sit on
a horsе's baсk.
Hoгsе-drawn сaravans are avai1ablе at
Assier in the Lot Vаllеу whеrе rides arе
also givеn in a stаge-сoасh. Thе Club
Mёditеrrаn6е rцns thе equеstrian villagе
of Pompаdour nеar Limogеs. Faсilitiеs
inсludе five indooг аnd five outdoor rings,
two сross-сountry сoulsеs and stablеs for
two hundred horses.
thе Ьеst riding is in t}re mаquis bushland
аnd thе main сеntrе is аt Venaсo.
Belgium, with its сollесtion of сoastal
dunеs, feгtile plains аnd forеstеd hillsidеs
is еаger to promotе riding. llippotour' a
non-profit making organization, inсlude
sеvеn-day riding tours in the Ardennеs (a
rеgion also ideal for boating, сlimbing,
fishing and pot-holing), whilе another
fivе-day tour tаkеs in thе histoгiс and artis-
tiс sites in thе woodlаnds and parks of thе
BraЬant provinсe, the сapitаl of whiсh is
Brussels. You sleеp ovеrnight, inсidental-
ly, in hауlofts! The Bеlgian сoast featlres
riding in thе pinе forеsts bеhind thе vast
Тhe native white hoгses of the Camargue, stiII
used bу the gardiens to herd thе |oсaI buIls,
now aIso take exp|oring hoIidaymаkers
thгough this marshy part of southern France.
sand dunеs, pаItiсulally at I(nokkе-le-
Zottle.
Thе Grand Duсhy of Luxеmbourg
makes up for whаt it laсks in size with a
vаriеty of sсеnеry. It is wеll еndowеd with
numеrous bridle paths whiсh have bееn
put to good usе by thе fаst growing and
vigorous Luxеmbourg Fеdеration of
Еquеsшian Sports who run a wееk-long
ridе for the experiеnсеd сovering 32 to
40 kms (2О to 25 miles) a day.
Тhe faсt that thеrе аre 16 riding sсhools
in Wеst Bеrlin alone, indiсatеs thе intеrеst
shown in thе sport tfuoughout Wеst Gеr-
many. !Иhilе gеnеral holidaу priсеs сan bе
high, haсking is still гeasonably priсеd.
Thе standard, too, is gеnеrallу high
whеther уou ridе in a town or in thе rurаl
rеgions whiсh range from thе vast
Lunеburg Hеаth in the north to thе
Bаvarian villages in thе south. Rеsorts
with riding establishmеnts in the lattеr
inсludе Мuniсh, oЬеrаmmеrgau,
Baуrеuth, Bеrсhtеsgadеn аnd -N{ittеnwald.
The Blaсk Forеst, offers manу riding
holidays, notably in thе sеventeеnth сеn-
tury SсЫoss !ИeitеnЬurg abovе thе Nесkar
Vallеу. A hеavy сonсеntation on eques-
trian асtivities сan bе found in the Rhinе-
land whiсh touristiсallу сovеrs suсh wеll-
known сеntres as Aасhеn' Hеidеlbеrg'
I(oblеnz, Konigswinter аnd Rudеshеim.
Ponу sсhools arе populаr, with a large one
at Havixbeсk nеаr Мunster. In thе samе
areа, atr0иarеndorf, is thе famous Dеutsсhе
Rеitsсhulе whеrе thе top Gеrman ridеrs
trаin, and priсes for riding аrе сorrеspond-
ingly high.
 н0L|DAYS W|TH H0вsЕs

Unfoгtцnаtely holiday priсes in thе hеld fгom latе Junе to еarlу August in thе and gumboots arе the order of thе day аnd
Alpine аrеаs of Ausшiа and Switzеrland Hаllingdal mountains inland from Oslo. staminа is morе important thаn style.
hяvе soared dramаtiсally, whiсh is а pity' Thеrе is аlso riding at Lillеhammer, Inсlusivе pony trеkking tours are avail-
foг therе is muсh in thе waу of riding divided by a rivеr and surгoundеd Ьy аЬ1е at Gеldingaholt farm' two hours Ьу
oppоrtunitiеs. Possiblе solutions аrе to spruсе аnd pine forеsts. bus from Rеykjаvik' аnd thеrе is riding,
stаy in privatе rooms' rеnt a сhalеt or makе For thе leаst known ofthе Sсandinavian too, at Lakе Laugarvatn, Gullfoss, Gеуsir
usе of the good сamping faсilitiеs or youth сountriеs' Finland has a fine sеlесtion of and Thingvеllir. A word of warning
hostеls. The speсial holiday tiсkets, too, riding сеntrеs. In thе сapitаl, Hеlsinki, though _ сut down spending as muсh as
givе а healthy disсount on all foгms of there is exсеllеnt riding in the woodеd out- possiblе in lсеlаnd; thе inflation ratе is
тпlnsport. skiгts аs thеrе is furthеr еast at thе old town horrеndous.
Тhеre are said to bе around 150 Austrian of Еriknas nеаr Porvoo. Onе of the bеst Thе USSR offers grеаt satisfaсtion in
тoвтrs whеre you сan hirе horses, but bad lаkеland settings is thе Hotеl Aulanko, the riding morе unusualЬгееds suсh аs Tеrsky,
wеаtlrеr and гising сosts аrе сontinually stаblеs of whiсh offer a 4O-minutе ridе Donsky or Ang1o-I(arЬаrdin, еspесiаlly in
t.oгсing somе smallеr еstablishmеnts out of round the hugе Karlbеrg Еstаtе. othеr thе vast indoor sсhool at thе .Nlosсow
Ьusiness, so сhесk first or seleсt а wеll- good сеnrеs with riding available аrе Еquеsшiаn Cеntrе. You will havе to sееk
known сеntrе. Thе most famous of all Lahti, with thе Мessila stаblеs nearЬy' pеrmission first from Intourist, the statе
пust Ье viеnna, whеrе you сan аlso sее thе Tampеrе аnd also in Finnish Lapland' thе tourist body, but visitors саn bе shown
Lipizzаnеrs in aсtion at the spanish Rid- аdministrativе саpital of whiсh is аround thе сеntre and riding is vеry сheap
ing Sсhool. Details of a .book ahеad' Rovaniеmi. сompared with.Wеstern pгiсes, although it
sсhеmе аrе availablе from Ausшian stаtе Sweden has around 90 riding сеntrеs' must bе аrrаngеd in advanсе.
.West
тourist offiсеs or from thе Viennа Tourist Ьut with а wise еmphаsis on thе Еlsеwhеrе in Еastеrn Еuropе, Iestriс-
Bоard, аnd many travеl firms havе spесial Coast whiсЬ north of Gothеnburg, is tions havе Ьeen inсrеаsingly rеlaxеd,
torrrs to the sсhool. roсky and intеrspеrsеd with woods, сovеs although riding is oftеn rеgarded as a сul-
Sсеnеry thлoughout Ausшiа varies сon- аnd fishing villagеs. Along thе more sandy turаl rathеr thаn a vaсаtional pursuit. onе
sideгablу, with Lowеr Austria, for еxаm- bеасhes of thе south, riding is fеaturеd at сounEy with a high perсentage of horsеs is
plе, having both high mountains and sub- Ьoth Varbеrg and FalkеnЬеrg. Hungаry with six- to eight-daу touгs at
пopiсal mеadows. Thirty-four riding No horsе hаs bееn imported into Iсеlаnd Hortobagy, Lakе Balaton, thе Dаnubе
еstаblishments arе listеd in this аrеa and, for ovеr 800 уеars, so thе tough' litde Bеnd and Trans-DanuЬia. It is also pos-
Ь сommon with othег provinсеs, thеrе arе Iсеlandiс pony is еssentially thе same as siblе to have hoгsebaсk holidays аt stud
теks lasting sеveгal days. Ampflwаng in that rеliеd upon by thе Viking hordеs for fаrms аnd сlubs, but arгangemеnts must bе
Lppег Austria is known as thе ЕIorsemart' s thеiт еsсapadеs. A partiсulаr advаntagе of mаdе well in advanсе. A similаr situation
Villagе, аnd Buгgеnland, with its Hun- this breed is thе ability to usе fivе distinсt exists in Poland, and thе stаtе tourist
gагiаn influenсе, is stronglу reсommеndеd gaits _ inсluding paсе and tolt' or running oгgаnization runs visits to stud farms at
for riding. wаlk. Vith thе long distanсеs to Ье сovеrеd
Еquеsшian aсtivities in Swizеrlаnd aгe in a сountry сonsisting largеly of гoсks, Lakeside riding for hoIidауmаkers in Po|and.
пot all сеntrеd on riding alonе; уou сan stonеs' dеsеrts and sandу wastеs' this is a Тhe stаte tourist organisation runs vагious
spеnd еight daуs in a horsе-drаwn сaravan ma'oг assеt. types of ho|iday on horsebасk as welI аs visits
iл the Jura or join a mule sаfari in thе On riding holidауs jeаns, a windсhеаtеr to stud farms.
littlе-known provinсе of Valais. Мost
mяjoг геsorts offer riding though, and at
Dаvos there is уear round haсking, аs wеll
аs instruсtionаl сoursеs and moonlight
гides. FаshionaЬlе St Мoгitz has a сentrе
t.oг dтеssаgе аnd jumping аnd stаges ski-
ioriлg, oг horsе-raсing aсross thе iсе with a
skiег in tow.
In Cеntral Switzerland, Lаkе Luсerne is
лпoгe gеarеd to thе young, with riding stа-
Ьlеs iл Luсеrnе and othеrs at Brunnen and
Yiиnаu. The region of Bеrnе and thе Bеr-
nеsе Obеrlаnd, Intеrlakеn, has mагkеd
тrails аs wеll as an indoor sсhool offering
l.пsu.цсtion. I(andеrsteg and Grindеlwald
:rre гwo other popular rеsorts with riding
eтailаЬ1е.
Тhinly populatеd, with diveгsе sсenery
аnd а high standardofliving, Sсаndinavia
hаs a uniquе affinity with outdoor
асtivitiеs suсh as гiding. Onе of the main
сепtres in Dеnmark is in Jutlаnd whеrе thе
гirling institutе at veilе гuns a so-called
Ч"ild Wеst сamp for сhilфеn nеаr Billund.
.1 stаge сoaсh also гuns from the institutе
п-ith ovеrnight stops at village inns. Chil-
феп аrе wеlсomе too, аt ЕIФimarkеn, onе
оf thе many Danish farmhouses usеd as
holidаy homеs, nеaг Rabjегg, сlose to
Skаgen, the furthеst point north on thе
Judаnd Pеninsula. Among thе Danish
islаnds, thе ideal сhoiсe is probаbly Sеa-
lаnd, wiтh Copenhagеn on its еаstеrn
сoаst' whilе in Slagelse horse-drawn lаnd-
аus arе avаilablе for hiте.
\_orway hаs imprеssivе sсеnеry with its
fiords аnd mountains, and гiding tours aге
H0L|DAYS W|тн н0RsЕs
plaсеs suсh as Laсk, near \0Иarsаw, and
Twno, Posadowo and Siеrakow in the
Poznаn region.
If you want somewherе sцnnier' гiding
is adveгtized at Slunсhev Bryаg on the
Bulgarian Blaсk Sеа сoast, and аlso at thе
nеw гesort of AlЬеna.
Yugoslaviа is the loсаtion for the Lipiсe
Stud Farm near Triestе, whiсh is the true
Ьirthplaсe of the beаutiful Lipizzanet
Ьreеd of white horses. Thе best wаy to
appreсiatе the history, whiсh goеs beсk to
1580' is to stаy аt thе ЕIotel Мaestoso in thе
grounds and ride there as well, Various
trаvel fums fеaturе гiding holidays' or
аltеrnatively stay aт a сoastal геsort, suсh as
Poгeс where therе is гiding anyway.
.The horses were
Poor' half-staтved
Ьeasts, givеn to stцmbling . . . ' Sаdly suсh
authentiс сomments as these сen be
appliеd to somе of thе holiday haсks whiсh
may Ьe found in the sunspots of the
Меditеrгanean, Ьut good riding is avail-
able. The Horse CluЬ of Rapallo, for
instanсe, on the Itelian Еastern Riviеra, is
superbly еquipped with both an indooг
sсhool and two outdoor praсtiсe rings.
In thе Rome areа, riding is аvаilaЬle at
Le Pa|azze Country Club, Spoleto, whеrе
you сan сlimb to the Tolfa Мountains' and
at Saсrofano. Towards the Swiss Ьordeг in
thе Biеlla region, off the Мilan/Turin
aцtostradа is thе horsе riding сеnше .Citta Others are situatеd at Quarteiгa and Tav-
di Biеlla' in the Andio Еstate, Cаndelo. ire. There is a magnifiсеntly deсorаted
Fuгther riding is offerеd in thе Abruzzo.^. indoor sсhool at Vilamoura although the
National Paгk, in the Мontefreddi rеsiden- horses havе waхed and wanеd in rеpute-
tial pагk near Florеnсe and at the offiсially tion ovег thе yеars, The bеst idea is to
Ьaсked horsеbaсk holiday сentге at soles- judge for yoцrself; the whole сoastlinе is
сhiаno di Мanzano, a town in the Udinе in quiсkly сovered by сaг, providеd you look
the Po Valley. out for thе numеroцs donkeys and сarts!
Spaiц like Italy, suffers from a split Riding in Gгeесe is Ьаsiсally resшiсtеd
attitцdе to riding _ that either it is provided тo two riding сlubs in the Athеns area nеаr
for the average tourist or it is enj oyеd by thе the package deal гesorts of Glфda,
weаlthy or thе nobility. Thегe arе, of Cavouri аnd Lagonissi, In Noгthern
сourse' exсeptions with somе good estаb- Grеесе there is riding at Thеssaloniki.
lishments in the major resorts - although In thе United States end North Amеriсa
many stаЬles run Ьy hotеls aге often no the Hollyvood imаge of the сowЬoy and
more than a сollесtion of hаlf а dozеn or so his faithful horse is as strong now, if not
somewhat tired nags. It seеms sensible stronger, than befoгe, thanks in part at least
generally to heаd inlend - to Alondra, for to the travеl tгade. This is partiсulаrlу true
instanсe. Мuсh more rugged' Ьut advеn- in the Canadian Roсkiеs, and morе espе-
turous' aгe the 15-dаy eхpеditions using сielly Albеrta wherе the сlimatе and sсen-
well-trainеd Andaluсiаn horses in thе ery arе idylliс foг thosе wishing to rеlivе
Sierгa Nеvada Мountаins, orgаnized by an the pioneег dаys from thе baсk of a pony.
Еnglish сompany and approvеd bу Uniquе to Albеrtа is thе Stoney Indian
Ponies of Britain, !Иildеrnеss Cеntre wheгe you not only go
!Иith Portugafs somewhat unsettled,
politiсal сlimate, toulist faсilities, inсlud- Riding ho|idays in Noгth Ame rica. below:Trai|
ing гiding, have bееn subjeсted to sцddеn riding high up in the mountains, one of the
сhangеs. Еrowever it is safe to say that thе best Ways to see the сountryside, even when
Algarve, with its rolling Atlаntiс beaсhes, the snow is still lying. opposite top: Pack
despitе the growth in villas, is truе riding tripping is offered by dude ranches. opposite
сounЕy. Мeny small outfits ere Еnglish bottom: a dude camp, where rideгs rough it as
run, suсh as that at the Qцinta do Lago. сowboys onсe did.
*.
"i. Е
;д..
т .'ш
i",' r

horsе-riding but lеarn Indian waуs, inсlud-
ing how to survivе on bеrries, plаnts and
rooБ. Both the Jasper and Banff national
pаrks providе аbsorbing rides, somе last-
ing six days or morе. Although therе is no
асtuаl equestгian body, thе main trail гidеs
атe orgаnizеd through thе Trail Ridеrs of
фе Cаnadiаn Roсkies Ьased in Calgary,
тhе sсеnе of thе famous stаmpеde.
Thегe is similаг sort of гiding еlsеwherе
iл Canada, more еspесiаlly British Col-
umbiа, and also in сеrtain pаrts of the
L-nitеd Statеs. In thе Yеllowstonе
\агional Park, Wyoming, stаgесoaсh
гides, with four-in-hаnd, fall in line with
тhе trаditionаl trail гiding aсtivities. It is
similar with othеr Old West statеs suсh as
Dаkotа whеrе you сan join an auтhentiс
саtde round-up. In Colorado thеrе aге
пulneгous dudе гanсhеs and guest-housеs,
сolnmon in fасt to vast traсts of Ameriса,
еspесially wеst of thе Мississippi.
Thе word .dude' wаs originally applied
тo Еаstеrn visitors whosе сultivatеd mаn-
neгs and unfаmiliarity with loсal сustoms
mаdе thеm the butts of snidе rеmarks аnd
Pгасtiсаl jokes. Whеn an inсrеasing
пumЬeг of thеm, howеvеr, sought to spеnd
:hеiт holidays on ranсhеs, owneгs сrеаtеd
Iaсi]iriеs аnd асtivitiеs for pаying guеsts.
.!7'estеrn-style
Тhеre аre now thousands of
геsoгts throughout thе United Statеs and
t out of Aliсe Spгings, thе hеaтt of thе Rеd
- as fishing, tеnnis and sailing аs wеll as
J lookеd: thе
Canada, giving vaсationегs the opportun-
ity to beсome аs muсh a part of the old
\07est аs the Twentieth сеnrury allows.
Almost all aсtivitiеs iпvolvе гiding.
Days arе spеnt on сross-сountгy expedi-
tions to savour thе area's sсеnеry,.helping,
гanсh hands tеnd hеrds of сatde, or polish-
ing tасk in thе barn while listеning to thе
staff tеll talеs of the .good old daуs'. Еvеn-
ing events сonsist of bаrbeсuеs, hayгides,
and square danсеs, and thеrе may bе
wеekly rodеo in whiсh rаnсh employееs _
and daring guеsts _ сomPеte agaiпst
peoplе from neаrby rеsorts and loсal сow-
boys and сowgirls.
Мany dudе ranсhes offег paсk trips as
part of thеir pгogгammе' but paсk tripping
саn аlso bе done as a vaсation by itself. A
weеkend or wееklong exсursion on horse-
bасk is a delightful wаy to seе unspoilеd
parts of thе сountry and to live thе way
frontiеrsmеn did years аgo. Happily foг
today's holiday-makеr, paсk шippiпg doеs
not геquire living off thе land. Trаvеllегs
stay аt саmp sitеs, сabins, or farm houses
аlong thе way. Мeals are servеd at thesе
plaсеs or thеy arе prepaгеd аlong the шаil
Ьy .wranglеrs', who also look aftеr the
hoгses. In addition to riding, thеre might
bе stops foг hunting, fishing, oг photo-
gгaphy, visits to sсеniс and histoгiс sitеs,
oг for a dаy oг two's rеspitе at a resoгt.
H0LlDAYS W|тH H0RsЕs
Мany statеs, suсh as Oklahomа and
tDИyoming hold rodeos whiсh are popular
speсtator sport for those on holiday. This
applies also to thе Tеnnеssеe \i7alking
ЕIorsе сеlеbrations. Touтs and riding aге
availablе in thе fаmous Blцеgrаss region of
Kenruсkу, and indeеd horsе farm tours
еxtеnd fгom Floridа to thе Piеdmont reg-
ion of north and сentгal Virginiа. Thе
Nеw Еnglаnd states offer аll that is bеst in
a гiding сountгy' partiсularly in autumn.
Theге are also Еnglish style riding
сеnrеs situаtеd thтoughout thе Unitеd
States with instruсtion available аt thеm.
Summer гiding сamps arе populaг for
youngstеrs, and all major сitiеs havе гiding
aсadеmiеs serving urban parks. There is
riding for instanсе, in New Yorlts famous
Centтаl Park аnd in lDИashington D.C.'s
Roсk Cгееk Park.
Australiа eхperiеnсеd a lull in riding,
whеn the horsе, revегеd as a woгking аni-
mal, gavе waу to mесhanйation. As
evеrywhеrе, interеst in riding аs а spoгt
soon grеw, аnd now thеrе is gгеater
emphasis on stylе, thаn the loping gait of
thе old time Ьushwасkеrs. Tгail riding hаs
intеnsifiеd, with one of the most аttraсtivе
areas bеing thе Bluе ]V1ountains Ьehind
Sуdney. Othеr сеntrеs аre in thе Laming-
ton National Park' and thе mountainous
paгts of thе Gold Coast. 73 kms (48 milеs)
Cеntге of thе Gгеat outbaсk, thе Ross
Rivег rеsoгt offеrs riding _ plus a сhanсе to
beсomе a boomerаng throwеr. Shеep sta-
tions too oftеn takе paying guеsts' allow-
ing а touсh of gгасious living with thе
гiding aсtivitiеs.
Nеw Zеalаnd is onе of thе worlds
lаrgеst farming сountries, and holidays in
a pastoral sеtting arе inсrеasingly popular.
Мany farms offer othеr opportunitiеs suсh
horsе-riding. Trail riding is not ovег-
,!Иandеrlust
trеkking сеntе at
Elanmеr Springs in the South Island havе
14 tеams for both expеIiеnсеd and amatеur
ridеrs. Camping тгips aге arrаngеd for up to
a wеek or morе.
Although vаst arеas havе not bеen
сovегеd fullу by this survеy, holidаy гiding
in somе other plaсе of youг сhoiсе nееd not
bе rulеd out. Dесеnt horsеs саn be found
in North Afriсa; thеrе is trеkking in thе
Upper Galilее, Isгael, and most towns and
resoгts offеr riding in South Afгiса.
A Nеw Yorkeг runs, and arranges holi-
daуs at, thе Еsсuеla Есuеstrе at sаn
Мiguеl dе Allеndе in &lехiсo, two еx-
Еnglish army offrсeгs гun mountain trеks
in tiny Andorra, and Argеntinа ranсh-
housе holidays with horsеs arе avаilablе
through аnothеr Еnglish сonсeгn.
In Jаmaiсa tгy riding аt thе Good Hope
estatе oг at the Upton Countrу CluЬ, Oсho
Rios, in Мalaysia - thе сountry сlub on
Langkawi island offеrs гiding among its
ottrеr sports аnd a Himalауan pony tгek is
opеrаted by а leading travеl сonсеrn.
No doubt other сountriеs havе еquаlly
as attraсtivе riding. Somе might еvеn
spring somе Worthwhilе suprisеs' If so
sharе your sесret with othеrs. or, on seс-
ond thoughts, kееp it to yourself!
165

f tш horsе's body is a finе examplе of
.l.
naturе's аbility to relatе strЦсrurе to
funсtion, eхprеssed еlsеwheге in thе shаrp
сarnassial tееth of thе dog aссustomеd to
tеaring at flеsh and using its .Ьitе' for
dеfеnсe, or in thе fins of a fish dеvеlopеd
for thе purpose of propulsion through
water. Thе horsе's Ьody is adaptеd for
spееd and sizе. other animаls are as fast аs
thе horsе, Ьut not as Ьig, and it is this
сomЬination that givеs thе сluе to muсh of
фе horsе's bodу sшuсture. It aссounts foт
thе highlу spесializеd limbs in whiсh thе
numbег of Ьonеs has Ьeеn rеduсеd to a
minimum' so that thе horse stands on thе
tips of four fingеrs and toеs, сomparеd with
sixtееn in thе dog and еight in саttlе. The
loss of musсlе Ьelow the .knеd аnd .hoсК
has aссompaniеd thе rеduсtion in the
numЬеr of Ьonеs, for it is thеsе musсlеs,
togеthеr with thе еxtra bonеs, that provide
thе human or animаl aЬility to grаsp and
manipulatе with thе extrеmity of its limЬs.
Through the сoursе of evolution, thе horsе
muzz€-
lUgulаr groоve
neсk
sttouldеr
oсйnt of shouldef
Еohippus
has lost this ability and сan movе its limbs
onlу еithеr forwards or bасkwards. This
providеs it with the optimum mеthod of
propulsion. Thе forсе is pгovidеd bу thе
highly dеvelopеd musсlеs аttaсhеd to thе
bonеs of thе forearm, thigh and body, thе
suгfасеs bonе having bеen bгoadеnеd to
mееt this inсrеasеd сommitmеnt.
Еvo1ution
Wе know from fossil rесords how
horsе's skеlеton hаs bесomе adаptеd in thе
сoursе of somе 40 million years, from thе
fox-likе сrеаturе Eohippus' or Dаwn
Elorse, to Equus саbаllus, thе modеrn
horsе. From thеse reсords we сan follow,
not only thе elongation and simplifiсаtion
of the extrеmitiеs of thе limbs' but also
suсh сhangеs as the lengthening of thе
nесk аnd skull, assoсiatеd with thе altеrа-
tion from browsing hаbits (iе еаting soft'
suссulent ftuits аbove ground levеl) to
gtazing habits (iе сropping hard, fibrous
gгass at ground levеl).
The first fossil rесord is of thе Dаwn
ЕIorse but thе horsе prеsumably evolved
from stoсk having thе mаmmalian pro-
totype appеndages offivе fingеrs and toеs'
whiсh human bеings hаve rеtаinеd. The
The modern horse Еqиus caballus has
evo|ved from the now extinсt foгm
Еohippus whiсh is first reсorded from the
Eoсene period about 40 mi||ion years ago.
The сoat сo|our аnd pattern of the tiny
Еohippus are сonjeсtura| аs it is known
onlv from fossil bones.
girth line
elbow
fore arm briskel
fore саnnon
Еquus
sеquеnсе of dеvеlopmеnt of thе limЬ
еxtrеmitiеs and those whiсh took plaсe in
thе skull аnd tееth havе bееn wеll
rеsеаrсhеd. Thе tееth mirror the сhange in
feeding habits; thе modеrn horsе has front
tееth for сropping grass аnd baсk tееth
with flat surfaсеs so that the upper and
lowеr molars сan grind the hard, fibrous
сontеnt of its diеt.
The horse's body is struсturеd to mееt
thе the needs of the еquinе spесiеs; аnd pur-
posеs imposеd by mаn arе only inсidеntаl.
This must be rесognizеd so as to undеr-
stand the Ьеst mеthods of сaring for the
horsе, in order to gain maximum advan-
tаgе fгom its prowеss while intеrfеring
minimally with its natural funсtions.
Еvolutionary сhangеs hеlp in undеr-
standing the horse oftoday, but it hаs also
to bе aссеptеd that thе struсturе ofthе body
ofthе horse is unaltеrablе, in the sensе thаt
within thе rеlаtivеly minor fаmily diffеr-
еnсеs, а horsе is a horse; and no amount of
artifiсiаl or man-inspirеd influеnсеs саn
сhange it. It is truе thаt by sеlесtion it is
possiblе to brееd a miniаture Shеtland
pony or an еnormous ThoroughЬred or
drаught horsе, but thеsе arе still just dif-
ferеnt brееds of thе domestiс horsе'
Ьеlonging to thе spесies Equus cаbаllus.
They all possess 64 сhromosomеs (iе in-
herited material in the сell nuсlеi). Near
rеlаtivеs suсh as the zеbra, Przewalski,s
horsе and wild аss have differеnt numbеrs
of сhromosomеs, Ьut are nonеtheless iden-
tifiable in their body struсturе as bеlonging
to thе Еouidae.
point of hiр
---dOuP
/-dor/r.
tю||y
stifle
hind сannon
сoronet
wall of hoof
neel
-
 тHE BoDY 0F тHЕ H0RSE

Tissues
Тhе horsе, in сommon with othеr mam-
maliаn speсiеs' is mаdе up of four basiс
rЬsues known as musсlе, nеrvе' сonnес-
tivе аnd еpithеlium, еасh with its own spe-
сiаl сhаraсteristiсs whiсh сontributе to thе
funсtion of thе wholе bodv.

Еpithelial Tissue
Еpithеlial tissuе inсludеs thе сovеring and
liлing of thе outside of thе body (thе skin),
аnd thе innеr tubеs and hollow organs
sцсh as thе gut, bile duсt, bladdеr and
utеrus. The glands whiсh produсе hor-
monеs and othет substanсеs arе foгmеd of
epithеlial tissuе.

Conneсtive Tissue Еohipрtus ------+ |v|esohippus ----.> MerYchippus ---* P|bhippus 1 Еquus

Conneсtivе tissuе is that whiсh сontri-

butеs spесial funсtions suсh as thе bony
sгuсturеs (the skelеton) whiсh support
аnd givе form to the Ьody and its softеr
sЕuсtцгеs. Blood is a vеry spесiаl form of
сonnесtivе tissuе, while morе simplе
foгms inсludе tеndons, ligaments and
sheеts of fibrous matеrial whiсh bind or
Pгotесt vаrious organs or musсlеs.

Мusсцlar Tissue
.Чusсulаr tissuе is thаt whiсh has thе
pгopеrty of movеment (сonшaсtion and
гelаxation) and is thus rеsponsible for thе
тr'oгk pеrformеd bу thе bodу, as in gallop-
iтrg or, in standing, by resisting thе pull of
gтаvity. Body funсtions arе also pеrformеd
ЬУ othеr typеs of musсlе' suсh аs that in thе
Аbove As the horse evo|ved from a
cryptiс forest browser to a сonspiсuous
plains-dwelling grazer, and the need for
speed to esсape predators inсreаsed, the
body size enIarged and the numbeг of toes
wаs гeduсed. The сhаnge of diet from
easi|у сhewed soft fгUits to toUgh grass
whiсh neеded grinding resU|ted in the
development of hard enamel ridges on the
teeth (drawings not to scalel. Below The
ske|eton is mаde uo of some 2] 0 bones to form
а supporting framework; a knowIedge of the
гelаtionshios and funсtions of the bones is
alwavs useful.

at|аs (]st сoruiо€| vort€brа)

facial 7th (|аst) cвruiса| vertebrа

сrost

sсapulаr сагti|аge
сheek teeth
6th (|аst) sвсrum
mаndibIe 18th (last) Iumbаr vortobrа
lnс|sors thorасiс vertebra 1st сoссyg€sI voгtobrа
- diаstemа (bаr)

sternum

'l8th (last) rib

humorus хiphoid саrti|age costа| оаrti|agв Pаtв||а

fibu|а

ii
rаdius--Е
-----a:i:.," (one of the taгsа| boпes
оаrpа| oones
forming point of hoсk)
{tsсhniса||уthe G
Wrist but а|Wаys
ind spIiлt boпe
сa||ed the knee) fore spIiпt bone

hind саnnon
fore сannoп .

(metаtаrsа| 3)
(metarсarpa|,) -
i .

-f -sesamoids sesаmoids
- -+-
.-navlсu|аr

169
 тHE B0DY 0t тHЕ H0RsЕ
,l
sсаpuIa
bieps Ыaсhii
rаdia| саrpaI
extensor
сommon
digital
еxteпsor
|аteraI digitaI
сarpа| bones
eкeпюr
ann U|аr
саnnoп bone _ I
long pastern bone sesаmolos
short pаsteгп bone
сoffin bone
lining of thе gut whiсh produсes the pеris-
taltiс movеmеnt propelling food ftom onе
еnd of the alimentary traсt (gut) to thе
othеr. The heart too сonsists mostly of
musсlе doing thе work of a pump.
Nervoцs Tissце
Nеrтous tissuе hаs thе сapacity to trаnsmit
messages over long distanсes, and forms
the brain, spinal сord and nervе paтhways
whiсh сontrol most of the body funсtions.
Thе Skеlеton and Мusсlеs
The hoгse's skеleton is сomposed of
аpproхimatеly 210 individual bonеs (ех-
сluding thosе of the tail). Thе skеlеton
givеs support for thе musсles, protесtion
for ttre intеrnal orgаns, аnd possesses thе
neсessary mobility of its pаrts foг the horsе
to movе at various spееds or liе down or
gtaze.
Vаrying dеgreеs of moЬiliry are providеd
by diffеring typ€s of ioints; foг еxamplе,
that Ьеtwееn thе femur and tibia, forming
thе .stifle', gives grеat mobility' whilе
those Ьеtwееn two vertеbrае in thе Ьaсk-
Ьone аllow restriсted movement onlv. Thе
infraфinаtUs
lateral саrpа|
flexor
deep d g tа
flexor
igаrnents
сHEсK UGАмЕNтS дстNG
тHRoUGнD|GIтALFLЕxoR
bonеs forming all joints arе сappеd with
сartilage, whiсh is softеr thаn bonе аnd сan
makе good thе еffесts of wеar аnd tear at
thе sцrfaсе. Thе joint is сomplеtеd bу a
сapsulе whiсh produсеs synovia (joint oil)
to lubriсаte thе joint surfaсеs, аnd it is
strеngthenеd by ligamеnts, iе fibrous
bands сonneсting thе bonеs on еither side
of thе joint.
Thе way in whiсh a joint сan movе is
сontrollеd by thе shapе of thе j oint surfaсe
аnd thе position of thе ligamеnts and ottrer
supporting struсtцrеs whiсh pаss ovеr it.
Thе fеtloсk for еxamplе сan bе flехеd .knеd
furttrer than it сan bе еxtеnded; thе
саn only bе flеxed whеreas thе stifle joint
сan bе movеd, to somе еxtent, in sevеral
direсtions.
Thе skеlеton hаs sеvеral ехamples of
naturе's way of adapting struсtuге to meet
partiсцlar requirёmеnts or funсtion. The
Ьroad flat suгfaсe of the sсapula or shoul-
dеr Ьladе аnd thе transvегse proсеssеs of
thе lumЬar vеrtеЬrae, providе ample spасe
for thе аttaсhmеnt of the powеrful musсlеs
rеquirеd to move фе forе and hind limЬs.
Thе spесial fеaturеs of the skull arе the
relatively еlongatеd fасe providing spaсе
sHoULDЕR нЕLD
вAскWARDS вY
s{JPffдsP|NAтIJs
АND B|сЕPs BяАсHl|
мUsGls
digitaI f|eхors
|асeгtUs fibrosUs rаdiа| cheсk ligament
KNEЕ HЕLD BАскWARDS
e. sтRАlGнт) BY
(i
LдсЕRrus FlBRosljs
саrpa| сheсk Iigament
.
suspensory ligаment aпd
sesаmoideаn extensIon
Three aspeсts of the horse,s |eft fore|eg
seen from the |eft side. /: Тhe skeleton is
made up of 20 bones; there are no сo|Iаr
bones linking the shoulder blades in the
horse.2: Тhe deep musс|es; the bones
below the knee аre moved by tendons
aгising from musс|es muсh higher up the
|eg. 3: A speсiа| system of musсles,
tendons and Iigaments forms the stay
appаrаtus whiсh prevents the leg from
buсk|ing and enab|es the horse to reIaX and
even doze in the stаnding position; a
similar sУstem exists in the hindIeg.
for thе tееth and their roots; and *re orbits
housing thе eyеs whiсh are plaсed wеll
aЬove ground level when thе horsе is gтaz-
ing. Thesе providе it with a greatеr arеа of
vision to look out for impеnding dangеr.
The pаrts of thе skelеton whiсh hаvе
partiсular praсtiсal importanсе for horsе
ownеrs аrе:
(i) the splint bonеs, on еithеr side of thе
сannon bonеs, whiсh аre rеmnаnts of
thе digits lost during еvolution. These
Ьonеs arе Ьound to the саnnon bone by
ligamеnts. It is a fraсturе of thе shaft of
this bone, or inflammation of the liga-
 тHЕ B0DY 0t тHE H0RSE

ment whiсh binds it to thе сannon
bonе, that сauses the painful еnlаrge-
mеnts known as .splints'.
[ii) otheг small bonеs whiсh аre somе-
timеs troublesomе' thе sеsаmoids.
Thesе arе two smаll bones forming thе
baсk of thе fеtloсk joint, and thе
naviсulаr Ьonе Ьelow thе pеdal bonе.
The Foot
Thе horsе's foot is сomplеtеly surroundеd
Ьу a substanсе similaг to а human's fingеI
паil to proteсt it against having to sustain
thе wеаr and tear of сarrying onе quаrtег of
тhе horsе's weight in асtion ovеr аny tеr-
гain. A horsе's foot сonsists of аn outеr
lаyег of horn (hoof) inside whiсh is сon-
вinеd thе pedal and naviсular bonеs, part
of ttrе sесond phalanx and thе dееp digital
flеxoг tеndoц thе еnd ofwhiсh is аttaсhеd
to thе pеdal bonе. Thе foot also сontаins
thе digital pad, latеral сartilages, сorono-
pеdal joint' blood vessеls and nеrvеs.
Thе outеr layer сonsists of the walls,
solе, bars and frog. Thе hoof is an inеrt
substanсе сomposеd largely of kеrаtin
whiсh is sесretеd by thе сoronary сorium.
Thе hoof grows аt a ratе of approximatеlу
wеen parts фаt suffeг friсtion.
Most musсles hаvе tеndons of varying
lengths and not all aге as long as those
whiсh run bеlow thе kneе oг hoсk ioints.
Ligamеnts, too) vary in length. Мost are
геlativеly short' sцсh аs those alreadу mеn-
tioned whiсh strеngthеn joints. The сhесk
and suspensory ligaments of thе foгelimb
dеsеrvе speсial mеntion. Thе сhесk liga-
mеnt is attaсhеd to t}rе ligаment at thе baсk
of фе knеe joint and, at its lowег еnd, it
joins the deep digital flexor tendon in thе
rеgion of thе Ьaсk of thе сannon bonе. It
forms paгt of thе stay appaгatus whiсh prе-
vents ovеr еxtension of thе toе. Thе sus-
pensory ligamеnt is also сonсеrnеd in this
aсtion and is attaсhеd аbove, to thе bасk of
thе сannon Ьonе and lowеr row of knее
(сarpаl) bonеs' and Ьelow to thе sеsamoid
Ьones Ьehind the fetloсk ioint. From hеrе
it sеnds two Ьraпсhes around the front of
the first phalangeal (pastеrn) bonе on еасh
sidе to join the сommon digital extensor
tendon, through whiсh thеy аrе insеrtеd
into thе front of thе sесond phalangeal and
pеdаl bones. Thеre is a similar arгangе-
mеnt in the hind limb.
Digestive Systеm
The horse's digеstivе systеm сonsists of
thosе organs сonсеrned with digestion, or
thе turning of сomplеx food materiаl suсh
as hay, grass and сorп, into simple sub-
staпсes suсh as сarЬohydratе, pгotеin
(amino aсids), fatry aсids, еtс, whiсh сan bе
usеd by the body for еnergy, stoгage or
body Ьuilding proсеsses' Thе organs сon-
sist of the alimentary traсt whiсh is the
tцbе еxtending from thе mouth to the anus
and known also as thе gut, intеstines or
alimеntary сanal, and thе aссеssory oгgans
suсh аs thе teеth, tonguе' salivary glands,
livеr and panсrеas.
digitа| f|exor tendon
sesamoideап ligаment
digitol еxtensor tendon

0.5сm (0.2in) pеr month and it rесеives

nouгishmеnt from thе sеnsitivе laminaе
leаf-likе struсturеs whiсh linе the pedal
bonе and whiсh bind the hoof to thе bonе
as thеy intеrloсk with сompaгablе lеaves
from thе insеnsitivе laminае of thе hoof.
Thе foot as а wholе aЬsorbs сonсussion
and by its сontinuous growтh it is ablе to
геplaсe thе surfaсе as this is lost Ьy еvеry-
daу wеаr аnd tеаr..

Мusсles
Thе musсles thаt enаble the hoгsе to move
сonsist of musсle massеs аttасhеd to bonе
at onе end аnd to tlrеir гespесtivе tеndons bulb of heol
at thе other. Foг еxamplе, the supеrfiсial
digital flеxor of thе forelimb is attасhеd to
thе humеrus bonе аnd thе posteгior aspесt
of the rаdius Ьonе. At its lowеr еnd it foгms
тtrе tendon whiсh runs behind thе knеe
аnd fеtloсk ioints to beсomе inseгtеd on
the lowеr еnd of the first and uppеr еnd of сеntra| 9гoove
l
ttre seсond phalаnx. Its aсtion is to flеx thе I'o9".
|aterа| groovв |
l- offroo
"
toе and knee аnd to extеnd thе elЬow i oint. apex
The tendon is enсasеd in a synoviаl
_]

shеath as it runs bеhind the knеe and thе

fеtloсk joints. Thе thin fibrous sheеt t]rat
сomposes this pгoduсes tеndon oil oг
synovia whiсh has similar lubriсаting ground border
propеrtiеs to joint oil. Similar sheафs of wа||
еnсlosе tendons whеrever thеге is likеlу to
bе friсtion betweеn thе tеndon аnd bonе,
oг othеr struсturеs. A bursa is а similar
insensitive |аminаe
struсture exсеpt that it doеs not surround a
tеndon, but aсts morе likе a сushion bеt-

Тhe struсture of the foot. fop: a seсtion

down the mid-line. middle: The sole
surfaсe of an unshod hoof ' bottom right..
The hoof detасhеd from the foot shows the
insensitive |aminae on the inside faсe of
the wall and heels. bottom /eft: a magnified
сross seсtion of the insensitive/sensitive
|aminar junсtion; the sensitive Iaminаe
hаve Iitt|e room to expand if injured or
inf|аmed аnd сan thus be a sourсe of
extreme oаin to the horse.
111
 lзolitl6)
The spесial сharaсteristiсs of тhе horse's
mouth аrе the highly prеhеnsile lips for
gathеring food whiсh work in сonjunсtion
with the shаrp front teeth Whеn сropping
grass, аnd the lаЬilе tonguе whiсh сonvеys
the food to thе baсk tеeth. Thеsе have
tablе-likе suтfaсеs сrossеd by ridgеs that
form an idеal grinding surfaсе Ьеtwеen the
upper and lowег jaws.
An adult horsе has 40 teeth arrаnged as
follows: in еaсh lеft and right, upper and
lower jaw thеrе arе thrеe inсisors, one
oesopnаgUs
diаphragm
-**..i
smа|l mlon саeсUm
Iarge сoIon
oprning of паsа|
саvity into phаrynx
The mouth and teeth аre speсiа||y adаpted
for grazing. far left:The |агge mobi|e lips
сan enfo|d bu nсhes of g rаss whiсh are torn
free by the сhise|-Iike inсisor teeth. /eft: the
skuII viewed from be|oW; the soft pа|ate -аn
extension of the mouth Iining _сovers pаrt of
the nasa|сavity opening;the IoWer jаW is
narrower thаn the upperjаw аnd moves
sideways as we|| аs up and down to grind
the tough food between the сheek teeth
(molars). above i the moIar surfасe is fIat
and formed of sharp enamel ridges;
opposing teeth move aсross eасh other
with a shearing action. right'. the milk teeth
a гe rep|асеd by the time the hoгse is f ive years
o|d; here a permanent inсisor is erupting
through the gu m to repIaсe the miIk tooth in
front.
 gUttUra| pouф
froпtа| siпusеs
Pnаryпx
supеrior mахi||ary siпus
iпf erior mаxi||arv sinUs
паsа|саvity ___1
(oPeп to phаrynх) .t {. g'
bucса| cаvity
PAвАLYZED oN LЕп
Left above The а|imentary traсt, showing саninе (present only in сolts аnd geldings),
its disposition in the abdomen (here in the and siх сhееk teеth (three prеmolагs and
mагe), аnd the sequenсe of its parts' тhe threе molars). A young horse has tеmpor-
sma|| size of the stomach restriсts the ary teeth, whiсh are replaсеd by thе per-
amount Which саn be ingested and the mаnent tеeth by the time it is five yеars old.
intаke must be sma|| but f reouent. The Duсts whiсh disсharge digеstive juiсes
stomaсh and most of the sma|| intestiпe from thе pаrodd mаndiЬulaг and subling.
агe сhief|y in the Ieft side аnd сannot be ual salivary glands open into thе mouth.
seen in the mаiп drawiпg The roof of thе mouth is formеd Ьy the
hard palatе in front, whiсh сontinuеs into
the soft palate bеhind. Thе soft palаte
forms part of the pharynx whеrе thе аir
passages and digestivе traсt сross one
another.
As a horsе swаllows, the food сrosses thе
pharynx and enteгs the gullеt oг
oеsophagus, from where it is сonveуеd to
thе stomасh аnd thеnсе to thе small intes-
tinеs, lаrgе сolon, smаll сolon and reсtum.
The alimentary traсt' from the stomaсh
to the reсtum' togethеr with the Panсrеas
and liver (glands whiсh сontributе morе
digestive juiсеs and bile) are сontаinеd in
the abdominal сavity. This сan
.bo/,
desсriЬеd as a largе thе sides of
whiсh аrе thе diaphragm in front, thе mus-
сlеs bеlow thе spinе forming thе top, and
thе musсlеs of the.bellf , the Ьottom. Thе
baсk pаrt ofthе .bot' is сlosеd by thе pеlviс
outlеt through whiсh the гесtllm' urinary
аnd rеproduсtivе traсt rеaсh thе outsidе.
Thе аbdominal сavity also сontаins, in thе
femаlе, the ovaries аnd thе uterus; and in
both malе аnd fеmalе, thе urinary organs,
сomprising thе kidnеy, urеtеrs and blad-
Thе аbdominal сavity is lined by the
peritoneum аnd all the organs arе sus-
pended bу reflесtions (mеsеntеries аnd lig-
The respiгatory system' A |aгge vo|ume in
the head is oсcupied by сhambers which
do not seem to have a respiratory function
but do сonneсt With the nasаI сavity аnd
aгe fiIIed with аir' The drawings on the Ieft
show the opening of the larynx into the
pharynx; the nerve to the voсa| сord on
either side (usua||y the |eft) may beсome
damaged due to overstгetсhing or injury,
resu|tiпg in the сondition known аs roaring
or whist|ing' саused by vibгаtion of the
para|уzed voсal сord When the horse
bгeаthes in.
amеnts) of thе peritonеum, A spесial frее
fold of thе pеritonеum is known as thе
omеntum.
The anatomiсal pесuliaritiеs of thе
horsе's digеstivе sуstеm сompаrеd with
othеr mammals are:
(i) that thе greatest volumе of thе traсt is
in thе hiлd еnd, nаmеlу thе сaесum,
and сolon, whеrе thе majoг proсеss of
bе digеsting fibrе oссurs by baсtеrial
fеrmentation
(ii) тhе relativеly small stomaсh
(iii) the аbsenсе of a gаll btaddеr (probably
assoсiаtеd with thе nееd for a сon-
tinual supplу of bilе in an animal
whiсh is a сonтinuous fееdеr)
The Respiratory System
Thе rеspiratory sуstem сonsists of thе air
passagеs of thе heаd (nosшils to pharynx),
thе pharynx, lаrynx, trасhеa or windpipе,
Ьronсhi and lungs. Thе lungs arе the two
organs in whiсh oxygеn and сarbon diox-
ide are еxсhangеd Ьеtweеn the blood and
"
|7з
тHЕ B0DY 0t тHE н0RsE
аoftа to body
апd head puImonary агtеry
to lungs
pulmonary verns
from lungs
Ieft аtrium
posterior
саva from body
rrght atnum
air. Theу are situatеd in the сhest сavity
known аs thе thorаx, the walls (ribs and
diaphragm) of whiсh сan ехpand or сon-
traсt' thus allowing the lungs to еnlargе or
сompress. The movеmеnts of тhe сhеst
altеrnatеly drаw in and expеl аir into аnd
out of the lungs.
Thе anаtomiсаl fеaturеs of thе еquine
rеspiratory systеm whiсh аrе of partiсular
intеrest to hoгsemen arе:
(i) thе air sinusеs of thе hеad and thе
guttural pouсhеs, whiсh arе largе
blind saсs сonneсting with thе еus-
taсhian tubеs of thе еar and whiсh
may bе thе sitе of irrfeсtion or bleеding.
(ii) thе lar1тrx, onе sidе of whiсh may
bесomе pаralyzеd and сause an
obstruсtion to thе inflorv of air, thus
resulting in whistling or roaring.
(iii) thе minutе еndings of the airwaуs in
tubes, known as bronсhiolеs' whiсh
сonnесt with thе air saсs (аlvеoli) in
the lung. It is thеsе struсturеs whiсh
arе involvеd in the сondition of
.brokеn wind.
The Heart and Vasсular
Systеm
As in othеr mammals, thе horsе's heart
сonsists of four сhambеrs with four sеts of
valvеs. Raсеhorsеs, аs might be expесtеd'
have hearts whiсh arе rather larger than
thе averagе; that ofЕсlipsе wеighеd аЬout
6'5 kg (14lbs).
Blood is pumped bу thе heart into
artеries whiсh еxtend to аll parts of the
Ьody, bеforе rеturning to thе hеart in veins.
Fеw pеoplе nееd to know the horsе's vas-
сular sуstеm in dеtail, but the following
artеriеs and vеins arе worthy of notе:
(i) The jugulаr vеin that liеs on eithег
side of thе neсk, саrriеs the blood from
174
Ventriс|e
right ventriсle
Тhe heаrt is situated between the Iungs in
the thorасiс сavity. It is effeсtiveIy a doubIe
musсuIar pump; the гight side reсeives
deoxygenated blood through the vena
сavae from the body and pumps it to the
Iungs; the moгe musсuIаr Ieft side reсeives
blood from the lungs (where the blood is
oxygenаted) and pumps it oUt thгoUgh the
aorta to begin its Iong сirсuIation through
the body.
the hеad and nесk bасk to thе hеart. It
is easilу .raisеd bу prеssure in the
lowеr part of thе neсk and maу bе used
thеrеforе for сollесting blood samplеs
or in thе сoursе of administering
intravеnous fluid thеrapу.
(ii) Thе aortа is thе mаin аrtery leaving
the hеart, and it сarries blood to all
parts postеrior to thе сhеst. It runs
along thе roofofthе сhеst and abdom-
inal сavity, аnd in the lattеr it distri-
Ьutes a branсh to thе intеstines, сallеd
thе anterior mesеntеriс artеry. It is
this branсh whiсh may bесomе
bloсked as a rеsult ofthе асtivity ofthе
parаsitе Strongуlus zlulgаris. This is
one of the саusеs of сoliс.
Lymphatiс System
Thе lymph systеm сonsists of a seriеs of
minutе сhannеls and vеnules whiсh сarrу
a relatively сolourless fluid known аs
lymph, from thе еxtremitiеs and other
parts of the body, baсk towards thе hеart
whеrе theу disсhargе it into thе blood
stream. Along thеsе сhannеls arе speсiаl
glаnds or lуmph nodеs whiсh flltеr baс-
teria and other mattеr from the lymph
strеam' thus purifuing it. The lymph sys-
tеm is not notiсеablе еxсеpt in suсh dis-
еasеs as lуmphangitis, or whеn the lymph
puImonary pu|moпаry
аrtery veins
nodеs bесome еnlargеd' as in strangles or
othеr infeсtious сonditions.
Thе Uro.Gеnital Systеm
Thе horsе' in сommon with othеr mam-
mals, has two kidneуs, whosе funсtion is to
filtеr thе Ьlood and form цrine. This passеs
to the bladdеr through thе ureters аnd from
thеrе, thе urine pаssеs to thе outsidе
thгough ttrе uгеthra. Thе urethra has а
сommon еxit from the body with thе sеx-
uаl traсt, namеly the vagina in thе mаrе
and thе penis in the stallion. Thе gеnital
organs of the mаre сonsist of two ovaries
and oviduсts or fallopian tuЬеs, the utеrus'
сervix, vаgina and vцlva.
Thе ovaries aге rеsponsiЬle for produс-
ing the fеmale sеx сеl1, iе thе еgg or ovum.
A fillу is born with many thousands of еggs
in hеr ovariеs and no morе form during her
lifetimе. ЕIowevеr during timеs of sеx-
ual aсtivity oestrus fluid folliсlеs devеlop
round onе or morе eggs and rupture to
shed thе egg into the fallopian tube. This is
known as ovulation. Thе lining of the fol.
liсlе bleеds аnd а .уellow-Ьody' is formеd.
The folliсle, whilе it is dеvеloping, pгo-
duсes thе hormonе oestrogеn, and the
.уеllow-bodt', thе hormone progestеronе.
If thе ovary of a sexuallу maturе fllly is сut
in half it will сontain folliсlеs and .yellow
bodies' in varying stagеs of dеvelopmеnt.
Right The urogenitа| system of the mаre
(top) and the stallion (bottom). In the mare
the vаgina, body of the UterUs and bIadder
are shown here in seсtion through the
mid-Iine' The uterus and ovаries aгe
susoended from the roof of the abdominal
сavity on two fo|ds of its Iining
(peritoneum) саlIed the broad Iigaments
(not depiсted here).

A stallion's sеxual organs сonsist of two
tеstesin whiсh the spеrmatozoа aIе pro-
duсеd; сollесting duсts (inсluding thе
еpididymis) whiсh сonnесt with
цIеthIa aftеr trаvelling in thе spеrmatiс
сord with arteries and vеins; thе aссеssory
glands сomprising thе prostate) vesiсulаr
sеminаlеs аnd bulbo-urеthral' and the
pеnis. The penis is housed in thе prеpuсе
or .sheath', and thе tеstes in thе sсrotum.
Thе Nervous Systеm
Thе nervous system is сomposеd of thе
сеntral nеrvous sуstеm (сNs) аnd thе
pеriphеral nеrvous sуstem (PNS). The
CNS сonsists of thе Ьrain and soinal сord.
SгALL]oN
Thе PNS сomprisеs thе nеrvе trunks that
leavе thе brain and otttеrs, whiсh еmеrgе
from thе spinal сord, togethеr with thosе
thе bеlonging to thе spесial sympаthetiс nerv-
ous sуstеm.
Thе fеаrures of thе еquinе nеrvous sys-
tеm arе thе relativеly higЫу dеvеloped
сеrеbеllum, that part responsiЬle for the
сontrol of movеmеnt; thе long сoursе of
thе spinаl сord tfuough the сеrviсаl геgion
whiсh makes this pаrt susсeptiЬle to injury
and to suсh nervous сonditions аs .wob-
blе/ disеasе; and thе routes taken by thе
nerves running to thе еxtrеmitiеs of thе
forе and hind limbs. A knowledgе of thе
lattеr сan Ье usеd in the diagnosis of lamе-
nеss. sinсе thеv сan Ье .Ьloсkеd at varioцs
ovary
kidneys
тHЕ B0DY 0t тHЕ HORSЕ
points bу injесting a 1oсаl anaеsthetiс
around thеm' so аs to dеsеnsitizе thе arеаs
thеy supply.
Thе nеrvous sуstem is somеthing likе a
telеphonе еxсhange, in thаt it dеpеnds on
thе input and output of mеssagеs, to and
from thе сеntre. In using this analogy, thе
brаin and spinal сord lеprеsеnt thе
exсhangе аnd its suЬstаtions, and thе
nerve trunks arе of two sorts, a) sensory'
that is сarrying mеssagеs to the CNS and
b) motor' сarrуing messages from thе
to thе musсlеs and othеr endpoints whеrе
CNS
thеy produсе aсtivity or movеmеnt. Thе
sеnsory nеrves depеnd on еndings whiсh
аre sеnsitivе to pain, prеssure' hеat, сold,
еtс, and whiсh, whеn stimulаted, сonvеy
thesе imprеssions to thе Ьrаin whеrе theу
аrе intеrpretеd by rеflеx oг voluntarу
aсtion. The spесial sеnsory endings arе
those of smеll, sight аnd hеаring, mеdiated
through thе nose, еyеs and ears.
The Еndoсrinе
(Hormonal) Systеm
Thе endoсrine systеm сonsists of a
numЬеr of glands whiсh sесrete hor-
monеs. A hormonе is a substanсe pro-
duсеd Ьy а gland and шansportеd in blood
or lymph strеams' to еxеrt an aсtion oI
сause аn еffесt on anothеI part oг parts. For
ехamplе, thе pituitary gland, whiсh is
situatеd bеlow thе brain, pгoduсеs a hor-
mone known as folliсlе-stimulаting hor-
monе (FSH) thе aсtion of whiсh is to
stimulatе folliсlеs to dеvеlop in thе ovary.
Insulin is produсеd Ьy сells in the panсrea-
tiс gland and is rеsponsiblе for rеgulаting
thе lеvеl of sugar in thе blood. Cortisonе is
seсretеd by thе aфenal сortеx and has
widеsprеаd effeсts on many mеtаboliс
funсtions of the Ьody. Thе еndoсrinе
glаnds (and thе hormones they produсе)
arе as follows:
(a) antеrioг pituitary _ folliсlе stimulat.
ing hormonе (Fsн), lutеinizing hor-
monе (LH), pгolaсtin, growth, thyroid
stimulating hormonе
(Ь) posterior piruitarу _ oхytoсin, vasop-
rеssin
(с) thyroid _ thуroxinе
(d) panсrеas _ insulin
(е) adrеnаl сoltеx _ сortisonе
(fl аdrеnal mеdulla - adrеnаlin
(g) ovarу _ oestrogen, progеstегone
(h) tеstes - tеstosteгonе
(i) utеrus - prostaglandin
Thе Skin
Thе skiл is сomposеd of threе layеrs' an
outеr сеllular oт еpithеlial laуеr whiсh is
сapablе of replaсing itsеlf as wеar and tеar
еrode thе outer suгfасe; a sub-еpithеlial
lаyer whiсh nouгishes thе outег layеr and
in whiсh pain еndings аnd othеr sеnsitivе
strцсturеs arе found; and thе suЬ-dеrmal
layer whiсh is сontinuous with the sub-
еpithеliаl layer and binds thе skin to thе
undеrlying Ьonе or musсlе. Thе hair fol-
liсlеs oссur in thе sub-dеrmаl layеr. The
skin сontаins swеat glands аnd othеr
glands whiсh sесrеtе an oil substanсe
known as sеЬum.
175

A сoммoN failing among animal-
11, louer' is the tеndЪnсy to iegаrd thе
animal spесies in human terms of intellig.
еnсe, motivation аnd similar mattеrs. Thе
dog, possibly thе earliеst of thе animals
domеstiсated by man, is the ехtrеme
eхamplе of .humanization' bеing rеgardеd
Ьy a lаrgе numbeг of ownеrs in thе same
light as a human сhild and endowеd by
them with humаn intelligеnсe and imagi-
nation whiсh it сannot possibly possess.
Many of the arguments advаnсed by anti-
hunting fасtions arе basеd on a similarly
fаlse prеmisе - thе reaсtions of thе quaпy
being relatеd to thosе of the human in thе
unlikely еvеntuаlity of thе latter Ьеing
plaсed in thе same situаtion.
Thе horse may not suffеr .humanizа-
tion' to quitе thе same degree but wiфout
doubt he is populаrly, and quite wrongly,
thought to be an animal of high intеllig-
еnсe. The pеrformanсes of whiсh hе is
сapablе arе all too oftеn сonsideгed аs
manifestations of that quality rather than
as produсts of a training systеm based on
rеpetition, whiсh results in а variety of
сonditionеd гeflеxes. Мuсh of the агgu-
ment may dеpеnd upon тhe interprеtation
of thе word .intelligenсе', but what is сеr-
tainly bеyond doubt is that animal intеllig-
еnсе саnnot Ье еquatеd with the human
quality.
In fасt, thе brain of the horsе is vеry
smаll in rеlation to his size, smallеr indeed
- although the point is hardly relevant -
than that of thе turtle. In gеnеral terms аnd
at tlrе risk of ovеr-simplifiсation, it сan bе
said that thе horsе is a сгeaturе of instinсt,
not of rеason, whiсh is а human attгibutе'
sinсе its mеntaliry is based upon instinсts
When trying to understand a horse don't fall
into the trap of interpгeting its behаviour iп
human terms. It wouId be anthropomorphiс,
and wrong, to guess that beсause this horse
Iooks to be Iaughing it is showing аmUsement.
176
developed in thе wild statе as a mеans of
survival against thе natural hazаrds ofthе
environmеnt and the activities of predatory
сarnivorеs, forеmost of whiсh has bеen
mаn himself.
Thе horse is an heгbivorous аnimal and
his defеnsive mесhаnisms _ that is thе
physiсal ability to movе swiftly away from
the фrеat of attaсk and the possеssion of
higЫy.dеvеlopеd senses - arе in thе mаin
dirесted towards flight as a mеans of prе-
sеrvаtion. Any study of thе horse personal-
ity, relevant to thе animаl]s training' must
tаkе thеsе faсtors into aссount, whilst dis-
сounting the faсt that in thе domestiс stаtе
thе origiпal stimuli have long been absеnt.
Thе еxistеnсе of a flight-oriеntаted
dеfenсе eхplains the higЫy-sшung аnd
ехсitable naturе of the horse, аlthough thе
dеgrеe ofехсitability аnd nеrvousnеss dis-
playеd narurallу vаries aссordiпg to the
individuаl. In most сases thе сoпЦnon,
.сold-blood horse, slower in his reaсtions,
will be a notаbly less exсitablе subjесt than
thе highly-bred .warm-blood' typifiеd Ьy
thе Thoroughbred аnd thе Arabian. In all
сasеs, howеver, thе feeding of thе horsе
еxerts an important influеnсe. A high pro-
tein diet will have thе еffeсt of making him
more pronе to beсoming exсitеd and moге
likеly to indulgе in defianсe of his trainе1 s
or ridet's wishеs. For this гeason muсh
attеntion has to bе paid to thе horse's diet,
thе сonsumption of heating, or еnergizing,
foods being balаnсеd by a сorrеsponding
ехpenditurе of еnеrgy through physiсal
exеrсisе.
The prime сonsideгations of thе hoгse
trainеr, apart from thе natural tеndеnсy in
his pupil to be nеrvous and еxсitablе as a
result of thе instinсtive, self-pгеsеrvаtivе,
flight reасtion' will bе сonсеrnеd with thе
horsе's deеply-rootеd hеrd instinсt in
whiсh thе provision of sесurity is impliсit
and whiсh involves, also' an aссеptanсе of
disсiplinе аnd a degrеe of submission.
Thе herd instinсt is сontinually present
in the horse, who will always sеek to return
to or to rеmаin with сompanions of his
own kind. In a domеstiс state, horses are
frequently kept singlу out of nесеssity, but
it is notiсеablе that suсh horsеs, laсking
thе sесurity whiсh mеmbership of a group
providеs, will often dеvelop peсuliar and
somеtimes nеurotiс trаits of bеhavioцr
whiсh do not oссur whеrе a numbеr of
horses live together, suсh аs in a militаry
troop, a riding sсhool or a rасing stablе. It
is not impossible to keep a horsе on its own
but, likе an only сhild' it will bе morе
inсlinеd to posе pгoblеms. Thе сhild сan
make friеnds with othеrs of his own age аt
sсhool and is ablе to invite them to his own
home oг to go and play with thеm at thеirs.
No suсh possibilitiеs arе open to thе horse.
A dog is quite сontent with human сom-
panionship and it would bе possiblе for а
horsе to be similarly сonditionеd _ but only
if his owner was ablе to sharе his stablе or
devotе most of thе day to romping in thе
fiеld with him, proсeedings whiсh are
bеyond thе сapaсity of thе most dеdiсаtеd
of horse-ownеrs. The сompany of othеr
horsеs, simulаting thе hеrd сondition,
сausеs еxсitеment in most hoгses but in
Under|ying many aspeсts of the behаviour of
the horse аre two basiс сhаraсteristiсs on
whiсh its suгvivа| in the wiId depends - a
powerful herd instinсt аnd the abi|ity to run
quiсk|y from troub|e. aboиe: A|erted by
potentiа| dапger, these hoгseS are ready to
run; any apprehension quiсk|y spreаds
through the herd. below right.. Тhe herd
instinсt; there is sаfety in numbers, and the
tendenсy for one horse to fo|Iow another
keeps the group togetheу' above right.' Racing
is just one of the aсtivities whiсh takes
advаntage of the heгd instinсt; even Ioose
horses wil| stay with the fie|d beсause it
represents, if only temporarily, their herd.
the сasе of thе .onlf horsе, thе rеасtion
may wеll bе aссеntuated to an unaссеpt-
ablе lеvеl.
It is possiblе for the herd instinсt to be
exploited in a variеty of ways, thе most
obvious being in thе sport of raсing whiсh,
in a sеnsе, is a simulation of thе herd in
flight. It is ехploitеd whеn thе young horse
is inшoduсеd to the hunting fiеld. In ordеr
to remain with or rеturn to thе herd thе
youngstеr will frеquently jump fenсеs
whiсh would not havе bееn сountеnanсеd
in сold blood. In this last instanсе thе еle-
ment of exсitеment сацsеd Ьy the prеsеnсe
of other animals galloping and jumping is
also, of сourse' a сontributory faсtor. Еаrlу
iumping lessons similаrly takе advantаgе
of the instinсt. A young horsе will usually
jump а fеnсе going towards his сompan-
ions whеn hе might vеry wеll refusе if
аskеd to iump in thе oppositе direсtion.
On thе other hand thе natцral instinсt
сan be subdued by шaining, as is shown
whеn а horsе lеаvеs thе сollесting ring _
аnd thus his tеmporary herd _ to jump thе
fеnсеs in a show-jumping arеna on his
own. But еvеn in this instаnсе, сourses аrе
frеquently plannеd to takе acсount of the
.grаvitationаl pull' of thе сollесting гing. A
wise сouгsе-buildеr bеgins his сoursе with
onе or two сomparativеly еasy fenсеs, sit-
ing the big, diffiсult onеs in suсh а position
that the hoгsе jumps towards the сolleсting
ring.
тнЕ MIND 0F тHE HORSЕ

The stabIe eХerts a profound inf|uenсe on the
horse, to whom it represents seсurity and a
sourсe of food.
Very сlosеly сonnесtеd with the herd
instinсt is the sеnse of seсuritу whiсh thе
horse finds in bеing a membеr of a herd.
This is a faсtor not аlways suffiсiеntly
appreсiated but it is a very rеlеvant one.
In thе domеstiс statе it is not possiblе to
simulatе the wild hеrd сondition' nor
indееd is it nесеssаry, Ьut it is advisаblе,
for rеаsons already givеn, to kееp horses in
сompany with their own kind. For thе
domеstiс horsе thе сеntrе of his seсurity is
his stablе aпd immеdiatе surroundings
аnd, idеally, thе presenсе of anothеr horsе.
It is not rеally so muсh diffеrеnt in thе
human сondition whеrе sесurity is found
in thе homе.
Thе influеnсе of thе staЬlе is a vеry
strong one, largеlу Ьeсаusе of its assoсia-
tion with food, onе of the horse's mаjor
prеoссupations. Bесausе ofits influеnсе it
would bе unwisе, for instanсе, to sitе a
trаining area in сlosе proximity to thе
horsе's box. Sцсh an arrangement would
ensure a lасk of сonсеntrаtion on the work
in hand, as the horsе would Ье more сon-
сеrnеd with rеtцrning to his stablе аnd thе
prospесt of food. In сonsеquеnсе, hе
would сontirrually veеr towards it.
Although sta||ions mаy oссasiona||y fight,
horses аre basiсaI|y non-aggressive аnd are
probab|y reIative|y intoIerant of pаin.
Like the herd aspесt, thе stablе сan Ье
used to advantagе. Еvеry horsеman knows
how a horsе pеrks up and quiсkеns the
stride when turnеd for homе after а morn-
ing,s exerсisе. His mind is thеn oссupiеd
with thoughts of food and in that statе he is
less likely to tаkе notiсе ofroаd hazards or
other obstaсlеs whiсh might have worriеd
him on the waу out. In inшoduсing young
horses to traffiс thе wise horsеman will'
thеrеforе, сhoosе a quiеt route awaу from
thе stablе, rеturning to it by a busiеr one
whеn the horse's attention is disшасted
from thе vеhiсlеs by thе thought of home
and food.
If a horse is to bе a саlm and thеrefore
rесеptivе individual' sесurity is an еssеn-
tial fасtor in his lifе. Loss of seсurity, as
сan happеn when a horsе is sold on to а
nеw home, саn produсe a variety of rе-
aсtions. Uneasy and unsurе of his new sur-
roundings, a formerlу wеll-mаnnеrеd
horse may makе diffrсulties about leaving
his nеw stable, or, onсе hе has beеn pеr-
suaded to makе a movе, mаy nap pеrsis-
tеntlу in his еfforts to rеrurn home.
A rесеnt inсidеnt highlights thе еffесts
that сan Ьe сaused Ьy a loss of sесurity. A
horse wаs bought from a town еnviron-
mеnt and movеd by his nеw ownеr to thе
сountry. In thе town the stablе-уard аnd
еxеrсisе ring wеrе surroцndеd by high-rise
Ьuildings and, on onе sidе, a rаilwау sta-
tion. Whеn the horse was riddеn out' thе
route to thе nеarеst park wаs on a mаin
road in а built-up аreа with a heavу таffiс
dеnsity. Frеquеntly, thе еxеrсisе was сar-
ried out on suсh roads without going to the
park. Thе horsе had grown to aссept this
еnviтonmеnt and thе traffiс аnd thе noise
held no fеars for him.
ЕIis new homе was dееp in thе сountry.
A plaсе of tranquillity with widе, opеn
skiеs, Ьroad fields and litt1е-used сountry
lаnes. It was all too muсh for thе town-boy
who developеd а fairly violеnt form of
eqline аgorаphobiа.Pllтout for аn hour or
two in a paddoсk with аn o1ф stеady horsе
hе gallopеd about wildly' injurеd himsеlf
and then, dripping with swеat and wild-
еуеd, jumpеd thе gatе and гeturnеd to his
stable (a port of tеmporary sесuritу in the
storm) stаnding outside, shivеring with
feаr. Riddеn out on lаnеs enсompassеd by
hеdgеs instead of tall buildings, he shied
violently at еvеry rustling lеаf, whilst thе
approaсh of a biсyсlе rеduсed him to a
point ofnеar-hуsteria. on onе oссasion hе
rеaсted so violently to a twig lying on thе
roаd that he lost his footing and сame
down. His nеw owner' bу thе еxеrсisе of
muсh patient undеrstanding, finally won
his trust and solvеd the proЬlem, but it took
nearly two months to do so.
Thе mеntion of trust leads to anothеr
fасtor аrising dirесtly from thе herd сondi-
tion. In thе wild state thе hеrd was сon-
шollеd and led by а dominant stаllion who
еxеrtеd disсipline over the mеmbers of thе
herd and upon whosе sagaсity thеir safеty
dеpеndеd.
In thе domеstiс statе thе need for leader-
ship still remаins. ЕIorsеs аt gтass vеry
soon establish а pесking ordеr and geld-
ings will frequendy сut out onе or two
marеs fгom thе group, protесting thеm in
just the samе way аs a stallion - еvеn dis-
plaуing suсh .еntirе' сharaсtеristiсs as
marking out a territory Ьy droppings and
urination. Fortunаtеly horsеs appеаr to
ассеpt the dominanсе of man in substitц.
tion for the hеrd leadеr аnd propеrlу hand-
led will сomе to rеposе a grеаt trust in thеir
two-legged lеader, on whom thеir well-
being depends. Nonеthelеss, thеy will, as
thеу would havе donе in thе herd сondi-
tion' tеst the authority of the lеadеr. Resis-
tanсеs madе by thе hoгse in trаining аrе
primе еxamplеs of this testing and quitе
natural. -N,l'et with quiet fumnеss thеy arе
usually еasily еnough overсomе' but if the
horse is onсе allowed to suссeеd in а rеsis-
tanсе, hе will quiсkly enough takе advan-
tаgе of the situatioц thеrеaftеr attеmpting
to rеvеrsе thе roles ofleadеr and followеr.
Thosе other proЬlems, of nervousnеss
and еxсitеment, are forevеr with the horsе
trainеr. Thе higЫy-sшung nature of thе
horsе аrisеs from thе flight instinсt аnd a
сommon manifestаtion of it is the tеn-
dеnсу towards shying at sееmingly insig-
nifiсаnt objeсts, whilе smells and sudden
noises will give risе to similаr rеaсtions. A
shу may, indееd, go so far as a buсk or two,
whiсh is just another dеfensive rеасtion.
Shying, if it сan nevеr Ье entirеly еradi-
сated' сan Ьe reduсed to a minimum bу
сoпunon-sensе treatmеnt _ thаt is аs long
as it is not the result of dеfесtivе eуеsight.
If thе horse сan dтaw сonfidenсе from his
ridе/s fum sеat and еnсouraging voiсe, or
if hе сan bе pеrsuaded to smell or touсh the
offеnding artiсle, his fear will be removеф
and if thеsе praсtiсеs arе сarried out сon-
tinuallу thе inсidеnсе of shуing will
deсrеаsе. On the othеr hand punishmеnt
given for suсh naturаl lapsеs only сonfirms
thе fеar in thе horsе's mind and mаkеs him
еvеn more nеrvous.
Aссеpting thе prеmisе of thе horsе as a
non-aggгessive animal, it is reasonable to
assumе a grеаtеr sеnsitivity to pаin and а
lower pain tolеranсе than animals of an
opposite nature) like the dog. Stallions,
will, of сoursе, fight еaсh othеr to еstаblish
their asсеndanсy, Ьut vеry fеw horses,
whеther stallions or not, will attaсk а man.
Instinсtivеly thе horse fleеs from pаin or
the threat of it. Indеed, without this innаtе
sensitivity, it would bе diffiсult for the
humаn to сontтol and tгаiл so largе and
powегful an аnimal. As аn еxamplе, a tаp
with а long whip on thе horsе's flank will
сausе him to move his quarters аway; lаtеr,
whеn a singlе lеg is appliеd, thе quarters
wi1l bе shiftеd in thе samе mannеr. The
reaсtion to thе bit' howеvеr, when it is
in momеnts of exсitеmеnt is
appliеd
somewhаt diffеrеnt, if just as logiсal.
ЕIorsemеn, quitе inсorreсtly, talk ofhorsеs
.fighting, the Ьit. In faсt, thеy do just thе
oppositе. As цsuаl thеy arе running аwaу
from thе disсomfoгt imposed and thе hаr-
der thе rider pulls, thе morе urgеnt
Ьесomеs thе nееd to еsсаpе from the pаin.
ovеrt resistanсе' apart from thе earlу
.tеstingi of the lеаdеt's authority whiсh, as
еxplainеd, is eаsily enough eliminatеd, is
гarе in hoгsеs unlеss thеy bесome сon-
fusеd or еxсitеф or when the fеaг of greateг
 тнЕ |lЛ|1'lD 0t тHE HOвsE

disсomfoп assrrmеs thе asсеndаnсy.

oссаsioпalln a hoгsе maу seem to aсt сoп-
trаry to Ыs nаturе, pаrriсulатly аt fееd
tiпеs' whеn hе maу show signs of aggтеs-
sЬп Ьy lаyЬg Ьaсk Ыs еаrs and еven kiсk-
Ьg out bеhind. It Ь possiblе thаt thе hoгsе
п феsе momenв is suffегing from what
паY Ье tегmеd а .revегsiorr'.
Not сomprеhеading that thе humaп
kiпging the food has no iпtетest iп it, hе
ЬеЬаvеs аs hе would if lging fеd ouвide in
ссmраny w.iф othеrs- Therе he п''ould
fuеатеn aпoтhет hoгsе to kееp it awaу from
hь food Ьoпrl. Moге ofteп thе horsе is
qrеssing anxiеtу апd impatiеnсе Ьу kiсk-
*. siлсe food Ь boтh of gтеаt impoгtаnсе
rrтl д 5дц169 of eхсitеmеnt to him.
Тb€ sеnses of thе horsе, Ыchi
dыеlopеd iтr aссord чгiф thе basiс
iпstiпсIs, аrе intеgгаl to tЬе 1rrsoпalitу
zrхl 1glgyаш to thе bеhаviourаl pattегn.
ТЬе sеnsе of taste aстs iп muсh thе sаmе
EiitY аs iп аll sеnsаtе tfog"" buт thosе of
qЪrЪt яn4 to a degтее" ofhеатing ате pесul-
nr to тhе spесiеs.
TЪе еyеs" sеt morе or lеss on еit.hеr sidе
d fu hеаф do noЬ in gеnеrаtr, foсus
вgетhеr on objeсts dirесtlу to the froпt, but
fuуdo аllow vеry'сonsidегablе latегаl vis-
iсп. Fuгтhегmoге" whеn thе hеаd is raisеd
тЬion to thе reаг Ь mаdе possiblе. ThЬ
d}.round vЬion is part of thе protесtivе
Gquipmепt Ьut is not partiсulаrlу hеlpful
тЬеn jumping_ап еxеrсisе thatIIrаy seem
спrirеly naturаl to thе humац Ьut Ь асtц-
r\r unnя1ц1дl to thе hoгsе- Given onIy by understаnding howtheworking of the Iп studiеs of thе hoгsе iпstапсes arе
ffiсЬnt frееdom of thе hеаф both еуеs horse,s mind diсtаtes its aсtions апd oftеп quotеd implуinc а pеrсеptioп and
тв аЬ1еto sее afеriсе аtaboutаdЬtаnсе of iпfluenсes its responses саn the traiпer ability тhat is out of thе oгdinаrу. Cаsеs of
l!}.5 m (l5 уds)- r.2 m (4ft) from тhе fепсе, асhieve suсh peaks of performanсe аs this. сirсus hoгsеs rrainеd to сount oг to pеrfoгm
fu lower pаrt of thе head mаkеs thе simul- vaтious movеmепts without тhе trаinеr
Eцюous usе of two е)rеs impossiblе аnd йеm. Cегtainlу' фе horsе Ьдs the abfitуto sееmiпg to givе aпJr soгt of сorпmяnd аrе
IЕssiratеs а tilting of тhе wholе hеad for pеrсеive iпstanтlу suсh faсtoгs аs ;miditу сasеs in poiпt Thеге isn of сoursе, nothing
rrE еyе аlonе to sеe the fenсе. It is quitе or hеsitatioп iп thе huпап' as wеll аs out of the ordiпаrу oг in anу'sепsе mуstiсal
1шsiblе, thегеforе" foг а hoгsе to bе forсеd сonfidепсе and сourаgе. vith а skillеd aЬout suсh pеrfoгmапсеs; тhеу аrе mеrеl5r,
ю juпp virtuашу Ьliпd unlеss thе гidеr rrаiпеr it Ь pоssihlе for
a veгусlosе ra1цroп thе produсts of skilfi,rl taiпing. It is шuе
elloвs аdеquаtе frееdom to the hеаd aпd to bе асhiеvеd that mау nеаrlу ap1гoaсh thаt not all horsеs аrе suitаЬlе subjесв for
ld- tеlеpathу. this црrg 9f y9ф'o69 ьеing lеss rесeptivе
Ilеагing in thе hoгsе is асutе, siпсе thе Iп tтainingmuсhusе is mаdе of thе pгo- tЬаn oтhегs" but mаn1r ате quitе сapablе of
}F.d Ь rаthет likе a souпd-Ьor The eаrs" digiouslуrеtеntivе mеmoг5r ofthе hoгsе. Iп цoduсiпg pеrformа.nсеs д1 this lеveln so
гh}h аre ехсqrtionаll5r mobilе, саn bе fасt йis is a two<феd sword iп йе hдnds long аs thе trяinеr is s''frfiсiеnтlу patiепt
Gtесtеd а-d diтесtеd at w.ill towатds а of thе rтainer" sinсe thе hoгsе rеmеmbеrs and skilled. The horsе is вuфt bу thе
sо.tпd. Indее4 фе hoгsе is vеrугеsponsivе Ьoй good аnd bаd ещвгiеnсеs, pr.еsеrving usuаl s5ь[ет of rе1rеtitioп яnd rеwаrd апd
ю sоunф pаrtiсulатlу to thе tonеs еm- forеvеr iп the mеmoгу bапk thе traiпе/s graduашу it is possible to rеduсе tЬе
Ёоy.d Ьу thе humап voiсе. Тhе sеnsе of пistakеs аs wеll as his сorrесt асtions- sгепgth of thе сomrnапd uпtil thе horsе
mll i5 equаll5r асurc аnd тhere wаs muсh Thе horsе Ь notaЬlе to сoпnесtгеlatеd will obеу bаrеlу pеrсеptiЬlе movеIlrепв on
gpоd sепsе in йе old hoгsсmаt's pгaсtiсе ьаppепings sеpаratd Ьу а pеriod of timе, thе pаrt of тhе trаinеr. TЪе sаmе thing
d пьhing thе hаnds with аn аromдtiс Ьut hе doеs hаvе thе powеr to assoсiаtе oссurs iп thе tгaiпing of thе гidiпg hoгsе.
ffпir. VitЬout douЬt thе horsе еаsilу pеr- саuse аnd еffесt rrot so sеpатаtеd. If somе- In thе еаrl5r sagеs thе гidеr Ьаd to еxаggеr-
ссivеs rhе smеП of fеат фvеn off ф thе 'hing is donе wеll аnd hе Ь iпmеdiаtеlу д1g his aiф iп ordеr to фve his mеssаgе
rEfY(хrs humдп аnd rеасts aссordinglу. rеwагdеф тhе асtion Ь assoсiаtеd iп his сlеаrlу to thе horsе. As thе training prо
similатly thе smell of hlood апd dеатh Ь rnind w^itЬ а plеаsurаЬlе ецlегienсе whiсh gIеssеs тhе аids bесomе less notiсеаblе
щiсklу piсkеd up aпd thеfе аfе пlrmеfous hе rеrirеmЬers wheпсаllеd oп tofеpеаt йе until iп thе sсhoolеd horsе thе5r' mау
iмлсеs of hoгsеs dЬplауiпg ехrrеmе аgi- асtion аt а latеr dаtе. f&пvегsеlу, should аmolrп.t to no moгe tЬяn д flехЬg of thе
щbn whеn in thе vi,сinity of ап аbattoir. hе kiсk and reсеivе immеr|iatе rеtiЬution саlf musсlе or а minutе tensioпing of a
Тouсh would sееm to Ьave some sig- for his siпo he assoсiаtes thе асtion of kiсk- fingеr on the rеiп.
пifr*яnсе аlso. florsеs will geiп аssuranсе ing with аn unplеasаnt аnd possiЬlу 1вiп- Iп гaiпing horsеs muсh еmphаsЬ is
ftm touсhiпg ob!есts laid oп тhе ground firl еxpегiеnсе апd is likеlу to dеsist from vеrу pгo1rегlу givеп to thе phуsiсal
rirh а hoof апd тhеу will frеquеntlу when rеpеating thе ецrcriпent t.hеrеаfter. Brrt dеvеlopmеnц involving thе build-up апd
srnlling ап ob|eсц touсh it wiтh thе nosе- \e horsе с:Пrnot uпdегstапd dеlауеd of thе musсlеs. Thе mentаl
I.аstln йеrе is srrffiсiеnt еvidеnсе to prrпЬhmеnt or rеwаrd. If hе Ь hit fivе dеvеlopmеnt Ь, howеver, iust as im1roг-
slIIIrе тhe exЬtепсe of а sixth аnimаl miпutеs аjftеr. а r|isobеdiеnсe, it Ь impos- taпц thе smаll minф with all iв limita-
qsе. Ilorsеs аre сеrtдiпly sеnsitivе to siЬlе for Ьirn to relаtе the punЬЬmепt to tions, is dеvеlopеd iп tегms of thе limitеd
шосpЬете аnd аrе ahlе to assеss thе mood тhе сгiпе аnd he will onl5r bесomе rеsепt- pеriods of сonсепrтatioп of w'hiсh it is сар
сf rЬе гidеr' Ьeсoming to somе rxtепt thе ful at unirrst tеamепt thаt hе с:Цurot аblе in iust thе sаmе gradual wа5r as thе
Eiпor of thе mеn or women who sit on uпdеrstand. Ьodу-

L79
 (ii) Do not work hаrd immеdiatеly after its fееd; but the longеr it сan Ьe given
aftеr a full meal for digеstion, the Ьеttеr.
Thе phуsiсаl rеason for this rulе is thаt
whеn a hoгsе has just еаtеn a сonсеntratе (iii) Always providе plenty of сlean
fееd, its stomaсh аnd bowеls arе асtuаlly water
bigger thаn beforе. This means they aгe Thе old saying .watеr Ьеforе feеding, is
taking up morе room' distеnding the bеlly quitе сorreсt, Ьut it doеs not mеan that this
not only outwards and sidеways, Ьut аlso is thе only timе horsеs should Ьe аllowed
forwards on to the diaphгagm, whiсh in to drink. If watеr is alwaуs аvailable, а
turn prеssеs on thе lungs. Any pгessuге on horse will nevеr dгink too muсh, although
thе lungs meаns that thеу сannot еxpand nаturally it is sеnsiblе, when сoming in
and сontrасt propеrly, and thеrеforе hагd from work, to give it thе opportunity to
work when the Ьеlly is still distended will drink bеforе pцtting a feed in thе manger.
аrе thrее Ьasiс rules
Jнвквgoverning сaцsе disшеss and lаbourеd brеathing. A It doеs not harm a horsе to takе аn oссa-
|. thе сorrесt feеding of horsе should hаvе its сonсеntratе fееd onе sionаl sip from thе buсket whilе feеding,
horses: hour befoгe it is askеd to do аny sегious nor will it hаrm to lеt it hаvе short dгinks аt
(i) fееd in small quantities and oftеn work suсh as galloping, jumping, sсhool- streаms or rivеrs whеn out on а long ridе.
(ii) do not work haгd immediatеly aftеr ing' etс. The opеrativе words of this rulе Too muсh wаtеr bеforе very hаrd work,
a full mеal аrе.hаrd work _ it will not harm a horse to suсh as a raсe, or a сross.сountry сoцIsе,
(iii) providе plеnty of watеr be takеn out for a quiet haсk half-аn-hour will slow a horse down, Ьut if a horsе is
Thеsе arе founded on thе prinсiplе of nеvеr kеpt short of wаtеr, it will seldom
following as сlosely as possiblе, thе feеd- Grass, the natural food of all horses and develop thе kind of thirst that forсes it to
ing habits of thе horsе in its nаtural state, ponies in the wi|d stаte, wiII need to be dгink too muсh.
whiсh, obviously, will be those most suited suppIemented, espeсiaIly during the winteг, A hot, tiгеd horse will naturally want to
to its digеstivе system. bearing in mind his tУpe. his state of hea|th drink a lot, and shoцld bе аllowеd to do so,
and what work he does. but givе it a hay-nеt to pull at, and а rеst,
(i) Feed in smаll quantities
and often
The horse is a hеrbivorе or grazing animal,
аnd when out at pasturе' grazes morе or
less all the timе. Apart from oссаsional
slops thе digеstivе apparаtus will bе hav.
ing small quantitiеs of foodpassеd through
to it from thе stomaсh fairly сontinuouslу.
It is this kind of lеisurеly fееdirrg to
whiсh the horsе's digestion is adaptеd.
Unlike сarnivores, thе horse has а small
stomaсh not dеsignеd for сoping with big
mеаls spaсеd at long intеrvals. It has, how-
еvеr, саpасious Ьowеls whiсh aссommo-
datе its food during thе proсеss of slow
digеstion.
\Vhеn a horsе еаts, as soon as its
stomaсh is aЬoцt two-thirds full (whiсh is
whеn it is working Ьеst), thе food bеgins to
pass through into thе bowеls, and thеrеaf-
ter сontinrrеs to do so at the samе rаtе it is
bеing taken in at the mouth.
Нorsеs that arе in work, as wеll as thеir
bulk food - hay or grаss - neеd rеgular,
palаtаblе short' or .сonсentratd fеeds. If
thеse arе too lаrgе, thеy will distend thе
stomaсh, upsеt the nаtцral balаnсе of
digestion and еvеnшally саuse aсute indi-
gеstion, or сoliс. Coliс is not only vеry
painful, but сan also bе dangerous if not
deаlt with knowlеdgeaЬly.
Between l.3 аnd 1.8ke (3 and 4lbs) of
сonсentrates, suсh as oats, mixеd with a
smаll amount of brаn or сhаft is as muсh
as thе horsе саn digеst properlу in onе fеed.
If onе of thе mаnу brаnds of сuЬes аre
being fеd, rathеr morе саn bе givеn: up to
2.7kg (61Ьs), Ьeсausе thе сubеs havе a
high fibrе сontеnt аnd arе genеrally eatеn
morе slowly. Thеrеforе when horsеs neеd
to bе givеn extra сonсеnшates' thеy should
Ьe givеn as an еxtfa fеed' not by еnlarging
thе еstaЬlishеd rеgulаr onеs.
Hay and glass аrе .bulld foods, and are
alwaуs еatеn slowlу, so they do not over-
load thе stomaсh. Thе onlу exсеption to
this is when horsеs are first turnеd out on
to lush spring grass, when theу may еat too
muсh, too quiсkly.

180
Ьеfoгe giving a shoгt fееd.
In ordinаry wеathег, wаtel is sеldom too
сold, but in frosty wеatttеr, it is as wеll to
вkе thе сhill off it beforе offегing it to
hoгsеs сoming in hot from work. Standing
тhе full Ьuсkеts in a wаrm taсk room will
do this satisfaсtorily.
floгses аre fаstidious drinkегs. Thеy do
пot rеlish water whiсh hаs bесorne сon-
вminаtеd by dirt; stаlе water; or watеr
from buсkеts that havе Ьeсome slimy.
Тheу also prеfеr, and it is bеttеr for thеm,
gеnuinely frеsh water to thе сhlorinatеd
цpе pгеvalеnt in towns аnd сities. Rain-
wаter сollесtеd in watеr butts or tanks,
пom down-pipеs, is muсh apprесiatеd.
of thе thгеe fееding rulеs' .feеd in small
quaпtities and oftеn' nееds to Ьe сonsi-
dегеd in morе dеtail.
How Мuсh to Fееd
a partiсular horsе
Тhе ехaсt ration to give
dоing partiсular work сan only bе lеаrnt
пom еxpеriеnсе. As a guidе, howеvеr, it
сэn Ье tаkеn that thе totаl amount of food
фтеn to the domеstiсated horsе pет day
should approximаte in wеight to thе
аmount it would gеt thтougЬin24 hours if
it в-eгe at liberty.
Tаkiлg а horsе of 15 h.h. as an еxamplе,
.hяt wеight would bе 11.5 kg (26lbs). For
.аrgег oг smallеr animals, add or suЬtraсt
l kg (2 lbs) for evеry 5 сm (2 in) ofhеight. A
Ьоrsе аt pasture would еat this total wеight
Ь gтаss alone, but wit}r thе working hoгse
il must Ьe dividеd bеtwееn bulk, aпd сon-
сЕпттatеs' or еnеrgy produсing foods. Con-
сеntrаtеs aге fеd ассoгding to thе work
еspесted. Thе diffеrеnсе in wеight must
Ь mаde up in Ьulk _ hay, or, if pаrtly out at
gтаss, hay and grass.
If а 15 h.h. horsе in full work is geшing
5.5 kg (12 lbs) of сonсеntrаtes, it will nееd
6.5 kg (14 lbs) ofЬulk. Ifdoinglightеrwoгk
аnd tlrегеforе gеtting lеss сonсеntatеs,
pегhaps 3.5kg (8 lЬs)' it will nееd 8.5kg
l8lЬs) of haу. If doing no work, so сon-
септгаtеs hаve bееn сut down, or right out,
hау сап bе givеn аlmost ad lib.
Bесаusе horses arе individuals, variа-
тioпs from thе stгiсt wеight-for-hеight
gr:.ide will sometimеs be nесеssary: ovеrfat
horsеs nееd to diеt, whilе thosе in poor
sondition need as muсh Ьulk as thеy will
еаr It is, howеver, a sound working
hуpothеsis.
\DИhеn to Fееd
Еloгses thаt arе stablеd and working nееd
fееds at7_7.30 am, mid-day, Ц.30pmаnd
::т thе еvеning. Onсе times havе bееn
еsтаЬlished, thеy should bе сonsistеntly
дlhеrеd to so fаr as is possiЬlе, partiсularly
foг thе earlу morning and the еvеning
tееds. Thеrе will obviously be days whеn a
horse is woгking thтough its usual fеeding
тimе, (sее .Мanagеment of the StаЬlеd
ЕIoгsd for mаking nесеssary сhangеs) Ьut
тhет; аre сrearures of habit and will soon
lеагn whеn to еxpесt thеir fееds.
Тhe quantity of еасh feеd, Ьoth of сon-
с€пEate and Ьulk, should inсrеase towards
:irc епd of thе dаy, with thе most сonсеn-
Аbove Horses аt grass must have aссess to
p|enty of fresh Water, although bаths do not
mаke ideal сontainers.
Below Every аnimal diffeгs in the amount of
food it needs, so eaсh horse requires
individuаI feeding. Caгeful meаsuring of
сonсentrаtes, Iike these nUts, is neсessarу to
avoid over- or under-feeding.
tratеs givеn in the last fееd, and thе biggest
hay-net at night. A horsе doеs not slеep for
siх to еight сonsесutivе hours аs wе do, but
rеsts and fееds intеrmittеntly. If it runs out
of hay too еаrly in thе night' it will proba-
ьly start eating its bed, and may also,
thгough boгеdom, aсquirе а fеw staЬlе
viсеs suсh аs wind-suсking or сriЬ-biting.
Unlеss а hoгsе is grossly ovеrfаt, it doеs no
Jrагm to fill thе last hay-nеt еxtrа full.
\Иhat to Feеd
So аs to mаintain thе еnеrgy and physiсal
wеll-Ьeing nесеssary for a horsе to сarry
out thе work еxpесtеd of it, its diеt should
supplу a сoгreсt bаlanсе of:
Protein: еssеntial to the body's neеd. A
diеt without protеin would саusе wast-
agе аnd death.
Fаts, starсhеs, and sugаrs: еnегgy and
hеat produсing
Sаlts: a diеtary nесеssity
Wаter: сonтainеd in all foods, еvеn
.dry', vаrying from
thosе t}rought of as
10 pеr сеnt in most grains to 90 pеr сent
in roots
Fibrous or woody substаnсеs: givе
bulk аnd hеlp digestion; found in all
foods, but partiсularly in hay
Vitаmins: essеntial to horsеs
Thе сonсеntтаtе food pгoviding thе best
diеtarf balanсе foг тhе horse is oаts.
Oats
oats сontаin а11 thе nесеssary diеtary еle-
ments in suсh bаlanсе that а horsе сan
сonsumе a largе quantity without upsеt-
ting its digеstion. oаts should Ьe fеd
Ьruised rathеr thаn wholе, аnd thе amount
fеd must alwaуs depend on thе woгk donе
or asked for - thе enеrgy to Ьe еxpеnded,
and rеplaсеd. !Иith the riding hoгse, thе
amount should аlso геlaте to tеmpеramеnt,
and thе сapaЬilitiеs of its гidеr, as oats сan
havе an alarminglу еxhilarаting еffесt on
somе horses. For this rеаson сhildлеn s
ponies should Ье fеd no oats' or fеd thеm
vеry judiсiously.
Barley
Although univегsallу not so gеnегally usеd
as it might bе, barlеy falls vеry littlе short
in nutritional valuе and diеtary balanсe, to
oats. It aсtually сontains a slightlу highеr
proportion of fats and stагсhеs and ni-
trogеnous elеmеnts, but а little lеss sаlts
.hot up' so
аnd fibre. }Iorses do not tеnd to
muсh on bаrlеу as on oats. It should bе fеd
bruisеd, or .flaked when used as a staplе
fееd; but it саn also Ье fed boiled, whеn
wholе kernеls should Ье usеd. Barley is an
еxсellеnt feеd for young stoсk, outwin-
tеrеd hoгsеs, аnd horsеs nеeding to pui on
сondition.
181
FЕЕ0|NG
lvlaize
Мaйе is а muсh lеss fibrous grain thаn
oаts, or Ьаrlеy, and is somеwhat lасking in
salts; but it does сontain a high pгoportion
of starсhеs, fats and sugars. If fеd with
othеr grains' oг with сuЬes, it mаkes а good
.heating, food for wintеr. It is аlso pa|ata-
ble, and is usеful аddеd to fеeds to еnсour-
age shy fееdеrs.
TУheat
As whеat is geneгally in suсh demand for
humаn сonsumption, ttre only foгm in
whiсh it is fеd to horses nowadаys is аs
bran.
Bran
Brаn is a by-pгoduсt ofwheat aftеr thе flouг
has Ьeen tаkеn out by milling. It has littlе
nutritivе value of its own, аs sсientifiс mil-
ling rеmovеs most of thе nuшitious part,
i.е. flour, аlthough good bran still сontаins
vitamins B and Е. Brаn is nеvеrтhеlеss a
useful dietary additivе; it makеs thе horsе
eat moгe slowly аnd сhew pгopеrly; it
inсrеаsеs bulk, аnd it hеlps regulate thе
bowels. Fed damp, it is a mild laxative; if
thе droppings beсomе too loosе, brаn fеd
dry will help to Ьring thеm Ьaсk to normal.
It is аlso muсh used as a mash and as suсh,
is palataЬlе and еаsy to digest, and еxсеl-
lеnt for hoгses сoming in tired aftеr a hаrd
day's work. Мolаssеs (Ьlасk шeасle) addеd
to а brаn mash makе it еxtrа palatablе, as
well as being good for thе digestion.
Peas and beans
Both аrе vеry nutritious, сontaining a high
Proportion of flesh produсing еlеmеnts;
but they should bе fed in small quantitiеs,
as thеy arе verу .hеating,. Bесausе ofthis,
thеy should only bе givеn to horsеs in-very
hard work, or outwintering in sеvere сon-
ditions.
A mаre isfed сonсentrаtes in а сarefu||y p|асed
poгtab|e manger. Cаre must be taken to avoid
Wаsting eхpensive food аnd ensure thаt eасh
horse reсeives its proper ration.
Linseed
Linsеed сontains а laгge proportion of fat-
forming еlements and is muсh used in prе-
paring horsеs for show, and .putting a
Ьloom' on their сoаts. It is fеd by boiling
thе sееds, аnd thеn simmеring until а
jеlly-likе suЬstanсе is formed, whiсh is
bеst donе in thе slow ovеn of а сooker,
overnight. This linsеed jellу' гnixed with
brаn and сerеаl, mаkеs аn еxсellеnt fееd
foг a horsе tlrat nееds fattеning, but has to
bе fеd daily foг аЬout a fortnight Ьеfoгe its
Ьеnefits will Ьeсomе apparеnt. If rаttrer a
lot of wаtеr is usеd, therе wi.ll bе some ovеr
when thе jelly hаs formеd; this is аlso vеry
nutritious аnd саn bе usеd to makе a bran
mash.
Sugаr Ьeet pulp nuts
Thеse must Ье soaked Ьefoгe fеeding as
tlrеy аbsorb а lot of watеr. They аrе good
fеd as a .сhangе', or mixed with usuаl
rations' but not as a staplе diet on thеir
own.
florse сuьes
Theгe arе mаny brands of horse аnd pоny
сubеs availаble on thе markеt todаy. The
bеst аrе vеry good аnd сomprise a сom-
pound of all thе ingтedients nесеssary for a
bаlаnсеd diеt. Thеy inсlude vitamins and
minеrals, many of whiсh arе nowadауs
lасking in grains аnd hay grown on land
thаt is artifiсially fеrtilized. If thе сontent
аnalуsis (whiсh should Ье printеd on thе
outsidе of thе сubе bags) is satisfасtory'
and horsеs аrе fеd aссording to thе manu-
faсturеrs' insEuсtions, thегe aгe many
advantaяes in fееdins а сuЬе diеt. Thе
produсt is guаrаnteed to bе аlwaуs thе
sаme; they аrе easily hаndlеd; fееds nееd
no mixing, аnd it should not bе nесеssаrv
to feed vitаmiп or rninеrаl аdditives. It is
however Ьеst to miх а litde Ьrаn wittr tlre
сubеs, as аn аid to digеstion. CuЬеs aге
сonsidеrably dehydтatеd and swеll whеn
wеt' so horsеs fed on them ulill drink moте.
Beсаusе сuЬеs аll have а fаiтly high fiЬге
сontеnt' horsеs tеnd to eаt thеm morе
slowly thаn grains, and so slightly less hаy
is neеdеd.
Маny сubes аrе аvаilаЬlе in differеnt
gгаdеs; fтom ordinаry сubеs for horses and
ponies doing light woгk or geneгаl haсk-
ing, to high pгotеin сubеs for raсehorsеs
аnd bloodstoсk, and spесially nutritious
onеs for Ьгood mаrеs and youngstеrs.
Carrots, swedes and turnips
A1l horsеs enjoy сarгots, whiсh should bе
given sliсеd, mixеd with а fееd. Swеdеs
and tuтnips should Ьe fеd wholе; in thе
mаngеr' oг thrown out into thе fiеld. Cut-
up аpplеs or аpplе pееlings, аlso mаkе an
appеtiziпg addition to a feеd.
Gruel
Very tired horsеs саn bе given gruеl on fust
сoming in to tlrе stablе. It is madе by put-
ting a doublе hаndful of oatrneаl into а
Ьuсkеt, pouring on boiling watеr аnd stir-
ring well. It is fеd whеn сool, and should
Ье ttrin еnough for a horsе to drink easily.
Hay
Thеrе аге four mаin kinds of hay: timothу,
сloveг. miхеd аnd mеadow.
Thе stalks of timothу hау аrе fairly
сoаrsе аnd woodу, but it is vеry nutгitious.
Old horses howеver may find softеr hays
еasier to сhеw. Clover hаy is exсеllеnt
when well-made, but if not, саn be hеavy'
and quiсkly go mouldy. &lixеd hay is thаt
taken offspeсiаlly seededpasturе, аnd сon-
tаins mаny mixed gтassеs and сlovеrs. It is
ttre most usual haу, and if wеll-madе, is
probably thе bеst for horsеs of all agеs.
]Vteаdow hay is hay takеn from pеrnanеnt
pastuгes. It сan Ье very good, as mаny old
pаstцrеs сontain herbs and flowers not
normally found in new lеys; Ьut it саn be
lеss good, iftаken ftom rough lаnd or wаtеr
mеаdows liablе to flood. It is usually
lightег аnd softег than timothy or mixеd
hay; if takеn from good upland pasturе it
should smеll pаrtiсularly swееt.
&louldy or musty hay should nеvеr Ье
fеd. A bale of good hay should fall apаrt
whеn thе stling is сut (swathеs of hаy will
stay togetheг iл .sliсеs'), аnd it should not
еmit а сloud of dust, nor show dаrk, moist
pаtсhеs, nor smеll musty.
Oat straw
oаt straw, as wеll as hаy, саn Ьe used аs
.сhаff or.сhop', whiсh is exсеllеnt to add
,
to сonсеntratе fееds to еnsure propеr mas-
tiсation and to add Ьulk. In itsеlf, it is quite
appеtizing to horses, whiсh is onе of thе
disadvantаges of using it for bedding.
It is irnportant to rеmеmЬer that any
basiс сhаngе in а horsе's diеt, suсh аs
сhanging fгom grains to сuЬe feeding, or
viсе-vеrsa. must bе donе

of thе
еd H.
Q тавrво horsеs. spеnd thе grеatеr pro-
\) portion of thеir livеs in stablеs.
This obvious faсt is nеverthelеss onе
rvhiсh еveryonе сonсеrnеd with the man-
agеmеnt of stablеd horses should keep
сonstаntlу in mind. ЕIorses aге by naturе
ftеe-roaming' grеgarious аnimаls and it is
basiсallу unnatural for thеm to livе per-
peruallу in a statе of semi-сonfinеment. To
kеep stablеd horses in good hеart, as wеll
аs good hеalth, therеforе, it is not quite
enough just to know how, whеn and with
lvhat to fееd thеm. If thеy arе to adjust
sаtisfaсtorily to an аrtifiсial, mаn-imposed
еnvironmеnt, theу must do so mentally аs
rvеll as physiсallу and whаtеvеr opinion
rr,е havе of thе horsе's intеlligеnсe, it сan-
not bе dеniеd thаt hе hаs а mind as wеll as
a Ьody. From this it follows thаt what hе
nееds from his humаn mastеr is not only
phуsiсаl сarе, but also a good dеal of
undегstanding of thе сharaсtеr needs of
horsеs in genеral.
lloтses, likе ourselves' сan suffет from
borеdom, and this is partiсulаrly шuе of
stаЬ1еd horsеs' сut off from thе frее сom-
panionship of thе hеrd. Also likе our-
sеlvеs, horsеs arе individuаls; somе аrе
highly-stlung' somе arе plaсid; somе are
moгe' or less, intеlligеnt. Unlikе oul-
sеlves, howеvеr, all horses arе by naturе
neгvous and suspiсious of anуthing nеw or
srange, of sudden movеmеnts' and of loud
harsh voiсes. In thе wild, thеir rеасtion to
fеаг and suspiсion is flight, but stablеd
hoгsеs thаt are made nеrvous by rough
grooms shouting at thеm, Ьullying thеm,
or hitting them with pitсhfork handles to
move thеm ovеr, have no еsсapе. Instead
йеу аге forсed into thе геaсtion of trying to
dеfепd thеmsеlvеs, whiсh, if thе тough
hаndlет is not speedily rеplaсеd, will rеsult
in thеm beсoming permanеntly nervous'
frightened, and diffiсult to handlе. A1l
horsеs, but pеrhaps stаblеd onеs in partiсu-
1аr, should Ье hаndlеd with what сan bеst
bе summarizеd as firm kindlinеss.
Thе Stablе
Thе stabled horsе nееds spaсe, air, and
light. A loosе box or staЬlе should bе big
еnough for him to movе around it freely; to
Lie down, ro11 and gеt up again without
dangeг of саsting himsеlf (getting so сlose
to а wall that he сannot гo11 himsеlf frее).
3.5 m х 3.5m(L2ft x 12ft) is idеal; 3.5 m
х 3m (12ft x 10ft) is suffiсiеnt, 3 m x 3 m
(lOft x 10ft) is еnough for a pony. Any-
thing Ьiggеr is unnесеssarу (exсеpt for а
foаling Ьox), but а niсe Ьonus for thе horsе.
A horsе nеeds air; thosе kеpt in stuffy
staЬles aте moгe liаblе to сolds and Ьron-
сhial troublеs. Aлd hе nееds light, for it is
not good for thе еyes of an1' dir:тnаl out-
dooг animаl to Ье too long in unnatцтаl
darknеss] thаt is daгknеss othеI than thаt
of night.
In thе past, stablеs weгe oftеn as еlabo-
ratеlу built as thе houses of the horsеs'
ownеrs. Thеy would have intriсаtеly laid
Ьriсk flooring sloping gentlу to a сentrе
drain grating; tilеs round thе mangеrs;
sоlid wooden doors and partitioцs with,
oftеn, dесorаtivе ironwork above thеm; a
warm taсk room at onе еnd of thе stablе
bloсk; a fееd room at thе other' and a loft
aЬove with a trap door thтough whiсh thе
hay сould bе droppеd. Nowadays, unlеss
onе has bееn fortunate еnough to inhегit
suсh a horse-pаlасе, stablеs mostlу сonsist
of onе or two, or a sеriеs' of woodеn loosе
boxеs sitеd сonvеniеntly to thе owne/s or
thе groom's housе. In somе сounшies' thе
сustom is to build individual Ьoxеs insidе a
Ьig Ьarn or shеd; thе boxеs running on
еithеr sidе of a сentrе passagewаy whiсh
has a door, usuallу, аt еithеr end. In сold
сlimatеs, this method has manу аdvan-
tаgеs and it сould surеly bе adopted morе
gеnеrally' for there must be manу еxisting
big Ьarns whiсh lеnd thеmselvеs to this
sort of сonvеrsion.
!Иhеthеr a loose-box is freе-standing or
within a stablе building or bаrn, it will
nееd a manger foг сonсentatе fееds, а
haу-гaсk, or a ring to whiсh to attaсh a
hay-nеt, and a tiе ring (whiсh сould Ьe thе
samе onе as usеd for thе hay-nеt), foг tying
the horsе whеn grooming. Watеr сan bе
supplied tfuough automatiс drinkiпg
bowls, whiсh horsеs soon lеаIn the triсk of
working, or in Ьuсkеts. IfЬuсkеts arе usеd
they should Ьe a hеalry typе that arе not
easy to tip ovеr, and should bе plaсеd in a
сornеr' hеld in position with a сross-piесe
тHE sтABLЕD H0RsЕ
lmplements hang tidily on the wall in this
wеll.appoiпted stаbIe yard AIIthe hoгsеs саn
гeadiIy see what is going on, an important
faсtor in pгeventing boгedom.
of wood. Buсkеts must bе kept сlеan. !Иith
сonstant drinking during whiсh thе
horsе's saliva mixеs with thе watеr, slimе
а
will form on thе insidе of thе bцсkets if
thеy arе not regularly sсrubbed out.
Idеally thе bottom of thе manger should
not bе lеss than 60сm (2ft) from thе
ground, although thе aсtuаl height will
dеpеnd on the animals. Small poniеs will
сlеarly not bе ablе to rеaсh into mangеrs
set high for big horsеs. Somе people like to
havе mangers at ground levеl, to сomplу
with thе thеorу that a horsе normally eats
with its hеad down. Thеre is nothing
against this, еxсеpt that the mangетs arе
liable to gеt dirty as Ьеdding and droppings
gеt pushеd into thеm. Thе еasiеst typе to
kеep сlеan arе rеmovablе oпеs' set into
сornеr holdеrs. Thеy саn bе simplу taken
out and washеd aftеr eaсh fееd. It is impor-
tаnt to kееp mangеIs сleаn _ just as we do
not likе еating offdirгy dishes, a horsе finds
his meal morе appеtizing if it is not thrown
into a mangеr wherе сlottеd bits of stalе
food arе stiсking to the sidеs and Ьottom. It
is also bеttеr for him to еat fгom a сlеan
mаngеr: stalе food сan ferment and
beсomе цnwholеsomе. If a hoгsе doеs not
еat thе wholе of a fееd, it should bе takеn
out of thе mangеr Ьеforе thе nеxt onе.
The easiеst hay-raсks both for thе horsе
and thе handler arе сurving triangular
ones Set in a сorner. The base of thе rасk
should bе about 120сm (4ft) from thе
ground' so thеrе is no dangеr ofthе hoгsе
gеtting сaught undеr it аs he gеts up. If
raсks arе plaсеd too high, howevеr, any
dust or loosе sееds in thе haу tеnd to fall
into the horsе's еyеs as hе eаts. Haу-цеt
183
тHЕ sтAвLЕD H0пsЕ
and tiе rings should bе boltеd through а
wall Ьattеn, at about the height of a man's
shouldеr fгom thе ground. Ifthеу аrе high-
er, short pеoplе will find it diffiсult to геaсh
up to thеm with a hеavy hay.nеt. ЕIaу-nets
should alwaуs bе tiеd with a slip-knot, the
draw-sшing of thе net either tfuеаdеd Ьaсk
through itself, pulled tight and thеn slip-
knotted, or thrеadеd through one of thе
loops of the nеt. This is to prеvеnt the net
dгopping too low as the hаy is еatеn) at
whiсh point thе horsе сould get his foot
сaught in it.
Boxеs in staЬlе buildings or barns will
be ventilatеd by the windows and doors of
thе building, so that thе doors to the indi-
viduаl boxеs саn bе in onе pieсe. Frее-
standing boxеs should havе dooгs in two
halves, thе bottom half having two Ьolts,
on the outsidе' аt thе top and bottom. For
the groom or handler, who is nеarly alwaуs
сarrying somеthing, it is a help if thе bot-
tom Ьolt slips easi1у and саn bе opened
with thе foot. Thе top half of thе door
should be kept hookеd baсk, and onlу
сlosеd on thе rarе oссasions whеn thеre
mаy Ьe a hurriсane, or a Ь|izzatd' or slеet
driving direсtlу into thе Ьox. This is not
only Ьeсausе horsеs nееd thе frеsh аir; just
аs important, thеy nееd to Ье аЬ1е to look
out' to seе theiг nеighЬours and to watсh
whads going on in thе уard. l0Йhat are
сallеd stаblе viсеs _ сriЬ-biting, wind-
suсking аnd wеaving - arе nеurotiс in
origin, and gеnеrally start bесausе a horsе
has nothing to do, or to look аt аnd is borеd.
Solitarу сonflnеmеnt will produсe
nеurosеs in both man and beast, partiсu-
larly in suсh naturallу gregarious animals
as horses.
Boxеs should hаvе wiтrdows, part of
whiсh сan opеn, although this is not
nесessary if thе boxеs аrе made with гoof
vеntilation. Thе windows should havе
Ьаrs or nеtting on thе insidе' so that they
саnnot Ьe brokеn by thе horsе or by
сarеlessly handled tools when muсking
out thе stаblе. Light switсhеs should bе
sitцatеd еithеr outside thе box, or сon-
сеаled and insеt so that only a fingег сan
rеaсh in and operatе thеm; horses lеаrn
quitе quiсkJ.y how to work switсhes!
Thе flooring of Ьoxеs should not bе too
smooth. Speсial .stаblе Ьriсks' аrе idеal
but еxpеnsivе, and roughеned сonсretе is
quite satisfaсtory. The floor should slopе
slightlу towаrds the front of thе box, prеf-
eraЬly towards thе сorner awау from the
door' whеrе а smаllholе сan lead out into
draining gully. Covеrеd drains insidе
Ьoxеs arе diffiсult to keеp сlean.
On frее-standing boxеs' the roof should
have an oveгhang; that is, it should slope
out at lеаst 1 m (3 ft) beyond thе ftont of thе
boц so that in rainy wеаthег horsеs сan
look out and grooms сan go from Ьox to
box without getting wеt.
Bеdding
It is not good for a horsе to stand for any
lеngth of time on Ьaге сonсrеtе oг briсks. A
stabled horse nееds bеdding in thе lox
both Ьy night and by dаy, although with
straw bеddins there is a diffегenсе bеtween
Тhe stаb|ed horse must be muсked out
thoroughly at |east onсe a day and the bed kept
neаt and cleаn.
thе night and day Ьed.
lDИheаt straw is thе bеst bеdding, but it is
often thе most diffiсult to gеt and thе most
expensive. Oat sшaw сan Ьe too palataЬlе,
and many horses will eat it. Barlеу straw
tеnds to bе priсkly and so irritates а horsе's
skin, although if it is сombinеd straw, thе
priсkly аwns arе usuallу missing, аnd it
makеs good Ьedding.
A straw bеd must be dееp. It is fаlsе
есonomУ to lay а thin bеd, аs it absorЬs
muсh lеss moisture' аnd muсh morе has to
bе rеmoved. That apаrt, the point of a deеp
night bed is to еnсourаgе thе horsе to liе
down. If thе bеd is too ttrin, parts of his
body mаy bе rеsting on thе ьarе flooring,
whiсh саn soon leаd to сappеd hoсks and
еlЬows. Мorеoveг, hе maу find it diffiсult
to get up if thе floor has bесomе slippеry
and has not suffiсiеnt сovеr on whiсh to get
a grip. Straw should bе tossеd well as it is
put down' аnd Ьankеd up round the sides of
thе Ьox and at the insidе of the door. The
day bеd is madе by sweeping and airing thе
floor and rеplaсing whаt сleаn straw is lеft
аfter muсking out. Frеsh straw is thеn
аddеd in thе еvening for thе deep, bankеd
up, night bed.
Sawdust makes a сomfortaЬle bed, and if
thеrе is a loса1 sаwmill, a сheаp onе as
wеll. It nееds to Ье laid thiсkly. !(/еt
patсhеs аnd droppings should bе liftеd and
rеmoved frеquently, and thе wholе Ьеd
rаkеd ovеr daily. It сan bе сombinеd with
shavings, in whiсh сasе the sаwdust
should form thе bottom layеr of thе bеd.
Pеat moss сan also be usеd as bedding,
а but again it щust bе laid thiсklу' wеt аnd
soilеd patсhes rеmovеd frеquently, and the
bеd raked ovеr daily. With both sawdust
and pеat moss bеdding, it is partiсulаry
important to keеp a horsе's fееt piсkеd out
аnd сlеan, as Ьoth will hеat and soften thе
fееt, if they arе аllowed to bесomе сloggеd.
Routine
.Whаtеver
preсise timеs any individual
horse-ownеr or stablе manager dесides
upon as bеing thе most suitable for thе
fееding of his horsе or hoгsеs, thеy should
be adhеred to thеrеafter, so fаr аs possible.
This is partiсulаrly important with the fust
and tlre last feed. Duгins thе dav thеrе will
oЬviouslу Ье oссasions when timеs havе to
be adjustеd aссording to thе wolk thе
horsе is doing.
Thе managеmеnt routinе for stablеd
horsеs саn be divided аs given bеlow. The
exaсt timеs of еaсh division сan Ье variеd
to suit individuаl stablеs, Ьut onсe еstab-
lishеd, thеy should Ьe mаintained.
Еarly morning (not latеr than 7.30 аm)
Gioе first feеd, a small hay-nеt and frеsh
watеr. Tiе up horsе, and muсk out,
brushing floor сlеan, banking up
retairrеd bеdding, and leaving сentrе of
floor to air. Rеleasе thе horse whеn this
is сomplеtеd. It is best to remove the
water Ьuсkеt whilе muсking out' to kееp
it сlеаn, and then rеplaсе bеforе rеlеas-
ing thе horsе.
9 o'сloсk
Tiе up horsе, and rеmove any dтoppings
from the flooг. Give first grooming; if thе
horsе is ruggеd, this is сallеd .quartеr-
ing,, and is donе by throwing the rug
Ьасk and brushing the front, thеn throw-
ing it forwards, and Ьrushing thе quаr-
tеrs.Piсk out thе fееt. If thе horse is to bе
еxerсisеd straight away, tаkе off rugs
after quartеring, put on sаddlе, throw
гug baсk over thе saddlе, beforе taking
down haу-nеt аnd rе-fllling it ready for
rе-use. Then put on bridlе, tаkе offrug,
аnd takе horsе out for exeгсisе. Thе rug
should be shaken out, and lеft airing,
inside out, over a raсk in thе taсk room.
on rеtrrrn from ехеrсisе
Wаtеr the horsе. Rеmovе saddlе and bri-
dlе, tie up horsе and give small hay-nеt.
Groom thorougЫy; this should take at
lеast thrее-quartеrs of an hour.
Thorough grooming is alwаys bеst donе
aftеr еxеrсisе, unlеss the horse hаs
Ьесomе vеry hot, whеn a swеat rug
shottld be put on until he is сoo1; thеn hе
сan be groomеd. Aftеr grooming, put on
day-rug, sеt day-bеd, give fresh watеr
and rеlease Ьorse. Gillе sесond feed at
аbout 12.30. Tidy the уard, if thеrе hаs
bеen no onе to do this alrеаdv.
Afternoon
Riding Sсhool horsеs will oftеn hаvе to
work аgain in the aftеrnoon. If thе morn-
ingi s exеrсise, or work, has bееn delaуed
so ttrat thеrе hаs bееn no timе for
thorough grooming on return, this
should Ье done Ьеforе thе sесond out-
ing. ЕIorsеs not working in thе afternoon
сan bе:
(i) tet to liе down and rеst. This is
impoгtant for young horsеs, аnd
thosе whiсh hаvе had a сonсen-
tratеd morning of sсhooling work.
(ii) led out for a short timе, in finе
wеatttеr, in their headсollars, to
have a piсk of grass.
(iii) if possiЬle, in finе weather in spring
and summеr, turnеd out for a short
time in а сonvепiеnt paddoсk. All
stаЬlеd horsеs with the еxсеption of
raсеholsеs in trаining (whose mаn-
agemеnt is highly speсiаlizеd)
bеnеfit from a period of freеdom.
 IHЕ sТABLED H0пsE

{Зo pm (oг on rеturn from work)
Тiе-up horsе, un-tасk and piсk out fееt.
Giге small haу-nеt and frеsh water. Put
oп night rug. Laу Ьеd for the night, hаv-
ing гemoved droppings and takеn out
аnу bеdding madе wet during the daу.
Gir.е third feed, rеlеаsе horsе.
Clеаn tасk. Tidy taсk room, and yard.
ЕvGf,iпg (not еarliеr than 7 pm)
Rе.fill wаtеr buсket. Remove droppings.
Giтe а full nеt of hay, and the fourth
.\hnу horsе ownеrs likе to go round
йеir sтаЬlеs last thing at night. Until you
hдте donе тhis, it is hard to rеalizе how
sаtisffng it саn Ье to hear soft whiсkers
gгееdng уou and to sее horses lying down
ко rеlaхеd thеy do not immеdiatеly jump
,зп hеатing your footstеps. onlу horsеs
пiй сomplеtе сonfidenсе in thеir sur-
гоundings, and their handlers, will stаy
sлg down in human сompany.
.\pагt from thе plеasurablе aspeсt a latе
тisit to thе stаblеs сan hеlp to аvеrt a
пruпьr of possiЬlе mishaps. A horsе may
Ь,вYе саught its foot in a hаy-nеt, or tippеd
gтеr irs wаter buсkеt so it would remain
й.iгsry all through thе night. A rug may not
irrте bеen put on propегly and have slippеd
dкlгп out of position (remеmbег to сhесk
rп гhе morning with whoevеI Put it on); or'
t.оrruпаtely morе rarеly, a horsе may be
*ьоwing signs of intеrnal disсomfort iпdi-
6aгing сoliс. If this is lеft till morning it
ч.ill Ье hardеr to allеviatе as wеll as having
сдrrsеd фе horsе a night's pain. Veteгiлаry
я.rгgrons arе цsеd to bеing сallеd at night
ml if yoц ате in any doubt, tеlеphonе
yоr:тs. Desсribe what sееm to you to be т}re
Ьоrse's sуmptoms and thе vеt may Ье аЬ1е
lо те1l you what to do on thе tеlephonе. If
поь he wi.ll сomе to yoцr help right away.
fе е d.
Тhe bodv bгush both с|eans the сoat and
promotel сirсu|аtion; the сurry сomb is used
to сlean the brush everу few strokes'
tаil as it breaks thе haiгs, produсing
fringe effесt on thе manе and brеaking thе
flow of the tail. Thе body brushis the main
grеasе rеmovеr, and should bе usеd with
firm prеssurе (whiсh doеs not mеаn bang-
ing it down on thе сoat). Thе grеase is
rеmovеd from the Ьгush сonstantly by
sсraping it with thе сurry сomЬ. This is thе
сurry сomb's sole purpose. Thе wаtеr
brush is usеd dampеnеd, foг laying thе
The basiс grooming kit: 1. dandy bгush 2. body
brush З. Wаter bгush 4. сurry сomb 5. mane
сomb 6. hoof oiсk 7. hoof oi| апd brush 8.
stab|e rubber9. sponge 10. rubbeгсurryсomb
.l,l sWеat sсraoer
manе aftеr Ьrushing, or bеforе plaiting аnd
also for laying thе tail bеfore Ьandаging or
plaiting. Thе hoof piсk s usе is oЬvious
and very important. Hoof oil hеlps to prе-
vent brittlenеss еspесially in light-
сolourеd hooves. Thе stable rubber is
foldеd into a pad and usеd to give thе horsе
a final polish but it сan bе usеd also to dry
thе horsе's еаrs if hе сomеs in wеt and
сold. Thе small spongеs arе for the еyes
and nostrils, аnd foг thе doсk. A ruЬbеr
сurry сomb сan bе hеlpful whеn a horse is
сasting his сoat and, used with а сirсular
movеmеnt, it will геmovе a lot of loosе
hair. The mаssaging еffесt is also ap,prе-
сiatеd bу фе horsе. The sweаt sсrаpеr has a
squeegeе асtion and is usеd to removе exсess
swеаt or watеr from thе сoat.
Grooming, pаrtiсularly of thе bodу with
thе body bгush, should bе donе without
glovеs, so that thе sеnsitive tips of thе
a fingеrs сan bе usеd to fееl for anу lumps or
sсratсhеs or irrеgularitiеs in the skin.
Alwаys run your hаnds down thе lеgs.
They should fееl сoo1, almost сold, and thе
tеndons should be fum. If you fееl littlе
nodulеs of mud or dirt work тhеse out
gently with thе fingеrs, and thеn usе thе
Ьrush afterwards. If mud or dirt are lеft on
thе legs, thеy will еventuаllу сlog the
porеs, аnd may produсе a сondiтion known
аs mud fеver. Feеl foг mud аlso on thе
insidе of thе pastеrns' bеtwееn the сoronеt
аnd thе fеtloсk joint.
W'hеn grooming thе hеad' thе hеad-
сollаг shculd bе undone and Ьuсklеd
round the neсk. Carе should bе takеn not

Gгooming' Clipping and

Rugs
SтаЬlеd horsеs should bе groomed
йоrougЫy еvеry day. not simply to mаkе
феm look smart) Ьut to keеp their сoats
End thеir skins in hеalthy сondition.
florsеs at libeгty, although they сannot
groom тhеmsеlvеs, сan do a lot foг thеir
соаъ and skins. Thеy сan ro11 if thеy fееl
irch.т or arе sweaty; they саn rub thеm-
-lr.еs аgаinst treеs to help thеm shed thеir
сoаts in spring and autumn; thеу сan
sсгаtсh еасh othеr whеn thеy fееl likе it,
апd if thеy havе itсhу plaсеs undеr thеir
ЬеШеs or bеtwееn thеir thighs, thеу сan
find handy shrubs or bushеs to гub against.
Grooming doеs not сonstitute a gеntle
going ovеr with а brush. On thе сontrаry, it
Ь а stеnuous еxerсise for фе groom, who
етеn in сold wеathеr, should gеt quite hot
Ь the proсеss.
Grooming kit сonsists of a dandy brush,
Ьodу brusl1 watеr brus\ сurry сomb,
mаnе сomb, hoof piсk, hoof oil and brush,
sтаЬle гubbеr, small spongеs' a rubbеr
сuгry сomb аnd a swеat sсrapеr.
Thе dandy brush is used onlу for rеmov-
iпg suгfaсе mud аnd dirt, and never on thе
hoгsе's more sеnsitive paгts suсh as thе
uпdeг bеlly, bеtwееп thе thighs, and thе
t.асe. Noг should it bе used on thе manе or
тl.|Е sтABLED H0RsЕ

Propeг сare of the stab|ed horse requires a

good deal of attention and сan take Up a |ot of
time' above.. The first job in аny grooming
routine is to piсk out the feet to remove аny dirt
and foreign obieсts. right.' rhe proсess of
с|ipping the сoаt shouId be attempted on|y by
аn experienсed person, аs it is high|y skiIIed
woгk. Тhree types of с|ip are below: a traсe
с|ip, usefuI for a horse oг poпy thаt Wi|| be
turned out part of the time during the winter;
right topi а bIanket с|ip, whiсh keeps the bасk
area Warm; right bottom: а hunter с|ip, with
saddIe patсh аnd Ieg hаir Ieft on for proteсtion
against soreness аnd sсгаtсhes.
 IHE sТABLED H0RsE

to bump ttrе horsds faсe with 1he baсk of

thе Ьгush' or get it into his еyеs. Еyеs and
пostгils аnd the doсk should bе sponged
with tеpid watеr. lVlarеs' udders should bе
kept сlеan, and with gеldings, thе shеаth
should bе washеd pегiodiсаlly. Not
everyone reаlizes this to bе a nесessity, but
if thе sheath bесomеs too сloggеd with
grease аnd diп' thе animal сan eventually
find it diffiсult, еven painful, to stаlе.
Fеet should be piсkеd out at lеast twiсе а
day, duгing thе fust grooming and on
rеturn from woгk. Hoof oil should bе
bгushеd oIЬ not simply to give a smaгt
appеaranсе Ьut Ьeсaцsе it is good foг thе
hoof. It should be appliеd right up to the
сoronеt' whiсh is whеге фе growth of thе
hoof starts.
A .wisp' of straw сan be madе for sшaр
ping, a Partiсularly еnегgеtiс form of
gгooming whiсh hеlps to Ьuild up thе
musсlе еspесially on the nесk аnd quar-
tеrs' as wеll as toning up the skin. Thе
stаblе rubbеr madе into a firm pad саn bе
usеd to асhiеvе the same гesult.
ЕIorses сhаnge, or .саst', thеir сoats
twiсе a yеaг at гoughly six month intеrvqls,
in spring аnd аutumn. The summer сoat is
muсh lеss dеnsе, and finer, than thе winteг
сoat. Fеw horses еxсеpt rасehorses and
thosе bеing pгеparеd for showing nееd
rugging in summег, although а сotton day
shееt put on аftеr grooming will hеlp keep
the сoat slееk and сlеan, and is paгtiсularly
advantagеous whеn travelling. A horse
should аlso havе a swеat rug put on if it is
brought in very hot aftеr work or if it has to
stand аbout whilе it is hot aftег any kind of
long гidе or сompеtition. Swеat пrgs €rrе
madе of сotton and arе similаr to mеn's
string vеsts.
.!D7intег
is a differеnt mаttег. ЕIorsеs in
work will nееd to bе сlippеd, аs in thеir
hеaviеr wintеr сoats, they arе likely to
swеаt unduly еvеry time thеy go out, аnd
сonsequеntly will losе сondition.
Therе arе thrее prinсipal tуpеs of сlip
known as a full сlip, a hunter сlip, and а
tгaсе сlip.
In a full сlip, the сoat is rеmovеd from
the еntiле body. In a hunteг сlip, thе hаir is
lеft on фе lеgs as far up as thе еlbows and
thе thighs, аnd on thе saddlе patсh. Thе
thеory is that thе hair left on thе legs offегs
protесtion against сolф injury ftom thorns
or other hazards that might сause slight
teаrs and sсгatсhеs, аnd wеt, muddy сondi-
tions that сould lead to mud fеvеr and
сraсkеd heеls. Thе sаddlе patсh сan help
prеvеnt a sorе oг sсaldеd Ьaсk resulting
from a long day's riding.
In a tгaсе сlip, thе hair is rеmoved from
thе bеlly, betwееn the thighs аnd the
forearms, асгoss tlrе сhеst аnd up thе
undeгsidе of tlre nесk. It is usеd mostly on
hoгsеs or poniеs that are kеpt out, гathеr
than those тhat are stabled. Somеtimes the
haiл is further сlippеd off thе neсk аnd
hеad, leaving a Ьlankеt shape ofhair ovеr
фе baсk and quartеrs. This is known as а
blankеt сlip.
ЕIorses that havе had a full, or a huntеr,
сlip will nееd rugging аl1 thе timе. As the
first сlipping is usually donе in Oсtober,
thеy will probably initiаlly neеd ontу
187
singlе rugs, that is a wool-linеd jutе night
rug, and a woollеn day rug. Nowadаys sеv-
eral patent variations of thе traditional
forms of rug arе аvailaЬle. These are morе
еxpensivе to buy, but havе many advаn-
tagеs. Thеy аrе muсh lightеr than thе old
typе, but just as warm. Thе samе rug сan
Ье worn during thе night and day,
although it is bеttеr to hаve two, as night
rugs invariаbly gеt diгty. ЕIowеvеr thе new
rugs are both еasy to wash and quiсk to dry,
so а dirty night rug сan bе washed in thе
moгning, аnd bе dry bу the еvеning.
As thе weatheг gеts сolder, the horse
will nеed eхtгa walmth, whiсh is providеd
bу putting on onе' somеtimеs еvеn two'
soft woollen blankets undеr thе top rug.
Thesе must Ьe largе, аs about a quarter of
thе blankеt should сomе right ovеr thе
neсk when it is put on, so that it сan bе
foldеd baсk ovеr thе top rug аnd саught in
plaсe undеr thе ro1lеr. Onсе а horsе hаs
stаrtеd wеaring a rug, or rugs, he must
сontinuе to do so until thе weathеr gеts
warmer in spring. If hе is wеaring undеr
blankеts, thеsе саn bе disсardеd in suссеs-
sion until finally it is waгm еnough to dis-
сard thе top rug as wеll. If thе days arе
сonsiderably wаrmеr thаn thе nights, as
often happеns in wintеr, the hoгsе mаy not
nееd his under blankеts in dаytimе _ this is
whеrе сommonsense must Ье usеd. Somе
horsеs, likе somе pеople, fееl thе сold
morе than othеrs. During the winter if a
stablеd horsе is lеd out for а walk, or turnеd
out for a short timе, hе should wеar а Nеw
Zea|and rug, whiсh is madе of wаtеr-
proofed сanvas) and linеd with wool.
Alternativеly onе of ttrе new patentеd rugs
whiсh arе аlso mаdе in watеrproof ver-
sions саn Ье usеd. All rugs in usе should bе
airеd and shaken out dаily. Aftеr сlipping,
thе сoat will сontinuе to grow' although
not so fully as beforе. Nеvеrthеlеss, the
During the winter с|ipped horses need а jute
night rug, and also a warm woollen
under-blаnket in сold weаther. Тhey are
seсured with а webbing or Ieаther surсingle or
roller.
horse will nеed a sесond сlip before wintеr
is out, and somе horsеs еvеn nееd a thftd.
The last сlip should be donе by the еnd of
January.
Bandagеs
Tail Ьandages should be in daily usе for
staЬlеd horses, and aгe put on aftеr groom-
ing to lay аnd smаrtеn thе linе of thе tаil.
Two othеr types ofbandages arе nесеssary
- stable bandagеs аnd еxerсisе bandagеs.
Stable bandages arе mаdе offlаnnеl, аnd
are fairly widе. Thеy аге usеd to providе
warmth if a horsе is сhillеd oг has а сold; to
dry off the legs if hе сomes in wеt and
muddу so tlrat thе mud сan Ье Ьrushеd off
latеr; on top of сotton wool or gamgее-
tissuе soakеd in сold watеr as сold watеr
bandagеs, аnd for trаvеlling when thеу aге
put on over dry сotton wool or gаmgее.
Thеrе аrе nowadаys many patеnt lеg pro-
tесtoгs аvailablе for travеlling that arе
quiсkеr to put on and, un.lеss Ьandaging is
skilfully donе, proЬaЬly morе rеliablе.
Stablе bandagеs should run from thе
knее down to' and oveг thе fеtloсk joint, at
whiсh point thе bаndagе should bе гolled
upwards agаin, to finish just Ьelow thе
knее. Bandagеs should nеvеr bе put on too
tightly; it should Ье possible to inseгt a
fingеr Ьetween thе bandagе аnd the lеg,
both top and bottom. Thе tapеs should not
Ье tiеd tighteг than thе bandage itsеlf and
thеy should bе tiеd oп thе outside of thе
lеg, in a bow, with the ends tuсkеd in.
Еxerсisе bandagеs arе madе of stoсk-
inеttе or сrеpе, аnd arе usеd to support the
tendons and to proteсt thе lеg from thorns
or priсklу undеrgrowй in rough сountry.
They arе put on with сotton wool or
gamgеe underneath, a small part of whiсh
should pfotп'rdе abovе аnd bеlow the ban-
dagе itself. It takes a lot of prасtiсе to put
thesе on so that thеy will stay in plaсe
during work. It is oftеn bettеr for еxamplе,
if а horse is going to bе asked to go fаst
aсross сountry, pеrhаps in heavy going'
and it is felt he needs ехtra support' to цse
spесiаl tendon Ьoots. Young hoгsеs should
wear exerсisе bandаgеs or boots during
lungеing, аnd еarlу sсhooling, whеn they
сan Ье awkwaгd with thеir lеgs. This will
prеvеnt цnnесessаry bumps and bruisеs.
Еxеrсisе bandagеs are also usеful for put-
ting on ovеr a poultiсе, or a linimеnt whiсh
is гeliеving a sprained tеndon. Agаin, thеy
should nеvеr bе put on too tightly, or thе
bandaging will dеfеat its own еnds Ьу
stopping thе сiгсulаtion. Aftеr taking off
any bandagе, ttrе lеg shoцld bе given a
Ьrisk rub with thе hands. Bandagеs should
bе kept сlеan, whiсh mеаns washing them
after usе, drying thеm, and putting them
away rе-rolled. Thеу should bе rollеd with
thе sеwn part of thе tapеs inwаrds, so тlrаt
whеn thе bandagе is put on thе lеg, the
tapеs willЬe on thе outsidе of thе bandаge.
Меdiсinе
It is not a good idеа to indulge in a lot of
amatеur doсtoring with horses, but Ьasiс
nесеssitiеs should Ье kept in every stаblе.
DISINFЕстANт: The horse has а vеry sеn-
sitivе skin, аnd only thе mildest disinfес-
tants should bе used to сlеan out or bathе
any сut or injury. Dettol, or similar, is
aссеptaЬle provided it is usеd hеavily
dilutеd. If thеrе is nonе to hand when it is
wantеd, salt аnd wateг is an еffiсiеnt
еmегgеnсy disinfесtant. A strongеI,

dmеstiс disinfесtant should Ье usеd to
tеp thе stаЬlе сlеаn and sweеt smelling'
LL\1\,{ЕNт: Thеrе are many еxсellеnt
ьEалds on тhе maгkеt, somе stronger than
офегs. Takе уouг piсk, аnd usе aссording
по йe manufасturе1s instruсtions for thе
rcliеf of spгаins and strains.
rl-тISЕPтIс PowDЕR: Vеry important, as
mll gц15 and sсгatсhеs, onсе сlеan, hеal
Ьепет ifthеy aге kеpt dry and proteсtеd by
wiтh antiseptiс powdеr. Usе thе
'dпrsцiдg
о]ЕЕ гесoпшnеndеd bу your vеtеrinary
flIrgеon.
д-\-тISЕPтIс oINтмЕNт: Any good, soft,
?iт-Ьаsеd ointmеnt will hеlp to prеvеnt
e' tЬsue forming oпсе a wound has
hеаlеd. It аlso enсourages thе hair to grow
щBIn.
RtoLIN PoULTIсЕ: This has manу usеs:
gпптon hot, as a poultiсе undеr a Ьаndagе, it
;вJ'iеr.еs spгаins and strаins; put on a сut or'
-лге pаrtiсularly а punсturе wound whiсh
is Irot езsy to сlеan, it will draw oцt diгt and
аоisоц whiсh will be seеn as pus or dis-
snloгetion whеn thе pad with thе kaolin is
геmoгed. Bеing a nаtural substanсе аnd
шot а drug, kaolin саn nеvеr do any harm,
пшl Ь fасt oftеn does a gteal deal of good.
фLDЕN ЕYЕ oINтмЕNт: ЕIorsеs mаy get
щпiсlеs of dust еtс. in thеir еyеs; havе
пrrurт eyes сausеd by a сold, or sсratсh an
qе аgаinst a sharp obieсt. Thе еyе should
Ье Ьаthеd with a very weak solution of
Dепol аnd water, аnd somе eye ointrnеnt
s.guееzed into thе сornеr to help givе rеlief.
сoUGн ЕLЕстUARY: This should bе suр
diеd Ьy thе vetеrinаry surgeon, but it is a
E:оod thine to hаvе it always in stoсk.
Sоmеtimеs a сough сan be simply thе
rеsцlt ofeating haу too quiсklу, but it nеvег
hurts to givе the horsе some еlесtuary
sгaight аwaу.
сoLIс DRЕNсн: In most сases of сoliс' all
Ьtrt thе most experiеnсеd pеoplе would
rclеphone their vеt. It is quitе likеlу, how-
сrег, thаt unlеss hе сan сome at onсe, hе
тill suggеst giving a dтenсh, so it is useful
то kееp it аgаinst suсh аn еmеrgеnсy.
Еsoм sArтs: Thеsе аrе good for horsеs
гhяt mаy havе beеn on too heating a diеt;
trrt all will Ьеnеfit from a small handful in
trеir weеklу brаn mash.
\lrT AND wATЕR: This is сooling,
геfrеshing and helps to hаrdеn the skin.
Spoпged over a hoгsе's bасk, аnd bеhind
лnd undеr thе elbows where the girth liеs,
i.т will hеlp prеvеnt galls and sorеs.
rп'oRlvr DosING DRUGs: ЕIorsеs should bе
тoгmgd rеgularly. All horsеs harbour
worms, and it is only by regular worming
thаt a dangеrous infеstаtion саn be pre-
vеntеd. For a horse in hеаlthy сondition,
dosing eveгy three months should kееp
him rеlаtivеly worm-frее. Еvery yеar, nеw
drugs arе disсovегed and put on thе mаI-
kеt, all reputеd to bе morе lефal to thе
woгms, and lеss harmful to thе hoгsе. Thе
bеst solution to this еver-present pгoblеm
is to ask thе vеtеrinary surgеon whiсh hе
сonsidеrs most suitаblе аnd thеn, if possi-
blе, gеt him to makе up a number of indi-
viduаl dosеs whiсh сan bе kеpt in the sta-
Ьlе and givеn whеn neсessary. New horses
сoming into a staЬlе should bе wormеd on
arrival.
Bandages and boots аre foг veterinary use аnd
to give the horse support, proteсtion and
Wаrmth. /eft: тhe eIastiсtаil bаndage Wi|| keep
the taiI neat and tidy and proteсtthe upper part
when travelling. lt should not be left on
overnight. Аbove: WooIIen Ieg bandages
warm and proteсt the legs' and are used when
tгave||ing or after a |ong day,s hunting, to heIp
the horse dry off; they may also be used to
keep a veteгinaгy dressing in p|aсe on an
injured leg. Although usually of wool, they are
avaiIabIe in other mаteriа|s as we||. right.'
Brushing boots аre padded to prevent injury
shouId the horse strike itself' or ,bгush', whiIe
at work or eхerсise.
sсIssoRs: A sharp but blunt-еnded paiг
should bе kеpt for сutting away thе hаir
from thе edges ofwounds or сuts thаt need
drеssiпg.
In addition to а11 thesе itеms it is a good
idеa to kееp some pieсеs of linen as drеs-
sings, or poultiсе pads, togеthеr with somе
long strips of linеn for undеr-Ьandaging
wounds _ a largе paсk of сotton wool, sеv-
еral paсks of gamgее tissuе and onе or two
ordinary сrepe bandages. Thе ехpеriеnсed
stаblе manageг will also keеp a hypodеr-
miс syringe and a supply of nеedles; Ьut
only thosе who reallу know what thеy arе
doing should аttеmpt to givе injесtions. It
rfit s tAtsLtu t-tuнst
is not that this is in itsеlf diffiсult, but it
must Ье known just wherе to put thе nее-
dlе, and how to usе the syгinge skilfully
and quiсkly.
Stalls
A last word.
It hаs Ьeсome so еstablished a сustom to
kееp stablеd horsеs in loosе boxеs that it is
forgottеn how mаny thousands of horsеs,
in thе rеal hеy-dаy of thе horse, werе sta-
bled pеrfeсtly сompеtеntly, and сomfort-
ably, in stаlls. It is сеrtainly not an impos-
sibility to kееp a staЬled hoгsе in a stall,
providеd it is wide enough for thе horse to
liе down in сomfort. Stalls should Ьe bed-
dеd dееply, thе stIaw bаnkеd up wеll
towаrds thе bасk and sidеs. The haltег
ropе, aftеr going tfuough thе tiе-ring,
should Ье pаssеd through a solid wooden
bloсk, whiсh should bе at floor lеvеl whеn
thе horse's head is in its normаl position.
This bloсk kееps thе ropе taut and prе-
vents thе horsе's lеgs gеtting еntаnglеd in
it whеn lying down, or gеtting up.
Divisions Ьetweеn stalls should Ьe high
enough to stop hoгsеs nipping at eaсh
othеr ovеr thе top; in fасt bars are best, аt
thе top, so the horses сan sее onе another
without Ьeing аble to Ьесome too mаliсi-
ously pеrsonal. '!tratel buсkеts should Ье
plaсеd on thе sidе away from thе haу raсk
or net, so thеy arе not сonstantly filling up
with dust аnd bits of hay. Pаrtiсular саrе
must Ьe tаkеn to piсk out thе hind fееt of
stalled horses, as obviously all thе dung
will Ье аt the Ьaсk. If thе hind feеt аrе not
kеpt сlean, thеy will bесome hot and сlog-
gеd, and тhе horsе maу dеvеlop thrush.
\DИheгe horses arе stablеd in stalls, it is
often thе сustom' whеn thе horses arе
taсked up, to turn them round and stаnd
thеm faсing outwards attaсhed to .pillar
rеins'. Thеsе arе short leаthеr straps oг
сhains attaсhеd to еaсh sidе pillar and
сlipped on to thе bridlе.
189

rш tегm .gтаss-kеpd doеs not
f
J. altogеthеr ассuгаtеly dеsсribе thе
сondition of horsеs and poniеs that livе
mostly out-of-dooгs instead of in staЬlеs.
Unless thе сlirnate is so idylliс thаt ttrе
tеmpеrat'rте nеvеr dтops to frееzing point,
the snow nevеr fаlls and thе grass is always
not only grееn but lusсious, аt сеrtаin
timеs of уeаr еven tlrе toughest of Nloun-
tain and .Nloorland ponies nееd food еxша
to thаt whiсh thеy сап find for tlrеmsеlves,
even when tlret'гe not working. A hoгsе
that has to work must havе morе tlran а
plain gтаss diеt if hе is to have еnегgy аnd
keep his сondition.
V'hеn horses aгe kеpt out' аnd геquired
to work, thеrе should bе somе kind of shеd'
shеltеr or stаblе into whiсh тtreу сan Ье
brought for feeding, gтooming, аnd tаск-
ing up. For working horses, thе systеm of
liviпg out аnd Ьеing brought in bеforе rid-
ing is Ьest tеrmed thе .Combined Sуstеm'.
It is an eхсеllеnt one; tlrе horse is living а
сomparativelу natural life, keеping fit and
healтhy without tlre absolute nесеssity of
daily гiddеn exеrсise' and nееds lеss сaгe
and аttention. It will also givе an еasier
Good quality gгаzing. Do not аssume that
horses wilI know the hаrmful plаnts.
ridе, for horsеs tlrat live mostly out-of-
doors woгk off muсh of thеir suгplus
enеrgy on thеir own and аre sеldom so
eЬulliеnt as thosе тhat аrе pеrmаnenтly
stаbled.
There arе сertаilr rulеs of mаnagеmеnt
foг hoгsеs kept aссording to this sуstеm. It
is not quite good еnough to lеavе thеm out
and unattendеd for days, and thеn sud-
dеnly сatсh thеm for a ridе. Ideаlly' horsеs
living out should bе brought in еaсh moгn-
ing, givеn а fееф quiсkly Ьrushеd ovеr,
gеnеrаlly сhесkеd for сuts, sсгatсhes,
bumps or lameness, and thеn, if not nеeded
foг woг\ tцrnеd out again. In summег,
they will neеd no fuтthеr attеntion until
next moгning. In winter, most hofsеs'
еxсеpt t}rе vегy higЫy brеф саn livе оut аll
the timе, although most' ехсept Nloun-
tаins аnd N1oorlаnds, rмill nееd to wеаr а Atl fie|ds should be сaгefullу iпspeсted аnd
rug. If they are to bе workеф howevег, ids сleаred of poisoпous piants' suсh as this
Ьеst to геvеrsе thе sшrrmеr plaп; thаt is to yellow-f|owered rаgwoгt whiсh is highly toхiс
bring thеm in at night, and tцгп thеm out to hoгses.
during аll oг whatеvег pап of tlre day thеy
arе not Ьеing usеd. This systеm wогks wеll
for all horsеs otlrer than thosе in training,
Fiеlds, Fеnсеs and Gatеs
hunt аnd show horsеs and pоniеs, and flогsеs living out do bеst if т.lrеу have
tlrosе usеd for сompetitivе еvеnts. Ids аlso plеntу of spaсе, aпd variеty ofterгаiп" апd
a
сeгtаinly thе eаsiеst for most owner-ridеrs. тherеfore" ofherЬagе. In mаn paгts of thе
Therе атe of сouтsе timеs whеп horsеs сountгy how.evеr, опly smаll атеаs :!rе
сan Ье lеft out еntiтel5 w.iйоut thе benеfit аvailablе; sometimеs oп1у onе пot very
of stables _ huntеrs turnеd out for tlrе lаrge fiеld. It феn beсomеs pаrгiсulатly
srrmmеr; сhildгеrf s pоnies whеn thе сhil- i-mpогвnt to сonsегIrе the quаtrity of thе
drеn arе аWаy at sсhool; hoгsеs aпd poniеs grаzing Ьу noт аПowing tlrе 1'o".g5 16 ga1 яll
used сhiеflуfor summеr, or holidaу' riding' of it" а]l tlre time. tloгses ате wаstеful graz-
whiсh сan out-wintег. ,\ll will still nеed a еrs, trampling down a lot of peгfестlу good
сегtаin аmount оf сате and аttention. T'hеy feediтrg gfassеs in thеiт pегpеtuа.tr sеаrсh
should Ье in suitaЬle fiеlds, pгopеrly for thе tаstiest.
a сonstaпt souтсе of
fеnсed and gаteф wittr Thе most есononiсal vray of сonseгving
watеf' and suitаble аmеnitiеs for when a pasturе is to dividе it iтlto tЬrее Е}аI-ts' so
йеy nееd еxпа fееding _ nесеssitiеs iл that two parts сan Ьe rеstеd rмЬilе olrе is
faсt, сommon to аll hoгsеs living out, еаtеn. In spгЬg, onе сair Ьe shut off fог а
whеt}rеr woгking oг noт. сut ofhаvi thе horsеs сaп bе tuгlrеd out iл
:i а сorrple of wееks or so aftеr thе hay is
-;kеn. In smаll fiеlds it is wisе to rеmovе
-.зе dтoppings regularlу, or thеy will еvеn-
:эа]lг foul up so muсh of thе grazing that
.rгг]'е that is pаlatаblе remains. In largеr
зеlds this is often impraсtiсal, but thеse
саn Ье harrowed oссasionallу.
Тhе quality of pasturе сan only bе assеs-
-d bу an еxpеIt; t}re grееnеst and most
.ush looking grass is not always the bеst.
Егеn thе Ьеst pasturе, however, will not
.<сеp its qualiгy indеfinitely and to kееp it
::l hеaгt it will neеd pеriodiс appliсаtions
..i tЪгLi-lizer, limе, or slag. Еxaсtly what it
rееds аnd in what proportion is detеr-
rlnеd bу soil analysis; rеpresentativеs of
Сollegеs of Agriсulturе will gеnеrаllу pеr-
this sеrviсе frее. Fiеlds, or divisions
:"-гпr
,эi fiеlds, should bе fегtilized' limеd or
=^аggеd in annual suссession, not а1l at
rlсе' and horsеs should not grazе a fеr-
_.izеd fiеld for at lеаst thrее wееks.
It possible thеrе should bе somе natural

Ееlow A poпy in a New Zealand гUg she|ters

_Эm the winter сoId, and wi|| probablу mаke
-sе of the fiеld she|ter in summer as We|| to
:,.oid the heat aпd buzzing inseсts.

Аbove Тhis we||-designеd trough, seгving tiсking, ttrey ignore thе fеnсe!
two fields. has rounded edges, stands well off A1l main and boundary fenсеs should Ье
the ground, and has fгеsh wateг piped in. stгong and sаfе. The bеst and most eхpеn-
Below rhe best type of fenсing foг а|l sive, is post and гails. Hedges, whеre thеy
equines is so|id posts and rаiIs The field on the arе сustomагy, and are kеpt in good order,
Ieft is being rested on rotаtion to provide fresh havе thе addеd advantаgе of pгoviding
pastu re. shеltеr. Wiгe fеnсing is pгoЬably йе most
univегsal; to bе satisfaсtory, it must bе
shеltеr in thе fiеld - hеdgеs, а bеlt of trееs, brеаk thе iсе on running watеr foг them- pгoperly еrесtеd, wittr good posts' pгеfeга-
sтоnе walls, or maybе somе banks or hol- sеlves. In troughs, it will have to be bгoken bly сгеosotеd, with thе wiтеs strung as
.orтs to takе the edge off the wind. Failing for thеm аs it frеezеs morе solidly. tightly as possiblе betwееn thеm. Thrеe
.-hesе' а fiеld shеltеr should bе providеd. It Troughs must Ьe kеpt сlеan, and stтands aгe еnough foг hoгses, eхсеpt foг
should bе thгее-sidеd, set with its Ьaсk to positionеd сlеar of trеes, and away from foals аnd small poniеs who сould push
frе pгevai'ling wind and with a wide opеn- gatеways wherе the ground will probaЬlу through thе widе spaсes betwееn еaсh.
iтrg so that horsеs сan get in аnd out easily. bесomе muddiеd in wеt weathеr. Thе Ьottom wiте should be 30сm (lft)
Тhегe should Ьe a long raсk for haу against A fiеld сan Ье divided with еlесtiс fеnс- from the gгound; if lowеr, horsеs сan сatсh
.,trе baсk wall; and in winter, it's аn ing, whiсh is еasy to put up and movе, and thеir fееt in it. On no aссount should
епсouIagеment for hoгsеs to usе it if stгaw horsеs, aftеr one smаll shoсk, will not go Ьаrbеd wirе bе used foг eitlrег tlre top or ttre
rs laid on thе ground insidе. Мuсking-out nеаг it again. Somе poniеs, howevег, have Ьottom sfrаnd. The only possiblе pегmis-
is not nесеssаry; just the
droppings bееn known to work out thе сonnесtion siЬlе usе foг Ьaгbеd wirе is if hoгses are
гешrovеd and morе strаw added when Ьеtween thе tiсking of thе Ьаttеry; and tlrе сonfumеd fеnсe-leanегs, when onе strand
nееded. shoсk from thе fеnсе, and if they hеaг no сan be run аlong thе inside of thе fеnсe
Тhe idеаl fiеld watеr supplу is а running
strеаm. A stаgnant pool is worsе than usе-
1еss for thе watеr is unappetizing, and the
pоnd will
Ьrеed fliеs and mosquitoеs.
Еhегe thеге is no running wаter, a long,
solid Ьut not too dееp, galvanizеd iron
тough, with no sharp еdgеs, seгvеs wеll. It
саn bе suppliеd by watеr pipеd to thе fiеld,
аnd opеrаtеd on a ball-сoсk systеm' or it
sгill have to bе fillеd manuallу from buсk-
еts oг a hosе. Troughs should hаve a plug-
qеd holе in thе bottom so they сan be еmp
гiеd and сlеanеd out аnd ttrey should bе sёt
r еry fumlу on briсks, or сonсrеtе bloсks, so
.iаt the bаsе of the tlough is 15_30сm
6_12 ins) from thе ground.
In wintеr' hoгsеs will аlways mаnagе to
тHt GRAss.KЕPт H0вsЕ
about 15сm (6ins) bеlow the top srand.
This disсouragеs leaning. Fеnсеs should
be сheсkеd regularly, аnd kеpt in сonstant
good repair.
Gаtеs should swing еаsily on hingеs,
and have propеr fastеnings, idеally a patеnt
hook, thе hingеd tonguе of whiсhpгevеnts
it bеing lifted by horses. Itis a wastе of timе
and a trial to thе tеmpег to havе to strugglе
wi*r bits of twisted wire or knottеd stгing.
In urbаn distriсts, padloсks arе аdvised.
Fiеld Fеeding
During spring and summеr' varying
somewhat aссording to thе distгiсt аnd thе
latitudе, horsеs living out will nееd no
food othеr than grаss, although thеy will
аpprесiatе a salt or minеral liсk. Еаting thе
Ьaгk of trеes and сhewing fenсеs аrе not
habits the horse indulgеs in simply to
annoy its ownеr; they usually mеan it is
short of minеrals, whiсh сan Ье supplied
by the liсk.
\0Иhеn it bесomes nесessary to fееd hay,
it should bе put into thе raсk in thе fiеld
shеltеr. Altеrnativеly it сan be given in
hayrrеts' or in rасks similaг to thosе usеd
foг fееding сattlе. It is wastеful to fееd it on
thе ground аs it pеrpеtuallу gеts trodden
and dungеd on, bесomеs а soddеn mess in
wеt wеathеr, and blows awaу in wind.
Thе еasiеst way to feеd сonсеntгates out
of doors is in a long, solid woodеn trough.
If givеn in thе shеltеr, horses tend to fight
and bully onе аnothеr, but thеy will genеr-
ally еаt togethеr quitе peaсеfully along
either sidе of a fairly long tIough. Fееding
from buсkets is wastеful _ of fееd' whiсh
will be spillеd and tгoddеn on, and of
buсkets, whiсh will bе tippеd ovеr and
kiсkеd. Buсkеts sеt in holders аre аvaila-
blе, guarantееd impossiblе to tip ovеr. For
just two hoгsеs fеd togеther, thеse are satis-
fасtory; if morе, thеу may lead (as buсkеt
fееding oftеn doеф to in-fighting bеtween
thе grееdy, quiсk еatеrs, and thе less
grееdy who nevеrthеlеss will defеnd thеiт
feеd. Portablе mangеrs, whiсh саn bе
hookеd on to thе top Ьar of a gаtе, or thе rail
of a post аnd rail fenсe arе еxсellent, but
not suitaЬle for hooking on to wirе fеnсes.
It's not possiblе to spесify exaсtly how
muсh fееding, either of сonсеntrates or of
hay, any individuаl horsе kept out will
nееd during a winter. It will depend on thе
wеathеr (the сolder it is the morе сonсen-
trates nееdеd to сrеatе body warmth) and
on the sizе аnd typе of horse. Мountаin
and Мooгland poniеs аre proveгЬially
.good doеrs', and will nееd relativеly lеss
than non-nativе typеs of the same sizеs.
Thе аgе of the hoгsе is also геlеvant:
young horsеs, undеr fivе, and elderly onеs,
ovеr 15, will nееd rather morе than thе
matцrе and middlе-agеd group. So is thе
аmount of land whiсh is bеing grаzеd: fouт
animals in аn ехtеnsive, well-shеltеred
pasturе with variеd hеrЬage, maу eat no
morе during а wintеr than two in a small,
exposеd paddoсk. Roughlу, howеvеr, l
tonnе (1 ton) of haу сan bе estimated pеr
аnimal per winter. If wintеr starts еartу' it
may nеed morе: сonversely, if the сlimate
is mild, less. ЕIorses themsеlvеs are good
guidеs as to whеn to stаrt feеding hay, аnd
how muсh to feеd' bесausе if thеre is any
good gгazing aгound, thеy prеfеr it. In
autumn, if they arе spеnding a lot of timе
just standing about, proЬаbly nеar thе gatе,
you сan takе it that thе grazing is poor and
thеy need hay. If thеy eat up еvery wisp
within hаlf-an-houг of its being put out' it
was not еnough. If thеy lеave somе, and
wandеr off to grazе agаin, it's Ьееn more
than they nееd. By mid-wintеr thеy will
probаbly gеt thгough from 7,9kg
(16_20 lbs) pеr day pеr hoгse. Маkе par-
tiсularly surе thеy havе еnough in сold,
wеt and windу or frosty wеattrer.
Flakеd maizе is a good wintег addition
to a horsе's сonсеntratе ration, ьut it
should be mixеd with brаn, and сubеs or
oats or bагley; on its own it is plеasantly
warming, but somewhat laсking in fiЬrе.
Boiled bаrley, well mixеd with bran and
fеd warm is an еxсеllеnt fееd for сold
winter moгnings, and bran and molаsses
mаshеs arе good for thе digеstions whеn
therе is little oг no green food about.
Тhe f Iy fringe, a speсia ||y-designed browbа nd,
effeсtivelУ wards off irгitаting fIies in summer,
but for some highly-strung horses the fringe
itse|f mаy prove to be as muсh of an
annoУanсe as the fIies.
In mild, opеn wintеr wеathеr' one сon-
сеntratе feеd a day is enough, with hаy, to
kееp horsеs in good сondition. In vеry
sеvеrе wеathеr, a morning аnd еvеning
feеd is bеttеr' Prеgnant marеs must be fed
wеll if out-wintеring' and to ensurе they
gеt all thе vitаmins аnd minеrals nесеs-
sаry, it is safest to fееd Ьаlanсed stцd сubеs.
Weanеd foals should аlways be Ьrought in
at night during thе first wintеr of thеiг livеs
(two сan sharе a loose box), givеn a fеed
whеn thеy сomе in аn'd anotlrеr in thе
morning, and plеnty of hay ovеrnight. It is
diffiсult in later yeaгs to сompеnsatе for
undеr-nourishment at this timе so makе
surе that foals gеt all thеy nееd.
.$Иorming
Worming is important for аll horsеs; but
partiсularly for ttrosе living out аs thеir
dung сontinuаlly rе-infесts the pasturе. If,
in spite of rеgular thrее-monthly worm-
ings, an animal has a pot-bеlly, is a bit
.ribby' and hаs a rough, staring сoat' it
should bе givеn aпother dosе. Fields on
whiсh horsеs graze Ьеnеfit ftom Ьeing
grazеd oссasionally by сatde, whiсh will
not only eat up the гoughеr grasses the
horses rejесt, but сonsume thе worm lar-
vae, to whiсh thеу are impervious.
Daily Carе
ЕIorsеs and ponies living out and notwork-
ing should still Ьe visitеd evеry day, fustlу,
to сhесk they are all present. If mаny аrе
kеpt in a Ьig pasture, thеy will proЬably
form into groups' and maу gгazе quitе long
distanсеs apart. If onе is missing' сhесk to
sее it is not сaught in a fеnсе, or lying
down in а сoгnеr, in whiсh саse is it siсk, or
just rеsting? Altеrnativеly it mаy havе
jumped out, pushеd its way through thе
fеnсing oг Ьrokеn a gate. Cheсk thаt all
horsеs are soцnd аnd look ovеr eaсh for
сuts' sсratсhеs or lumps. Grooming is not
nесessary) but it will be appreсiated if
шvigs or Ьurrs сaught in manеs аnd tails
arе removеd. In latе wintеr and eaгlу
spring, manes' thе гoots of tails and any
feathеr on the lеgs should Ьe сlosely
inspесted for liсe whiсh сan аttасk anу
horsе. A hеavу daily dusting with a prop-
гietary louse powdеr еvеry day for a wееk
should eliminаte thеm.
ЕIorsеs and ponies not rеquirеd for work
сan havе thеir shoеs removеd, although it
may bе bеttеr to lеavе fтont shoеs on thosе
with brittle, shelly feеt. Thе farrier should
inspeсt feet еvеry eight wееks, to trim аnd
shapе as nесеssary. Chесk thе fееt during
thе daily visit; hoofs that arе splitting or
Ьесoming mis.shapеn, neеd attention.
Thе Grass-kept
\$Иorking ЕIorsе
Spring and sцmmer
Thе Ьеst time to bring in a working horse
that lives out is еarlу in thе morning, so it
сan have a fеed while ownег or groom has
his Ьrеakfast. From thеn on, the routine is
very similar to that of thе stabled horsе. It
will nевd a boх with bеdding, еquivalent to
thе day-bеd of stablеd horses, from whiсh
droppings must ье rеmovеф and haуnеts
tаkеn out and rеfillеd. It will neеd groom-
ing, although not so thoroughly аs its sta-
blеs сounterpart, as too muсh grеasе
(whiсh givеs naturаl protесtion from
inсlеment weathеr) should not bе removеd
from thе сoаt. If it is to bе riddеn it сan bе
taсkеd up аt onсе; if not wаntеd until later
it сan bе untiеd aftеr grooming and left.
On rеturn from work' or at about 12.30,
it will bе timе for a seсond feed and a smаll
haynet. If the horse has been ridden, it
should havе its fееt piсked out' Ье lightlу
brushed over the saddlе pаtсh, and dried
off' if it hаs sweatеd, еither by putting on а

ПЕш[ Iug or rubbing wittr a sшаw wisp.
шrвqцirеd for work in thе afternoon, thе
friшпе сЦr bе lеft in pеaсе until somе tеn
mйпшт6 Ьеforе the ridе starts. Thеn it
мt sg lасkеd up' аnd dтoppings should
hсшmoтеd from thе box bеforе going out.
Thв рrcеduте dеsсribеd abovе should fol-
Txш'r йA ridе, аnd a third fееd givеn. Thеrе
дs ш п,еэd to givе a haynеt now, as whеn
тfiпа1fugd is fiпished, ttre hoгsе сan bе tuгned
шш. ТЬ box will thеn bе сlеanеd, haynеt
пFlБilrЁd аnd hung up, water buсkеt rеflllеd,
ffiе таrd tidiеd and taсk сlеanеd.
Tlrе аmouпt of сonсentrate fееd а horsе
bчlпin rhis way needs will depеnd, as еvеr,
щm. т}е sork he is doing, his tеmpеrament,
@.i йе саpаbilities of his гidеr, or riders.
Тtе рrinсiple of dividing it will bе thе
*m es for stаЬled horses; the total wеight
foшг'ыеr. Ьеing divided into thrее portions
imsваd of four. The last poгtion is still thе
Iшцsst In spгing and summer а total
пеigЬtof аbout 5.5 kg (l2 lbs) of food othег
йаа gгаss сould bе the avеrаgе for the
foдrsе ruгпеd out at night. Мoгning and
ш Ьаyпeъ need onlу thеrеforе сontаin
дtшt l.5_2kg (3-4lbs) еaсh.
oп dаss grhen a horse is not nеedеd to
пшrk Ь thе aftеrnoons, it сan eithеr bе lеft
iп го rеst, or turnеd out аftеr the sесond
ffiэоt Ifthе grаss is vеry good and thе horsе
rs inсliпеd to сarry a lot of flеslц it is bettеr
fuсft iп until аftег thе thiтd fееd, whеn а
mnllgт onе саn be given. This fеed will
шt Ье so fattеning as an aftеrnoon's graz-
йg яould bе, but will еnsurе plеnty of
спAтgт for thе nеxt day.
For the pгivatе ownеr who сannot гide
шег.г dау, aftеr thе moгning fееd thе horsе
$Ьould bе Ьrushеd ovеr to rеmovе dust аnd
dirt. eDd his fеet piсkеd out' beforе bеing
rеIurnеd to thе fiеld. Thе boх сan thеn bе
sвt rеаdу foг thе nеxt day. \0Иith praсtiсe,
йis Бш onlу tаkе about half-an-hour, pro-
тldвd thе field is near the house.
Wintеr
.lраrt from hаving to muсk out ttrе box,
Iitгlе ехпa time and tгouble is involvеd in
kееping а horse in аt night, and it has many
Most horses need hаy and еxtrа feed in the
winter. Haynets must be tied high enough to
prevent the horse,s feet getting entаngIed, but
not so high thаt seeds fa|l in his eyes.
advantages. If а galе blows up in the night,
thегds no nееd to woгry Ьесausе thе hoгse
is out without a гug and no neеd to go out
to the fiеld with hау and a fееd.
The гoutine for wintеr should be to give
a fееd and hаynеt, and muсk out' bеfoге
brеаkfast. Aftеr bгеаkfаst' gIoom аnd prе-
pare for riding as in summеr, followеd by
thе sесond feеd and sесond small haynеt at
middаy. rVhеn thе horse has finishеd its
sесond fееd it is turnеd out. If it is to Ьe
riddеn in thе aftеrnoon and not the moгn-
ing, it should be turned out aftеr breаkfast,
brought in about 12.30 foг thе seсond fееd,
gгoomеd аnd prеpared for riding.
If not required for riding at all, thе horsе
сan Ье turnеd out afteг Ьгeakfаst with a
haynеt in thе fiеld and Ьгought in Ьeforе
dark, to a good feеd, a haynet, and а groom-
A New Zeа|аnd rug, waterproof and warm|y
Iined, mаkes it possib|e to с|ip a horse whiсh is
kept аt grass during the winter. The rug must
be сarefu||v fitted.
ТHЕ GRAss-кEPT H0вsЕ
ing. As in winter this will bе аbout 4.30,
thе horse will neеd a big hаynеt later in thе
еvеning, and a final fеed, the сontents of
whiсh will dеpеnd on what is eхpесtеd of
him nёxt day. For privatе ownеrs who mау
hаve littlе timе to ridе during thе wеek in
winter, сuЬes arе bеttеr thаn oats. If thе
horse is going to havе an enегgеtiс
wееkend, hе сan have oats on Friday еven-
ings, and ovеr thе wееkend, dесreasing thе
amount on Sundаy and going bасk to
сuЬеs during thе wееk. \0Иhеnеvеr a hoгsе
is only doing very light work, its oat гation
should Ье сut down; if off work through
lamеnеss or injury, oats should bе сut out
altogеthег; but thе Ьulk (hay) inсrеasеd to
kееp the balаnсе of wеight.
ЕIorsеs that are going to work hаrd in
winteг, еvеn if only on сегtain days' will
nееd to bе сlippеd. Ifthey arе living partly
out-of-dooгs, a traсе сlip will bе еnough;
but this will mеan that whеn thеy arе
tuгnеd out, thеy must wеar а Nеw Zealаnd,
or a modегn light-wеight watеrproof rug.
Thе majority of horsеs turnеd out during
the day in wintеr arе Ьеtter ruggеd еvеn if
not сlipped. \D7hethеr thеy also havе to bе
ruggеd at night will depеnd on thе weath-
ег' thе сosiness of thеir boxes and the
thiсknеss ofthеir сoats' Some horsеs grow
very dеnsе, wintеr сoats; othеrs simply
gтow somewhat longеr hаir than in sum-
mеr. IJnlеss thе wеather is еxсеptionallу
сold, few horsеs that spеnd part of thеir
days outsidе in wintеr will еvеr nееd morе
at night than a single wool-linеd jutе rug.
Thе important thing to rеmember aЬout
rugging is that onсе ruggеd thе horsе must
stay ruggеd till spring.
A horsе's ears arе guides to whethеr or
not hе is сold; сold еаrs mеаn a сold horsе.
If a horsе сomеs in сold and wеt in wintеr'
from work or from thе fiеld, dryiпg thе ears
with a staЬle rubber will hеlp to rеstorе
warmth, as will putting a layeг of сlеan
stгaw along the bасk and putting a rug
(insidе out) on top.
Sпow is no hardship to horsеs when it
hаs fallеn аnd is сrisp, and thе day if finе
and sunny. What thеу find haгdest to
еndurе arе сold wеt winds, and dтiving rain
or sleеt; this kind of wеаthеr сan take сon-
dition off thеm quiсkly, unlеss they havе
plеnty of food and plеnty of shеltеr.
 A DIsтINстIoN should bе mаdе
.f1. b.t*..n thе words .saddlец/ and
.harnеss'' thе lаttеr, in partiсular, bеing
oftеn misusеd. Saddlerу rеfеrs to thе
еquipmеnt of thе riding horse, whilst hаr-
nеss is usеd to dеsсribе thе aссoutrеmеnts
of thе driving horse. To сonfusе furthеr thе
uninitiated, horsеmеn will frequеntly refer
to both as.taсl{ (i.е. taсkle).
In general tеrms, saddlеry is сonсernеd
with thе sаddlе and bridlе and thеir
ассompanying auxiliariеs, suсh as girths,
lеathеrs and martingales. It сan eхtеnd to
сovеr аl1 items mаdе of lеаther; еvеn if
some of thosе itеms' е.g. muzzlеs, hеаdсol-
lаrs еtс., are appliсablе to Ьoth riding and
harness horsеs. Bandagеs, rugs andЬlank-
еts, however, are groupеd under thе сom-
positе tеrm .horse сlothing'.
Thе еarly horsе pеoples managеd theiг
horsеs with thе minimum of equipmеnt,
сonсеntrating, naturally еnough, on
methods of сontrol. Initially, сonшol of thе
horsе maу havе bееn aсhiеvеd bу а form of
nosеband enсompаssing thе lowеr jaws
and fittеd аbovе thе nostrils. Illustrations
of Syrian horsеmеn of thе fourtееnth сen-
tury вс show this rudimеntary form of bri-
dlе quitе сlеarly. Thеre is, howеvеr, еvi-
dеnсе of a more sophistiсated Ьridlе,
involving thе usе ofa Ьit, usеd at an еarliеr
dаtе. On the tomЬ of Horenhab of Еgypt
(datеd сirсa 1600 вс) a horseman is
depiсtеd on an obviouslу spiritеd horse
riddеn in a snaffle bridle of surprisingly
modern dеsign.
As thе usе of mountеd horsеmеn
inсrеаsed and selесtivе brееding, сom-
Ьined with hаnd-feeding (i.e. with сorn' an
еnетgizing fееdstuff) pтoduсed horsеs of
more quality and spirit, so a greatеr
emphasis was plaсеd on thе mеans of сon-
trol through thе agеnсy of thе bridlе. Bу
thе time the Assyrians hаd еmеrgеd аs a
mаjor horsе peoplе, a bitting arlangеmеnt
had Ьeеn dеvised thаt gavе to the ridеr a
very ассeptablе degrее of сonшol over his
mount. Two hundred yеars latеr, whеn thе
Pеrsians ofthе sixth сеntury вс had supеr-
sеded thе Assyrians as thе lеаding nation
of horsemеn, thе bridlе had beсomе an
еvеn more forсеful instrumеnt, largеlу
bесausе of a notablе сhangе to a hеaviеr
type of horsе.
Thesе horsеs would havе сеrtainly bееn
сorn-fеd and they aге dеpiсtеd in vаrious
sсulpturеs in a heаvily сollесtеd postцIе
with thе hеad ovеr-bеnt, a сarriage that
would сeгtаinlу givе morе сontrol to thе
ridеr. Thе Ьits usеd to еffeсt this imposеd
Ьalanсe wеге thе fаmiliar phalliс-сheekеd
a nosеЬand whiсh
sееms to hаvе beеn sеt with knobs or
spikеs (tikе thе Spanish саrеtа si71 lsed
todаy), and with thе addition of a strap
fаstеnеd bеlow thе bit that is vеry similar to
our modеrn drop nosеband. Thете werе
howеvеr еxсеptions to the obsеssivе
intеrеst in сontrol. Thе Numidian сavalry
whiсh mаrсhеd with Нannibаl, for
instаnсе, mаnagеd thеiт small poniеs
without теsort to a bridlе of anу sort' stееr-
ing their mounts with a switсh applied to
thе appropriatе sidе of thе hеad. History
doеs not rеvеal how thе halt wаs еffесtеd.
Nonethеless, in gеneral tеrms' the trend
towardS stIongеI bits, саpaЬle of exerting a
grеаtеr mесhаniсal forсe, and thus allow-
ing thе horsemаn to position and rеstrain
his horse morе effeсtivеly, сontinuеd.
From thе siхth сеntury вс onwaтds, Ьits
bесamе inсrеasingly sеvеrе' with both
Greeks and Persians using mouthpiесes
that inсorpoтatеd sharp rollегs and spikеs.
Somеwhеre around 300 вс thе Celts of
Gaul produсеd thе сurb bit, an instrumеnt
that was to dеvеlop to monstrous propor-
tions in thе сеntulies thаt followеd.
Thе сurb bit of the armourеd knights of
thе Мiddlе Agеs, whiсh еxistеd in only
slightlу altered form well into the еight-
еenth сеntuly and evеn lateг, wаs made
neсеssary Ьу thе sheеr sizе and strеngth of
the hеavy horses that werе nееdеd to сarrу
a fullу armoured man and his wеapons' as
well as thе weight of their own proteсtivе
armour. To сontrol suсh an animаl, and
morе partiсularlу to put him in a statе of
balanсе whiсh would faсilitаtе thе man-
oеuvrеs rеquired in battlе, or latеr at thе
joust аnd tournamеnt' a meсhaniсal forсе
of some power was neеdеd if thе аnimal's
wеight was to bе plасеd ovеr thе hind-
quагtеrs аnd thе forеhаnd lightenеd in
SaddIery or ,taсk, on saIe at аn auсtion. тhe
saddle and brid|е arе the basiс pieсes of
equipment needed for аn ordinаry riding
horse and therе are many different tуpes;
whiсh ones to use depеnds not on|у on the
type of horse but also its stage in training, the
use to whiсh it is being put and the abiIity of the
rider.
сonsеquеnсе.
Thе usе of the Ьit to plaсе the horsе in
balanсе persistеd wеll into thе Rеnais-
sаnсe pеriod whiсh markеd thе bеginnings
of the .сlassiсal аrt'. Thе еarly Мastеrs,
like Fеdеriсo Grisonе in Naplеs and his
pupil Pignatеlli' did, howevеr, strеss thе
importаnсе of prеsеrving thе lightnеss of
thе mouth' aсhiеving thеir obiесt bу thе
usе' onсe more' of thе spiked noseband.
Еvеn so from а study of thеir Ьooks
(Grisonе's Gli ordiпi di Cаllаlcаre was
publishеd in 1550) it is с1еаr that littlе
emphasis was plaсеd on the suppling of thе
hoгsе and thе dеvelopmеnt of his posturе
Ьy a pгogrеssion of еxеrсisеs' whilst grеat
storе сontinuеd to bе sеt on brеaking the
animаl's rеsistanсe by forсeful mеans.
During this pеriod thе prototypе of thе
modеrn doublе bridlе еmеrged with the
addition to thе сurЬ bit of a thin bridoon,
thе .flying trenсh', whiсh was opеratеd by a
sесond rеin. Reсognition of thе fасt that
flexion at the poll has to bе aссompanied
bу a сorrеsponding rеlaxation of the lowеr
jaw, was mаrked Ьу thе oссasional usе of
mеtal .kеуs' fittеd to thе сеntre of the
mouthpiесe to еnсouragе thе horsе to play
with the Ьit and стеatе saliva in the mouth.
Thе Grееk gеnеral Хеnophon had, in faсt,
usеd thе samе dеviсе on a snаfflе Ьit some
1800 уеаrs previously аnd thе modеrn
sшаight-Ьar .mouthing, bit usеd in thе

f уoung horses, and similаrly
keуs, vaгies only slightly in
nilп.m ;оm thаr цsеd by thе
-тдIЕlll-д].-
1Гhе .-r:тbЬit. howеver, with its сhееk-
lщзе5 sliеa аs long as 37сm (15in) held
сhief wеapon in thе horsе-
until, at the bеginning of
]fuе s*ппе..эеnth сеnturу, thе latеr сlаssiсal
Лlщs'ш=т* .iikе Pluvinеl and Nеwсastlе,
mп:rЦ*.ЕёJ thе individual studу of horsеs
mп| 3цlgg pаtiеnt аnd gеntler methods
тЕЕ Ь:тLта[еd iл thеir шаining.
ф ilе :оJtoк-ing сеntuтy thе art of сlаs-
siш:п,i гдiiпq hаd bесomе estаЬlished,
ugh thе tеaсhings of thе
FranEois dе la Guёriniёrе'
thе .Fathеr of Classiсal
qгшл :s .*]ral.ттr as
Eщш:ъз..с.. аnd rvhilst thе сurЬ bit сon-
]тшJrA: зs а prеdoгrrinant influеnсe, it
:ЕЕrЕ, :r- bе rеgаrdеd аs an instrцmеnt of
iшЕ.ЕxЕс-
xъпrЁ -hяl pоiтrt on, the tеndenсy was
гш-frш:дгэsтi]dег bits. Ьut thе obsеssion with
il!ше;мrs.:попing оf the hеаd and thе сontrol
tr frе звrsс йrough thе Ьit сontinuеd to
f,iц.щry -iт minds of horsеmen right up to
п[]п, oгшi. сет1п.цг. despitе thе inсrеasing
эnd гolumе of thе еxhortation
.!швщ
тtет.oге hяnф..
lгt a :rrIееDтЪ сеntur1.
аnd йe fust pаrt
d пmе:гепriетh-. produсеd a hugе variеry of
iйmгr дШ .-ц. кЫсh sr-еrе ассlaimеd (at leаst
fu!ш' г.* iлgеnious Ьvепtors) аs
пш8rEa iiulг аJ.l eqr'ine ills. ЕIou'еveг, t}lе
тшN-mJЕ
miц :G
щ.пфffi.
mг lmifss ц"пillсгion. togеthеr тsith аn
!шmЕ*sгg hmowledgе of еquеstгiаn
fuлrт. здl. геsu1теd iп thе pаst 30 oг 40
iЕДшi д simptjfiеd гаngе of bitгЬg
= =l.:,сh
dеviсеs. So muсh so in faсt' that thе mod-
ern horsеman is rеstriсtеd, еssеntially' in
his сhoiсе to onе of five Ьаsiс groups or
familiеs of bits, of whiсh, if his horsе has
bееn сorrесtly sсhooled, he will only rarely
nееd to еmploy more than two.
Thеsе fivе groups сomprisе: the snаffl,е,
in its various forms; the double Ьridle' i.e.
сurb Ьit and Ьridoon (thе lattеr is' in faсt, a
light version of thе ordinary snafflе but
сhangеs its nаme, for no vегy good reаson,
whеn usеd with a сurb Ьit)i t}:.e Pelhаm' a
hybrid deгived from the сurb bit and
аttеmpting to pгoduсе thе sаmе rеsцlt as
thе douЬlе bridlе with thе usе of a single
mouthpieсе; the gаg snаfflе, a gadgеt Ьor-
rowеd from thе hаrnеss hoгse, аnd' finallу,
ttre bitless bridlе, freqlеntly termеd a
hаckаmore,whiсh rеliеs solely on prеssurе
еxеrtеd on thе nose for its effесt.
Of thesе fne snaffle is thе mildеst form of
Ьitting' the most simplе аnd thе most
сoпuтron. It is mаdе in a variеty of wеights,
ranging ftom thе penсil thin to thе muсh
moi. aссеptаble thiсk mouthpiесе,
.sofd. 'Thе prinсi-
dеsсriЬеd by thе Irish as
pal division within thе group howеver, is
betwееn those with a jointed mouthpieсе .half-
and thosе madе without a joint in a
moon' shape known аs a mullen mouth,
thе lattеr Ьеing thе mildеst of thе two.
The aсtion of thе snafflе depends upon
thе position ofthе horse's hеad аnd, thеrе-
fore, upon thе stage of uainiлg thаt hаs
bееn rеaсhed. In thе уoung, геlаtivеly
Spartan unsсhoolеd horsе, саrrying his wеight on
the forеhаnd with а сorrеspondingly low
hеad сarriagе, ttrе aсtion is upwаrds
againSt thе сornеrs ofthe lips. In the сase.
oi th. ho''. in a morе аdvаnсеd state of
training morе wеight is
quaItеrs' thе forеhand is
enеd and thе hеad raisеd t
the nose is hеld a littlе in аdvаnсе of thе
vеrtiсal. The snаfflе thеn aсts aсross thе
lowеr jаw, lying ovеr thе tonguе and plaс-
ing morе pressurе on thе bals of thе mouth
(i.е. thе arеa of gum bеtwееn thе inсisors
and thе сhеek tееth).
The snаfflе саn bесomе a strongег
mеans of сontrol by variations bеing made
Аbove right Тhe haсkamoгe - a bit|ess bridIe
in whiсh the reins aсt, viа the сheekpieсes, on a
bаnd over the nose, insteаd of a metaI bаr in
the mouth.
Right тhethree bаsiс bit pаtterns used for
the riding horse. bottom: The snaff Ie; this one
has a jointed mouthpieсe. fop: The doubIe
brid|e сonsisting of а thin snaff Ie, or bridoon,
and a сurb (Weymouth) bit'middle:The
PeIha m _аn attemptto сombine both асtions
of the double bridle in one bit by providing an
extra ring in Iine with the mouthpieсe for a
bridoon rein; the poгt in the сentre ofthe
mouthpieсe mаkes it more сomfortabIe over
thе the tongUe thаn the usuaI stгаight-barred
version. Double bridles and Pelhams are both
toгg- woгn with a f|at-|inked сu гb chаin. This is fitted
ns of in the сhin g гoovе underthe horse,s Ioweг jaw'
тhods and is attaсhed to hooks on the top ri ngs of the
bit сheekpieces. lt is sometimes kept in pIaсe
by а |eather Iip strap whiсh is passed through
the spаre сentre Iink on the сhаi n аnd attaсhed
to thе smalI dees on the сheekpieсes.
sADDLЕRY

to thе mouthpiесe. This сan, for instanсe,

bе twisted, or serratеd, so as to givе a
shаrpеr pгessuге on the mouth, or it сan bе
ned with rollers, set horizontally within thе
fi
mouthpiесe or round its сirсumfеrеnсe.
The aсtion of thе bit сan аlso bе altered
and/or assistеd by thе usе of auxiliаriеs
suсh as drop nosebands or martingalеs.
A drop nosеbаnd, the пosеpieсе rеsting
some 7 сm (3 in) abovе the nosшils аnd thе
rear strap fastеning bеlow thе bit, fulflls a
numbеr of puгposеs. Bу сlosing thе mouth
it prеvеnts еvasions of thе bit's aсtions
сausеd Ьy thе horsе opеning thе jaws or
attеmpting to сross thеm. It hеlps, also, to
maintain а сorlесt position of thе hеad by
еxerting a downwards and baсkwards pres-
surе on thе nosе, trаnsmitted to it thтough
the aсtion of thе rein. Thе rеsult of a сor-
reсtly positionеd hеad, allowing thе гidеt' s
hands to bе highеr than thе mouth, is to
givе а grеаtеr dеgrеe of сontrol. A сеrtain,
if slight, rеstriсtion of thе brеathing, is
involved in the use ofthе drop nosеband - a
violent upward movеment of thе head
being сountеrеd Ьy a momеntary inсrеasе
of pressure upon thе nasal passаges.
Thе use of mаrtingalеs is also сon-
сеrned with thе maintеnanсe of an aссеpt-
ablе head position. Thе two prinсipal types
arе thе standing martingale attaсhed to а
сavеsson nosеband (nеvеr to a drop), thus
rеstriсting any upwаrd movement of thе
head, and thе .running' type асhiеving the
samе rеsult through prеssurе on the
Below А running maгtingа|e in aсtion' Тhe
running rings exert a downward aсtion on the
bit when the horse ra ises its heаd too high, but
сarefuIfitting is required to ensure гeаsonаb|e
freedom of movemеnt.

!ш!rшдй. Тhе running martingаlе сom-
щ-шеs аЬifurсatеd srap, eaсh еnd of whiсh
ш rfrmтеri п.ith а гing thтough whiсh thе rеin
Б Рss6d. Thus pгеssuге is put on the
mшrф то еffесt a lowеring of thе hеad.
ТЬс doublе Ьridlе, with its сurb bit аnd
шшidп)n] liеs аt tlrе oppositе еnd of thе
щшшrlm iп сomparison with thе snafflе. It
:iв йе most soptristiсаted of thе bitting
'mgmепts аnd within the provinсe of
мilт r}р еduсated rider аnd tlrе еduсаtеd
foоrsе. pегmitting thе formеr to suggеst a
щitЬning of тhe hеad with a far greater
fimке- Тhе snаfflе, or bridooщ aсts to
mist frе hеаd, whilst фе сurb whеn it
ts'rтrеs аn angle of about 45 degrееs in
" . шuth, induсеs a lowеring of thе nosе,
]mпioп of thе lower jаw and of thе poll.
ТЬв шouthpieсe of thе сurb is most usu-
rr[it.т а sraight baг mаdе with а сentral
fiпmв с.llgd thе poп. Thе puгposе of thе
щt Ь тo ассommodate thе tonguе, thus
шlпгiпg thе Ьeагiтrg surfaсеs of thе
шrйpiесе, on еitirег sidе of *rе port, to
,,"m iпto direсt сontaсt with the baгs. If
" - mouthpiесe wаs madе without a port'
фе bit would bеаг moгe upon thе tonguе
тfl.tгп thе Ьатs аnd would, therеfoге' be
гшdетеd less effrсiеnt and dirесt in its
ПЕEIоIL
Тhе sегегity or otlrегwise of thе сцrb bit
u1ron thе length of thе сhееk
tеlов тhе moutlrpiесe, thе longеr thе
The two most сommonIy used types of bгidIе.
above left: Тhe snaffle brid|e сomplete with
drop nosebаnd, whiсh prevents the horse
opening its moUth and evаding the ьit. abovei
The double bridle with the two bits and double
reins, used mаin|y on show horses and ponies'
аnd for dressage.
сhееk thе grеatеr bеing the possiblе lеvег-
agе. Thе lеngth of thе сhеek аbollе tl:e
mouthpieсе, whiсh inсorpoгatеs thе .еye'
to whiсh thе hеаdpiесe of thе bridle is
аttaсhed, is, howеveг' of almost еquаl sig-
nifiсaпсе. A long сhеek will сausе a grеa-
tеr downward prеssurе on the poll as йе
.eyе' moves forward in rеsponsе to thе
appliсation of the rеin, шansmitting that
plеssuгe through the сhеekpiесe to thе
head-sшаp.
The Pеlhаm bridlе is somеthirrg of a
сompromisе bеtwееn tlrе еxtrеmеs rep-
resеntеd by the snaffle аnd the doublе bгi-
dlе (thе two basiс bridlеs used in thе сoг-
rесt sсhooling of the hoгsе). Vith onе
mouthpieсе, usually of the hаlf-moon typе,
and а сhееk whiсh inсoгporatеs an addi-
tional ring for thе fixing of a bridoon rеin,
it аttеmpts to rеproduсe thе еffесts of tlre
lаttеr. In praсtiсе, thе snafflе aсtion of thе
bit will prеdominаte when thе bridoon rein
is hеld outsidе thе little finger and thе
oppositе геsult will Ье obtаinеd whеn тhe
position of tlrе rеins is revеrsеd and thе
SAUULIII Y
сuгb геin is hеld in a similar mаnner.
The .gagi Ьridlе, on the othеr hand, is
littlе morе than an еxtеnsion of thе snaffle,
aссеntuating thе upward, head-raising,
aсtion of thе lattеr by its peсuliar сonstruс-
tion. In the gag, thе bit rings arе madе with
two aligned сеntral holes in thе ring
through whiсh а сhееkpiесе of roundеd
lеather is passed, thе rеin bеing attaсhеd to
a ring on thе bottom of thе lаttег. This
arгangemёnt еnablеs thе bit to movе
upwaгds in thе horsе's mouth еxerting
vеry сonsidеrablе prеssurе on thе сoгnеrs
of thе lips. In faсt, of сoursе, the aсtion
produсеs сontrаdiсtory Pгеssurеs' onе
upwards on the mouth and onе downwаrds
on the poll. Nonеthеlеss thе gag is hеld to
be а usеful aid in сontrolling an imPetllous
horsе and pеrhаps, more partiсularly, foг
one that apProасhеs his fеnсеs гathеr fastеr
thаn is сonsidеrеd dеsirablе, whilst hold-
ing his hеad firmly bеtwееn his knееs.
Thе last of the bгidle groups is that
whiсh gives сontгol thгough pressurе on
thе nosе alonе. This typе is often сallеd
a.hасkamorе', tttе namе dеriving from thе
Spanish jаquiшa - а noseЬand, usеd bу thе
dornаdor (шainer) in prеparing the hoгse
for thе .spadе' bit (а сuгb bit with a solid
high port rеsting on thе tonguе and
suffiсiеntly loпg to асt against thе roof of
thе mouth) whiсh was usеd by thе trаinеr
or .rеinе/ of thе advanсеd horsе, the
аrrendador. This bitlеss bгidle is part of a
sophistiсatеd mеthod of sсhooling
originating in thе Iberian Pеninsula and
passing from therе, by mеans of thе six-
tееnth сentury сonquistаdorеs' to thе
Amеriсas. Thеге it rеmains intеgral in
r0festeгn гiding, Ьut it has аlso aсhiеved a
morе gеnеral usе in rесent yеars. Мany
riders employing thе Euгopean systеm of
шaining use' or morе frequently misuse,
the bridle, mistakenly supposing it to bе a
.kinde/ form of сontтol. In faсt, in thе
wrong hands, thе bridlе is a verу sevеrе
instrument.
Thе devеlopmеnt of thе Ьгidlе bеgаn
еarly in tlrе history of mаn's аssoсiation
with horsеs аnd in сomPaгative tеrms it
was not long beforе a satisfaсtory form of
harnеss еvolvеd. Pеrhaps suгprisingly, thе
saddlе and moгe partiсularly the stirrup,
was a muсh latеr inшoduсtion. &tost of ttrе
pre-Chтistiаn hoгse pеoplеs usеd сover-
ings аnd pads, some of thе lаttеr bеing
quitе еlaboгatе' on tlrе bасks of thеir
horsеs, although Хenophon (430_355 вс),
possibly bесаuse hе was a Spartan, dесriеd
thе praсtiсе mаintaining that thе barе lеgs
of a man wrapped аround the sweating сoаt
of his horsе gave morе sесurity.
The limitations of саvalry operating
without thе sесurity аffordеd by а saddlе
and stiлгups would sееn to be obvious.
Pгimarilу, of сoursе, it pгohibited thе
саvalry soldier from сlosing with thе
еnеmy' but it was not until фe fourth сеn-
tury that a saddlе сonstгuсtеd on a wood
foundation, the .trеd, was in usе and it
took almost anothеr 100 yeагs Ьefore thе
stirrup was invеnted and madе possiЬle thе
сavalry сhargе against bodies of infаntry..
Charles Chеnеvix Trenсh, autlror of А
History of Horsemanship and a сontribu.tor
197

to this book' has this сomment to makе: .It
is surprising that horsemеn took 1500
yеаrs to think up something so simple.
Onе is reluсtаntly drivеn to thе distаstеful
сonсlusion that wе are not rеally a vеrу
bright sеt of pеople'.
It is probablе that it was thе Sarmatians,
a pеoplе latеr absorbеd by thе Goths, who
usеd a trее аnd produсеd a saddlе built
high at thе pommеl and саntlе to еnсlose
thе гidеr. Crеdit for thе stirrup goеs to thе
Huns of Attila аnd a Chinеsе offiсеr writ-
ing ln 477 Aо сonfirms its use Ьy thеsе
Мongolian horsеmеn.
Thе same rypе of еnсlosing sаddlе
servеd thе mеdiаеvаl knight' whose long
stirrups were hung wеll forward so as to
allow thе ridеr to Ьraсе himsеlf against thе
сantle. This position prеvеnted his bеing
thrown forward and еnablеd him to with-
stand the impaсt of the сhargе agаinst
infаntry without dеparting unсеrеmoni-
ously ovеr his horse's rump. That sаddlе
еxists in reсognйablе form todаy as thе
!(estеrn saddlе. Tt,e sеllе roуаlе, still used
at thе сlassiсal sсhools of Saumur and
Vienna, thе homе of thе Spаnish Riding
Sсhool, and thosе saddles сurrently in rrsе
in Portugal and Spain arе its dirесt
dеsсеndants and littlе differеnt from thе
saddlеs of thе latе Rеnaissanсе pеriod.
Thе only major alteration is in the posi
tioning of the stirrup Ьars, whiсh arе
plaсed furthеr to thе rеar than in thе saddlе
of йе mounted knight. In turn, thе modeгn
drеssage saddle, although сonsideraЬly
more strеamlinеd in appеaranсе' has its
origins in these saddlеs. Like that of thе
aгmoured knight, thе drеssagе saddlе is
idеally suitеd to its puгpose, fulfilling thе
ride1s rеquirements in this partiсulaг and
spесialized branсh of equitation.
Drеssagе involves movеmеnts dеmаnd-
ing а statе of сollесtion, the hoгse moving
Left A disp|ay of oId с|assiса| sаddlеs at
Haras du Pin in Fгаnсe, inсluding examp|es
with high pomme|s and сant|es to enс|ose the
rider and mаke him diffiсu|t to dis|odge
Аbovе An examp|e ottheselle roуаle, a |ess
extreme form of enclosing saddle still used by
the Spanish Riding Sсhoo| in Viennа.
witir the heаd held high аnd the grеatет
pаrt of thе wеight bеing сarriеd over
aсtively engaged qualtеrs. In oгdеr to
rеmаin in-balanсе with thе horse it is
nесessary for the ride1s Ьody weight to bе
positioned аs nеаrly as possiblе over thе
сеntrе ofbаlanсе ofthe horse. In thе horsе
at rest' this сan Ье takеn to Ьe at thе junс-
tion of an imaginаry vertiсal linе, drawn
from somе 15 сm (6 in) bеhind thе withеrs
to the ground, and а horizontal onе drawn
from thе point of thе shouldеr to thе rear.
In movеmеnt the horsе's сentre of balanсе
shifts forward, its position Ьеing govеrnеd
by thе аttitudе of thе hеad and neсk whiсh
aсt as thе Ьalanсing agеnt of thе Ьody
mass. In thе galloping horsе, whiсh
strеtсhes out its hеad аnd nесk, thе point
movеs forward. At thе oppositе еxtremе.
when the horsе is in a state of сolleсtion,
thе еlеvated hеad сarriage and lowеrеd
сroup сausе thе сеntrе of balаnсе to movе
sADDLЕRY
/1 ooo hеаlth is somеthing whiсh
\r mа',y pеople тakе t,or granted. In rhе
horse, it is usuallу regarded as synonуm-
ous with normal funсtion, that is thе abil-
ity to pегform thе purposе for whiсh thе
animal is kеpt. In сommon terms' a
healthу horsе is а sound horse; сonvеrsеly,
an unsound horse is onе in whiсh usеful-
nеss hаs beеn diminishеd, eiтhеr tеmporar-
ily or pеrmanеntly, by somе diseasе or
unhеаlthy сondition.
Thе interrelationship of soundnеss and
disеasе sums up thе horseman's approaсh
to thе suЬieсt; and it is a praсtiсal
аpproaсh. ЕIowеvеr, thеrе arе сеrtain
aspесts thаt liе outsidе this partiсular сon-
сеpt. For ехаmple, a horsе maу havе a
disеase, suсh as а mild infесtion or a сondi-
tion ofbonе, suсh as a.splint', уеt bе aЬlе to
сarry out a usеful funсtion.
At this point' thеrе hаs to Ьe a morе striсt
dеflnition of disеasе, albеit prасtiсal. Dis-
еase is anу сondition whеrе body struсturе
is abnormally altеrеd. This alterаtion has a
саusе (etiology), a сourse of developmеnt
and rесovеry (pathogеnesis), a likеly out-
сomе (prognosis) and a mеans of trеatmсnt
or сontrol. Thеse сritеriа сan bе applied to
all сonditions, from whеnсе they сan Ье Аbove Modern equine veterinaгy praсtiсe a virus, whiсh requires speсiaI treatmеnt
broken down into finer divisions of know- is we|l-equipped to hand|e suсh problems for suсоessfuI erаdiсation. middle: Spasm
ledge suсh as, is thе сausе infесtivе, oг as manoeuvering an anaesthetised horse of the thiгd eyе|id when the side of thе faсе
doеs thе сondition hаvе an underlying on the opеrating tab|e. is lightly tapped with the finger is a
(prеdisposing) сausе? Below Ехamo|еs of miсrobial infeсtions. symptom of tеtаnus ||ockiaw|' right:
It is nесеssary to сlаssify disеasе both for left: Аn аngIeberry on the inside of the Craсked heel _ an infeсtion of the skin in the
thе purpose of dеsсription and so as to thigh - a semi-malignant tumor, сaused by hollow of the oastern.
develop а bеtter undеrstanding of thе sub-
jесt. Thе following is a broad сlassifiсation
of thosе diseаses whiсh аnуonе сonсеrnеd
with the welfаrе of horsеs сoцld еxpeсt to
find: infесtivе diseases, parasitiс diseasеs,
disеаses and сonditions of bone, disеasеs
of thе alimеntаry traсt' disеasеs of thе livеr,
disеаsеs of the gеnital organs' infеrtilitу,
disеаsеs of pregnanсу, disеasеs of thе new-
born foal, disеasеs of thе оldеr foal and
yеaгling. disеasеs of thе urinary systеm,
disеases of thе nеrvous sуstem, disеases of
thе сaгdio-vasсular systеm, diseаsеs of thе
rеspiratory traсt, disеаsеs of thе еyе and
disеasеs of thе skin.

Infесtivе Disеases
Infесtivе disеasеs arе thosе саusеd bу
miсro-organisms (germs or miсroЬеs).
Thеre атe thrеe main gloups of miсroЬеs _
virus, Ьaсtеria and fungus. Еaсh group is
subdividеd into familiеs, gеnеra and
speсiеs, just as mammals arе сlassified
aссoтding to thеir partiсular сharaсtеris-
tiсs. Thus within the group of baсtеriа
thеrе arе Strеptoсoссi' Stаphуloсocci and
 тHЕ HЕALTH 0F тHЕ нOпsE

Юсbsiella, ассoгding to фе сhaгасtеristiсs TaЬle r - BAстЕRIAL DIsЕAsЕs

пtшt тЬеsе miсrobes displaу under miсro-
сultural, bioсhеmiсal, sеrologiсal Disеаse Chiеf Sуmproms Cаusе
'Е!tpiс'
лптt 6фg1 mеaпs of еxаmination whiсh Aсnе* Smаll Ьoils and/or wееping S tаp|цlloсoccus аurеus
tсф to distinguish еvеn thе most сlosеlу sorеs in skin
шdlшвd forms from one аnoфer.
Bruсеllosis** Lamеnеss; poll еvil аnd Brucellа аbortus
ltiсroЬеs саn livе on thе surfaсe of the
3ь;n Ф on tlrе muсous membгanes lining fistulous withers
йе вгious body сavities suсh аs thе Glаndегs** Nаsal сatarrh; fеvеr; Leofflеrеllа mаllеi
щrтh. vаgina, etс. Thеy сan also invadе oеdеmаtous swеllings;
" . ..suеs and livе within the various body pnеumonia
gшEtEtures,such as the bonеs, livеr or kid-
Lеptospinosis** Fеvеr; jaundiсе; anaеmia Leptospirа pon1onа
щs. Not all miсrobеs arе harmful and
grm ехist within thе body in а state of Loсkjаw* Painful spasms Сlostridium tеtаni
Мпuаl Ьеnefit, suсh as the baсtеriа in thе
.сц[оn апd саесum whiсh digest thе сel- Sаlmonellosis* Diаrrhoеa, usually blood- S аlmo rrc l l а tуp hi mur iun
hilсе ard fibге in а horsе's fееd. Bеtwееn stainеd; suddеn dеаth S аlmorrcllа еntеritidis
йоsе thяt do сausе diseasе, and the host Slеepy foal diseasе* \DИeakness and fеver in Actinobаcillus еquuli
пtsе еxists quitе a сompliсatеd relаtion- nеwborn foаl
shф Еасh type of miсrobе hаs a morе or
]Iuк фvеlopеd сapaсity for invading thе Strangles* Fеvег; nаsal disсhargе; Strеptoсoccus еqui
аbsсеssеs in glands,
tоdтяnd саusing damagе. This propеrty is
mainly of hеad and nесk
toгп аs viлulеnсе and is rесognized in
l сEiсе' Ьу thе sеvеrity of thе illnеss it TuЬеrсulosis** \0Иasting; stiffness of thе Mуcobаctеriurn
Е[IIsеs' and the еаsе with whiсh thе сondi- nесk tuberсulosis
пirm spreаds through thе horse population.
5* еxяmPlе, thе baсtеrium Streptococcus * Common disеasеs
whiсh саuses thе disеasе Stranglеs, is ** Lеss сorшnon diseasеs
щвo-
rssшЬtеd with а fеvеrish сondition whiсh
ryrcads гаpidly through the inmatеs of stцd Table 2 _ DIsЕAsЕs сAUSЕD BY vIRUsЕs
E srаblе. on thе othеr hand its сlosе rеla-
tivе Sttеptococcus pуogеnеs is more oftеn Diseаsе Chief Sзпllptoms Virus
rзsшiаtеd with loсаlizеd сonditions, suсh Еpidеmiс сough Cough; fevеr Influenza
as infeсtion of thе uterus, whiсh агe pесu-
trieт ат aпу givеn timе to аn individual.
Sporadiс or stаЬlе Cough; nasal сatarrh; Rhinovirus
\riпrlenсе сan bе variablе aссording to сough somеtimеs fevег ЕIerpеsvirus
. - Adеnoviлus
environmentаl сirсumstaпсеs. For
шsrаnсе thе baсtеrlum known as E. coli is Pneumoniа Fеvеr; difflсult or Adеnovirus
шЬiquitous and is found in lаrge quantitiеs abnoгmal bгеаthing Hеrpesviлus
rn йе gut аnd fаесеs of horses. It also livеs (еspесiallу in foals)
Ь thе soil and rarely сausеs problеms.
Еfoтеvеr, it is somеtimеs rеsponsible for Afriсan horsе Pneцmonia and enteritis Rеoviтus
foаl rliяrгhoea and during epidеmiсs of this siсknеss
сmdition, its virulеnсe maу inсrеasе as it !Иarts Sma]l disсrеtе сornifiесi Pаpova virus
pesЪs suссessively тhrough onе сasе aftеr growths usually aгound
rthег, геsulting in a сorrеsponding rпlzzle
rnстеаsе in the sеverity of thе epidemiс.
onе of the сhiеf fасtors hеrе is thе laсk of AnglеЬеrriеs Prolifеrating growths Papova viгus
(sarсoids) with tеndenсy to
ulсеratе and bleеd
Spots (сoital Small ulсеrs on l'цlva of Еquid hеrpеsvirus
еxanthema) mare and pеnis of stallion
Еquinе infeсtious Fever; anaеmia; swеllings Unсlassifiеd
anaеmia on lеgs and dependеnt
parts

Table 3 _DIsЕAsЕs сAUSЕD BY FUNGUS AND oTнЕR ]vIIсRoBЕs

Disеаse Sуmptoms Microbе
Ringworm SсаЬ сovеrеd сirсular Fungus:
lеsions on skin pееling (Miсrosporum)
off to геveаl ulсеr (Triсhophуton)
Brokеn wind ЕIeaves, сough
Abortion Thiсkеned plaсеnta Various spесiеs
of fungus
Gutturаl pouсh llaemoгrhagе
myсosrs down nosе

Biliaгy fеver Fеvеr; anaemia; jaundiсе Protozoa (spесiеs

(Piлoplasmosis, of Piroplаsmа)
Babеsiosis)

201
тнE нЕALтн 0t тнE H0RsЕ

rеsistаnсe of a foаl. whiсh doеs not havе

thе same immunity against bасterial infес-
tions аs has usually bееn developеd bу
adults.
Immunity is another faсtor in thе rela-
tionship Ьеtweеn miсrobе and host. An
individual gathers immunity Ьy thе сapa-
сity of spесiаl сеlls in thе body to produсе
protесtivе substanсes (antibodiеs) whiсh
nеutralize the invading miсrobе. The anti-
Ьody must of сoursе bе speсifiс to thе miс-
robe, or it will havе little or no effeсt in
prеventing it from beсoming еstablishеd in
thе body tissuеs. For example thеrе arе two
strains of influеnza virus whiсh are popu-
larly саllеd thе Мiami and Praguе strains.
Thе horsе mаy bе immunе to thе Praguе
strain, bесausе it has еxperiеnсеd this
infесtion bеforе and is сapaЬle, thеrеforе,
of produсing Praguе-sшain antibodies, Ьut 3rd stage
the same individuаl may Ье susсeptiьlе to infeсtive |аruae
the Мiami strain bесause thе body has had
no previous eхpеrienсe of it. Thе samе
diffеrеnсе would exist if the individual had
bееn vассinatеd with onе' but not thе othеr
straln.
Vассinеs illusшate anothеr way in
whiсh an individuаl may devеlop immun- Аbove rhe Iife сyс|e of Strongуlus vulgaгis.
ity. In this сasе thе immunity is artifiсial, Infeсtive Iarvaе (third stage on|у) are eaten
but thе prinсiple of naturally devеloping b\r the horse and in the gut theУ burrow
immunity is similar. Protеin, in the form of into bIood vesseIs аnd migrate to the main
the whole or pаrt of thе miсrobe, еnters the afteriaI root where they deve|op fuгtheг.
bodу аnd is rесognized by thе host tissuеs Adults return to the intestine and lay eggs
as foreign. Thе protеin is known as whiсh are pаssedout to repeat the сyс|e.
antigеn and is сapaЬlе of stimulаting thе Right Mаggots of the bot f|y in the
produсtion of antibody. The immunitу stomaсh' Еggs, Iaid on the hairs by the
vаriеs with thе miсrobe and thе vaссinе' aduIt f|ies, are |iсked off by the horse and
whiсh is solid and lasting in somе сasеs hatсh in the stomaсh. Тhe maggots attaсh
and weak or limitеd in othегs. In the сasе to the stomaсh wаII and Iaгge infestations
of influеnzа oг tеtanus (loсkjaw), Ьoostеr may rupture it.
dosеs arе rеquired following vассinаtion,
sinсе immunity gradually dесrеаsеs. TaЬlе 4 - ЕNDOPARASITIс DIsEAsЕs oF TIIЕ HoRsЕ
Quite apart fгom immunity, individuals Diseаse SуmDtoms Pаrаsitе
vary in their rеsponse to infeсtion bесause
of prеdisposing fасtors, whiсh make thе Strongylosis Diarrhoеa; loss of Strongуlus lLulgаris
body susсeptible. For еxаmplе a marе that сondition; сoliс; аnaеmia Strongуlus edеntаtus
takеs air into thе genital trасt bесausе of
Strongуlus еquinus
faulty perinеal сonformation, сauses the Asсariasis Diarrhoea in foals; сoliс; Pаrаsсаris еquorum
utеrus to beсomе morе pгonе to bасtеriаl Ьronсho-pnеumorria
infeсtion.
The сommon equinе disеases сaused Ьy Oxyuriasis Rubbing tаil Oхуuris еqui
miсrobёs arе shown in Tаblеs I, 2 and З. Tapеworm Nonе Аnoploсephаlа
pеrfoliаtа
Parasitiс Diseasеs Bot maggot Gastritis ; pеrforation Gаstrophilus intеst-
Pаrаsitеs аrе organisms whiсh live at the of thе stomасh; reсtаl inаlis
haemorrhagе
еxpеnsе of another, but whiсh do not
nесessarilу harm it, nor do they usually
саuse dеath. Thеy arе thеrеfore distinсt Table 5 _ ЕсTOPARASITIс DIsЕAsЕs oF TI{Е нoRsЕ
from miсrobеs, although somе parаsitеs do
produсe sevеre effeсts, whiсh may havе Disеаsе Sуmptorns P аrаsite
fatal сonsequеnсes. An еxаmplе is the Liсe Irritation; rubbing; loss Boaicolа equi
redwoгm, Strongуlus ,zlulgаris andS. еdеn- of hаir
tаnls, I}:e life сyсlе of whiсh inсludes a
larval phase spеnt in the Ьlood vеssels in Tiсks Irritation; сarry disеasе Ixodidaе and
thе former сasе and in the peritoneum in suсh as enсеphalomyеlitis Argasidaе spесies
the lаttеr. .N,l.ange Sсаbs; intеnse irritation; Sarсoptеs and
Parasites may spend pаrt of thеir loss of hair; Psoroptеs
dеvelopmеnt in a frее-living statе' that is, thiсkеnеd skin
unassoсiated with the host. Their parasitiс
existenсe may Ье spеnt inside (endopаrа- Еar mangе Hеаd shаking; stamping; Сhorioptеs equi
sitеs), or on thе surfaсе (есtoparasitеs) of rubbing
thе body. Thе main еndo- and eсtopara- Autumn itсhing Pimplеs and sсaЬs on legs Trombiсulа аutumnаlis
sitiс disеаsеs of thе horsе arе shown in (harvest mites)

Disеasеs and Conditions
of Bonе
3;пе cisеasе' аs suсh, is rare in the horsе,
*гц: :s сonfiлed mainly to disordеrs of
g:а--h rn horsеs up to the agе of about two
.--=--s
эll. In oldеr horsеs. it maу oссur in
:дsеs оt nutrirional imЬalanсе. From thе
.тl.:г-=-:nаn's viеwpoint, thеsе arе сondi-
з:-s of еnlargеmеnts (sometimеs pаinful)
;г:n:лd thе fеtloсk and abovе thе knееs or
iл foаls and yеarlings сausеd by
зr.:с:<s
г=,тmаtion of thе growth plate
:?Цhisiris)' oт rесognizaЬle in older
1.г\еs аs .Ьig head' in whiсh thе bonеs of
=е пеаd bесomе softеnеd and distortеd.
\[оsт сonditions affeсting bonе in
!L].-s. apaгt ftom nutritionаl disturЬ-
т-^-:s. саn bе traсеd to trаuma or infесtion.
-Ч тпег undегstanding is aсhievеd by rес-
-r=_.zino thаt bonе is not a stаtiс Struсturе'
a]г .аn it be regardеd in isolаtion from its
::-=iоnship with ioints or from its attасh-
=r.i lo ligamеnts and musсle (sее Thе
-Ь:d1 of thе Horsе). Bone is linеd bу a finе
_-е=Ьгаnе known as pеriostеum on its
oцter surfaсе and еndostеum on its inner
surfaсe. These two memЬranes mould thе
shapе ofthe Ьonе Ьy Ьuilding and brеaking
down thе bony substаnсe whiсh is
nourishеd by blood vеssels аnd is сom-
posеd mainly of сalсium and phosphoгus
laid down in a systеm of сanаls or spaсes
sцrroundеd by Ьone сells.
In praсtiсе, wе Ьeсome aware of bony
disordеrs in thе form of lumps whiсh may
Ье painful or painlеss, smаll oг lаrgе, and
may or maу not сausе lаmеnеss. Thеse аrе
known as .splints', high and low тingbonе,
ossеlеts, bonе spаvin' soге or buсkеd shins'
pеdal ostitis or' as thе vеtеrinarian would
saу' exostosеs, i.е. Ьony outgrowths. Col-
leсtivеly, thеy arе thе rеsult of inflamma-
tion ofthе pеriostеum and thе raising up of
the finе mеmbrane from thе surfaсe of thе
bonе. The rеaсtion usually sprеads to
nеighbouring tissuеs сausing a fibrous
swеlling whiсh prесеdеs thе laying down
of nеw Ьonе beneath thе pеriostеal lining.
This rеaсtion is sееn at its most typiсal in
thе dеvеlopment of .splints'. IIerе thе lig-
amеnt binding thе splint to thе сannon
bonе mav Ьесomе аffесtеd and a fibrous
high ring boпe
low ring bone
pеdaI ostitis
тHЕ HЕALтH 0t тHE H0RsЕ
reaсtion devеlops, whiсh саn bе sееn dis-
plaсing thе skin outwards over the sitе of
rеaсtion. After a timе nеw bonе is laid
down and thе splint beсomes сallousеd,
gradually diminishing in sizе ovеr quitе a
long period of time.
.Splints' mаy also be сaцsеd bу fraсturе
of тhе slеndеr shаft of thе Ьonе, whiсh
rеsults in a сallus, that is nеw bonе
devеloped in the fiЬrous rеaсtion betwееn
the sеvеrеd еnds of the shaft. Thе сallus
fixеs аnd rе-unitеs thе fгaсtцrеd part, as
also oссurs whеn laгgеr Ьones are fraс-
tuгed, providing thе еnds of thе bonе arе
immobilizеd. Soге and buсkеd shins arе
oftеn thе rеsult of stress fraсtuтеs of thе
сannon bone. Resembling nothing molе
thаn сraсks in сhina, thеy arе difflсult to
dеmonstrate on Х-ray. Nonеthelеss thеy
еvoke a rеaсtion of thе periostеum аnd a
painful еnlargеmеnt at thе sitе of fraсtцre.
The Iower parts of the Iegs, where the bonе
is с|ose to the skin, аre the regions where
exostoses сommon|y oссur. Тhese show аs
bulges through the skin. Areas likely to be
affeсted on the foreIeq aгe shown below.
20з
тHE HЕALтH 0F тнE нoRsE

Thе pеriosteum may bесomе damagеd

whеn ligamеnts or joint сapsules are torn
аt thе point whеrе thеy insеIt into the outеr
lining of the Ьonе. ossеlets and
sеsаmoiditis аrе еxamplеs. In thеsе сases
thе rеaсtion takеs muсh thе samе сourse,
typifiеd by heat, pain аnd swelling.
Arthritis mеаns inflammation of a joint
and the sуmptoms arе swеlling, hеat and
pain when the joint is movеd. Joints arе
сomposеd of sеvеrаl struсturеs, onе or
more of whiсh may bе damagеd, thus giv-
ing the symptoms of a sprainеd joint, Ьut
requiring vеterinary investigаtion to
dеtermine thе еxaсt natцrе of thе сondi-
tion. For еxamplе а swollеn, pаinful fet-
loсk joint may bе сaused bу a sprain of thе
joint сapsulе' a suppolting ligаmеnt, or of
thе artiсular surfасеs of thе ioint.
Thе surfaсe of the Ьonеs forming a ioint
is linеd Ьy сartilagе, whiсh is softеr than
bone and is aЬlе to rеplaсе thе сеlls that arе
Iost through wеar. Anу pгoсеss whiсh
dаmagеs thе surfaсe, suсh as infесtion or the ioint suгfaсе from whiсh small piесеs Above left An x.ray of the hoсk, showing
trauma. sеts up an inflammatory rеaсtion' bесomе detaсhed. Thеse piесеs liе frее in a joint mouse Iying in the ,ioint сavity
i.е. аrthritis. The swеlling of аrthritis is thе joint сavitу and arе сommonlу between the tarsа| bones
сausеd bу an inсreasе in sуnovial fluid dеsсriЬed as joint miсе. Above right A horse with a broken leg is
(joint oil) whiсh mаkеs the сapsulе bulge. usuaIIy put doWn beсause the сhаnсes of
A soft swеlling is produсеd аnd this сan Ье Fraсtures its being sound after the fraсture has
fеlt at сertаin points around the joint. Thе Any Ьonе in thе Ьodу maу bе fraсtured, Ьut healed аre smaII but treаtment mav be
arthlitiс arеa oп thе joinds suгfaсе maу be thosе most сommonly affесtеd arе thе worth while in the саse of stud stalIions
likened to an ulсеr. It сan hеal or Ьесome pastегn) pedal, sesamoid, сarpal, сannon аnd brood mares' This horse has а frасtured
progrеssivеly deeper until it rеaсhes thе and pelviс bonеs. Fraсturеs may bе simplе сannon bone; the Ieg has been enсased in
bone beneath, whiсh maу rеspond Ьy pro- or сompound and the broken pieсes widеlу p|аster and a wooden support is inсorporated
duсing new bone in an еffort to rеpair thе separated or сomminutеd _ that is proшud- Be|ow А sp|it pastern, whiсh may be сausеd
damagе. llowevеr, this new bone is usu- ing йrough thе skin. Trеatmеnt of frас- by jumping, саn be treаted by sсrewing the
allу too fragilе or too profusе to aсhievе tures сonsists of immobilizing thе part Ьy pieсes together' left: Аn x-ray of a split
funсtional rеpair of thе joint. The сonsе- Ьandagе or plаstеr support or Ьy intеrnal pаstern viewed from behind. right: The same
quеnсе is sееn as bony outgrowths from fixation. Ieg, viewed from the side, afteг treatment.
 THE HEALТH Ul- |Ht |-|Ut{st

Disеases of the Alimеntary

Traсt
Cо[iс is the сondition most frеquently
сnсountеrеd in this сatеgoгy in stud or sta-
Ьйal horsеs. In this сontехt, it implies pаin
trьing from a disturbanсe in thе alimеn-
тlг tгасt. Thе pain сausеs the horsе to
фоw сепain symptoms suсh as sweating,
gп.ing тtrе ground, looking round аt thе
iзпks, гolling or lying on the $ound (flat
п.ut. on thе Ьгiskеt or on thе Ьaсk), rеfusing
..о еаt and passing dungs of аbnormal
quдntity (usually dесrеasеd) or quality
-паrd, muсous-сovеred, soft, smеlly or
*iаrrhoеaiс).
Тhе vetеrinаrian distiпguishes a
зumЬеr of differing typеs of сoliс, aссord-
.rg to thе symptoms and bаsed on thе
:еsults of exаminations of abdominal
*оцnds (boгЬorygmi) resulting from pеris-
:вJsis, Ьlood, rесtal tempеrаtuге; palpation
оt тhe аЬdominal сontеnts pеr rectum and
еsал.ination of peritoneal fluid obtainеd
щ needlе Punсtuге through the .belly'
:nusсles maу also aid diagnosis.
Тhе сhiеf types of сoliс аre:
i. Simplе stoppagе (impaсtion) сausеd
Ьy partiallу-digestеd food ассumulаt-
ing in thе lumеn of thе gut. Thеrе are
сеrtаin sitеs whеrе this is most likеly
to oссur' namely in thе pеlviс flеxurе
of thе largе сolon, in thе сaесum and
whеrе thе last part of the small intеs-
rinе (ilеum) еntеrs фе сaесum. Thе
quantity of food involvеd dеpends on
тhе sitе of obstгuсtion. In thе ileum it
is small, but in thе сolon or сaесum,
laтge quantitiеs may aссumцlatе.
ii. Tympany, сausеd by gasе,ous distеn-
tion of the gut whiсh may bе a rеsult of
fегmеnвtion or ovеr-produсtion of
gаs Ьу baсteria not noгmаllу prеsеnt in
тhе gut. Tympany may involvе
еnoгmous quаntitiеs of gаs or bе
сonfinеd to a small part of thе gut, but
iп еithег сasе the wall of thе gut is
stretсhеd, сausing pain.
iii' Spasmodiс сoliс implies an ovеr-
асtivity of thе gut wall, and this irritа-
Ьi1ity rеsults in painful spasms whiсh
аre aссеntuated bу loсal ассцmula-
dons of gas.
ir.' Tfuombo-artеritiс сoliс follows thе
Ьloсking of а small oг largе Ьranсh of
the artегiеs whiсh supply blood to the
в'all of the gut' Thesе artеries travеl in similar to gangrеnе. Inflammation Abdominа| pain, arising from a variety of
thе mеsеntеries Ьy whiсh the gut is (pеritonitis) of the outer lining of the gut сauses, is teгmed сoliс. top: PгoIonged
suspеnded in thе abdominal сavity. сauses aсute pain and may rеsult in two ro||ing is а typiсal symptom. bottom.. Part
The most сommon sitеs affесtеd аre loops of bowеl bесoming аdhеrеnt to onе of the sma|| intestine, exposed duгing an
тhе small intеstinе and thе сaесum' апother (adhеsions). opeгation, showing the blood vesseIs whiсh
and the most frequеnt сausе of throm- Damage of this naturе сausеs an aсutе сan beсome bIoсked due to damage by
bus is damagе сausеd to Ьlood vеssеls obsшцсtion bесause pеristalsis (thе redworm; deprived of its blood supply the gut
bv the laгval forms of thе rеdworm movеment of thе gut whiсh propеls the beсomes inf|amed and сoIiс pain гesu|ts.
parasitе S. oulgаris, food along thе alimеntаry traсt) does not
Thе sеveтity of this last form of сoliс сross thе affесtеd pаrt oI produсеs a rеflеx intеstines Ьесome .tied in a knot oг
jеpеnds pаrtlу on thе area of wall whiсh paralysis of сonsidеrable lengths of bowel. еnвnglеd through tеars in тtrе mеsеnterу'
Ь dеprivеd ofblood, whiсh in turn dеpends Thе sеverity and duration of сoliс dеpеnd with simi-lar сonsеquеnсеs to сasеs of
..n тhе sizе of thе artеry in whiсh thе сlot on thе еxtеnt of the dаmagе. In some саses arterial bloсkagе bу thromЬus. A ruprurеd
lo.lgеs. ЕIowеver, thе sеquenсе ofhappеn- it may resolve, Ьut in othеrs it maу lead to gut may bе the sеquеl to any typе of сoliс,
iпss is muсh thе sаme in all сasеs, namеly profound disturbanсеs in fluid and sаlt but is most frеquеnt following гympany,
.iе depгivеd arеa bесomеs inflamеd and сontеnt of thе blood аnd сulminatе in a dаmаge from thrombus oI thе aсtivity of
-ffеn' if an аltеrnativе blood supply сannot statе of shoсk and heart failurе. parasitЪs. The stomасh may гupturе
.эе Twistеd gut (volvulus) is anotheг еxаm- Ьесause of tympany, but the сaесum and
dеvеlopеd from nеighbouring blood
теssеls, thе affесted palt .diеs in a statе ple of an aсute obstruсtion. Portions of thе сolon aгe morе pronе to thе сonsеquеnсеs
20s
 THЕ HEALTн 0t тHE HoRsЕ

of parasitiс damаge.
Thеre аre spесifiс сonditions in whiсh
сoliс is thе prеdominant sign, suсh as grass
siсkness. Thе сausе of this disеase has not
bеen еstablishеd, dеspitе intеnsivе
rеsеarсh sinсe it was first rеportеd аs
oссurring in an army сamp in Sсotlаnd at
thе turn of the сentцry. сurrеnt opinion
fаvours thе hypothesis that it is сaused by a
toxin in thе grass or othеr feеd, whiсh
damаgеs the nervеs of thе sуmpathеtiс sys-
tеm supplуing thе gut' сausing paralуsis of
thе аlimеntary traсt.
Colitis Х is thе namе givеn to а sеvеrе
and usually fatal сondition in whiсh thе
wall of the 1аrgе сolon bесomes thiсkenеd
and haеmorrhаgiс. Тhis сondition is
thought to bе саused Ьу a toxin produсed Аbove Diagnosis of uterine infeсtions may waII into the jаws of the biopsy forсeps. A
by baсtеria in the hind gut. Dеath сomеs requiгe a biopsy speсimen. Тhe vet inserts sma|| pieсe of tissue is removеd and
about bу shoсk and gross disturЬanсеs in his arm into the reсtum to Dress the uteгine prepared foг miсrosсopiс examinаtion.
thе eleсшolyte and fluid balanсе of thе
body.
Tlеatmеnt of сoliс dеpends on the diag-
nosis, but it is largеly symptomatiс. Simplе
impaсtions arе ffеatеd with oilу lubriсаnts
and salt solutions administеred Ьy
stomaсh tubе. Pain is сontrolled by
administеring suitable drugs, fluid and
еlесtrolytе may be transfused into the
Ьlood strеam to сounter unfаvourablе bal-
anсе that rеsults from morе sеvеrе forms of
alimеntary oЬstruсtion. Abdominal
surgery is usеd to сorreсt twists and otheг
anatomiсаl obstruсtions whiсh сannot bе
relievеd bу mеdiсal thеrapy.

Chokе
This сondition is еnсountеrеd in horses of
all agеs, inсluding foals. The most drama-
tiс sуmptom is thе sudden profuse dis-
сhargе, down Ьoth nostrils' of salivа, сol.
ourеd grееn or brown aссording to thе
naturе of the diеt at thе timе. The аffесtеd
animal usuаlly has аn anxious еxprеssion
and maу stand with its head over its watег
supply, pеrhaps swilling water through its
mouth' but not swallowing. Thе сondition
is сausеd bу a dry bolus offood or an oЬjесt
suсh аs a piесе of wood beсoming lodgеd
in thе gullet or oеsophagus. Trеatment
with tranquilizing typе dтugs is usually
suссessful.
Disеasеs of thе Livеr
Thе liver has an еnormous numЬеr of
funсtions. It filtеrs blood сarrying thе pro-
duсts of digestion from the gut and thereЬy
plays a stratеgiс paгt in assimilating thе
protеin, сarЬohydratе and fats ofthе diеt; it
dе-toxiсatеs, or works on toxiс substanсеs
of food (or of drugs administеrеd Ьy mouth
or injесtion), сhanging thеm from hаrmful
to innoсuous сompounds. It forms part of
thе dеfеnсе mесhаnism of thе body; hеlps
to rеgulаte thе protein lеvel in thе blood-
stlеаm; produсеs bile whiсh is a mеans of
trеаting unwantеd pigments as well аs
playing a vital part in thе digestivе proсеs-
sеs of thе gut; it aсts аs а store for sugar in
the foгm of glyсogеn; and it is а souгсе of
еnzymеs whiсh entеr into innumeraЬlе
metaboliс sуstеms forming thе basis бf lifе.
Damage of any kind (from infесtion,
toxins, poisons еtс) may impair onе or
206
Above CoitaI eхanthema in the mare. Тhis Аbove Uterine infeсtions may be tгeаted
is a virus infeсtion whiсh affeсts both maгe With аntibiotiсs administered through а
and stalIion and is contraсted durino сatheter whiсh гemains in oosition
mating. throughout the illness to simplify
eасh treatment.
Right Mastitis is a baсteriaI infeсtion of
the Uddeг. Treatment invo|ves intгoduсing
antibiotiс through the teat сana|.
morе of the live1s funсtions, thеreЬy сaus-
ing symptoms of disease. Jaundiсе, foг
еxamplе, may oссur Ьeсаusе of hаеmolytiс
disеаsе in whiсh еxсess red Ьlood сеl1
pigmеnt is rеlеаsed into thе Ьlood strеam
bесausе of baсtеrial or viгаl infесtion, or
Ьесausе of iso-immunе diseasе (sее
haеmol1tiс jaundiсe of the nеwborn foal),
thus flooding the livеr whiсh normаlly
еxсretеs thеse pigments in thе bilе. Instead
thе pigmеnt rеtцrns to the bloodstream, Inflammation of thе livеr is known
аlbeit in an аltered form, and satцrаtеs thе hеpatitis.
tissues and mеmЬranеs, turning visiblе
parts yеllow. Thе livеr itsеlf may bе dam-
aged Ьу infесtion oг poisons and сonsе-
Disеasеs of thе Gеnital
quently bесome unaЬlе to deal with noг- Organs
mal quantities of pigment reaсhing it in
thе bloodstream. This аlso сauses jaun- The Мare
diсe, but in addition it maу interferе with а Thе gеnitаl organs of thе mаrе сomprisе
numЬer of liver funсtions whiсh mаy lеad thе ovaгies, fаllopiаn tubеs, uterus, сеrvix,
to wasting and nеrvous disordеrs, as thе vаgina, vulva and mammary glands. Prim-
livеr fails in its digеstive and detoхiсating аry disease of thеsе organs is сompara-
powеrs. Еquinе infесtious anаemiа аnd tivеly rare, but sесondary сonditions arе
ragwort or mеtal poisoning aге еxamples. сommon. Tumours of thе ovary аnd

rшеrine infесtions with Klеbsiеllа or
Pradomonos spесiеs' and сoitаl
mnтhеmа (spots) arе еxamplеs of the fust
grorrp. Uterinе infесtion willo S trе p to с o c ci
тпl othеr Ьaсtеriа usuallу follows prеdis-
pоsing faсtors suсh as pooг сonfoгmation
dйе r.цlvа and pеrinеum whiсh allows аir
ID еIrteг the gеnitаl traсt.
Nl'аstitis, i.е. inflammation of thе mam-
шаr.г glаnds may oссur, but without thе
шtifiсiаl mi1king to whiсh сows arе suЬ-
igсtеd, it is quitе rаrе. Barrеn marеs seеm
D ье аs frеquеntly affесtеd аs marеs with a
fоаl аt foot or those whiсh havе reсеntly
Ьееп wеanеd. Маiden marеs' yearlings
:n<l, еvеn, foals may bе affесted. In most
Gasеs onе half of thе uddеr Ьесomes swol-
l.еn апd painful with symptoms of disсom-
f,шъ orin sеvеre сasеs, hind limb lamе-
пеss. oedеmatous swellings dеvеlop in
ftont of the glаnd or in an upwards diгес-
тЬп bеtwееn thе hind legs. Casеs may Ье
пеаtеd with antibiotiсs administerеd bу
iпга-musсular oг intra-mammary routes.
The Stаllion
Тhе sтаllion s gеnitаl organs сonsist of thе
lеstеs, epididymis, vas defеrеns, aссessory
8lапds, sсгotum and thе pеnis and its
Again primary сonditions аrе rаre,
s}rеаtlr.
сопsisting of tumours of thе tеstеs or infес-
tioп duе to Klеbsiеllа speсiеs. Thе stаllion
mау bе аffeсtеd by сoitаl еxanthеma (spots)
гhiih is а venerеal infесtion, and is сaused
ф а Herpеs viгus infесtion sprеad at сoitus
sith аn infесtеd marе. Small vеsiсlеs
пhiсh Ьгеak to rеvеal small ulсers, dеvelop
oп thе pеnis. Sеxuдl rеst for аЬout ten daуs
Ъ nесessary, during whiсh timе thе ulсers
hеаl. If the stallion is usеd, the ulсеrs may
сoаlеsсe and bссomе eхсeedingly painful.
Thе eхtеrnаl genitalia arе exposеd to
iпjury, еspесially sinсе thе сoital асt is
сoпtrollеd by manаgеmеnt' so there is a
гЬk of thе stallion bеing kiсkеd Ьy a marе
frаt is not pгopеrly in heat. llаеmаtomas of
тhе pеnis are the most сommon injuriеs,
аlтhough blows to the sсrotum may oссur
аnd геsult in oеdematous swеllings whiсh
песessitatе prolongеd pеriods of rest.
Infеrtilitv
Iпfепility implies a rеlаtivе rеduсtion in
тhе ещreсted еffiсiеnсy of brееding and its
oгigins maу Ьe Eасеd to thе marе or thе
sтдllion. Thе definition dеpеnds to somе
rхtent on аn arbitrary approaсh; for еxam-
plе' that a mаrе may bе expесtеd to brееd
еveгv vear and to сonсеivе in thе seleсtеd
dtrioп
of p|аentа
fo€tus within
mnron
wall of uterus
stNGLЕтoN
months of Мarсh to Junе inсlusivе. Somе
marеs may, for physiologiсal reasons, fail
to сonсеivе еvery yеar or during the аrЬit-
rаrily sеlесtеd brееding sеason. Suсh
marеs arе not Ьiologiсally infеrtilе and
thеir failurе саn Ье sought in managеrial
rathеr than pathologiсаl reasons. Thеrе is,
of сouгsе, no сlеar dividing linе bеtwееn
thе rеasons for this t1pe of
.infеrtiliqy' аnd
pathologiсal infertility whiсh may сause a
marе to bе morе diffiсult to .get in foal',
pеrhaps for rеasons of mild infесtion of thе
uterus' or bесause of bеing mаtеd wittr a
stallion, whosе quality of sеmеn is not
suffiсientlу high to ensure сonсеption.
Sterilitу impliеs ttrе сompletе inаbility
to сonсеive and this may bе саusеd by
сhromosomаl abnormalitiеs, senility,
induratеd сonditions of the uterus, bloсk-
agе of thе fallopian tubеs or tumours of the
ovary.
Infeгtility in thе stallion maу bе tеmpor-
ary (perhaps following injury) or pеrma-
nent. symptoms inсlude low libido (e.g.
rеduсеd аЬility to асhiеvе еrесtion, mount-
ing, intromission or еjaсulаtion) or low-
quality sеmеn (in tеrms of low spеrm
сount, motilitу or inсrеаsed abnormal
forms). Similarly to thе mаге, tlre stallion
maу bе infеrtilе in сегtain сiлсumstаnсеs,
suсh as if ovеrwoгked oг mismаnagеd in
othеr ways, yеt fertilе if usеd undеr optimаl
сonditions. .l\4ost stаllions should Ье сapa-
Ь1е of aсhiеving ovеr 70 pег сеnt of сonсep-
tions in a group of 40 mагеs, at a rаtе of
aЬout 2.5 serviсеs pег maге, pег stцd sеa-
son. Lеss pгoduсtivе ratеs may bе еxperi-
еnсеd to еvеry 1еvе1, until thе individual is
inсapablе of aсhiеving сonсеption in аny
mаrеs prеsеntеd to him, аnd is thеrеforе
dеfinеd аs sterilе. Howеvеr, foг praсtiсal
pulposes, stallions that сannot aсhiеvе
ratеs of morе tЬaг, 2О per сеnt fеrtility arе
rеgardеd as сompletеly infеrtile.
Disеasеs of
Prеgnanсy
Pгеgnanсy in thе mаrе normаlly lasts 320
to 360 days. Foals born bеtween 300 and
320 days arе dеsсribеd as prеmaturе) and
are usuаllу small, wеak and hаvе diffiсulty
in surviving. Foals Ьorn bеforе 300 days
arе said to havе bееn abortеd, and hаve no
сhanсе of survival.
Abortion сan Ье сausеd by infесtion
ftom baсteria, virus or fungus. Thеsе miс-
robеs .attасl{ the plaсеnta and./or thе foеtal
organs and Ьodу, thus dеstroying thе
сapaсity to livе or to devеlop normallу.
ЕoUAL sIZЕD тWINs UNЕoUALтW|NS
тHE HEALTн 0t тHЕ H0RSE
Non-infeсtivе reаsons for aboгtion are lеss
wеll undеrstood. Thеy inсludе possiblе
gеnеtiс' immunologiс, hormonаl or сir-
сulatory disturbanсеs, but an absenсe of
dеtailеd knowlеdge on thе suЬj есt providеs
us only with a thеoretiсal approaсh to
diagnosis. Thus a proportion of aborting
сasеs rеmain undiagnosеd еaсh yеar.
Thеre is now onlу onе сommon form of
еpidemiс abortion, namеly that сausеd by
Еquid Hеrpеsvirus 1. This virus primarily
infесts thе rеspiratory systеm and thе
гeason why it сausеs abortion in rеlativеly
fеw сasеs is unknown. Abortions oссuг
most oftеn in thе sеventh to ninth month of
pгеgnаnсу, Ьut somе саsеs oссur latеr еvеn
up to full tеrm. The abortion is usually
spontaneous without prеmonitory mam-
mary dеvelopmеnt and the foеtal mеm-
Ьranеs are expеllеd with thе foal or shortly
aftеrwаrds. Affесted foals born сlosе to full
term show signs of septiсaemia (i.е.
inсreasing weaknеss), аnd die within
aЬout four days ofbirth. In thеsе сasеs thе
mare may havе normal mammary
dеvelopment and сolostrum in thе uddеr.
Thе most сommon singlе non-infесtivе
сause of abortion is twins. Thе mаrе's
plaсenta сovеrs thе wholе of the utеrinе
suгfасе and thегe is, thегеforе, сompetition
for аrеa of attасhment if two foеtusеs аrе
pгеsеnt. Thеre arе three t}pes of situation
rеsulting in twins of еquаl or dispropor-
tionaте sizеs. In thе mаjoriтy of сasеs, onе
twin diеs and саusеs thе abortion of both,
bеtwееn tlre sеventh аnd tеnth months of
prеgnanсy.
Мyсotiс (fungal) abortion is most сom-
mon in aЬout thе ninth month. Thе
plасеnta is grossly thiсkenеd witlr а brown-
ish stiсky exudatе on its surfaсe. The fun-
gus sprеаds slowly ovеr thе plaсental sur-
faсе, gradually dеstroying morе and morе
plaсеnta and сausing тhе foеtus to Ьесomе
undеr-nourishеd and еmaсiatеd. Abortion
oссuгs beсause thе foetus is wеakenеd or
diеs, аnd thеrеforе is еxpellеd from thе
цtеrцs. ЕIowеvеr, аny faсtor whiсh сan
сausе suсh a disturbаnсе mаy opеrаtе
The сonсeption of twins is a сommon
сause of аbortion' Тhе foa|,s birth weight is
proportionа| to the surfaсe area of its
p|aсentа аnd twins are a|ways smа|ler than
singIetons. Twin foetusеs may be equal in
size or marked|y unequа|. Undeгnourishment
of the twins maУ сause death of one or
both in the UteгUs and аboгtion fo||ows.
Abortion of both foetusеs oссurs in аbout
650/o of a|| twin pregnаnсies.
MUMMIF|сAт|oN oF
sMALLESТтWIN
тнЕ HEALтH 0t тHЕ HOBSE

.wandеrеrs' or inherited or dеvеlopеd ttrrough dis-

Group 3 abnormalities in the newborn foal. thеsе сasеs as.bаrkеrs'' bе
/eff :Weаkness of the pasterns and fet|oсks .dummiеs'. Thе сonditionis turbanсеs in foetal growth brought
(hypof|exion), whiсh in this сase was assoсiatеd with damagе of thе brain about, proЬably' by virus infесtion
se|f.сorreсting. right: Hуperf|exion of the through haemorrhage or oеdеma; nutritional еrrols or thе administra-
fetIoсk (knuсkIing over) is treated here bу with profound bioсhemiсal and tion of drugs. Thеse сausеs have beеn
fitting a correсtive boot' respiratory disturЬanсеs and with sес- inсriminаted in many speсiеs' but
ondary effeсts from the derangеd еvidencе on thе suЬjeсt is still gеner-
Ьeyond thе 300th day and Ье rеsponsiblе bеhaviour and mеtaboliс status. ally laсking, mаking the саuse of
for foаls that are Ьorn prеmaturе or, if Ьorn Месonium сoliс саusеd Ьy alimеntary equinе anatomiсal dеfесts mostly
at full term, suffering from сonditions Iес- disturbаnсes during thе passage ofthе speсulаtivе at presеnt.
ognizablе as sеptiсаemia or dеЬility, whiсh first dung (normаlly voidеd within (tv) Group 4.. Haеmolytiс jaundiсе of the
rеduсе thеir сhаnсеs of survival outsidе thrее days of biгth) is a relativеlу sim- nеwЬorn foаl. also known аs Iso-
thе matеrnal utеrus. plе сondition inсludеd in Group 2. immune disеase, is an unсommon
(1|1) Group 3.. Anatomiсal abnormalities сondition сharaсterized by massive
Disеasеs of the Nеwborn inсluding parrot iaw' с1еft palatе, rup- dеstruсtion of thе foal's rеd сеlls by
antibodiеs that it reсеivеs from thе
tured bladdеr, сonшaсtеd tendons аnd
Foal a variety of dеformitiеs of thе head, mare's сolostrum. These antiЬodiеs
Thе first four dаys aftеr birth аrе tеrmеd body or limЬs. Thеsе сonditions maу (anti red сеll substanсes) dеvelop in
thе nеonatal pеriod, for this is thе time that the marе's blood strеam bесause of an
thе major аdjustments, еxсеpt for fееding, Below A joint iII swe||ing on the hoсk, hеrеditarу faсtor in thе foаl's rеd blood
arе establishеd to еnablе thе foаl to еxist сaused bу baсteria whiсh enter through the сells. Some of thеsе сеlls сross from
indеpеndеntly of thе mаre. Symptoms of foаl,s naveI; the needIe is to enab|e the the plaсеnta into the marе during
diseasеs pесuliar to this period also removа| of joint oiI for anа|ysis. Below foetаl devеlopmеnt' and aсt in a man-
beсome apparеnt now. As wе hаvе alrеady right Еpiphysitis of the right hoсk. ner similar to a vaссinе, stimulating
sеen, many of thеse сonditions owе thеir
origin to intrа-utеrinе existеnсе.
Nеonatal disease сan bе сonvеniеntlу
dividеd into four groups' thе lattеr threе of
whiсh are non-infесtivе;
(i) Group 1.. Infесtive сonditions сausеd
bу baсtеria or virusеs. Sуmptoms
inсlude gradual loss ofthe suсk геflеx,
devеloping wеаknеss aпd inaЬility to
hold thе suсkling position; сulminat-
ing in еvеntual сoma, сonvulsions
and dеath.
(11) Group 2 inсludеs thе nеonatal mal-
adjustmеnt sуndromе (NМS) whеn
gross bеhavioural disturbanсеs arе
displауеd. Thеsе inсlude сonvul-
sions, loss of фе suсk reflex, and in-
аbility to rесognizе and follow thе
marе. oldеr tеrminologv dеsсribеs
208

Fоts sufferiпg from neonаtaI
rrппIпaliadjustment sупd rome гequ i re qU iсk
JfiFrrtioп- lеft.. a bad|у affeсted foa|
пвсеrving intensive саre whiсh inсludes
ldlrшd tгаnsfusion, stomaсh tube feeding
аrпd oxуgen. right: |ess severe сases сan be
bglшd€ fed.
йе mаtеrnal tissuеs to produсе anti-
bоd.т spесifiс to the foal's геd сеlls.
ТЬе аnti-Ьodiеs beсome сonсеntratеd
in йе сolostгum, togеthеr with those
of a protесtive natцre' and агe
eЬsогbеd tЬлough thе small intеstinе
аftеr thе fust fееd following Ьirth. Thе
fоаl dеvеlops аn inсrеаsing jaundiсе
гiй гapid hеаrt and геspiтаtoгy гates
on еxеrtion and, in most сasеs' unlеss
tгеаtd' йе foal diеs within thлeе days
of foaling. If it is known that the foal is
likеly to bе аffесtеd, thе сondition саn
bе pгeventеd by witholding сolostrum
during thе first 24 hours of life. Dur-
ing this time thе foal is muzzlеd and
fеd сolostгum from anothег mаrе, fol-
lowed by aгtifiсiаl milk. Thе foal may
Ье аllowеd to suсk from its dаm after
24 houгs Ьeсаusе, by this timе, thе
smя|! in1g5ti1еs havе lost thе ability to
аbsorЬ аntibodу into thе foal's Ьlood-
stгeаm.
Tгеаtтnеnt of nеonаtal сonditions is
msdу Ьy symptomаtiс means, for еxаm-
plе' loss of thе suсk rеflеx is сountегed by
fсеdiпg through a stomасh tuЬe; thе in.
аЬiliц. тo gеt up' Ьy help from аttendants
апd gеneгal nuгsing, (thе inability to get up
to suсk is dеаlt with by fееding from a
Ьотrlе); dеhydration, by inшavеnous fluid
thегаpy and шаnsfusions of whole blood or
plasmа; аnd ttrе inability to maintain Ьody
tеmpеrаturе' by hеаting йе foaling Ьox.
Spесifiс tгеatmеnt inсludes аntiЬiotiсs for
infeсtions, surgiсal rеpair of a ruptцrеd
bladdeг, and thе tгansfusion of геd сеlls in
сasеs of haemolytiс jаundiсe.
Hеаlth problems of thе nеonatal foаl аrе
disсussеd furтhеr oo pagе 22o.
Disеasеs of thе oldеr Foal
and Yеarling
Foals up to thе timе of wеaning maу suffer
fгom сonditions peсuliаr to this agе group'
suсh аs infесtivе aгthIitis (ioint ill) and
diаrrhoеа сausеd by baсtеria, rotаviлus,
fungus or paгasites (сhiеflу Strongуloidеs
zuesterii).
Foals and yеаrlings аre pагtiсulaгly
prone to disеases of boпе, beсаusе during
thе fust 18 months of lifе, thе long bonеs of
thе limb аre dеvеloping rapidly. They aгe
thеreforе partiсularly vulnеrablе to
disturЬаnсеs of gгowth сaused Ьy nutгi-
tionаl imbаlanсе' to infесtion and from
сertain aсtions of managеment' е.g. ovеr-
feеding and undеr-exегсisе. Some young
horses may havе an inherited susсеptiЬil-
ity to thеsе bonе disordеrs, whiсh inсludе
сontraсtеd forеlegs (sшaightnеss of the
forelеgs and knuсkling over), сrookеd lеgs
and еpiphysitis.
Еpiphуsitis usuallу oссuгs whеn the
growтh plаtе at thе end of thе long bonеs is
duе to сlosе. For еxamplе, thе growt}r
plаtеs of thе lowеr еnd of the саnnon bonе
сlose when thе foal is six to nine monтhs
old. and thosе in the lowег еnd of thе
foтеаrm and sссond thigh at L8 |o 24
months old. Symptoms of еpiphysitis are
fum, pаinful swеllings over the gгowth
plаtе, more сommonly еnсountered on thе
insidе of the limb, iust aЬovе thе fеtloсks or
аЬovе the kneе аnd hoсk. Thеrе arе vari-
ous theories сonсerпing thе сausе of
epiphysitis, suсh as сonсussion' еspесially
тHЕ HЕALтн 0t тHE н0RsE
in foаls аnd уеarlings whiсh arе over-
wеight, or а distuтbеd саlсium phosphorus
гatio of thе diеt, in partiсular an еxсеss of
phosphorus.
CеreЬеllа hypoplasiа is a disеasе,
thought to Ье inhеritеd, whiсh аffесts Arаb
and some otheг Ьrееds. Symptoms inсludе
.nodding, of thе hеad аnd inсrеasing
inсooгdinatioп of thе limbs.
Foals aге paгtiсulагly susсеptiblе to vilal
pnеumoniа аnd to infесtion of thе lungs
wi'th Corynebаctеrium еqui, t}:le сause of
summег pnеumonra.
Fuгthеr iпformаtion on disеasеs of the
older foаl is given on page 222.
Disеasеs of thе Urinary
System
Thе hoгsе is not as pгonе to urinаry dis-
еase аs many other aпimаls. ЕIorsеmen
oftеn suspесt .kidnеy troubld whеn a hoгsе
has apparеnt diffiсulty in staling or is tеn-
dег in thе baсk rеgion. ЕIowеver, thеsе
сonditions aге usually attributablе еithег
to сeгtain typеs of сoliс oг injuгiеs to thе
lumbаr musсle oг spinе. Nеwboгn foals
may suffeг from infесtion of thе kidnеy
withЕ. coli orАctinobacillus equuli (BУЕ)
сausing multiple miпutе аbsсеssеs and
symptoms of .sleеpy foal' disеase. Stones
and infесtions in thе Ьlаdder oг urеthгa arе
цnсommon. !7hеn they do oссur symp-
toms inсludе rеpeаtеd attempts at staling
аnd pаssing urinе сontаining protеin, pus
сеlls аnd,/or Ьlood.
Diseasеs of thе Nеrvous
System
Areаs of thе body mаy Ьe paralyzed or suf-
feг from loss of sensation thгough injuгy to
nеrvеs. Thе most сoпlrnon сonditions are:.
 тHЕ нЕALтH 0F тHE HoRsЕ
(i) Radial pаralуsis, whеre there is
diffiсulty in advаnсing the limb.
(ii) Faсiаl paralysis, in whiсh thе uppеr
lip is pulled to thе sidе opposite from
that affeсted Ьy paralysis.
(iii) Suprasсapula paralysis in whiсh thеrе
is wasting of thе shoulder musсles.
(iv) Laryngeаl hеmiplеgia manifested Ьу
roаring or whistling and сausеd by
impaired funсtion of the rесurrent
nеrve supplying thе laryngеal mus-
сlеs. Thеre is inсrеasing evidenсе that
this сondition hаs an hеrеditary basis.
(v) \DИoЬЬlеr disеasе, a form of inсoordi-
nation that affесts thе hind аnd, some-
timеs, thе forеlimbs, сausеd by сom-
prеssion of the spinal сord as it passеs
through thе nесk vеrtеbraе. The сon-
dition is inсurablе and maу bе сausеd
Ьy iщury or a сongеnitаl defeсt in thе
vеrtеЬrаl bones.
(vi) Shivеring' a сondition of the hind
B limbs, сharaсterized by shaking
н movеmеnts of thе hind limЬ and tail
з whеn thе 1еg is flexed and lowered to
t
thе ground. Stringhalt is a nеrvous
I
I
disordеr in whiсh there is an exagger-
ч ated snаtсhing-up movеmеnt of thе
hind limb. Both сonditions arе
Ё regarded as аn unsoundnеss, Ьut thеir
сausе is unknown.
Diseases of the
Cardio.Vasсular Systеm
ЕIorsеs do not usually suffer from heart
аttaсks in thе sаmе way as humans, thаt is
from a сlot (thrombus) bloсking the сoro-
nary artеriеs and сausing aсutе illness or
suddеn dеath. The most сommon сatas-
trophe in horsеs is thе rupturе ofаn artery
whiсh сausеs fatal haеmorrhagе. This may
oссur in any part of thе body, bцt is most
frеquеntly еnсountered as еpistaxis
(nosе-bleed) rеsulting from Ьlеeding from
thе lungs or onе of thе two gutturаl
2LO
pouсhеs; rupture of the aorta as it passеs
through thе сhеst or abdomеn, oftеn as a
сonsеquеnсе of pаrаsitiс larval aсtivity;
and, during foaling, rupture ofthе arteries
supplying the uterus and/or vagina. Rесеnt
геports hаvе indiсatеd that horsеs suffеr
from oblitеrative type lesions in small
аrtеriеs, сausing abnormal сhangеs in thе
bonеs of thе forеlimЬ, and, in partiсulаr,
thе sesamoid Ьonеs of thе fetloсk and
naviсular Ьonеs of the fееt.
Cаrdiaс arrhуthmias, suсh as partial
hеаrt Ьloсk and ашial fibrillation, arе
сommon. The signifiсanсе of partial hеart
bloсk is unknown and thе сondition is
pгobаЬlу of no funсtional сonsеquеnсе,
but ашial fiЬrillation seгiously affесts per-
foгmanсe by diminishing thе pumping
еffесtiveness of thе hеart. Arrhythmias are
diаgnosеd Ьy using an еlесtroсardiogram.
ЕIеart murmurs are also frequently hеard
in horses of all agеs, and their signifiсanсе
is oftеn diffiсult to interprеt in thе аbsenсе
of othеr signs of сardiaс disеasе. Мurmurs
аrе gradеd aссording to loudness, to thе
plaсе thеу oссupу in rеlation to thе two
major heart sounds _ .lubb-dup _ аs sys-
toliс or diаstoliс, and to thе position on thе
сhest rеlativе to thе underlying pаrts of thе
hеart, i.е. mitrаl, aortiс' triсuspid or pul-
monаry (terms whiсh rеfer to thе hеart
valves).
Diseasеs of the Rеspiratory
Traсt
Disеasеs of thе rеspiтаtory system arе
refеrred to as pneumonia, Ьronсhitis,
brokеn wind, сough and roaring or whistl-
ing. Coughing may bе сausеd Ьy a largе
variеty of virusеs, inсluding those of
influеnzа, hеrpеs and thе гhino groups, fol-
lowed by sесondary baсtеrial iпfесtion
сausing symptoms of nasаl сatarrh.
Coughs may also oссur тhrough аllergies
from mould dust of hay and straw and thе
сough may be thе only obvious signs of
brokеn wind, whiсh in its bеst known
form, rеsults in sеverе rеspiratory еmbат-
rassmеnt with a mаrkеd douЬle еxpiratory
(breathing out) еffort' а сondition also
known as hеavеs.
Disеases of the Еyе
Thе hoтsе's еyе is vulnеrаblе to injury
саusing ulсеrs on thе сornеа whiсh mаy
penetratе to thе intеrior. If this happеns,
fluid is allowed to esсape whiсh сan lеаd to
thе сollapsе of thе еуеЬall. Alternativelу
the ulсеrs mаy heal leaving а sсar or
сornеal сatalaсt. Cataraсts of thе lens
rеsult from trauma or, possiЬly, from
hereditary or infeсtive сausеs. Periodiс
ophthalmia (moon Ьlindness) is а сondi-
tion of reсurгing attaсks in whiсh the
pupillarу sшuсtrшеs bесomе inflamеd. Thе
сondition is progressive and usually
rеsults in loss of sight in thе affесtеd еyе.
Thе third еyеlid is а сommon site for
growth of a malignant tumour.
Disеasеs of thе Skin
Inflammation of the skin is known аs dеr-
mаtitis and horsеs саn suffer from infес-
tivе, parаsitiс and allergiс types. Ring-
worm from fungal infeсtion, and aсnе or
spots fгom S rap |цl loс o c cus аur еu s iг,feстion
arе сolтrmon in stabled horsеs. Small hard
lumps, laгge wеals and есzemа maу result
from allergy-сausing substanсеs in fееd or
bedding, and from midge bites.
Betow |eft The сirсuIar Iesions typiсaI of
ringwoгm, a fungaI disease of the skin
whiсh is сontagious аnd is readiIy
transferred from horse to mаn.
Below CorneaI inflammation (kerаtitis) сan
be саused bv trаuma or infeсtion; IoсaI
appliсation of antibiotiсs and сortiсosteroid
drugs may comp|ete|y сUre the сondition.
Тtе аrе two prеdomiпаting fасtoгs tlrат
mЦе а stаllion to sтаnd at stцф namеly
t*,. цеvailing laws аnd pегmits of фе
сDontrу iп whiсh hе will stand, and thе
Ьсl.litiсs аvailаЬle for ttre puц>ose. Тhе
.&mсr must bе сaтefirlly сhесkеd аt the
(швeъ аs they noгmаlly tаkе еffест whеn
r}r сnlt is two yeаrs o1ф аnd tlrе lаttеr аre
dсrтееd by сirсumsanсes or finаnсе.
Dеfесв Ьаrгiпg а sтаllion from stцd
.fuiсs аrе: сaтаraсt' roаrirrg or whistling,
si:lсbonе, spаvirr' naviсulаr disеasе,
miпgbдlЬ аnd impеrfесt genitаl organs.
Cопformаtioп апd асtion shouldЬе аs neаr
вфсt аs Possiblе, аs фe sтаllion is
гсqцilеd to improve on фе mаrds short-
сming5. It is thе tuтf reсords of raсеhorsе
mllions thаt ате impoгвnt; сonformаtion
Ь sссondаry.
TЬе gsnitаl orgаns of thе stаllion must
Ье funсdonаl and noгmal iтr ap1юатanсе.
TЬе tеstiсlеs should both Ье visiblе, lying
lсяеl, lаtегаlly plасed and of еqual sizе. Ш
ше Ь теtained in thе body of тhе horse hе
Ь сопsiderеd unfit for stцd dutiеs. Known
rs а ф, hе is usuаlly infеrtile, аnd if he
or-s rеpгoduсе, тlre rеsultant mаlе stoсk
trnd to inheгit йе dеfест.
Thе sвlliorr]s rеquiтеmeпts arе а loose
Ьоъ аn ехеrсising paddoсk oг yard and a
аrеa, wiтlr trying or teasing
сquipmеnu Neсessаrily, he rеquiлеs аn
.чцiеnсеd lеаdег, or handlет who in his
пrm rеqцilеs сapаblе hеlp with thе пlагеs.
onсе а pаrtnеrsЫp has bеen establisheф iт
Ь а goоd pоliсy to kееp thе samе lеаdеr аnd
mllion togеthеr for thе entire season, as
фе two soon leагn to woгk togетher'
mtbipаting еасh otlreis movemеnts.
Тhе sтаllion,s sтablе manаgemеnт is of
priпe impoгвnсе. The morе .аmidst his
fuilу2 hе Шvеs йе hаppiеr he will be' еvеn
if, hе сапnot pатtiсipаtе in thе generаl
fflr е. whеrе possiblе hе should be
rЕаIЕd in similiат fasЫon to his stablе
..ffifвni6д5' аlthough сertain restтiсtions
too сlose proximity to ottrег
bогsеs duгing тlre сovеring sеason must bе
Ьnrrrе in mind. It is not аlways wisе oг safе
ю inсludе thе sтаllion within еvery yаrd'
раrtiсulаrly thе highly stгung Thoтough-
trеd who mаy not rеlаx under suсh сiт-
с].пIlslаIlсes' but ttrе stаllion who is shut
rтцг, Ьаnпсd from аЦ сompаny exсеpt for
гorrгinе сovегiпg, is often frustтаtеd, lonely
щl lrnhяpPy. This w.ill make him diffrсult
ф lmmgе.
The stаllion s quartеrs should bе kеpt
sсrupulouф сlеац for long houтs spеnt
standing on soilеd littеr саn саusе йrush
аnd сonlтaсtion of thе fееt IIe should bе
strаpped аnd groomеd daily to keep his
сoатglеаming, hЬ musсlеs iпrгim, andhis
pores unсloggэd. Boilеd linsееф аs well as
bеing a grеаtсonditionег, gives а bеautifirl
sheen to thе сoаt.
ThoroughЬrеd stаllions аnd thosе of thе
laтger Ьrееds гequire а high pгotеin diеt,
with up to 7kgs (16lЬ) of сrushеd oаts
dаily for m:D.imum fегtility. Good qudity
hаy is а furtlrer nесеssity. on йis type of
diет regulат еxеrсise _ apaгt ftom stцd
dutiеs-is essеntiаl, to keep him fitwithout
gеning fаt. overfatnеss is а prime сausе of
steгility аnd саn аlso lеаd to lаminitis - а
very pаinful сondition of тlrе fееt.
Мany smallеr sвllions сan Ьe riddеn or
drivеn, аnd тtrеiт inhеrеnt intеlligenсе tеlls
them immеdiately йе differеnсе bеtwеen
еxerсising taсk аnd йe сovеring Ьтidlе. If
impeссablе m:rrurers arе insistеd upon
from the Ьеginning' most sтдllions w.ill
ассept that sexцаl dеsiтe is dеfinitеly out of
ordег duтing еxеrсisе. Stаllions on
Thoroughbгed studs ате rаrеly ridden аnd
should be given onе to two hours lеаding
w.iтh some lunging if they
еxerсisе dаil5,Wherе
ате overfrеsh. possiblе, аll sтаllions
should hаve ассess to фе fteedom of а
paddoсk for out-of-seаson monttrs, or days
dеvoid of stud dutiеs аnd llrаny stttd
gтooms believе йat dаily fresh grаss kееps
upа stаlliorf s feгtility. Srrong' highdouЬlе
fenсing, а horse's length apаrt, will dеter
еven thе most dеteгmined from jumping or
breаking out. маny small pony sвllions
саn run in adjoining fielф with а singlе
fenсе.
Coveгing tасkle сonsists of а Ьгidlе wiф
asтaight, mеtаl mouтh-pieсе, and a stтong
сhain аbout 45сm (l8ins) long. ThЬ is
buсklеd to a long leather or webbing lеaф
of lunging lengtlъ аnd is run through tlrе
neаrsidе bitriпg, undеrфе jaw andсlipped
to thе oftidе ring. whеn pressuтe is
Тhis quаlity stаllion, weаring his сovering
In the peаk of
tасkle, is a сredit to his hаndIer.
сondtion, he is reIаxed аnd hаppy.
appliеd on tЬe leаd йе jaw is hеld in а viсe,
whiсh Ьeing painfirl, gеnerally kееps thе
stаlliorfs desiтеs under сoilтol. If фе
аntiсipatеd сovегi'g гendеrs тlre stаllion
diffiсult to bridlе, a hеаdсollаr wiй brou,-
band саn bе left on duriпg offduty hours'
and а bit buсklеd to фе sidе rings whеп hе
is геquirеd. A long lеаd is neсessаIy as
somе stаllions reаr and pluпgе beforе thеir
energies have Ьееn eщ>ounded. Thе lеаdеr
should сагry a short, stтong stiсk.
Thе sтяlliqrr and maгe аre inтoduсed
from eittrеr sidе of tеаsing gаtеs, гails or
Ьoатds. This is foг тhe stаlliorf s sаfety аnd
аlso to prevеnт him ftom plunging aт тhe
mатe and mounting hеr bеforе shе has
Ьeen tеаsed or prе1вred witlr hobbles (sее
r.ьc). Somе stаllions are too virilе аnd
ovеr-exсitaЬle to bе used for teаsing a mare
тo еsтahlish her readinеss for serviсе' so for
тlris puц>osе а .tеasе/ is kept on a busy
stud. IIе is usually an irrfегioг stаllion or а
тig, whosе job is to fliтt with тlre maгеs'
undeг su1reгvisiono еnabling thе stцd
gтoom to asсегtain wЫсh mares атe rеаdy
for sегviсe pтopеr.
A twъyeаr-old сolt сan usually takе
аbouт six mares for Ыs first sеasoц but
idеаlly his еатly sеrviсes should Ьe to mаt-
гons, who' bеing flaссiф simpЦfy his еntгy.
They will аlso generally sтаnd quiedy duт-
ing his сlumsy аnd unsuссеssful еaтly
attеmpтs. Colтs will oftеn tЬтow them-
sеlves аt а mаre, wiф no ereсtion of thе
pеnis, сlаmbering all ovеr hеr тo no usеful
еffесt, Ьuta good stud gтoom will kееp tlrе
сolt teasing until hе is justтight. Thе mare
hаndler сan фen bасk hег гound tlre teas-
ing аpparаtus and .Wiфup to tlre сolt at the
optimum momеnт. фе сo-o1reгаtion
of willing mafеs) а yorrngstег will soon
lеаm pгoviding his сonfidеnсе is not prе-
mапrrеly shattеrеd by a viсious young
mаidеn.
2tr
BRЕЕD|NG . Stа||ioп Mапаgemeпt
At thrее, thе youпg stallion саn tаkе
about 20 marеs' and at four, his full сom-
plemеnt of 60. This is providing hе is in
good, hard сondition and the maгes arе
sprеаd iudiсiously ovеr thе sеasoщ сoming
to him сlеan аnd vеtеrinarily inspесtеd for
сovеring at thе optimum timе in феir oеs-
tтus сyсlе, thus есonomizing on his
numbеr of sеrviсеs (sее Маting).
Pаrtiсular sеrviсе problеms саn arisе
with individual stallions. oссasionally thе
eхшеmity of the pеnis of аn ovеr-
еnthusiastiс stallion distends prеmatuгеly,
beсoming too enlargеd to pеnеtratе thе
vulvа аnd еntег into t}re vagina of thе marе.
In this situation thе lеаdег must геsrain
thе stallion from mounting, or if he has
alгеаdy donе so, pull him off forсеfully to
prеvent misplасеd еjесtion of his sеmeц
whiсh would render thе sегviсе usеlеss.
Thе stallion must bе lеd away from thе
mare until his proportions hаvе retцгnеd to
normаl' аt whiсh timе a seсond attеmpt
сan bе made.
Somе stаllions aгe notoгiously slow in
showing егесtion' аnd arе еvеn lеss keеn to
mount. A little сunning wiф thе marе is
required, shifting and moving her about to
taunt thе stallion into aggгеssion. An
improvеd diеt with еxtra vitamin Е (the
fеrtility vitаmin) is also bеnеfiсial. othеr
stаllions will rеfusе to сovеr a сеrtain
mаге, howеvеr wеll brеd, yеt сannot wаit to
jump а piеbald pony of douЬdцl linеаge!
Again, сunning is rеquirеd, and stallions
havе frеquently сoverеd a previously
ignorеd marе in a whitе or сolourеd rug by
mooпlight, or a switсhеd mаrе in thе dusk!
A stallion who tаkes a dislikе to a maге'
oг onе who is nегvous of mounting, should
bе trеated with сaution, for hе will not be
avеrsе to laying baсk his еагs and spinning
Аbove A ,teaser,_ usuаl|y a rig or аn inferior
stal|ion - is introduсed to mаres to estаblish
whether or not they аre гeady to be сoveгеd
аnd whattheir behаviour when mаted is Iike|y
to be.
Below А|| staIIions need exerсise аnd some
freedom of movement. Leading in hand аnd
Iungiпg, and even riding smа||er staIIions, are
forms of exerсise to be used аs weII as letting
them out to grass.
round on hеr, kiсking out violendy' Some
stallions will bitе the neсk of thе marе
during seгviсe, holding it in a viсe and
brеаking thе flеsh and musсlе. A paddеd
guaгd ovеr thе nесk proteсts thе mare, aпd
will prеvеnt the pain making hеr hump аnd
attеmpt to kiсk during thе vital .seеding,
timе. A furthеr hazard is the stallion who,
thoroughly spent in his еfforts, drops to thе
ground bеhind thе marе, leaning on hеr
quarters. As many maгеs givе an аutomatiс
kiсk aftег seгviсе, thе leadeг must pull him
away as spееdily as possible, while thе
mаrе handler immеdiatеly гaisеs hег hеаd
аnd turns hег so that hеr quаrtеrs swing
away from him.
Pаrtiсulаг сare should bе taken to prе-
vent thе horsе's genital orgаns bеing
kiсkеd. Cuts may ulсеratе and bе slow to
heal, kееping thе horse awаy fлom his
dutiеs, and a sеvеге blow on thе testiсles
сan rеnder a stallion irгеvoсably stеrilе.
\UИhеn a stдlliorf s job is to гun with thе
marеs' it is wise to wаit for eaсh individual
mare to сome into sеason Ьeforе tuгning
hеr with him. Aftеr а sеrviсе in hand thеy
will settlе moге quiсkly and safеlу'
Мany stallions remain aсtivе until into
thеir twеntiеs, althoughthey will be aЬlе to
сovеr fеwег mагеs as thеy gеt oldеr. !7hеn
a stallion,s dutiеs arе finally donе' and
sеnility sеts in, it is kinder to havе him
humanеly dеstroyеd on his own territory,
thаn for him to bесomе a dесrеpid shаdow
of his foгmеr sеlf, no longеr enjoying his
dominion.

ril
I lЪе ultimаtе suссеssful mating of a marе
-g:iпs vlеll Ьеfoгe shе is aсtuаlly сoveгеd.
Еs-пtiаls of finanсе, faсilitiеs' hег suitа-
ifliц аnd thе sеarсh foг a favourаblе part-
*д Inust fust bе сarеfullу сonsidеred, fol-
.owеd bу pгeparation of thе mаrе bеforе
sегтiсе' i:з ordег that the projесt will prove
nridul.
-]Гhе
finanсes dеmandеd will involvе
тетегiл^ary treatment, travеlling еxpеnses,
sа.rd аnd gгoom's fее, livеry сhаrgеs' pos-
s:Ъlе аltеrаtions and еxtеnsion of еxisting
:всilitiеs, as wеll as еxtга fеeding and the
:еагЬg сosts of thе evеntual foal.
Fасilitiеs аnd fеeding are dеаlt with in
Pе-Natаl Carе of thе Mare).
Тhe type, tеmperamеnt, сonformation
лrul асtion of thе marе must bе rеlatеd to
iпtеnded aPpеaranсе of thе offspгing,
=,е
т:rl фе purposе for whiсh it is intеndеd.
liй thеsе points in mind, the most suit-
двtrе sтаllion саn bе сhosеn. Brееding
sлоцld not bе attemptеd at all if thе maге is
-тв,J теmpегеd, sеvегely faulty in сonforma-
]Laп or unsound ftom wеaknеss oг hегеdit-
*ry dеfесь, oг if thеге is no сertain futurе
:ог тhе foal.
Ir is through judiсious сhoiсе of a stal-
]oп thаt a fеw impеrfесtions in mаrе's сon-
l-с-гmаtion oг aсtion сan Ьe improvеd upon
:а тhe foal. The stallion should be еxtra
аrтоd whеrе тhе mare fаils and shoцld hаvе
а good rеputation or show rесord' or the
foal may turn out to bе disappointing. A
ThoгoughЬгed or Arab stаllion will add
quality or sсopе to thе сob-typе marе, while
for brееding up, a laгgеr stallion is usеd _
(viсe versa if a smallеr аnimal is rеquired).
Colour аnd stаmp arе hardеr to detеrminе,
Above A mare being Ied away from thе
сovering yard of a |arge, we||-equipped stud. |t
is a|wаys аdvisаb|e to put a mаre to the best
possib|e sta||ion avаiIab|e
Below A mare and stа|lion being introduсed
on either side of teasing boards. From the
mаre,s reасtions, the hаndler wiI| be аb|e to
gauge what preсautions wi|| need to be taken
when the time сomes for the mare to be
сoveгeo.
Mating'BпEED|NG
unlеss both parеnts аrе of pure Ьreeding
and similar сolouг, their anсestгy having
bееn likewise for sevеral gеnеrations.
Stamina usuallу сomеs from thе marе,
spееd from the stallion and thе bеst jump-
ing blood from Frеnсh lines. Talеnt is а
Ьonus, but tеmpeгament is heгеditary from
Ьoth sidеs. Rасеhoгsеs aге genеrally linе
bred, fгom and by stoсk with еxсеptionаl
turf rесords. Thе stalliorf s managemеnt
and thе еffiсiеnсy of thе stud staff arе also
important сonsiderаtions and will have a
dirесt bеаring on the suссess of thе mating
(sеe Stallion Мanagеment).
Thе hеalthу, rеlaxеd marе is thе ideal
for stud purposеs' partiсulaгlу ifhеr сondi-
tion is improving. Pregnаnсy is morе
diffrсult to obtain both in ovеrfat marеs and
фosе in hагd, fit сondition. Rеally thin
maгеs' in poor сondition, will hаvе аn
impaired геpгoduсtory systеm. So thе
obеsе should bе slimmеd down, and thе
ailing built-up with еxtгa pгotein аnd a
vitаmirr/minегal supplеmеnt.
To avoid dеlаy in gеtting thе malе
сovеrеd and in foal, prioг to sending hеr to
stud, hеr rеproduсtivе anatomу and gеnital
organs сan be сheсkеd by a vеt еxperienсеd
in еquinе gynaeсology. This will dеtеr-
minе if shе is frее from аl1 inflammatory or
bасterial сonditions. Infесtion ofthе gеni-
tal tгaсt lеading to inflammаtion of thе
womЬ mаy сausе infеrtility. Damagе to thе
vulvа and traсt from a prеvious foaling, or
bad сonfoтmation in this aгea, сan сause an
infесtion, еithеr through brokеn tissuе,
вBЕЕDING . Mаting
allowing air to еntеr, oг from faесеs or
urinе сollесting at thе еntfаnсе. Thеsе
сoпditions сan Ье dеаlt vdth surgiсаlly. A
maiden marе, tight and resisting in tlrе
vaginal traсt, сan Ье strеtсhеd manuаlly by
a skilfirl vеt' тhus easing фe situation foг
thе stаllion. A pегsistеnt hymеn in sцсh а
Ilrzrfе may nеed to be Ьrokеn down, also
surgiсally. lVlares going to stud should be
frее fromworms and bе unshod, andЬеforе
сovеring, most sпrds willгеquirе a swаЬ to
bе tаken duгing oestrus for laborаtory
еxаmrnаtron.
An estаЬlishеd and сoггeсdy syn-
сfuonйеd oеstrus (sеxuаl) сyсlе is vital for
rеproduсtion, and the mare should сome
into season at гegulаr intеrvals of 18 to 21
days. Thе durаtion of hег time in sеаson,
or Ъoгsing,, and tlrе dаys betwееn eасh
heаt pеriod should bе notеd, аs thе infor-
mation is vаluaЬlе to thе stud whеn arrang-
ing hеr сovеring sеssions to сoinсide wiтlr
ovulаtion. lVlares with aЬnoгmal сyсlеs
will neеd trеаtmеnt' аnd for tlrosе that do
not сomе into sеаson whеn rеquirеф a
sаline wаsh is сommonly used, resulting
in oestrus five oг six dаys lаtег. A hoгmonе
injесtion may bе neсеssаry to aсhiеvе-ttrе
samе rеsult by dissolving сertain сysts in
tlre ovaries whiсh аre pгеvеnting oestгus.
V.heге tlre ovаriеs are сomplеtеly inaсtivе,
a di.ffеrent hormonе injесtion сan Ьe фvеn.
Laсk of еvidеnсе of thе oеstrцs сyсlе in
familiar, homе suгroundings пeed not
mean tlrat tlrе marе doеs not ovulatе гegu-
1аг1у. Shе may hаve a silеnt hеаt, and а
сhаngе of sсеnеry in thе pгoxiтnity of a
stаllion usuallу еstablishes whеtlrеr or not
shе is normаl.
In somе sttlds' onсe thе mаrе is known
to be in sеason' ttшough tlrе attеntions of
tltе teasеr, а vet will establish tlrе time of
ovulation, whiсh is whеn тtre ripе еgg is
rеady for fеrtilizаtion. Thе сovеring sеr-
viсe is тlrеn агrangеd at tlrе optimum time
to promotе pгegnаnсy. Vittrout t1ris assis-
tаnсe the marе should bе сoverеd on аltеr-
nate days in tlre sесond halfofhег pегiod,
this Ьeing whеn ovulatioп gепегally
oссurs. The lifе of thе stallion's spеr-
matozoа саnnot Ье guаrantееd for longеr
than 48 hours, аnd аn isolated seгviсе too
long Ьеfore ovцlаtion is а wastеd onе.
Thе stаllion and marе arе intгoduсеd to
onе anotJtег, еitlrer side of tеаsing гails,
gatеs or boаrds and tlre mards rеасtions
should bе сlosеly obsеrvеd. .lVlаiden marеs
will probаbly bе nеrvous, as most stаllions
mrmpеt loudly аnd pranсe аbout, eagеr for
mating. Shе mаy well strikе out wiт}r her
Forthe асtuа| mаting,the mare may needto be
speсia||y dressed. Тhis one is wearing hind
hobb|esto prevent her kiсking the sta||ion onсe
mаting is сomp|ete, аswe||аs а twitсh аnd the
pгoteсtive neсk guагd in сase the stа||ion
attempts to bite her. After serviсe the mare аnd
stаI|ion shou|d be firm|y pu||ed аway from
eасh other.
front fееt, through nеrvеs or tеmpеr.
Should she аppеar геаdy for сovering, by
standing still (oftеn аlmost sitting), open-
ing thе vulva spаsmodiсally and miсturat-
ing liquid' shе сan Ьe lеad to тtrе сoveting
агea. Twitсhing а mаre is normal routine,
unlеss she is familiаr and known to Ье
absolutely rеliаble agаinst kiсking. Foг ttrе
mаге who shows an inсlination to kiсk, a
front hobblе strap сan Ье fixеd on the lеg
until thе stаllion hаs mountеd, and for
tlrose who are oЬviously going to stгikе out
viсiously hind hobblеs and kiсking Ьoots
must bе employed.
Vhеn the marе is dгessеd and reаdy, tlrе
stallion аpproасhеs hег from Ьehind, usu-
allу with muсh eagеrness and viтility. A
пегvous mare or mаidеn should Ье сalmеd
and hеld fiлmly at his аpproaсh, ttre hand-
lеr bеing prеpaгed for her to lеap forwаrds
аnd upwarф attempting to kiсk. Hеr head

stould Ьe held as high as possiЬle аnd, аs
fuюtrtr :ls thе stallion has mountеd and his
.:rg:аn is in situ, thе 1eg strap must ье
,цrllсklу relеasеd. While hе thrusts at hеr,
.omеn гiolently, shе must bе kеpt as still as
рэssiblе, Partiсularly whеn his sеmеn is
ЬеЬg еiесtеd (see Stallion,N4.anagеmеnt).
ТЬе stаllion usuallу spеnds onе to two
тinuтеs on thе marе.
.\.ftеr sегviсе thе twitсh and hoЬЬlеs arе
геmoгеd аnd thе mare led round and аwaу
т.t.m ttrе horsе for tеn minutеs, her handlеr
.Jrsсouтаging hеr ftom staling.
Ir thе mare to bе сovеred has а foal at
r-цlэe it should Ье shut away during sеrviсе.
Is prеsеnсe will make thе marе possеs-
;:те. аnd oftеn геsеntful of the stallion's
дтепdons. A marе сomеs into sеason
to tеп days аfter foaling, this bеing
'r.теn hеr foal hеat, although somе mаrеs
-,еrтеd
*:е Ьi-аnnual аnd will not breed with a foаl
й: Ioот.
SЬould thе marе rеturn into sеаson' in
дссordапсe with hеr usual сyсlе, shе is
дssumеd not in foal and mцst be сoverеd
д -аЬ. A furthеr rеturn at six wеeks dесrees
:е-еsаmination for infесtion, and thе prob-
]еms сonсеming hormone defiсiеnсy еx-
3iсэгеd. Fеeding exua vitamin Е will аlso
;гoге Ьеnеfiсiаl.
Ptе.Natal Caхе
. *g'6',Мдrе
Thе brood marе is сonsidеrеd to Ье in foal
if shе doеs not сomе into sеason again
thrее wееks aftеr hеr final sеrviсe, and she
should be thorougЫy tеstеd during thе
еntirе wееk that shе would normally bе
.horsing,. .Nlost owners fееl rеasonablу
сonfidеnt that disсontinuаtion of the oes-
шus сусlе at this timе сonfirms thеiт hopеs,
although othеrs сonsidеr that siх wееks is
a safеr pеriod, partiсularly if thе marе has
fаilеd to breed prеviouslу on thе thrее wееk
basis' Certainly marеs сan brеak at six
wееks, rеturning again into sеason. Some
may go ninе or tеn wеeks and thеn show
again. In these сasеs nature has usually
disposеd of the emЬryo (barely laгgе
еnough to Ьe notiсеablе), and the marе
bеgins hеr сyсlе ovеr аgain, in a way simi-
lаr to thаt following foaling.
Foг this rеаson the marе rеquires сагеful
watсhing on hеr rеturn from stud, and
signs of sexual intеrеst or behаviour of an
abnoгmal mannеr' should bе treatеd with
suspiсion. A сlеvеr vet will Ье able to asсer-
Pre-Natаl Uare . BtttEUlNU
tаiл whеthеr thе marе is in sеаson agаin, or
if the сеrvix of thе womЬ is opеn or dis-
tеnded, indiсating a misсaгriagе. If no
еxperiеnсеd vеt is availаЬle, the marе сan
bе taken Ьaсk to the stаllion for testing, or
if hе is too far away, a strаngе gеlding or a
loсal young сolt сan Somеtimеs bе used. If
a misсarriagе is suspесtеd, it would be
nесessary to test hеI еight to ten days after
thе assumеd dаtе of the disаstеr.
Мares rеturning fгom stud should only
bе tuгnеd out with fаmiliаr сompanions'
idеallу a quiet pony marе, a donkey or agеd
hunter. Mаrеs are pтеfеrablе for сompany'
unless a gеlding сompanion has nеver
bееn known to arousе hеr and hег hеat
pеriods havе previouslу passеd unnotiсеd.
Any gеlding who hаs shown signs of wor-
гying hеr in the past should not be usеd.
Young horses, who aге pronе to fooling
about plаyfully, kiсking and gаlloping in
high-spiritеd fun, arе not good сompan-
ions, and if hounds arе meеting nеаrЬy, thе
marе should bе brought in fгom pasrurе
аnd kept as сalm as possiЬle.
A prеgnant mагe shouId hаve quiet, famiIiar
сompany аnd not be subjeсted to excessive
eхсitement A pet donkey or eIderIy pony is the
ideаl сomoanion.
2t5
BRЕED|NG . Pre.NаtaI Cаre
Мarеs саn bе tеstеd for pregnаnсy 45 to
100 days аftеr thе final сovering Ьу a Ьlood
tеst, and aftet L2О daуs lapsе with а urine
test. It is also possiblе to сonfum a preg-
nаnсy after 12 wеeks by internal rесtal
еxaminаtion. Onе of thesе tests is аdvis-
able bеfore the winter сommеnсеs so thаt
faсilitiеs аnd diеt сan Ьe brought into linе
with the mare's сondition.
Assuming thе mare rеturns from stud in
latе spring or еarly summеr' shе mtrst Ье
fеd ассording to hеr homе еnvironment. If
shе is looking well and has aссеss to an
еxtensive range of grazing, whiсh is сlеan
and nutritious, tlren shе сan bе turned out
aftеr a worm dosе until еarly autumn.
Good grazing will supply all thе nесеssary
ingredients in hеr diеt for thе first four
months, and thе rеlaxаtion and pеaсе will
givе hеr a сalm and sеttlеd oudook, but
remеmber pasturelаnd must bе safеly
fenсеd.
Should thе prеgnant mare's grazingЬe
restriсtеd to a fеw patсhеs of lаnd thаt arе
сonstantly ovеrgrazed, it will be neсessary
to сonsidеr supplеmеntary fееding
immediately on the mаre's гeturn. Forthe
foеtus а сompletе nеw bonе struсturе'
intеrnal svstem. Ьodv and sеnsory organi-
Above In fine wеather a pregnаnt mare
shouId spend as muсh time as possibIe out at
grass during the day, аs she wi|| bеnefit fгom
the fresh air and exeгсise.
Right Ouality mares will need to be stabled at
night and in bаd weаther.
zаtion has to be madе up of suЬstanсеs
aсquirеd through thе male, whilе hеr own
сondition must also bе maintained. Shе
will draw thеsе Ьuilding matеriаls from тhe
itеms of whiсh hеr diet is сomposеd,
namely protеins, stаrсhеs and fats, fibrous
roughagе and thе various minеral sаlts
and vitamins.
Thе part protеins plаy in the gradual
Ьuilding of thе foеtus is thе formаtion of
tissuе and musсle. As thе mаrе also
requirеs rеplaсеmеnt for musсular wast-
agе' high protein foods suсh as
maize' linsееd and bеans aте еssential.
Good hay аnd luсеrne (alfаlfa) аrе also
high in protеin.
Fibrous roughagе or Ьulk must form
bеtwееn onе-hаlf аnd two-йirds of thе
marе's total intakе, and they enable hеr to
absorЬ the protеin and other food сon-
stituents. Bulk foods сonsist Ьаsiсallv of
hav. сhаff and bran.
All thе vitаmins arе nесеssary for thе
building of thе еmbryo, еaсh playing its
own vitаl rolе, and thеу aгe сomplеmеnted
bу сertain еssential minеrals, suсh as сal.
сium (for Ьonе building), potаssium and
iron. \0Иhеrе the quality ofthе food offеrеd
t}rе marе is suspeсt, exшa vitamins and
minеrals сan Ье supplied in powder form
as a supplement in thе fееd. Thеsе addi-
tivеs are manufaсturеd апd disшibuтed in
most сountriеs whеrе thе wеlfаrе of thе
horsе is сonsidегed importаnt, and distri.
buted through vеterinary suppliers or
сomprеhеnsive stаblе storеs.
Rations givеn dеpеnd on tеmpеrament'
and thе аmount of gtazing availablе. A
quiеt sеnsiЬlе ponУ maгe, of nаtivе or
mixed blood rеquirеs little еlsе than good
grazing until iatе suп[nеr, when lkg
(2lbs) of oats or stud сuЬеs mixed with
0.5 kg (1lb) of brаn сan Ьe fеd daily. When
thе grass has fadеd аnd сontains mеаgrе
nutrimеnt' up to 3.5kg (8 lЬs) of haу
should be given at night. If thе ponу
appеaгs roundеd and in good сondition,
thеsе rаtions should suffiсе until spгing
arrives. Should she appeаr hungry or bеgin
to losе wеight, thеn an additional morning
feеd of thе samе quantitу should bе givеn
and thе haу ration inсrеаsеd to 5.5kg
( 12 lbs), providing shе еаts it a11. Thе ponу
on spаrsе gtazing whiсh has littlе vаluе,
should havе two fееds plus haу from thе
timе shе rеrurns from stud, thе аmount
varying ассording to her ovегall сondition.
A prеgnant mаrе shoutd not be too fat, Ьut
the protеin ration should rеmain сonstant,
with thе hay and bulk in thе diеt fluсtuаt-
ing to suit her figurе.
Thе sаmе rulеs apply to thе largе oI
ThoroughЬrеd mare, although thе quan-
tities of food should Ьe raisеd aссording to
sizе. Thе 17h.h. Thoгoughbrеd requirеs
about 3.5kg (8 lЬs) of oats, 2kg (4lЬs) of
srud сuЬes аnd 2 kg (4lbs) of bran dividеd
into two fееds dаilу, with up to 6.5kg
oats,
 l,re-Natа| Uаre BtlEEUINti

l4lbs) of good haу during thе winter

monйs, oг if thеrе is no grazing availaЬlе.
Ч*hеn pasturе is abundant and of good
щаtity shе is also bеttеr lеft out during thе
sulnmer, thе fееds bеginning and inсreas-
iпg in amount as thе supply of grass
;]imiпishеs in Ьoth quality and quantity,
аnd тhe weаther turns сold.
Although marеs of сalm outlook' who
arе usuаlly thе .good doеrs', сan take oats'
апd Ьenefit from doing so, a flighty tеm-
регаmеntal marе will Ье morе rеlаxed if
rhеsе аrе rеplaсed by flakеd maizе, rollеd
Ьагlеy, еxtrа linseеd oг high protein nuts.
Sоmе сountries produсе milk pеllеts, for-
шu.lаtеd spесifiсally for horsеs. Thesе aге
.Iзigh
in protеin vitamins and minеrals, but
irдr.е a сalming еffесt on thе animals who
сoпsumе thеm аnd аrе idеal for a nеrvolts,
шпrеlахеd mаrе. (Мilk powdеr is oftеn
пorе еasily obtainеd than thе pellеts.) For
rhе leаn typе of mare, who requirеs Ьuild-
ш8 uP, soаked sugar bееt pulp, boilеd bar- absolutеly draught proof аnd hаve eleсшiс Whateverthe weather, fresh airwill benefitthe
lег oг molassinе mеаl addеd to thе feеds lighting, bе frее from all dangerous protru- mare. If it is сold and wet she shouId be we||
к-ill hеlp improve сondition. sions and, ifpossible, bе nеar a tеlephonе ruggeo up.
The fееding of thе brood marе сan be аnd a supply of hot watеr.
summеd up by sаying that as thе protein in It is not nесеssary to groom thе mаre although thе time variеs сonsiderably and
thе gтаss fadеs, it must bе rеplaсеd with evеry dаy, and indеed, she will nеed the a malе сan havе а hеalthу foal at ten oг
pгotеin foods, аnd as thе quantity of grаss grеase in hеr сoаt to pгotесt hеr agаinst twеlvе months' Filliеs usuallу сome bеforе
di-minishеs, hay аnd bulk should bе givеn inсlеmеnt weathеr. A brush over onсe a сolts' but not invariably. Aftеr thе tenth
Ь тhе fееds. A pony гequires from 8_9kg weеk is all that is required, to rеmovе driеd month it is аdvisablе to handlе and mаs.
l8_201bs) overall food intаkе daily, one mud аnd matted hаir and to kеep thе porеs sаgе the maidеn marе,s uddеr аnd аdjoin-
тhird of whiсh should be protеin and a unсlogged. ЕIer fеet should Ьe геgularlу ing геgions, to prеvеnt rеsеntmеnt when
Ьoгsе requiтеs from 9_11kg (2О_24|bs) trimmеd аnd shе should bе wormеd еvеry the foal fust nuzzles around in its еffort to
oгеrall intakе, 3.5kg (8 lbs) of whiсh threе months if on ample, сlеan gтazing or obtain sustеnanсе.
should bе protеin' As the fееds arе made up wit}r сattlе, or еvery six wееks if on Aftеr thе tеnth month, thе uddеr will
оf thе various сomponents and аre not rеstriсted grazing wittr othеr hoгses. It is bеgin to spring, тhе tеats bесoming сlеarly
еntirеly protеin, the dailу intakе requirеd not usually nесеssary to rug а Ьгood maге, definеd. As foaling approaсhеs it will
ls dividеd into two halves, onе half Ьеing Ьut if shе is partiсulaгlу thin-skinnеd and appear quitе largе and swollеn, globulеs of
given аs short feeds and thе othеr as hаy. fееls the сold, shе will maintain bеttеr wax appеaring on thе tеat еxtrеmities. At
Thе pгotein ratio will thеn bе onе third of сondition in rug and blаnkеt at night
a jute this stаgе, thе marе should bе watсhеd
rЬе totаl. and а Nеw Zea7and rus in thе davtimе сlosely, as foaling gеnеrаlly oссurs within
Although thе tough mountain and during the сoldеsi .o.,й,. 24 hours. When thе globulеs dтop off and
moorland brеd pony often lives out happily If a marе has Ьееn riddеn prior to sеrviсе milk appears, аnd whеn thе musсlеs of the
during the wintеr, thе brood marе of this аnd is only аwау for a short whilе, gеntle quartеrs sag on eithеr sidе ofthе сroup, hеr
цpе will Ьеnеfit from a fiеld shеltеr to haсking with a light ridеr will not harm hеr timе is nigh. Thе l'ulvа will soon distеnd,
makе сonditions morе сomfoгtаЬlе. Мarеs oI thе unborn foal. Еssеntial сonsidеrа- indiсating that shе will shortly сome into
оf thе mаjority of othеr Ьreеds and types, tions are that shе must nеvеr bе over- labour.
аnd definitеly thе Тhoroughbred, nееd to еxеrtеd, аllowеd to sweat, or Ьесomе short
bе stаЬlеd at night from еaгly wintеr until of brеath by bеing asked to do fast work or Тhe mare,s uddeг is a good indiсator of her
foaling. сlimЬ steep hills. Jumping is not advisеd nearness to foaIing аnd shouId be сareful|y
Thе loosе box for thе brood mare should аnd all riding should Ьe disсontinued аt watсhed. lеft.' Аn udder orior to four weeks
Ье largе аnd сomfortaЬlе, аnd if possiblе фe сommеnсеment of thе sevеnth month. befoгe foaIing. right: An udder just before
roomу enough to foal down in, so that Thе gestation period of thе brood marе foaling is well rounded and has wax
тгhen hеr time сomеs shе will Ье in famil- is offiсially еlеvеn months and four dаys, gIobules plugging the teat сana|s.
iат suгroundings. A full sizе marе гequirеs
а foаling Ьox of dimеnsions 3.5m x 6m
12ft x 2Оft).
Тhе mare should bе turned out daily,
аftеr thеmorning fееd and allowеd to graze
аnd еxеrсisе hersеlfduring thе day. Fгesh
аir and exerсise arе vital for the pIеgnant
marе, hеlping to prеvent overfаtnеss and
еnсouгaging oxygеn to travеl thтough thе
Ьloodsшеаm to the plaсenta. Еxеrсisе аlso
helps to prеvent a sluggish systеm and
въtеr rеtеntion. Shе сan be Ьrought baсk
in during thе latе aftеrnoon for an evеning
t.ееd and hеr haynеt. If grazing аnd spaсe
аre not avаilаblе, thе mare should havе up
to two hoцrs walking еxеrсisе dailу, prеf-
еraЬly split into two sеssions. The bedding
should bе сlеan and frеsh and a сonstant
аnd сlеan watеr supplу alwaуs avаilaЬle. If
тhе Ьox is to Ьe usеd for foalins it should bе
 BвЕЕD|NG.Foа|iпg

Thе Ьiтth of a foal, oг the асt of parturition,
usuаlly oссurs bеtween 335 and 350 days
аfter the femalе ol'um hаs bееn suссess-
fully fertilйеd Ьy thе malе spеrm. A useful
and quiсk mеntal method of аntiсipating
thе foаling datе is to сount еleven montlrs
and four daуs from thе last sеrviсе. Thus a
maгe сoveгed on thе fourth of May onе
еighй of April
yeаг, is likеly to foаl on the
the following уеаr. During this timе thе
foаl floats in а Ьag ofwаters surroundеd Ьy
the plaсenta in the womb of thе maге, and
it is fеd and nouлished thгough the
plасеntа аnd the аttасhing umbiliсal сord
until rеаdу for birth.
Тhis sequenсe i||Ustratеs the vаrious stages in
a normal birth of a foal When the mare is
hea|thy and the pгegnanсy has not hаd
сomp|iсations the birth shou|d go smoothIy,
though it is aIwаys advisаb|e to have an
attendant on hand in сase he|p is needеd, and
to teII the vet When the mare goes into |abouг
so that he is readУ if neсessary.
Nаtural birth is whеn no outsidе assis-
tanсе is involved, and should Ьe aimеd for
as nеarlу as possible, within the limits of
hygiеniс pгеParation аnd а sшaightfoгward
prеsеntation.
Nativе ponies and thе сoarsеr Ьrеd typе
of marеs, who hаvе foaled prеviously, arе
often bettеr left to foаl outside, providing
the weathеr is dry and wаrm. Some ponies
arе distinсtlу unhappy foaling indoors and
will dеlaу foаling for sеvеral dауs until
they arе lеt oцt. Thosе having thеir first
foal, Thoroughbrеd typеs and mares due to
foal in unsеttlеd, сold or wet wеattrеr, or
partiсulаrly early in thе sеаson, will bеnеfit
from сoming into а loosе box. l0Иithin the
staЬlе walls, thе birth сan Ьe oЬsеrved, hеlp
is аt hand if rеquirеd and marе and foal сan
bе lеft in safеty whеn it is all ovеr. A
diffiсult birth in the dark, in inсlеmеnt
сonditions, will oftеn go unnotiсed until a
deаd foal is found йе following morning.
A suitaЬle loosе boх must be сarеfully
prеparеф and it has to Ьe lаrgе еnough for
thе mаre to walk around with еasе. It must
bе weаthегproof, draught-proof and
thoroughly сlеаnеd and disinfесtеd. An
еlесtriс light is nесеssаry for watсhing the
marе's plogrеss during the hours of dаrk-
nеss. The floor should bе сovered dееply
with sшаw or othеr suitаblе Ьedding and
there must Ьe nothing on whiсh a distrеs-
sеd marе or an ungаinly foal сould knoсk
or сut thеmselvеs. Portablе mangеrs and
watеr сontaineгs should bе rеmovеd at thе
first signs of foaling, or aftеr thе final
obsеrvаtion of thе night hаs bеen madе. A
sliding panel, peеp hole or othеr mеans of
watсhing thе mаrе, whilе she is unawarе of
thе faсt, arе useful, and for this purpose а
vеry dim, shadеd light сan bе left on per-
manеndу. Whеrе possiblе the marе should
bе thorougЫy usеd to thе box well beforе
she is duе to foal.
LaЬour is сonvеniеntlу dividеd into
thrее stagеs. Stagе onе involves involun-
tary utеrinе сontraсtions' with rеsultant
positioning ofthе foеtus for еxpulsion, and
gradual rеlaxation of the сеrvix аnd
assoсiated struсtuгеs. Stagе two is thе vol-
untary eхpulsive effort as thе foеtus еnters
thе pеlvis of the marе and passеs through
thе сеrvix. Utеrinе сontraсtions arе
аmplified Ьу thе voluntaгy еxpulsive еffort.
Thе еxpulsion of thе foеtal mеmЬranеs
(aftеrЬirth) сomprisеs stаgе thrее.

VThе mаrе,s raised tail is a сIear

indiсаtion of inсipient Iabouг.
V Looking round at her flanks Immediate|y beforе the biгth }
is a sign that сontrаctions begins, the mare,s Waters bгеak l

have begu n

V onсe the foaI,s shou|dеrs are

free of the mагe. the membranes VThe mare Iooks round at her newborn foаlwhiсh is still attaсhеd
round the nose саn be сleaгed. to the pIaсenta by the umbiIiсa| сord

218

Тhе pаttеrn of nаtuтаl biгth аnd
'.еЬаviour of ttre maге follows this sеqu-
.i) Thе mагe paсеs аroцnd фе stаble oг
seсtion of thе field' swishing heг tаil
and showing disсomfort аt rеgular
intеrvаls. oftеn shе looks гound at
hег sidеs in а mannег similаг to tlrе
appгoaсh of сoliс. Thеsе геасtions
агe сausеd through the fiгst сontrас-
tions of the womb' аnd will сontiпuе
аt lеsseniпg intегvаls until tlrey сomе
еvеry fеw minutes. Thе mаге liеs
down and gеts up аgain sеvеrаl times
аs thе сontrасtions Ьесomе strongег
and moге pаinful' аnd shе mаy staгt
to sweаt. This stage сaп сontinuе
from onе to eight houтs. (oссasion-
аlly these symptoms may Ье trаnsit-
ory' йе marе геturning to normаl
аnd not foаling foг two oг three days.)
i.i) A suddеn gush of wаtеr is еmitted
fiom thе vаginа, еiйеr whеn thе
mаrе is stаnding oг lying down. This
indiсatеs ttrе ruptuгe of йe wаter Ьag
and еsсаpе of allаntoiс fluid.
iii) The mаrе lies down and Ьеgins
sшаiпing, oftеп еmmitting loud
Aftеr thе fore|egs hаve appeared V
the mare may pause and even get
up for а mouthfuI of haу
-hе mаre,s Iiсking aлd nuzz|ing V
эпсoUгages the foа| to struggIe
to its feet.
gпrnts.
(iv) Thе forеfееt of фе foal, сovегеd with
mеmЬrаnes, аppеar Ьetwеen the dis-
tеnded lips of ttre vulva. At this stagе
йe mare may get up' paсe гound the
box and thеn lie down again for ttre
nехt сontraсtron.
(v) The foats hеad аppeагs' lyiпg on its
foгеIеgs, whilе thе maге сontilrцеs to
sпаin. If pгogrеss is slow afteг this
point, and tlre mare appеаrs to bе hаv-
iтrg шouЬle shifting the foal, a little
hеlp саn Ье given Ьy сlasping еасh of
thе foal]s forеlegs firmlу above the
fеtloс\ and pulling downzlаrds, Ьw|
onlу as thе maгe srаins. As soon аs
ttre heаd and shouldеrs of йе foal arе
frеe of thе passаge, tlre memЬгanes
ovеr the nosе сan Ьe bгokеn аnd thе
nostгils сlеаrеd to allow ftеe passage
of air iпto the lungs when brеаtiring
сoпшnеnсеs. Pгematuгe сleагanсе of
thе mеmbгаnе, bеfore the foats
shouldегs aгe с1еаr is dangeгous, as
thе maге mаy gеt up аgай аnd thе
foаl slip baсk tempoгarilу into thе
passagе' еnaЬling fluid to еnteг thе
nosе and lungs.
Lying along the forelegs, the)
foа|,s head emerges.
VThe hungry foаl takes its first
drink of the еssentiа| сoIostrums
Guided by instinсt a|ong its V
mother,s f|ank, the foаI seaгсhes
for the udder
l-0aIlпg BtlEEUING
(vi) oпсe tlre shouldeгs aгe thлoug\ the
foаl slides out сomparаtivеly еasily
and is pагtiаlly сovегеd in mem-
Ьгanеs. It will Ьe vеry wеt and still
attaсhеd to the plaсеnta by ttre umbil-
iсаl сord. It shouldbе lеft alone, until
it stгuggles frее of its own ассord oг
thе mагe movеs' еnаbling thе сoгd to
Ьгеаk in еxaсtly tlrе plaсe that naturе
intеndеd. During this timе nаture's
.Ьlood valvе' will сlosе, forbidding
еxit of blood from the foаl Ьut still
аllowing the foal to glеаn thе mаxi-
mum from ttrе plасеnta.
(vii) Thе maге may геmain lуing down for
up to half-an-hour, гeсovering tfеr
stтength. Shе will probably whinnу
softly in dеlight whеn she reаlizеs
shе has a foal, and will shortly gеt up
and Ьеgin to liсk thе foal and mothег
rt.
(viii) At this stаgе paгt of thе foеtаl mеm-
branes oг afteгЬirth aге sеen hanging
fгom thе pаssagе' аnd the marе
еxpегiеnсes fuгt}rег сontraсtions in
an еffoгt to еxpеl it. It gеnеrally
сomеs fгee within an hour or two. No
еffoгt should Ье madе to pull thе
BRЕЕDING.Foа|iпg
mеmЬгanе a,way' as this сould rеsult
in it brеaking, in whiсh сasе а PЕrrt is
likelу to rеmain within thе marе. If
this is not dealt wiф it сan сausе
fеvеr and sеptiсаemia. Should thе
maгe not сleaпse indepеndеntly
within eight houгs of foаling, vetеri-
nary attеntion must bе sought. Aftеr
everу birth thе afteгЬiпh must Ье
inspесted Ьу a vеt to еnsure it is сom-
plеtе. It should nеvеr bе thrown away
without thе inspeсtion, oг thе mаrе's
hеalth may bе еndаngеrеd.
(ix) Thе foаl usually attеmpts to risе to its
feеt after half-an-hour oг so, and
pitсhеs аnd falls about аlarmingly. If
it doеs not managе to геmain upright
long enough to tаkе a drink аftеr a
further half hour of sшuggling, it
should bе gently hеlpеd and guidеd
to the maге's uddеr. Any attеmpt аt
forсing it, howevеr, will bе rеsеnted
by both mаrе and foal, and as fаr as
possiblе the foal should be lеft to fol-
low its instinсts. It is important that
thе foal takеs thе сolostrum (mare's
fiгst milk) within aЬout two hours of
Ьeing born.
Problеms During and
Immеdiately Following
Foaling
Normal parturition follows thе pattern of
еvеnts dеsсribed and oссurs in thе majority
of сasеs. ЕIowеver problеms сan oссur, in
whiсh сasе skillеd vеtеrinary assistanсе is
геquirеd. Thе aссent is on skillеd, for
unskillеd intеrfеrеnсe will grеatly inсrеasе
tlrе hazаrd to both marе and foаl, and
should nevеr bе givеn.
Iffoaling doеs notpгogrеss as previously
desсribed, vetеrinary аssistanсe should bе
sought immediately. Attеmpts to сorrесt
abnormal prеsentations should bе left to
thosе quаlifiеd to do so! If, howеvеr, thе vet
is delаyеd for any rеason, the assistant
should thorougЫу disinfесt and lubriсatе
an апn аnd еxaminе the abnormality to
dесidе if it is possiblе for him to sшaightеn
a limb between сontraсtions. Thе risk of
putting a knее or hoсk through thе tensе
roof of the utеrus is сonsiderable and no
mаnipulаtions requiгing forсe should be
attemptеd. Pеnding thе arrival of the vеt,
plеnty of hot wаtеr, soap and a suitablе
disinfесtant, plus a towеl, should be mаdе
readу.
The foal is normallу presentеd сoming
head fust on extendеd forе-fееt and anу
divеrsion fгom this сonstitutеs an abnor-
mal presentation. In а postеrior prеsеn-
tation, when the hind fееt and tail aге prе-
sentеd first, the foal сan bе dеliverеd with-
out furthеr manipulation. In this position
speеd is nесеssary to ovеrсomе thе сom-
mon oссurenсе of asphyxia of thе foal as it
drowns in the foetal fluid. Hеlp is givеn by
pulling down on фе hind fetloсks during
сontrасtions, and freeing thе nosе from
muсous at thе first opportunity.
To sum up, in anу сase other than nor-
mal pгеsеntatioщ or possiЬly postегior-prе-
sentаtion, vеtеrinary assistаnсе should be
сallеd immеdiatеlv. Thе сompliсаtions of
The milt is held in the foal's mouth until birth.
|ts funсtion is supposed to be to prevent f|uid
entering the lungs during gestation.
parturition aге the vеds provinсе, and thе
extent of his spесializеd knowlеdgе, саn-
not сome within thе rangе of tlrе praсtiсаl
marе ownеr.
oссasionally thе umbiliсаl, or navеl,
сord doеs not Ьгеak naturally, and in сasеs
whеrе it stubЬornlу rеmains intaсt,
(аlthough it should Ье givеn evеry сhаnсе
to ruptuгe of its own aссord) it may bе
nесеssary to сut it. This is done Ьу tying a
pieсе of stеrilized сord tighdy round it,
about 4_5 crn (LУz_2 ln) from the Ьelly, and
again2.5 сm (1 in) furthег awаy. Thе сut is
thеn made bеtwееn thе two knots with a
stеrilйеd knifе or sсissors. The raw end
should bе tгeated with iodinе, an аnti-
biotiс powdеr, or aеrosol sprаy suсh as
аurеomyсin gentian violеt. Joint ill (seе
page 222) in thе foal is the rеsult of gеrms
еntеring the еxposеd еnd of the сord.
A foal in diffiсulty with breathing
should bе shakеn, hеad downwards to
сlеar anу fluid remaining in the passаgеs.
The foal who makes no attеmpt to bгeathе,
should be slаpped with а wеt towеl oг mas-
sаgеd enеrgеtiсally. Blowing down one
nostril whilst kееping thе othеr shut' as
mouth to mouth resusсitation, сan also bе
еmploуed.
Prolapse, othеrwisе known as .тhrowing
down thе foal bеd is сausеd by thе mаre
ovеrstraining during and аftеr a diffiсult
сonfinеmеnt. Thе womb appeaгs as a
hugе, pear-shapеd, bright rеd mass, and
maу, in sеvеrе сasеs, hang down almost as
far аs thе hoсks. Thе slightеst sign of thе
womb appеаring bеtwееn thе lips of thе
vulva dеmаnds thе immediate attеntion of
tlrе vеt. l0Иhilst аwaiting his arrivаl, any
weight сan bе rеliеvеd Ьy taking a сlеan,
Thе feet of a newborn foа|, showing the fringe
of soft horn Whiсh proteсts the bаg of waters
from being pierсed by a shаrp hoof before
birth' These soft f|аps soon wear off.
warm and wеt shееt or piесe of towel and
supporting thе womb as neаr to the lrrlva
as possiblе. The vet will administеr
methods of rеtеntion onсe it is rеplaсed
within thе Ьody of tЬe mare, possibly by
stitсhing and sedation.
Somеtimеs it appеars impossiblе for йе
foal to take its fust mеal. This may bе
Ьесаusе of weaknеss, as it is unaЬlе to
sшuggle to its fееt for long еnough to take
the first steps to thе marе's цddеr. The foal
may Ье аЬle to wander about, but appears
quite devoid of any instinсt rеgarding the
position ofthе udder or its purposе. Oftеn a
strong foаl, with еvery intеntion of gaining
sustenanсе will bе baulkеd Ьy a tiсklish,
unhеlpful marе who will not stand still to
еndurе its usеlеss fust fumblings. In сasеs
wherе weakness is thе сausе of failure, thе
marе's fiгst milk or сolostгum should bе
takеn and fed to thе foal by a stеrilizеd
bottlе аnd teat. This fust milk is vital for
the foаl as it rеmovеs thе blaсk mесonium
presеnt within its digestivе systеm at birth.
Aftеr two oг threе feeds at two hourly intеr-
vаls, the foal will gain stгеngth аnd it сan
thеn bе guidеd to thе uddеr, whiсh should
Ьe mаdе wеt with thе marе's milk. Мilk
should also bе еnсouragеd to flow on to thе
foaf s nose and lips. Onсе it has suсked
naturallу, it will сontinuе to do so, and no
further hеlp will be rеquirеd.
\DИhеn thе mare is at fault' shе should bе
hеld fumlу up against a wall, with one
forеleg raisеd to restriсt hеr movemеnt,
аnd foгсеd if nесessaгy to stаnd whilе thе
foаl suсks. If shе isvеryrеsеndulmеasures
inсluding twitсhing should be еmployеd,
as the foаls wеlfarе is at stаkе. onсе t}rе
mare has allowed thе foal to suсk on thтее
or four oссasions, shе may only nееd hold-
ing by thе hеadсollar, and finally not at all.
A diffiсult mаidеn maгe indiсatеs the
neсеssity of indooг foaling, as shе maу
othеrwise bе unсatсhaЬlе or evеn flеrсе,
allowing no outsidе assistanсе for thе foal.
onсе the foal is up and eithеr suсking
happily or has at lеast had his fust feеd, and
if no сompliсations with thе marе hаvе
arisen, both саn Ье lеft in pеасе in а dim
light or undisturbеd stablе.
An intеrеsting aspесt of foaling is thе
milt, mеlt or mеlсh whiсh is prеsent in thе
foal's mouth at birth, аnd whiсh is quiсkly
rejесtеd. Similar in appеаranсе to a piесе
of livеr, its purposе is supposеd to bе to
prevent watеr еntering through thе mouth
bеforе and during Ьiпh. In many сases it is
nevеr founф Ьut aссording to сountry lorе,
when it is, it should bе driеd and kеpt in the
сlothing of thе person who finds it, or
plaсеd on thе roof of thе stablе. It is
сlаimеd to hold magiс powеrs, destroying
all evil forсes that pursuе thе сarriег oг ttre
inmatеs of thе staЬlе. A furthеr point of
intеrеst is the formation of the fееt of the
newborn foal, whiсh havе a flaky fringe of
soft, spongу horn round the extrеmitiеs,
giving thе аppеаranсе of bеing frayеd.
This is аnotlrеr of naturе's protесtive
mеasures, ensuring thаt thе hoovеs arе not
sharp enough to piеrсe thе bag of wateгs
whilst thе foеtus is st117 in situ. Thе flakеs
soon harden аnd сomе awаy when dry, and
the feеt thеn assume a pеrfeсt appearanсe.

Pоst-Nаtal Cдrе
Following nаtural Ьirth and a rеst pеriod,
Jrе vеt should bе askеd to visit and inspесt
.lrе mare and foаl during his normal
work-
::rg hours. Bеforе his arrival, thе mаrе's
:еar ехtеrnal palts саn bе washed with
i-аIm soapy watеr' to removе sta1ns' muс-
сlЦS ДПd driеd fluid.
Тhe vеt will inspесt thе foal for any сon-
.-еnita1 dеfесts, suсh as сontraсtеd tеndons
аnd limЬ aЬnormаlitiеs, as wеll as for hет-
rias, harе lip, parrot mouth or othеr mal-
:оrmаtion. Propеr funсtioning of thе Ьlad-
jеr and thе passing of thе mесonium
faeсеs) must bе еstablishеd, аnd thе
:.rэеrus
:oаl should havе roцtinе injeсtions for the
iгеYеntion of joint ill and tеtanus.
lГ аnу aЬnormal bеhaviour is notiсеd
during thе hours following the vеcs first
visit, hе should bе rесalled. Disordеrs suсh
as jaundiсе or lupturе of thе bladder maу
not bе oЬvious immediatеly аftег foaling'
but arе dеfinitely thе vеds provinсе.
Anу tearing of thе mаге's passagе or
vulva should bе stitсhеd _ thе soonеr afteт
parturition, thе lеss painful it will bе and
thе quiсkеr it Will hеal. This must not bе
ovеrlookеd, аs failцrе to stitсh whele
nесеssary will bе dеtrimеntal to thе marе
holding to futurе sеrviсеs, as air and
foreign Ьodiеs may enter thе passage and
sеt up infeсtion.
It is impеrative that thе prеservеd aftеr-
birth is еxаmined for сomplеtenеss. If a
shтеd of it has beеn rеtаinеd within thе
bodу of thе maге' an аttеmpt must bе madе
to rеmovе it manuаlly; an antiЬiotiс pеs-
sary should be insеrtеd into the marе and
antiЬiotiс injесtions givеn.
Afteг a сarefuI veterinary inspection to ensUre
that aII is we||, mаre аnd foaI wi|| benefit from
being left to relax.
Post.Natal Problеms and
Disеasеs
Inflammation of the Vagina
Sevеrе bruising of thе vagina with possiblе
haеmatoma oг blistеring of thе lining
mеmbranе' will саusе thе lips of thе vulvа
to swеll аnd thе vagina to appear dark rеd
to blасk in сolour. This again is а саsе for
the vеt. AntiЬiotiс and anti-inflammаtory
сovеr may be nесеssary to plevеnt infес-
tion beсoming еstablishеd. If veterinary
adviсe is not sought' a rеpugnant smеlling
disсhaгgе may dеvеlop, and the marе may
havе diffiсulty in miсturating' Thе tеmp-
еratuге and pulse of thе marе will
fluсtuate, indiсating infесtion'
221
вRЕЕD|NG . Post-Natа| care

Inflammation of the lVomb

This сondition oссuтs from two to tеn dаys
аfter foaling, when the womb hаs not сon-
traсted normally, usuаlly following reten-
tion of a paгt of thе afterbirth. other сauses
of faulty сontraсtion аге аn overlargе foаl
lеаding to ovегsuaining of thе utеrus аnd
loss of musсlе tone, intта-utегine hаemor-
гhage duтing labouг and tlre exсess Ьlood
bеing геtainеd, oг infесtion еntеring
thтough an assistеd foaling not сovered by
antiЬiotiсs.
If infесtion is еstаblished, tlre maге will
bесomе stiff in her movеmеnts аnd will
show сomplete loss of appеtite. Еrer сoаt
will stаre and shе will еxudе a disсhаrgе
fгom ttrе vagina, at fust pale pink and thin,
beсoming thiсkеr, dаrkег аnd еvil smеlling
as tlrе сondition pгogIessеs. Therе will Ье
an inсrеasе oftempегature and pulsе гаtе
and pгessure on the loins will bе paiпful.
Hеr milk supply will dry up аnd laminitis
maу oссur. If the inflаmmаtion is not
сhесkеd in the еагly stagеs by теmovаl of
thе offеnding dеposit, followed by
thorough сleansing and thе administering
of antibiotiсs' deаtlr will follow. This сon-
dition is сaused entiтely from lасk ofсагe
during and following foаling and infесtion
will not oссuт if аll thе prесautions pгеvi-
ously suggested аre striсtly аdheгed to.

Мastitis or Inflammation of the

Udder
lV1astitis сan oссur at аny timе during thе
suсking period of thе foаl and immеdiatеly
following wеaning. It is сaused by an
abцndant supply ofrnilk, an еnеrgеtiс foаl
with shaтp front teeth' tlre mare lyiпg on
сold, wеt or haгd floors' oг injuriеs or
obstruсtion in the tеаts. Swelling and
enlargementof the uddеr is notiсеаblе, and
if the milk is drаwn, it will Ьe found to be
сlottеd аnd Ьlood stаinеd. Thе maге will
also show aсutе pain when тlre uddеr is
handlеd. As in аll сasеs of inflаmmatioц
thе vеds аdviсе must bе sought, and тlre
foal prevеntеd from rеaсhing the uddег ini-
tially, at lеaвt until tlre aсutе phasе is ovеr,
bеing fеd meаnwhilе as for orphаn foаls
(see neхt pagе). The uddег will nееd to bе
strippеd by hаnd until the сondition hаs
сleared, in thе hopе of getting thе milk
supply baсk to noгmal. Stгiсt hygienе
During а bout of mаstitis the pressure in the
udder must be re|ieved by hаnd. Тhis needsto
be сontinued unti| the mi|k is с|ear.
Veterinary he|p is needed for the аi|ments
from whiсh foaIs mаy suffer. top: A foа|
suffering from diаrrhoea, andtop right:
treatment with аn intrаvenous f|uid to сombаt
the сonsequent dehydгаtion. boltom left:
TypiсаI symptoms of meсonium сo|iс аre
signs of disсomfort, strаining аnd ro|Iing.
bottom фht: Synoviа| fIuid being withdrawn
for diаg nosis in а саse of joint i||, or infeсtion of
the nаve|, а distressing аnd frequentIy fаtаI
аi|ment whiсh саn be prevented by а routine
injeсtion.
should Ьe praсtiseф and tlrе Ьеdding аnd
flooг of t.Irе box kеpt sсrupulously сlеan
and disinfесtеd. waгm bаtlring, inrrа-
mаIlrmary аrrtiЬiotiсs аnd systеrniс teat-
mеnt undег vetегinатy саre will Ье nесes-
sагy onсе tlre сondition has been diаg-
nosеd.
Joint IП or lпfeсtion of the Navel
Infeсtion of фе foаl]s navel is tегmеd joint
ill or blood poisonin5 аnd тlre diseаsе is
mаinly сausеd by laсk of attеntion to this
pаrt immеdiately following foaling. How-
evег, thе infесtion саn аlso Ье lying latеnt
on a stцd wherе thе сondition has been
prеviously еsвblishеd. It саn also tаkе
effeсt whеn сolostrum from thе moтlrе1s
milk hаs bееn dеlаyed or is not avаilаЬle
foг building up nаturаl гesistanсе. In tlrеse
instаnсеs w.idе spесtruпr antiЬiotiсs will
Ьe neеdеd. A пewbom foal should always
Ьe givеn a routine аntibiotiс injесtion
agаinst joint ill.
Symptoms inсludе swelling and suppu-
гation in tlre nаvеl aгеa, often rеsulting in
аЬsсеsses. If the foal is not tтeated irr the
еаrly stages, it Ьeсomеs stiff, losеs tlrе will
to suсk аnd eventuаllY losеs thе usе ofonе
or boтlr hind lеgs, ttrе joiпts Ьeсoming
swolleц stiff аnd painfin.
Absсesses on фе joints mаy foтm аnd
rupпrге' саusing fisсhатge аnd joint oil to
flow. As poisons infusе йе blood strеаm,
фe сonditionwoгsеns until фе foаl саnnot
movе. Dеath will follow, сoming аs a
blеssing аt this stage аs anybody who hаs
еvеr аIтеmpted to sаve а foаl suffеring from
joint ill, will know. It саusеs immense dis-
tess and yet а litdе rтoublе at йе right timе
сould wеll pтеvеnt it.
Rеtention of iДесonium аnd
Constipation
If thе mесonium pтеsеnt in the foаl's sys-
tеm is not ещrеlled soon afteт birth аnd thе
firstmilk inтakе' tlrе foal will show signs of
сoliс аnd disсomfort, rolling on to its
bасk instеad of lying in thе normal rеlахed
position. It will аlso srrain withouт rеsult.
An enеmа will be nесessаry тo effесt сleал-
аnсе, and a tablеspoon ofсаstor oil pourеd
gently down tlre тЬтoat will hеlp. If the
сondition doеs not iпrpгove, the foal must
bе iпspeсted Ьy tlrе vеt for possiЬle bloсk-
аge.
Whitе Sсour
Cаused by йe prеsеnсе of a miсrobе in tlrе
digestivе traсt' this is аn iпfесtious form of
diагrhoеa. Sсouring сoпrmenсеs two or
thтee days аftеr biItrЬ tquid of а
yеllowish-gтеy or diгty white сolouт, with a
rеpulsive foеtid odouт, bеing еmitted with
 geаt foгсе. Thе foal's геaг end soon
Ьесomеs a filthy' stiсky mеss rеquiring
сonstant washing in warm soapy water'
дnd сarеful drying. Cream should bе
аppliеd to prеvеnt сhаpping of thе skin.
Yеterinаry trеаtrnеnt is rеquired from the
outset as the organism will havе to be сlаs-
sifiеd, a sеnsitivity tеst donе and thе most
еffeсtivе antibiotiс found to eliminatе ttre
pаrtiсulаr baсteria. Drеnсhing with
аntibiotiсs will Ье nесеssary. As фе disor-
dеr is infесtious, tttе marе аnd foal should
bе isolatеd and thе foal kеpt quiet, warm
аnd сomfortaЬlе. A11 parts of thе stablе
must bе kеpt сlеаn and disinfeсtеd and all
-!i diтгy and soilеd littеr should bе burnеd.
Foals suffеring from this сondition rapidly
Ьесomе dehydratеd and may nееd
rеplaсеmеnt fluid given by thе vеt.
Siтnplе diarrhoеa must not Ьe сonfused
тт.iй whitе sсour. Thе formеr is not infeс-
dous and сan Ье сaused Ьy an ovегabun-
dant supply of milk' or thе foal being
сhillеd. hеаlth in thе mаrе whiсh affесts
Il1
.l hет milk сan аlso lеad to thе сondition. In
аn oldег foal, impropеr eaгly fееding is a
probablе саusе. Trеatmеnt сonsists
pгimаrilу of drenсhiпg with а preparation
foгmulatеd spесifiсally for drying up the
trouЬlе and obtаinablе tfuough thе vеt.
Foals will often sсour whеn thе dam is
in sеason, partiсularly during the foаl hеat.
This is of no сonsеquеnсе, аnd will tеrmi-
nate with, or soon aftеr, thе hеat period.
I.асk of }tilk
A fеw marеs givе Ьarelу еnough milk to
sustаin thе foal and сеrtainly not еnough to
ensuгe its growth. An uddеr thаt looks
small doеs not always signify laсk of milk'
Ьut if the foal аppears сonstantlу hungry
аnd doеs not thrivе' shortage should be
suspесtеd. Supply саn often bе inсreаsed
by an improvеd diet. l0Иithin thе diсtаtеs of
thе sеаson' high quаlity and аbundant
grazing should bе sought, as notlring is
bеttеr for еnсourаging milk produсtion. In
сasеs whеrе no grass is availablе, milk pеl-
lеts or powdег addеd to аmplе rations of
oats and flaked maize should be givеn, as
all are high in the protеin rеquiлеd for milk
produсtion. A сonstant supply of сlovеr or
meadow haу should be fed, and wherе
аvailable any gтeen or suссulеnt food
addеd to thе rations, inсluding luсегnе,
сomfrеy and гoots. Clеаn wаtеr in сonstant
supply is еssеntiаl. Should thе rnilk quаn-
tity not improve, thе foal will requirе sup-
plementаry feeding (sее Oгphan Foals),
but should not be disсouraged ftom taking
what is availablе from thе maге' as сon-
stant suсking induсеs fuгthег supply.
Orphan Foals
In thе sad сasеs whеre thе maге diеs duг-
ing or aftеr foаling, and ttrе foal survivеs,
every еffoгt should be madе to find а fosteг
mothеr. l07hеn thе mаrе in question has
rесеndy foaled, the oгphan foal сan Ье
smoтhеrеd in hеr afterbirth oг disсhаrgе
Ьеforе bеing inшoduсеd. Tаking the skin
from a dеad foаl аnd plасing it ovеr thе
orphan's body is often suссеssful in induс-
ing a bеrеavеd mare to aссеpt it. Somе
marеs will aссept a foal and mothеr it
without any fuss, others will not tolerаtе а
strangе foal at аny priсе, аnd will show
dangerous rеsеntlтlеnt that threatens to
damagе it. If diffiсulty is enсountеrеd in
the еarly stages' thе two should live sidе by
sidе, with a partition betwееn tlrеm, so that
they сan sее еaсh other at all timеs. The
orphan foа|s wi|| need to be aссepted by a
foster mother or else be fed from а bott|e.
/eft: Тhis orphan has been drаped in the skin of
the mаre,s stiI|born foаI in the hooe thаt she
wi|| aссept it аs her own. фht: A greаt deаI of
patienсe is needed to peгsuаde an orphan to
aссept the bott|e.
mаrе should bе milkеd to kеep the supply
flowing, аnd this сan bе bottled and fеd to
the foal. A few mares will aссеpt and
mothег a foal quite happily without having
beеn pгеgnаnt and with no milk at аll. A
.nanny' of this typе саn be usеful as
саrеtakег to thе foаl' who саn thеn run out
at pasture with otlrers whilst bеing guarded
from dangег. Shе will also .keep him in
oгdеi, allowing him to grow up nаtuгаlly,
his mentality dеveloping аlong normаl
lines. Suсh a foаl must of сoцrsе bе bottlе
fеd until thе time that hе would normally
be wеanеd. A mаrе with а very уoung foal
аnd аn abundant mi.lk supply will, with
еnсouгagemеnt, oссasionally feed two
foals.
\DИhеre no fostеr moт}rег or nanny сan bе
found, the foal must be геaгed on a bottlе.
Although thе disшibution of a milk
геplaсement powdeг, with a сomposition
spесifiсally for foals, is not yet univeгsаl, it
is аvailablе in somе сountriеs аnd сan be
oЬtainеd through a vеt. Thе powdеr is eаs-
ily miхed aссoгding to thе mаnufaсtureds
dirесtions, and is fеd at blood hеat ftom a
.!uиhеге
stеrilizеd botтlе and tеat. powdeг is
unobtainaЬlе, usеful suЬstitцtes are: goаts
milk, еittrer fеd by bottlе or takеn strаight
A hea|thy mаre аnd her equa||y energetiс foaI
exuIt in the freedom of the oaddoсk on a fine
dav.

Abovе A foaI thаt is hand|ed from birth is
unlikely to prove awkward when a foaling slip
is fitted. The sIio shouId be fitted with сare to
avoid any possibiIity of disсomfoгt, and shou|d
bе adjusted as the foaI grows.
Below Being at Iibeгty in good qua|itу
oasture wiIl benefit both dаm and foaI.
from thе goat by thе foal; сows milk,
diluted with onе third thе quantity of warm
boilеd watеr and swееtеnеd in the plopol-
tion of 20 gms of brown sugar to I litre
(approximatelу 2/зoz to l quart).
In а1l саsеs strеnuous еfforts should Ье
Fh
mаdе to obtain сolostтum immеdiatеly,
bцt if it is not availablе thе foal should first
be fеd gluсosе and watеr to сleаr thе sys-
tеm of meсonium, and prеvеnt сonstlpa-
tion. Sеveral dаys of аntibiotiс сover will
be nесеssаry to replaсe the proteсtivе сo1-
ostrllm.
For thе ensuing bottlе fееding, meals
should bе rеgular, at first е.lеry two hours,
followеd by еvеrу four hours in two or
thгее wееks depеnding on progrеss, and
сontinuing with longеr intervals Ьеtwееn
fеeds. At four or fivе months, whеn thе foal
is еating well, two milk feеds pеr daу will
Ье suffiсiеnt.
Маrеs who havе lost thеir foаls at Ьiгth
should bе kеpt on low protеin diеt of haу
and dailу Ьrаn mash until thе milk has
driеd up. Thеrе arе also vеtеrinary pro-
duсts to aid the drуing up proсеss. Thе
marе musт hаvе as muсh еxеrсisе as poss-
iЬlе, but should not Ьe tцrned out on good
grazing аnd ttre uddеr will neеd сonstаnt
oЬservation for signs of mаstitis. Drawing
thе milk is only rесommеnded in сasеs of
severе ovеr-supply, as naturе will
еndеavoцr to rеplасе thе milk ttrаt has
bееn tаken.
Feeding and Еxеrсisе
Following natural Ьirth with no assoсiatеd
сompliсations, and providing the weather
is гeasonably mild аnd dry' the marе сan Ье
turnеd or led out for еxеrсise with thе foаl
aftеr a day of reсuperation. In thе сasе of
nаtivе poniеs or аnimals of mixed Ьlood'
foаls born in Маy and June сan Ье turnеd
out at night as wеll аfter thе first thrее days'
Thosе born outsidе at this timе аnd in
wаrm, sеttlеd wеathеr саn rеmain outsidе
throughout thе summer. ThoroughЬrеd
foаls, and thosе born indoors еаrlу in thе
sеаson' must bе шеatеd with сonsideгation
in inсlеment wеathеr сonditions' and
brought in at night until thе siruation
improvеs.
Мarеs and foаls on abцndant grazing of
high quality will гequirе littlе еlsе, other
than good grass during thе summer.
.Whеrе
hеrbаge is slrarsе а high protein diеt
of сrushеd oаts, flaked maizе and stud
сuЬes mixеd with a littlе bran, and givеn to
thе maIe with а libеral supply of good hay,
should keеp the milk supplу flowing. Foаls
nеed еxeгсisе for growth and musсle
dеvеlopment and should not bе rеstriсtеd'
thе сompany of other foals Ьеing a bonus to
thеir plaуful instinсts.
Both marе and foal requirе сonstant
obsеrvation from biлth until wеaning. A
foal's nаturаl inquisitivе natцre is oftеn
likеly to gеt it into шoublе. A foаl slip
plaсеd on its hеad within a weеk of Ьirth,
and gеntlе fondling of thе hеаd еvеry so
often, will simplify halter breаking. Foals
should rесеivе thеir first anti-tеtanus
injесtion at weaning time.
Foals arе usually wеaned at six months
if the maге is in foal again, but сan Ье lеft
until еight months if shе is barrеn and
looking wе11. Thе bеst proсedure is to
sеparatе thеm сomplеtеly in safe quartеrs'
out of sight and еarshot foг thrее wееks,
that is providing thе foal wаs eating wеll
bеfore weaning.
'Whеrе foaling has bееn normаl and
troublе-frее' with no bruising, stitсhing oI
disсhargе, a marе сan bе сovеred on her
foal heаt for anothеr foal thе following
yеar. sеven to ten dауs after parturition is
thе normal duration of this hеat pеriod, but
if missеd shе сan Ье сoverеd during thе
week following hеr 27th daу. As somе
marеs are diffiсult to gеt in foal whilst feеd-
ing one at foot' thе foаl hеat should not bе
missed whеге сonditions аrе fаvourablе, аs
this is thе timе when shе is most likely to
сonсеlvе.

е thе еnjoymеnt of riding, and thе сompan.
B ionship of thеir poniеs.
Т' Ь a strаngе fасt *rat while most
t- pеoplе аrе сapablе of buying them-
sеlтes suitаЬlе сlothеs, furniture, or еven
housеs, wiтhout having to bе professional
вilgls 61 dressmakeгs, joinеrs or estаtе
аgrпts' fеw pеoplе who are not profession-
ellу сoпnесtеd with horsеs сan buy thеm-
sеlтes a suitаble moцnt' partiсulаrly if it is
тЬеiт first buу. Мore remarkable still, is
rЬяt rлrhereas evеrуbody is only too eagеr to
sееk and tаkе еxpеrt adviсе if they аrе in
апт doubt about the worth of а mаterial
оЬjeсt, тlrе noviсе horsе buyеr mау askfot
аdтiсе, but hе sеldom tаkеs it. This is par-
tiсulагly rue of those Ьuying а hoгsе oг
pоnу for a сhild, when all too oftеn thе
рrтсhаsе is waу Ьеуond the сhild s гiding
саpаbility. To buy a horsе thаt suits onе's
саpасity аs a ridеr is еxшemеly important,
tor nobody's riding will bе improvеd bу а
hoгsе that is really too gгеаt a handful. Thе
rеsults аге fаr more likely to Ье a loss of
сonfidenсe, possiblу a fеw brokеn bonеs
апd а ruinеd horsе.
TЪe tеndеnсy is for noviсe hoгse buyеrs
to over-гatе thеir сapabilities, Ьut worsе
still, ttreу do not always sееm to rеaШze that
йeу arе Ьuуing а living сreature. ЕIorsеs
пur-Y not have so muсh intеlligеnсe as
humапs, but eасh has a сhаrасtеr and а
tеmpеrаmеnt as individual to it, аs those of
еасh human bеing. Presumably thе privаte
pегson wants to own a horse bесause hе
likes гiding and he will enjoy his riding
vеry muсh morе if thе horsе hе buys is not
oпlу thе right make and shape for him, but
Ьаs а tеmpеramеnt not inсompatiЬlе with
his own.
Bеforе dесiding to buy a horsе, it is as
wеll to еxaminе the reаsons for wanting to
own oпe. Florsе-owning is not something
to Ь еmbarkеd upon lightlу. The domеstiс
hoгsе is not а sеlf-suffiсiеnt animal; it is
цnаble to hunt and provide for itsеlf if neg-
lесtеd. A horse-ownеr must not only еnjoy
гidirrg, but also like horsеs enough to Ье
tvil.ling to givе up timе to сarе for his ani-
mаl. Thе worst rеason for wanting to own
a horsе is to .kееp up' with othеr horsе
ownеrs. A horsе should never Ье thought
of as a status sуmbol.
Vhеn buying a pony for a сhild, it is the
сhild s nеeds and riding аЬility thаt must
Ье сonsiderеd, and not what othеrs will
think of thе pony. Buying a top-сlass,
еxpеnsivе аnimal does not automatiсally
еnsurе fust plaсе in thе showing line or
lumping ring, unlеss thе сhild is rea1lу
lt is importаnt to buy a pony of the right tуpe
forthe сhiId,s experienсe. This young owner is
obviously delighted with her pony.
talеntеd and is having rеgulaг, good
instruсtion. Childтen arе genеrаlly сom-
Pеtitivе up to а point, but they should not
Ье еnсourаgеd Ьу thеir parents to think
that winпing prizеs is morе impoгtant than
Prеparing to Buy
Bеforе starting to look for a horsе, dесidе
on thе maximum amount you arе prеparеd
to paу, then look at animаls offеrеd for salе
around that pгiсe. Don't be in a hurrу.
With patiеnсе, you will find thе right ani-
mal. Buy the wlong onе and you will prob-
аbly find diffiсulty, and finanсial loss, in
rеselling it - that is if you havе not Ьeсomе
too fond of it in the meantime to want to
sell it at all.
Considеr thе аmеnitiеs you havе for its
kееp, thе time availаЬle to spend on its
сarе, and the сlimatiс сonditions. If thе
horsе is to livе out, oг partly out' in a сold
сlimatе, it mцst not Ье too higЫy brеd. If it
is to bе stablеd, and you afс а сompеtеnt
ridеr, the сhoiсе is wider.
Rеlatе your height аnd wеight to thе
hеight and typе of horsе you neеd.
Rеmеmbеr that a big horse, in hеight, is
not neсеssarily a wеight сarriеr; сonforma-
tion and bone аrе morе importаnt. Nor is a
big hoгsе neсеssarily any faster or a bеttеr
jumpеr than a smаllеr onе. Мoreovег, too
big a horse сan bе аwkward for mounting
or dismounting. A good сob is probаbly
Ьеttеr for a гаthег hеаvy ridег than a so-
сallеd hеаvy-wеight hunter whiсh сan bе a
bit сommon. Thе bеst hеаrry-weights,
whiсh have a bit of сlass, will сost а grеat
dеal of monеy.
Don t buy а young horsе beсause it is
сheаper, and attempt to bring it on уour-
sеlt urrless your riding is rеally up to pro-
fеssional standard, or yoц livе whеrе you
сan have сonstant еxpert instruсtion.
Another trap is to think ttrat а horsе ovеr
12 is аutomаtiсally too old. This is not
nесеssarilу so; hoгsеs that havе bееn well
lookеd aftеr all thеir lives сan work happilу
into thеir twenties. It maу bе bеst to look
for something Ьetween five and еight years
old, but don't rejесt a suitаЬlе sounding
animаl just bесausе it is a littlе oldеr. For a
noviсe rider, in partiсular, a horse in its
teens сan givе a lot of pleasurе, inсгеasе
thе ridе/s сonfidenсe _ and it сosts а lot
lеss to Ьuу.
Bеfore aсtually looking for the horsе,
havе somе sort of piсturе in your mind of
what you Want. Don't be dogmatiс about
сolour, or about sех, unlеss you've riddеn a
lot 6nd havе devеlopеd a prеfеrenсе for
eithеr marеs or geldings. Finanсially,
however, a niсe marе, partiсulаrlу if she's
known to hаvе had a foal, drops lеss iп
value with age thаn а gelding.
In buying a ponу for a сhild, partiсulаrly
a first pony, tempеramеnt is all important.
Looks are unimportant, just so long as thе
pony is not s-o widе thе сhild саn't gеt its
lеgs round it! This is onе гeason why Shеt-
lands do not always makе good firstponiеs.
Childтеn get as muсh plеasurе аnd fun
fгom looking aftеr аnd bеing with their
poniеs as thеy do from riding thеm. A first
pony should therеforе Ьe patiеnt and ami-
able, but not suсh а slug whеn riddеn that
it walks about with its hеad praсtiсally on
thе ground. Nеvеr gеt a уoung pony, with
the idеa that Ьoth it and thе сhild сan lеarn
togеtlrеr. Thеy сan't.
Poniеs for oldеr, more advаnсed сhil-
drеn may Ье of no partiсular breed, or thеy
сan Ьe pеdigrееd poniеs of onе of the many
nativе Ьrееds. The сost of thesе will
depеnd to a сеrtain extent on thе fаshion of
thе moment.
Еaсh native brеed has its own verу indi-
vidual сharaсtеristiсs; а1l havе сharm and
quality, arе hardy and саn livе out bесausе
йеy grow dеnsе wintеr сoats, and thе
majority havе highly dеveloped еquinе
intеlligеnсеs. Manу are wеll up to сarrying
adults as wеll as сhildrеn, and these makе
good .fаmil5/ poniеs. Bеforе сhoosing а
partiсular breеd,
id s a good idеa to find out
morе аЬout t}rеm and perhaps go to one of
thе big shows, whеrе thеy сan be sееn,
Ьoth in hand' and bеing riddеn. Childrеn
should always ridе and handle ponies (i.е.
taсk and untaсk thеm) bеforе а deсision is
madе to buy thеm.

How to Buy
If you havе bееn going rеgularly to а rеput-
able riding sсhool, your instruсtor should
bе thе bеst person to flt уour riding aЬility
to thе right horse. Thеrе may Ье nothing
suitable in his staЬle at thе moment of
asking, Ьut he will probably havе a good
idea of thе horseу doings in the neigh-
Ьourhood, аnd will Ьe ablе тo аdvisе you
whеre elsе to go. Thе ассеnt ofсoursе is on
.rеputaЬlе'; no riding еstablishmеnt with a
rеputation to uphold woцld risk damaging
it Ьy selling you somе old
.plug, thеу didn t
wаnt. On thе сontrary, it is to thеir аdvаn-
tаgе to find you the right аnimаl. If thеrе is
a horse you hаve Ьееn riding regularly
whiсh you would likе to buy, find out as
muсh about it аs you сan by handling it in
its boх, and sееing if it is аs plеasant to
handlе аs it is to ridе. If you like what уou
find, ask if it is for salе, without being too
еagеr.
If a horse is suggеstеd to you as Ьeing
suitaЬle, dort't fеel уou havе to Ьuу it ifуou
don't likе it, еven if it givеs уou a niсe ridе.
If you arе going to own a horsе, уou will bе
spеnding quitе a lot of timе with it' so it is
еssential you likе it as a personality.
Iftherе is no riding sсhool to сontaсt, trу
a rеputablе dеalеr in your neighbourhood.
Thеrе tеnds to be аn unjustifiable prе-
judiсе against dеаlers. A good dealеr, likе а
good гiding sсhool, has a rеputaтion то
uphold; so he, too wants to satisfy his
сliеnts. Howеver, nеvеr go to a dealеr pre-
tending уou know morе than you do. Hе
will takе a lot of troublе to suit a gеnuinе,
aсknowledgеd noviсе, horsе buуеr, but
who сan blamе him if now аnd thеn hе
takes advantаge of ignorant show-offs?
Finding a horsе through аn аdvеrtisе-
mеnt in thе pаper or a horsеy magazinе is a
possibilitу, but kееp a sеnsе ofpropoltion-
and of distanсе. If a horse you like thе
sound of is a long way awaу, it is going to
сost you a fаir amoцnt of timе аnd monеу
to go to sее it. Мorеovеr, for somе rеason it
.no,
tеnds to bе morе еmЬаrrassing to saу
to a privatе sellеr than to a profеssional.
Try and find a suitаblе sounding аnimal
nеarеr to homе, and having made аn
appointment to sее it, make surе you keеp
thаt appointmеnt, or tеlephonе if you want
to саnсel it. It is nevеr advisablе for thе
noviсe to buy a horsе at a publiс аuсtion oI
salе, uпlеss hе has bееn ablе to try the
animal аnd hаndlе it Ьеforеhаnd.

Аbove Weighing up a prospeсtive purсhase

,WiII
Тhe question to ask is: we get on Wе||
together?, It is as impoгtant to Iike your horse
аs to know he has qua|itу.
Below Buying horses from auсtions аnd
horse fairs, like this one at Stow-on-the-Wold,
G|ouсestershire, сan be a bit гisky un|ess you
have а good deaI of experienсe.
 vеry сlose togеthеr. Rеmember, howevеr,
that no horse is perfесt, аnd unlеss you
wаnt a horsе or a pony for showing, onе or
two small shortсomings arе not too impor-
tant, pгoviding thе horsе givеs a good ride,
has a plеasant tеmpеramеnt, and is thе
right priсe.
.tеmpеramеnd
That all-important
should pеrhaps Ье сonsidеred furthеr.
Some horsеs arе nervous and higЫy
strung and theу should сеrtainlу bе
avoidеd bу nеrvous and higЫy stnrng lid-
еrs. Somе are morе еxсitablе than othеrs
and aп exсitаblе ridеr will makе thеm
moге so. Nеrvous pеoplе should сhoosе
plabid horsеs, who will hеlp them ovеr-
сomе thеir own nеrvousnеss. Cаlm peoplе
Yш: must, of сouгsе, try any horsе you It should bе plеаsing, and in pгoPortion. will be aЬlе to sooфе nегvous horsеs.
I0Иhilе it is somеtimеs possiblе to Ьuy
лв фiпk of buying, but ask thе sеlleг to Lеgs should not sееm еithеr too long, or
пrdв ir for уou fust. It maу not have beеn too short' for the body, whiсh should be inеxpensivеlу, a good horse thаt is in vеry
ззiеn for somе days, or еvеn weеks, and if сompaсt' not elongatеd or perhaps with a poor сondition' this is not rеally a good
гs goЬg to be a bit frеsh, rathеI thе сuI- hollow baсk. Thе shouldеr should be slop- idеa for thе noviсе. It is not gеnеrally еasy
:ЕЕ: o\гIrеr on its Ьaсk than you! If it ing; an upright onе will givе a short- to tеll what саn bе mаde of suсh a horsе
дЕщеа.гs to bе rathеrmorе of a ridе than you striding, not so сomfortablе, ride. Thе and it will also takе timе and expеrt mаn-
fur уou саn сopе with, say so. nесk should bе сurvеd but not еxag- agеmеnt to еffесt thе transformation.
\.-.1 mяny pеoplе arе prеparеd to lеt gеratеdly сrеstеф and thе hеad should look Briеfly, here аrе somе bаsiс rulеs to bеar
.wеll sеt on'; with сlеаn linеs. .Watсh сarе- in mind when buуing:
з;trsеs go out on trial, exсеpt somе good
iетJg15. lf а sеllеr сan bе pеrsuаdеd to part fully as the horse walks; hе should sшidе Buy within youl mеans; not onlу
т:i тhе horsе on a weеk or a fortnight's out frееly, hind fееt traсking wеll up and what you сan afford to paу for' but also
so muсh т}re bеttеr. If hе is not happy сoming down in advаnсе of thе print lеft by what you сan afford to kеep. Thе moгe
=тдi.
ш lо тhis' sцggеst that you rеturn and have thе foгеfoot. Hе should сaгry his hеad well, highly brеd, thе morе еxpеnsive thе
дЕjL1гhег гidе bеforе mаking a finаl dесi- аnф whеn lookеd at from thе front, his keеp will bе.
sirц-e- Alqrаys hаndle a horsе you think of forеlеgs should movе in а straight linе' not Buy aссoгding to thе amеnitiеs you
т4:ng not only whеn hе is taсkеd-up and swing out sidеwаys. Hе should not appеal hаvе, and thе timе you сan spеnd on
to bе vеry narrow in thе сhest, wiтh forеlеgs looking aftеr a horsе.
=вJт. Ьuт whеп he is takеn
baсk to his
mаЬi'е. Sее how hе behavеs in his box. Sее Buy what you еnjoу ridlngnoшi not
т !A Е.ill lеt you lift his fееt. Ask whеthеr Аbove |tismostimpoгtantto hаVeatгiа| ride what уou hopе you will be ablе to mаn-
]г trot hе is еasy to shoе. before buying a hoгse or pony, аs we|| аs agе onе daу.
It уou sее a privatеly-ownеd horsе' asking to see it being ridden. Always ask for, and takе, the adviсе of
теiсh Ьаviтrg шiеd, you think is suitablе, Below Befoгeуoufina||ydeсideto buy, mаke an ехpегienсed pеrson bеfoге you sign
шпт hаnd а сhеquе ovег thеre and thеn. sUre Уour horse is inspeсted by a vet. thе сheoue.
Pвсlяim }'our intегest, but say you would
i..iЕ тour vеterinary surgеon to havе a look
д:. rт. аnd thаt, if his repoгt is satisfaсtory,
тв.i: q.ill buу it. If thеrе аrе sеvегal other
вэplе intеrеstеd, and you геаllу want thе
ioгsе! уou сan offer a 10 per сеnt dеposit
aп' тhе u:зdeгstanding that ifthе vеt' s report
пs цдsаtisfасtory, it is rеturnеd.
_
-{trwауs getуour vеt not the sеllе1s - to
с!зесk thе horsе. ЕIе should eхaminе its
Ь.е-ъ wind, limЬs аnd еyеs, and will tell
1оu iь agе. Ovеr еight yеars old, a horse is
.-дT]6d
.дggd, bесаusе аftеr thаt it is not
едsг to Ье ассuтate to within a yеar or two.
ТЪе uпwary, howеver, сan bе сaught by
т5e uпsсrupulous selling a two-yеaг-old as
а fiте-уеаr-olф as a two-year-old hаs a full
of babу tееth, and a fivе-yеar-old, of
=оцтh
*йrlт ones.
.\ теt' s геport will inсludе any blеmishеs
**d tесhniсal unsoundnеss hе may find
"iш:тiпg his eхaminаtion. If thеsе inсludе
sg'ii.nts, it is of no great сonсеrn. lV1any
:,огsеs havе thеsе small bony еnlargе-
=епБ on thе insidе of thе front сannon
iсше bеtwееn thе knее and the fеtloсk, or
ш,саdonаllу on a hindlеg, but onсe
:сг-roе4 thеy sеldom сausе lamеnеss.
Unlеss уou know a grеat deal about thе
соalЪгmаtion of thе horse, it is bettеr to
пink of thе animal as a wholе, аnd the
pЁште ttrat wholе prеsеnts to уou. Stand
Ъ--k ftom a horsе you'rе сonsidering buy-
]тg апd sее what kind of piсturе hе mаkes.

in thе titlе of this
'T.". kеу word.progrеssivе',
l. сhаptеr is Ьесausе
unlеss thе trаining ofthе horsе is progrеs-
sivе ttrеrе will bе no logiсаl pattеrn and,
thereforе, no сlеarly dеfinеd objeсtivе.
Therе is no way of сommuniсating the
oЬjесtivе to thе horsе, Ьut thе logiсal pat-
tern of progrеss is vital if hе is to under-
stand and reaсt willingly to thе wishеs and
dеmаnds of his traineт.
In human tеrms thе horsе is an inсrеdi-
blу simplе soul аnd so it is еssential that
anу mеthod usеd or appliеd for тhe purposе
of teaсhing him anything must bе rеduсеd
to the siтnplеst possiЬlе tеrms. Bу now wе
know a good dеal aЬout his body аnd the
way it works, but bеyond that wе rеallу
know vеry 1iш1е. Wе do not truly know
whethеr hе саn .thinl{ or сеrtаinly what
.Wе
form thought takes. know nothing of
the intеllесt or powеrs of reasoning of thе
horsе, although thеre are ftagments
of evidеnсе whiсh suggest hе may hаve
onе or Ьoth.
As thе trаiner, wе must bе сonstantly
awаrе that it is impossiblе for us to think or
bеhаve in anу manner othеr тhan human;
wе havе no wish to beсomе horsеs and wе
havе no right to еxpесt horses to Ьесome
humans, or evеn human-likе. Anthтo-
pomorphism prеsеnts a сonsidеraЬlе bar-
rier in thе training of animals. Suсh books
as Blасk Bеаutу' \Yind in thе \Villoшs and
thе works of Walt Disnеy arе undoubtеdlу
сharming and yеt, with a sad ironу, thеy
have donе a gгеat dеal to геtard the pтog-
rеss of undеrstаnding and сommuniсation
Ьetweеn humans and animals. On thе
othеr hand' it is fаr worsе to сonsidеr that
animаls arе inсapablе of thoughts, fеel-
ings, and еmotions. As usuаl thеrе is a
middle сoursе, and it is this that thе sеrious
trainеr must сontinuously sееk.
onсе thе hoгsе has rеaсhеd аbout four
yеаrs old and has Ьеen baсkеd, inшoduсеd
to thе .aids' and shown that hе is willing
and ablе to walk and trot with а ridеr on his
baсk' he is rеadу to Ьеgin .progressivе'
work. From this moment on, and for еvеr
morе' thе trainer must havе сlеагlу uppеr-
most in mind thаt therе arе thтeе things
requirеd ofevегy гidden horsе on the movе.
These arе:
Conшolled, frеe, forward movеmеnt
The сorreсt Ьеnd
An еven rhythm at all paсеs at a tеmpo
сhosеn Ьу thе rider
Thе tfuеe rеquiгеments аге of equal
importanсe and сan bе еqually аs сorrесtly
stated in аny order. They form a tlinity by
whiсh the hoгsеmаn must livе' for it is a
faсt thаt 7f аnу one of the thrее rеquirе-
mеnts has dеtеrioratеd or disappeаrеd it is
impossiblе for the hoгsе to mаkе a сhangе
of paсе oг dirесtion сorrесtlу. Thеiт impor-
tanсе сannot, thеrеfore, Ье undеrlined too
sпongly.
Thе wording of thе rеquirеmеnts is
сarеfully сhosеn and dеsеrvеs сloser
sсrutiny. In .сontrollеd, frее' forwаrd
movеmеnt', the word .сontrolled alludes
to the horse in that hе is еxerсising self-
сontlol whilsт еagerlу awaiting thе wishеs
of his ridеr. Еvеry horsе shoцld сomе out
of his staЬle уearning to run and jump and
play, Ьut suсh is his training that hе wi-ll
сonшol himself' сhannеlling his desirеs to
thosе of his ridеr. Thе Ьettеr and morе
еstablishеd his training, thе morе sеlf-
.frее'
сontrol hе will display. Thе word
alludеs to his limЬs, joints, and musсlеs.
Thеy must movе freely and еasily ovеr
еaсh othеr, сo-ordinatеd and, above all,
without tension. .Forward, apaгt from thе
oЬvious physiсal sеnsе, alludes to thе
horsе's mеntal attitude. ЕIе must show
сlеarly in his Ьеhаviour аnd way of going
that hе is .thinking forward and has an
.Movе-
unmistakеablе dеsirе to go thеrе.
mеnt' is self-еxplaпatory.
Having.the сoIIесt Ьеnd' mеans that thе
horse will bе unifoгmly shapеd throughout
his еntirе lеngth' i.е. from poll to tail' so
that,"seеn from aЬovе, his body сonforms
еxaсtly to thе linе аlong whiсh hе is mov-
ing. on a straight linе, thегеforе, hе is
straight and on a сirсlе, oI part of a сirсle,
the сurvе of his body will сoinсide with thе
arс of whаtever sizе сirсle is bеing attеmp-
tеd.
It is important to undеrstand what thе
hoгsе has to do to сomply with this
rеquirеment in thе light of thе faсt that, in
most horsеs, the sесtion of thе spine from
thе withеrs to the сгoup, has very littlе
ability to bеnd аnd in a numbеr of horsеs,
nonе at all. It follows, therеfore, that hе has
to manipulatе his limЬs and musсlеs in a
mannеr whiсh doеs not сome naturally to
Тhe o bjeсt of tra ining а h orse is to make h im
happy to be ridden and a pleasure to ride, no
matter what the oursuit.
'тr.l
 PR0GRЕsslvE тRA|NING

li]гг ЕЪеп horsе is сurvеd (i.e. bеnt) the

а quеntlу whеn rising at thе tlot is also a
дhsmазсе Ьеtwееn thе shouldеr blade and
fщ t]P ioЬt is shortеnеd on thе сonсavе
*втг. o['insidе, аnd inсrеаsеd on the out-
тпle. Ifhe сoцld bеnd his spine, thеsе vari-
лlшiц:lгs in distаnсе would сome about
шшmгпrnаdсаllу, but аs this is not thе сasе it
lmlrs tЬаt thе inside shouldеr must dеlib-
t*в1у bе d.rаwn baсk and thе insidе hip
щIsЬBd forwаrd iпdеpendеntly of thе
щшве. whilst still kееping an еvеn rhythm
'ш.Нi sтеps. Among ot}rer things, thеrе hаs
пп Ье сoшpгеssion of thе ribs and flat mus-
ri* оп тhе insidе аnd strеtсhing along thе
.птзiiе.
.\ Jееpеr study of the horsе's anatomу
wш.rld rеvеal a сonsiderable numbеr of
д'n:i{6дд| ditfrсultiеs, but еnough has
Ьеg. sаid to illustrate why horsеs so frе-
qвезтny гesЬt Ьеnding. It also shows why
r=rебm сiтсlе is so muсh morе advanсed
lт*т фg 20m, аnd whу trainеrs must be
.:*геrul aпd sympathetiс in thеir dеmаnds.
Riт-thm should Ьe mеtronomrc in its
gлЕffrеss аnd сonsistеnt rеgulality' at аll
:e.еs. Атrything else would lеad to
зпеs.uаl phуsiсal dеvеlopmеnt, сausing
ьrlЕЁ OГ morе mцsсlе or limb to bесomе
*iтоigег and/oг morе flеxiblе than its pаrt-
rг. wЫсh would rеsult in onе-sidеdnеss.
-\.oorhеr vеry important rеason for a rеgu-
lдд:hгtЬm is thе еffесt it hаs on the horsе's
_..d. It hаs a distinсtly сalming influenсe
тзi сontгibцtеs
.!7hen
grеatly to his aЬility to
.!теnтratе. a horse losеs сonсеnt-
*зоп, thе rhythm will at onсе altеr or
lЕсоmе еIтatiс, and, сonvеrsеly, if the
strong сontriЬutor to rendering а horse
onе-sided.
.!Йhеn
onе-sidеdnеss is еnсounterеd, the
horsе should not irnrnediately be worked
more on his bad sidе. Thе work should Ье
еqual in quаntitу in both diтесtions' but
rеlated in quаlity to his bad side' It for
instanсе) тhe horsе сan еаsily movе around
a 10 m сiгсle to thе lеft' but сannot managе
lеss than 20 m to thе right thеn hе must
only bе workеd on thе laгger сirсlе on both
rеins. As his bad sidе improvеs and hе сan
work on an 18 m сirсlе on thаt rein, thеn
thе сirсlеs on his good sidе arе rеduсеd by
the same amount. To pursuе tight work on
thе good sidе and opеn work on the stiff
sidе _ evеn though thе stiff sidе bе workеd
fivе timеs as muсh - will not aсhiеvе thе
dеsirеd rеsult and, morе oftеn than not,
will magnifу thе problеm in the mind of
thе horsе, rider or both.
Lunging thе young horse as a preсursor
to baсking аnd riding is both neсеssary аnd
desirаble, providеd it is donе wеll. If a
young horsе is сorrесtlу and thorougЫу
lunged it will produсе Ьеnеfits, whiсh will
stand him in good stеad for thе rеst of his
lifе. It is еqually tflre that саrеlеss and
inadеquatе lunging, еspесiallу at this сгit-
iсal time, сan do sevегe, if not irrеpaгaЬlе
damage. So mаny pеoplе takе troublе and
pains to lеаrn to гidе сompеtеntly, and then
proсeеd to .brеаl{ young hoгsеs, having
had littlе or no tuition in lunging. Thеn
Йеу wondеr why they еnсounteг so many
problеms and diffiсultiеs in the saddlе.
oppoгtunity should bе takеn to estaЬlish
сonfidеnсе and tгust in his шainer in par-
tiсulaг, and in humans in gеneral. If hе has
bееn kindly handlеd from a foal thе task
should bе еasiеr, but it must аlso Ье
rеmembеrеd that ovеr-сonfidеnсe and
сarеless Ьеhаviour by thе trainеr at this
time сan undeгminе thе horsе's trцst, so hе
fееls bеtrayеd' In аddition, hе maу well
rеsolvе nеvеr to bе foolеd agаin Ьу thаt
two-legged monstег! Wittr thе horsе that
has hаd pгevious bad еxpеriеnсеs, how-
еvеr, this lunging pеriod is a goldеn oppor-
tunity to геvеrsе his poor viеw of humanity.
A major objeсtivе in lunging is to tеaсh
thе horsе an undеrstanding of' аnd an
obеdiеnсе to' thе vеrbаl сommands to
walk, шot аnd halt. He should lеarn thеsе
to suсh a dеgrее that he will oЬеу thеm in
any order, on either rеin аnd in response to
diffеrеnt voiсеs. The peгson who tеaсhеs
him on thе lungе mаy not bе thе first onе to
ridе him, аnd to have a diffеrеntvoiсе issu-
ing thе word сommands from his Ьасk
сould саusе сonfusion. Thе words usеd
must ьe сlеarly distinguishable from еaсh
oфеr. In Еngland, for еxample, it is сom-
mon praсtiсе to saу .whoa' (pronounсеd
.wo') instеad of .hald. It must Ьe dеlivеred
shoгtly and сlеarly, not drawn out, so it
rеsеmbles thе сommand .wall(, whiсh is
and should bе drawn out. Thе сantеr hаs
no plaсе on the lungе until thе horsе is
muсh morе mаturе and quitе advanсed.
A young Swedish horse being introduсed to
his first pieсes of Iunging equipment. He wi||

=ттЬп is allowed to dеtеrioгatе, hе will

The objесtivеs of lunging, prior to baсk- be hаndIed fгom the ground with a speсiaI
]oБе сonсentration and bесomе еаsily dis- ing should bе сlеаrly undеrstood so that a сaVesson noseband and |ong rein prior to
This last faсtor givеs thе kеy to thе young horsе is not askеd to dеal with moге being гidden. Note partiсuIагIy the аttention
-сtеd.
.-тюrtаIlсе of kеeping thе rhуthm when than hе is ablе аnd so thаt thе relеvant being given to gaining the horse's trust and
=аiкing altетations within thе
paсе, i.е. lеssons arе thorougЫy learnеd. Full сo nfidenсe.
7аssЬg from сollесtion to mеdium or
:s.:еnsion and viсe versa, for thеsе аrе
еsресiаlly vulnеrаblе momеnts with
-sаrd тo Ьalanсе аnd сonсentтаtion. onсе
iзе tеmpo (the speеd of the stеps, or thе
тrmЬег of footfalls pеr minutе, whiсh
зust bе сhosеn and sеt bу the ridеr) has
-еn еstаblishеd, thе тhуthm must bе
:igюгously maintained.
onе-sidеdnеss in a horsе сan сomе
*Ьout through a numbеr of саusеs: a mеn-
:т геluсtanсе to move one way bесausе of а
5аd еxpегiеnсe on that sidе as a foаl or
rol.шlgster, probably сausеd by an inеpt or
jumsу handlеr, or a spoilt mouth, pегhаps
aоm сагеlеss fitting of side-reins whеn
.ungЬg or fтom bаd riding' A spoilt
:еouth сommonly oссurs when а young
зоrsе is сhanging his tеeth, thе mouth
iесomes inflamеd and hyper-sensitive in
sromе paгt or pаrts' so thаt hе naturallу,
:еsЬts сontaсt in that arеa. Too often this
:еsЬtаnсе is mistakеnly intеrpreted by thе
тдiner аs wilful disoЬеdiеnсe and the
епsurng сoarsе lnsrstеnсе сan сIеatе a
оnе.sidеd mouth in a very short timе.
Unеquаl musсular dеvelopmеnt, either
тom working with an erratiс rhythm or
siпрlу by working too muсh in onе dirес-
:ion, is an oЬvious сausе. Мanу ridеrs have
а паrurаl prefеrеnсе for onе dirесtion аnd,
quitе unwittingly, work muсh morе on
aаt rеin. Not сhanging thе diagonal fге-
PR0GRЕss|vE тRA|NING
Lunging will rюt make a horse stroпg. It
will mаke him morе hеalthy and his joints
morе flеxible' prepаring them аnd thе
musсlеs for wеight-сarrying work. Aftеr
two or tfuее months of good lunging the
horsе will /ooh biggеr and strongеr thаn hе
асtuallу is, аnd thе most vulnerablе of all
in this rеgard, is thе beautiful big four-
yеar-old of 16.2 h.h. or morе.
The horsе must bе lunged on as largе a
сiгсlе аs possiЬlе. Мorе irгеvoсablе
injuriеs to hoсks and baсks and nесks havе
beеn sustainеd by lunging on too small a
сirсlе, than from any otheг сausе _ inсlud-
ing aссidеnts. Thе паinеr shoцld Ье work-
ing to imposе thе thrее Ьasiс prinсiplеs
will bе morе
rеferrеd to еаrliеr, Ьut thеy
diffiсult to maintаin on thе lungе than
under saddlе. It is vеry diffiсult indееd to
aсhievе a unifoгm bеnd throughout thе
horsе (whiсh is another rеason for thе сir-
сlе to bе as laгgе as possiblе)' but сеrtаinly
hе must not bе allowed to Ьеnd to the out.
sidе. At this age and stagе hе will not show
muсh sеlf-сontrol Ьut hе should learn thаt
to go frеely forward withoцt playing thе
fool is what pleasеs his trainer фе most.
Rhythm is, howevеr, morе геаdily
aсhiеvеd, and if it is pаinstakingly and
сonsistеntly dеmandеd thе rеwards will bе
еnormous in thе months to сomе.
Thе сalming influеnсes and assoсia-
tions piсkеd up Ьy the youngstеr in thеse
early days of lunging will frequеntly сome
in useful in latеr years whеn he сomеs to
сompеtition work. It is possible, for
instanсе, to сalm a fit еvеntеr prior to his
drеssage tеst by lunging, thus avoiding
hаving to ride him for hours аnd risk sap-
ping his strеngth for thе spееd and еnduт-
аnсе tests.
Bеforе going on to dеsсriЬе the ridden
work it is a good idеa to сonsidеr thе arеa
whеrе the work is to be undertaken. Largе
opеn spaсеs arе' if not еssеntiаl, higЫy
dеsirаЬlе for the propеr devеlopmеnt ofthe
hoгsе's Ьodу and mind. They stimulаte thе
joy and frееdom of movеmеnt thаt is the
еssenсе of his bеauty and our aim is to
prеsегve that essеnсе so that it will аlways
show in his work' no mattеr how artifiсial
the surroundings may Ьe. Nevеrthеless,
thеre willbe a peгiod еaсh dаy whеn he has
to be put to disсipline: taken, аs it wеre, to
the сlаssгoom for his lessons.
Еdцсators of humans have alwаys сon-
siderеd it песеssаry to сonsider сaгefullу
the dеsign and lауout of thеir сlаssrooms.
Logiсаl though it would appеаr to applу
thе same to thе trаining of horsеs, this is
not always done. Мore is the pity, Ьесаuse
thеrе сan bе no douЬt that а сarеfully
markеd-oцt sсhool will еnhanсe pгogrеss
еnormously. Еxpеnse is сегtainly no
еxсusе for, providing thе ground is flat and
сomfortable to tread upon' the hoгse will
givе his all just as willingly amongst oil-
drums, polеs, аnd сaгdboаrd as hе will
undеr сhandеlier and marble.
Thе aссurасy with whiсh sсhool figures
arе riddеn сan Ье an end in itsеlf, although
therе arе геlativеly fеw гidеrs to whom
suсh аn aim appеals. To usе ассuraсy as а
means' howеvеr, is something to whiсh а1l
гidеrs should aspirе, for it is thе only
means wе havе of rеallУ mеasuring prog-
rеss. It is of great importanсe that еxеrсises
and movеments taught to horsеs, arе not
onlу done hozll we want thеm, Ьut also,
uhеrе we wаnt thеm. A transition, for
еxample, may be pеrfесt in all rеspесts, but
if it wаs aсhiеvеd a metrе bеforе oг aftеr thе
spot whеrе the rider hаd intеnded it to hap-
pеn, then the wholе еxerсisе has fаilеd. It
mеаns that his signаls werе badlу timеd, or
the horsе аntiсipatеd them or was slow to
obеy, or еven (hеavеn forbid!) that thе ridеr
had no сlеar intention in thе fust plaсe.
'Whatеveг thе rеason, сontгol was lost.
As we hаvе seen, сirсlеs play a major
rolе in trаining thе horsе, but unlеss thеy
arе as nеаг pегfесt as possiblе, they аrе not
only usеless, thеy сan еvеn rеtard progress.
It is impossiblе to maintain аn еvеn
rhythm аround an irrеgulаrly-shаpеd сir-
сle, whereas а true сirсle is onе of thе vеry
bеst еxeгсises for promoting it. It is impos-
siblе to havе the сolтeсt bеnd at all timеs
on an irrеgulаr сirсlе sinсе the radii arе
сonstantly varying. Thе horsе's stеps will
theгefore bе a liшle shoItеr at timеs, and
thеn a little 1oпgеr аnd his bend will vary
from aсutе to non-eхistеnt. Al1 this сan
on1y lеad to anxiеtу, сonfusion аnd loss of
balаnсе. A шue сirсlе is inсrеdibly diffiсult
to гidе and it is а faсt thаt fеw ridеrs in thе
world сan perform it сonsistеndy without
thе aid of guides or markеrs.
The desсription of thе working area that
follows is Ьased on thе standard dтessagе
arenаs used tfuoughout thе world. Thе
aсtuаl mеаsurеments arе not vital,
although they will bе foцnd to be very сon-
venient and will suit horsеs of almost anY
Further training on the |unge, whiсh wil|
сontinue after he has been bасked. on the left
the young horse is being exerсised oveг
slight|y гaised poIes to strengthen a nd f |eх his
joints. on the right, more аthletiс exerсises
over a,jump. In both cases сaImness аnd trust
aгe being Iinked with аthIetiс аgiIity.
size аnd shаpe. Thе proportions howеvеr
аrе vеry important) and thе surfaсе must be
flat, with as little slopе as possiЬlе. Thе
агеa is 40 m long and 20 m wide - that is
сomposеd of two squarеs sidе by side, еасh
mеasuring 20 m x 20 m. Sinсе the 20 m
сirсlе is thе foundation of all futurе work,
thе advantagеs of having thеsе сarеfully
mаrkеd squares bесome obvious.
Thе diagrams show how and whеrе thе
lettеrs and marks arе situatеd. The lеttеrs
arе those usеd in drеssage аrеnas and
sсhools all ovеr the world: any lеttегs in
any order сould bе used but it is proЬаЬly
Ьettеr to usе thе ассeptеd ones so that thе
ridеr bесomеs thoroughly fаmiliаr with
using thеm. If thе spots and linеs and let-
tеrs аrе easУ to rеad and fully undеrstood
thе ridеr soon Ьеgins to use thеm instinс-
tively and so is ablе to devotе thе propеr
degrее ofсonсеntration to the pеrformanсе
of thе horsе. Inсidentally, no-onе seems to
know how the lеtters сamе aЬout, nor do
thеy appеar to have any logiсal sеquеnсе.
By having thе spots or mаrks on thе wall
in diffеring сoloцrs onе quiсkly bесomеs
aссustomеd to thеi.r rеlationships to eaсh
otlrеr and to thе pеrimеtег of the sсhool.
This means that having dесided to гide a
сirсle, oг part of а сirсlе of any sйe, ttre
exeгсisе сan Ье сommenсеd iust аbout
anуwhere in the sсhool and thеre wi1l
always be at lеast one mаrk Ьу whiсh to
mеasurе thе aссurасy, and thеrеforе thе
suссеss' of thе movеmеnt. This aссuraсy
is always intеgratеd with the thrее Ьasiс
prinсiplеs and beсomеs, as it wеrе, a fourth
dimension. Clearly it will sеrvе no цsеful
puгposе to ridе faithfully from tangеnt to
Right Diаgrаm showing the ideа| |ayout of a
40 metre Х 20 metre sсhoo|ing areа (a|so
ca||ed a manёge) and exа mp|es of utiIising the
letters and marks in riding ассurate сirс|es; the
Iines within the a гea Iinking va rious points
аre inсluded here to show the reIationships
of opposite mаrks, but obvious|y are not
required to be marked on the aсtuаI sсhooIing
surfасe.
 PR0GRЕsslVЕ ТRA|NING

tangеnt if thе bеnd or rhуthm or forwаrd

Eo П tr П otr
movеment аге lost in thе proсеss.
--.i F-s-'F-s -i l.-1o

ltlrlll
<--6 ---------i Bеforе еmbaIking on thе шaining of a
horsе it is important thаt thе trainеr has а
t
5
proper undеrstanding of thе paсеs so that
not onlу аrе thе objeсtivеs сlеаr' but thе
vагious сritеriа bеing appliеd and sought
-l for arе гесognizablе and progгеss maу Ье
t
5
mеasurеd. It is impossiЬlе to woгk on ttlе
!7alk or thе Tгot oI thе Cantеr if thе trainеr
+
is not surе whеthеr thе hoгsе should bе
over-traсkiпg, or traсking-in, oг undег-
T5 traсking; whеthег hе should havе thе hеаd
and nесk гaisеd or strеtсhеd; whеther hе
_+ should havе somе Ьеnd or пonе at аll аnd
t
5
so on. For а сlеar desсription of еaсh of thе
paсеs аnd of whаt is rеquired in thеm, onе
сan haгdly do Ьеttеr than to rеfеr to thе
I autholitativе viеw of thе Fёd6гation
Еquеsuе Intегnationаlе (F.Е.I.). Thе fol-
lowing ехtraсt is thе offiсial Еnglish tтans-
lаtion аs published Ьу the British Horsе
Soсiеty (B'FI.S') in Part III of its.Drеssagе
Rulеs' (l975 Еdition)'
tуpiсa| 20 metre сiгсIes
F.Е.I. DЕFINIтIONs oFPAсЕs AND
мovЕ^4ЕNTS
ob!есt and Gеnеral Prinсiplеs
1. The objeсt of Dтеssаgе is thе haтmonious
devеlopment of thе phуsiquе аnd аЬility of
thе horsе. As a result, it makes the horsе
сalm, supple and kеетr, тhus aсhieving pеr-
fесt understаnding with iтs ridеr.
2 Тhesе quаlitiеь а:.е геvеаlеd bу:
(a) tlrе freedom and rеgularit.v of йе paсеs;
(b) thе harmоny, lightnеss and еasе of the
moYеmеnIs:
(с) thе lightnеss of the forehаnd and thе
engagemеnt of the hindquarтers;
(d) the horse remainiпg absolutely straight
in any movеmеnt along a straight line and
bеnding aссоrdiпglу whеn rnoviпg on
tуptсa| 15 metre сlrс|es сurvеd lines.
(3) Thе horse thus gives thе imprеssion of
doing of his own aссoтd what is гequiгеd of
him. Сonfident and aneпtive. hе suЬmits
generouslу to thе сontlol of his ridеr.
4. His walk is тegulаr, fтeе and unсon-
strained. His tтot is frеe, supple, гegu1ar, sus-
taiпed аnd асtive. нis сaпtеr is unitеd, light
аnd саdеnсеd. l{is quaгters arе never inaс-
tivе oг sluggish. They rеspond to тhe slight.
est indiсation of thе гidеr and therеЬy give
lifе and spiтit to а11 тhe rеst of his Ьody.
5' Bу viтtue of a livelу impulsion аnd the
supplепess of his joints, frее from thе
paralyziпg еffeсts of гesistanсе, thе horsе
obeys willingly and without hеsitatioп aпd
rеsponds to thе vaтious aids сalmly and with
prесrs1on.
6. In all his work, еven at thе halt, йe hоrse
tyрiса| 10 metre сirсles must be on thе b1t. A horse is to be .oп thе bic
whеп the hoсks arе сorrесtlу p1асеd, thе nесk
is morе or less raised aссording tо the eхtеn-
sion or сollесtion of thе paсе, the head
remains stеadilу in posrtion, the сontaсt with
the mouth is iight and no resisfanсe is
offerеd тo тhe rider.
7. Thе position of thе horsе when .on thе
bid dеpends on the сonfoгmаtion as well as
on thе dеgтее of гаining of thе horsе.

Thе Hаlt
l. At thе halt, thе hoтse should stand aтten-
tivе' motionlеss and strаight, with thе weight
еvenlу distributed over аll four legs, and bе
геady to movе off at the slightest indiсation
of the rideг. The nесk is гaised' the poll high'
thе head a little in front of the veгtiсal. tlre

zз|
PROGRЕss|vЕ тпA|NING
mouth light' the horse сhamping his bit aпd
mаintaining а light сontaсt with thе гidе1s
hапd'
2. TЬe шаnsition ftom any Paсe to thе hаlt
should Ье madе progressivеly iп a smooth
and preсise movеmеnt
The Walk
1. The wаlk is a marсhiпg paсе in whiсh thе
four lеgs of the horsе follow one anothel in
four time, wel1 markеd and maintаinеd in all
work at the walk.
2. \0Иhen the four beаts сeаsе to be well
mafked' еven аnd regulаr, the walk is disun-
ited oт Ьrokеn.
3. It is аt the paсe of the walk that tЬe imper-
feсtions in drеssаge are most mагked. The
paсе will suffеr if thе degree of collесtion is
not in aссordаnсe with thе stаge ofsсhooling
of the horse' Ьut is preсipitated.
4' The following walks аrе reсognized:
medium, сolleсted, еxtеnded аnd free.
(a) Меdium walk. A free, геgular and
unсonstrаined walk of moderatе extension.
The hoтse should walk еnelgetiсаlly but
сalmly, with even аnd dеtеrmined steps, dis-
tinсtly maтking four equаlly spaсed Ьеats,
thе hind fеet touсhing thе ground in front of
the footprints of the forefeet. The ridеr
should keep a light and stеadу сontасt with
the mouth.
(Ь) Collесtеd walk. The horse moves rеsol-
utely foтward, with his nесk raisеd and
arсhеd. The hеad approaсhes thе vertiсal
position, the light сontaсt with thе mouth
Ьeiпg maintаinеd. The hind lеgs аre
engagеd with good hoсk асtion. The paсе
should тemаin marсhing аnd vigorous, the
lеgs Ьeing plaсеd in rеgulаr sequenсe. Еaсh
step сovеrs lеss ground and is highег than аt
the mеdium walk Ьесausе all the joiпts Ьеnd
more markedly. Thе hind feet touсh the
ground Ьehind the fooрrints of thе forefeet.
In order not to bесome hurriеd or irrеgular
thе сolleсted walk is slightly shortеr thап the
mеdium wаlk' аlthough showing greatеr
moЬilitу.
(с) Еxtеndеd walk. The horse should сover
as muсh ground as possiblе, without hastе
аnd without losing the regulаrity ofhis steps.
Thе hiпd fеet touсh the ground сlearly in
froпt of the fooрrints of thе forefeet. The
rider lets the horsе strеtсh out his hеad аnd
nесk without, howеveт' losing сoпtасt, the
head Ьеing сarгiеd in front of thе vеrtiсal.
(d) Free walk. The free walk is a pасe of rеst
in whiсh, the reins bеing strеtсhed to thеir
utmostJ the hоrse is allowеd сomplete free-
dom of his head and nесk.
Thе Trot
l. The tтot is a pасe of two timе on alternatе
diagonals (nеаr-forе and off.hind аnd viсe.
versa) sеpаratеd Ьy a momеnt of suspеnsion,
2. TЬe шot, always with free, aсtivе and reg-
ulаr stеps, should Ьe goпe into without hesi-
tatron.
3. The qualitу of thе trot is judged by the
generаl impтessioщ the elastiсity and rеgu-
larity of the steps and the impulsion, while
mаintaining the sаme саdeпсe.
4. The following trots aте reсognized: woгk-
ing, mеdium, сolleсted and eхtended.
(а) li7orking trot. This is а paсe between the
medium and the сolleсtеd trot in whiсh a remains ьent to the lеаding lеg. His сonfor-
hoтsе, not yеt rеady or trainеd for сolleсtеd
movements' shows itsеlf propеrly balanсеd
and, with a supplе poll геmаining on thе Ьit,
goеs forward with even, elastiс steps and
good hoсk асtion. The working trot is not
parт of the offiсial Drеssаge tеsts s st.
Georgеs, Intermediaire and Grand Prix
(Ride-offl - where a higheI dеgгeе of сolleс-
tioп is demаndеd.
(Ь) Мedium trot. This is a paсe betwеen thе
extendеd and thе сolleсted trot and morе
roundеd thаn thе extended trot. Thе horsе
goеs forward freely and sшaight' engaging
his hind legs with good hoсk aсtioщ on а tаut
Ьut light rein, his position Ьеing balaпсеd
and unсonstrаined. Thе stеps should bе as
еven as possiblе. Thе hind feet touсh thе
ground in the fooрrints of the forеfeet.
Thе degree of еnеrgy and impulsion dis-
plаyed at themеdium trоt dепotеs сleaтly the
dеgreе of suppleness and bаlanсe of thе
horse.
(с) Colleсtеd trot. Thе neсk is raiseф thus
enabling the shouldеrs to move with greater
eаsе in аll direсtions, the hoсks Ьeing wеll
еngаged аnd maintaining еnеrgеtiс impul-
sion, notwithstanding thе slower movеmеnt.
Thе hoтse's stеps aге shorter but hе is lighter
аnd more moЬile.
(d) Еxtеndеd trot. The hoгsе сovеrs as muсh
gтound as possiblе. Hе lengthens his stride,
remaining on thе Ьit with light сontaсt. The
nесk is еxtended and, аs a rеsult of gIеat
impulsion from the qualtеrs' the horsе usеs
his shoulders, сovеring morе grouпd аt eaсh
stеp without his асtion Ьeсoming higher.
5. The сollесted trot is exeсutеd .sitting'.
Thе woтking, medium and extendеd trots
агe eхeсutеd ,sitting, or .rising' as indiсatеd
in thе test. In thе offiсial Dressagе tеsts (Prix
St. Georges' Intеrmediаire and Grаnd Prix)
all movеmеnts at the trot must Ьe еxесutеd
sittiпg.
The Canter
l. Thе саntеr is a paсe of three time. In the
right сanter for instanсe, thе sequenсе is as
follows, left hind lеg, lеft diegonal (right
hind lеg and left foтеleg), right foreleg fol-
lowеd Ьy a pеriod of suspension with ell four
legs in the air before tаking thе nехt stlide.
2. The following сantels аге reсognized:
working' mеdium' сolleсted and extепdеd.
(a) IVorking саntеr. This is a paсе Ьеtwеen
thе medium аnd the сollесtеd саntel in
whiсh a horsе, not yet ready or tгaiпеd for
сolleсted movements' shows itsеlf proPerly
balаnсed and, with a supplе poll rеmaining
on thе Ьit, goes forwаrd with even, light and
сadenсеd stlides and good hoсk асtion. Thе
working саntеr is not part of the offiсial
Dressage Tests - St. Gеorgеs, Intermediaire
аnd Grаnd Prix (Ride-offl - where a highет
сolleсtion is demandеd.
dеgтее of
ф) Мedium саntеr. This is a paсe Ьetween
thе extended сantеr errd the сolleсted сапtеr.
The horse, pетfесtly straight from head to
tail, movеs fteely, with a neturаl bаlanсе.
The strides are long, еven and the paсе wеll
сadеnсed. Thе quaпers develop an inсreаs-
ing impulsion.
(с) Colleсted сantег. At the сolleсted сanter'
the shoulders arе supple, frеe and mobilе and
the quаrters vеry асtive. The horsd s moЬilitу
is inсrеаsed without anу loss of impulsion.
(d) Еxtendеd сantеr. The horse eхtends his
nесk; thе tip of the nose poiпts more or less
forwаrd, the hotsе lеngthепs his stride with-
out losing any ofhis саlmness and lightnеss.
3. Countеr саnter (false сantet). On thе сir-
сlе, йis is a suppling movement. Thе horse
mаintains his паtural flexion at the poll to
thе outside of thе сirсle, in other words,
mation does not permit his spine to Ье Ьеnt to
thе line of thе сirсle. Thе rideт, аvoiding any
сontortion сausing сonшaсtion аnd disorder,
should espесially endeаvour to limit the
dеviation of the quarters to the outside аnd
restriсt his demands aссording to the dеgIее
of suppleness of thе horsе.
4. Simplе сhangе of leg at the сantеr. This is
а сhange whereЬy the horse is Ьrought Ьaсk
into a welk and, aftеr one or two wеll defined
steps' rеstarted into a сапter with the other
Ieg leading.
5. The horse сhangеs leg .iп thе аi1 in a
single stride while сantering. This сhangе of
lеg is tеrmed .flying, (or .in thе аi1) when it is
exесuted in сlosе сonnесtion with thе sus.
pеnsion whiсh follows еaсh sшide of thе
саnter. Flying сhanges of lеg сan Ьe exе-
сuted in series, for irrstanсе at еvегy fourt\
third, seсond or at every stide. The horse'
еven in thе sеries, remains sшaight, сalm and
light with lively impulsion. Thе dеgreе of
сollесtion in the series should Ье slightly less
then in thе сollесted сantеr.
Thе Rein Baсk
1. The rein baсk is а kind of walk baсk-
wаrds. Thе lеgs Ьeing rаisеd and set down
simultaneously Ьy diаgonаl pairs' the hind
lеgs тemaining wеll in linе and the lеgs
Ьeing well reisеd.
2. T}re horse must bе rеady to hаlt or move
forwаrd without pausing at the dеmаnds of
his rider, remaining at all timеs lightly on thе
Ьit аnd wеll Ьаlanсed.
3. Any signs of hutrying, evasion of the
hand' deviation of the qualtеrs fтom thе
stгaight linе or spreаdiпg and inтtivity of
thе haцnсhes arе serious faults] Violеnt
influeпсе on the Pert of the rider may bе
dеtrimеr:tal to the ioints of the hindqueтters.
4. A horsе thаt is not oЬedient to thе aids of
thе rider in thе rein Ьaсk is insuffiсiendy
supplеd, badly sсhooled oт Ьаdlу тidden.
5. If' in а dressаgе test' а trot or a сantет is
гequired afтer a гein baсk, the horse must
strike off immediаtely into this paсе without
an intеrmеdiatе step.
The Submission
1. At all Paсеs' a slight flexioп of thе jaw,
without пervousпess is a сriterion of thе
oЬedienсе of the horse and of thе hаrmoni-
ous distriЬution of his forсes.
2. Grinding thе teeth aпd swishing the tail
are signs of nervousness, tenseness or resis-
tanсe on t}rе pаrt of the horsе аnd must bе
takеп into aссount by the judges in thеir
mаrks for thе movements сonсerned as well
аs in thе сolleсtivе mаrk no. thrее.
Thе Transitions
l. The сhanges of pасе аnd speed should
аlwаys Ьe quiсkly made but be smooth and
not aЬrupt. The сadenсe of а paсе should Ье
maintаinеd up to the momеnt whеn the pасe
is сhanged or the horsе hаlts. The hoгse
rеmains light in hand, сalm аnd mainteins a
сorrесt position.
2. Thе sаme аpplies to шensitions from thе
Passаgе to the Piaffe and from the piаffе to
the passagе.
Thе sесtion goes on to give a numbеr of
othеr dеfinitions whiсh аre not relеvant at
this stagе, Ьut thеy arе highly rесom-
mеnded to a sеrious studеnt at anу lеvеl. It
puts simply and veгy сonсisеly a grеat deаl
of infoгmаtion thаt it is еssentiаl to know
and, beсause it doеs not statе how anything
is aсhiеvеd, it is fгее from сontroversy or
сonfusion.
Thеrе are a numbеr of еxerсises for thе
horsе to сarry out in eaсh of thе paсеs
desсribеd. Ifthеsе arе performed сorreсtly'
progressively, and regularlу thеу will
improvе thе paсе, аt thе samе time as сon-
tributing to thе othеr statеs and paсеs. one
of thе earliеst and most valuablе lessons а
horsе reсeives is in making smooтh transi-
tions up and down from onе pасe to

дnoтher. Thе lеssons are limitеd аt first to
тhе hаlt, thе walk, and thе trot, and muсh
petiеnсе and undеrstanding is rеquirеd
from thе trainer. If a horse responds
quiсkly and smoothlу to a signal fгom his
ridеr he has shown an асt of obеdiеnсе to
тhе ulishes of thе rider, and thаt is, of
ooursе' valuaЬlе and important. In addi-
tioп, hoп'еvеr, hе has shown somеthing of
еquаl if not more valuе and importanсе, in
фаt he has dеvеlopеd a mеntal and physi-
саl сo-ordination in hirnsеlf.
onсe thе horsе undеrstаnds that a horsе will Ье obliged to сross his hind lеgs
rеstгiсtion on the reins сouplеd with gеntlе
Fеssrrге ftom the ridе1s lеgs and sеat
mеаns slow down or stop, and thаt a rеlax-
аtion on the rеins сouplеd with prеssurе
from тhе ridе1s lеgs means movе off or go
Ьstеr, hе is rеady to bеgin transitions.
Таke а simplе examplе of сhanging from
вot to walk. Thе horsе is trotting along,
whеn he feels a dеliЬеrаtе prеssure on his
Ьir rrhiсh hе knows to mеan .slow right
down'. IJnlеss he is a roguе (and thеre аrе
тery, very fеw of thеm) hе will say, in effесt,
.сегtаirlly' аt onсe, but
- iust wаit a momеnt
whilst I soгt my lеgs out!' Thеrе is thus a
dеlay bеtweеn thе aсtion on the ьit and thе
rеасtion of the horse and this is oftеn mis-
interprеtеd as a disoЬеdiеnсе or) at lеast' a
rеluсtаnсе to obеy. What has асtuallу hap-
pеnеd is that mеntallу the horse obеyеd his
гideг immеdiatеly, but his body did not
obеy his mind so quiсk1у. In othеr words,
hь mind and body arе not yet сoordinatеd
аnd it is in this, that hе nеeds lots of timе
дndpatiеntpraсtiсе. This еxplains, in part,
whуа hoгsе finds upward transitions muсh
еаsiег than downward. In naturе thе
hoгsе's primary defеnсе meсhanism is
tright'. Hе is equippеd mentally аnd phуs-
iсаlly to .gеt awаt' quiсkly аnd еasily,
whеrеаs to bе able to stop or slow down has
no pаrt to play in his abilitу to survivе. Thе
thеory may еаsily bе tеstеd bу watсhing
уoung horsеs at play: thеre upward trаnsi-
tions are always Ьеautiful and, in dтеssagе
tегltls, vеry сoгreсt, but whеn slowing
down thеy arе oftеn сarеlеss and еvеn
сlumsy. It follows, thеreforе, that thе
tтаinеr сan be quitе dеmanding with
upward transitions, but should bе vеry
pаtiеnt with thе downward onеs.
Vhеn the horsе bеgins to show signs
thя1 fiis mind and body аre сoordinating
bепеr, thе trainеr сan introduсе еxerсisеs
to hеightеn аnd improve this сoordinаtion.
onе of the most usеful of thesе is pеr-
foгmеd аt the walk and is сallеd a .tllrn
аbout thе foгеhand. (This eхerсisе is
сommonly known as а .turn on tlre
forеhand but I rеfusе to spеak, or еvеn
тhink, of any movеmеnt being done oи thе
foгеhаnd.) In сarrying it out thе horsе
uralks his forеfееt aгound a small half сir-
сlе. Еасh step is takеn side-by-sidе and
тhегe is no сrossing or widеning of thе
front legs. His body is hеld sшaight from
poll to сroup whiсh nесеssitatеs his hind
lеgs сrossing onе in front of thе oтhеr. On
сompletion hе will hаvе dеsсгibed two
hаlf-сirсlеs, onе with his forеfееt аnd a modеst gyпmastiс еxerсisе. Мorе impor-
1аrgеr onе with his hind feet, сonсеntriс to
еасh oтhеr and both having about thе same
сепtrе point. Pгogress is graduаl, and thе
еxеrсisе should begin by walking the fore-
feеt аround a half-сirсlе of 6 m in diametеr
and gradually геduсing it to 1 m or а littlе
lеss. Thеrе is no advantаgе in attеmpting
to turn about thе forеhand on thе spot and'
with thе young horsе, it саn be positivеly
hаrmful.
Thе ridеis inside7egmusr rеmain аt thе
girth and thе outside rein is usеd to kееp
thе horsе sшaight and rеgulate thе stеps.
As mеntionеф through bеing kept straight
whilst moving along a сurvеd linе thе
Ьut thеrе must bе no quеstion of thе ridег
pushing the quaгtеrs oцt by drawing baсk
his inside lеg.
The exerсisе may bе done at thе walk
without stopping, although it will Ьe еаsier
for the horsе аt fust if the walk is slowеd
down a littlе just beforе thе momеnt of
еntry. It may also bе done frorn thе halt but
flot 4r thе hаlt. Having haltеd, thе horse is
movеd sшaight forwаrd for a stеp oI two
and thеn into thе turn-about. This is often
usеful with horsеs that walk very boldlу or
arе a littlе impetuous, and for young ridеrs
whosе timine is still in doubt.
Тhe foundаtions of аgiIity and mutua| тrUst
aгe welI i||ustrated here. Progressive training
on the fIаt is essentiaI before obstаcIes Iike
this саn betaсk|ed sаfe|y. Notethe exemp|аry
oosition of the rider whiсh is in no wav
impeding the horse.
A studу of thе aids for this eхerсisе,
shows that whilst thе inside leg pushes for
mаintainеd or slightlу inсrеаsed impul-
sion thе rеins are guiding and gеntly dis-
сouгaging foгward movеmеnt' thus oblig-
ing thе horsе to уiеld part of himsеlf (his
quartеrs) latеrallу to thе аppliеd leg. In
doing so hе will stretсh the musсles аnd
ligamеnts in his quaпеrs and hind legs in а
sidеways direсtion and so it hаs vаluе as a
tant' howevеr, is thе lеsson he lеarns in
сoordination. For thе first timе in his life,
hе fееls thе ridе1s lеgs and hands bеing
PROGBЕss|vЕ ТffAlNING
usеd аt the sаmе timе and yеt making
apparеntly сonшadiсtory dеmаnds. Hе will
bе puzzled at first and mаkе mistakеs
whiсh should not bе misсonstrued as eva-
sions. By a stеаdy appliсation of the aids
without thе smallеst сompromisе of thе
ridе1s position, thе horsе wi1l soon undеr-
stand what is wantеd and his bodу will
lеаrn to obеy him. This first rеalization is
always a grеat thrill to thе sеnsitivе rider,
and it is a mаjor moment in the hoгsе's lifе.
Provided thеrе has bееn no forсе or
impаtienсe from his ridеr, it will hаvе а
trеmendous influenсе on his willingnеss
to lеaгn nеw and strangе things from thаt
moment on.
It should takе aЬout onе month for тhе
horse to beсomе сompеtеnt at the turn
about thе forehand, not bесausе hе is
unable to learn it faster Ьut Ьесausе it is
bettеr to spreаd it ovеr a sеriеs of vеry short
praсtiсеs eaсh day. Тhе trаiner should Ьe
quiсk to rewаrd thе most modеst signs of
progress as thеy oссur. Thе appropriate
form of reward in this сasе would ьe to trot
vigorouslу forward with lots of pаtting on
thе nесk аnd voсаl noises - anything to let
the horsе know beуond doubt thаt he has
donе wеll.
ConsidегaЬlе strеss has quitе dеlibеr-
atеly bееn laid on the importanсе of this
еxеrсise bесаusе, propеrly learnеd and
thеrеafteг propеrly сaггiеd out' its spес-
trцm of influеnсеs on oтher work is very
broad indееd. It will grеatly improvе trаns-
itions and gymnastiсally, it has a markеd
influenсе on the trot. If' during a lеsson for
instanсе, whеn thе trot appеars to bе fаding
or is bесoming сhoppy, thе hoгsе is
brought to а walk and askеd to do two or
thrее tuгns about the forеhand, thе diffеr-
еnсе in thе еnsuing trot will bе quite
rеmarkablе. This еxerсisе is also invаlu-
аЬlе аs part of the prеpаration for the rein
baсk; lеssons in striking off into сantеr
from walk or halt will be greatly assistеd if
thе сantеr is askеd for on thе last stеp of a
turn about; аnd it is obviously vаluablе as
an intгoduсtion to 1еg yiеlding аnd
shouldеr-in.
Rесognition of thе fаr-rеaсhing еffeсts
and influenсes of onе exеrсisе on othеr
work is rеally thе kеy to progrеssivе trаin-
ing and it is important to oЬseгvе whiсh
aspесt of anу exerсisе will bе usеful to thе
horse in lеатning or сaгrying out аnother.
A good ехаmplе is thе way in whiсh the
10m сirсlе сan tеaсh the horsе аbout сol-
leсtion if it is сarriеd oцt in thе followiлg
mannеr:
Put thе hoгsе to a good working trot on a
20m сirсlе at A or C' paying striсt atten-
tion to the thrее basiс prinсiplеs, espе-
сiаlly thе еvennеss of thе rhуthm. Onсе
thеsе аrе еstablishеd rеduсe thе сiгсlе to
15m from thе sаmе starting tаngеnt аnd
when thаt сirсlе is going wеll rеduсе to
10 m, аgain using thе same tangent, so that
еvеry сirсlе has begun and еnded at thе
samе point. If the impulsion аnd rhythm
have bееn striсtlу maintainеd thгoughout'
thе horsе will hаvе no altеrnativе but to
shortеn his steps and lift his fееt highеr,
i.е. Ьесomе morе elеvаtеd, and so, with no
ехtra or unfamiliar aids from the ridеr' thс
2зз
PR0GRЕssIvЕ тRA|NING
horse has collеctеd himsеlf . After two or
thrее (thrее at thе most) of thе 10 m сirсlеs
*rе horse is rеturnеd to working tгot and
taken out ofthе сirсle, bеforе bеing restеd
and rеwardеd. Thе next phasе is to go
through thе same proсеduгe but instеad of
going largе into working trot thе ridеr
holds thе сollесtion aсhiеvеd, аt first to
about halfiпay down thе long sidе аnd
gradually foг longег until hе сan maintain
it for a full сirсuit of thе sсhool.
It will not Ье too long bеforе thе ridеr
сan dispensе with thе largе сirсlеs аnd put
his horsе an а 10m сirсlе anywherе in фе
sсhool whеnеvеr hе wishes to aсhievе сol-
lесtion. At this stage thе ridеr should
always givе thе horsе сlеar warning that hе
is about to be askеd to сirсlе bу thе usе of
hаlf-hаlts iust bеforе he leavеs the traсk. It
is bеtter if thеse hаlf-halts аrе iust а shаdе
morе сlеarly dеfined thаn usual but tаkе
саre not to iar or startlе the horsе. From
thеrе it is simplе аnd logiсal to bе able to
асhiеvе сollесtion through a 10m half-
сirсlе and ttrеn а quartеr-сirсlе (whiсh is
thе sаme as passing through a сornеr), and
finally anywhеrе in thе sсhool, without
anу сhangе of dirесtion. Later on, morе
advanсеd сollесtion сan Ье dеvеlopеd by
reduсing the сirсlе to thе voltе (a voltе is
automаtiсally a сirсlе of 6m diamеtег).
Lеngthеning thе stridе with a viеw to
medium and, ultimatеly, еxtеndеd trot
254
More and more rасehorses aгe being given
prog ressive trа i ni ng to deveIop their strength
and stamina, whiсh аt the same time
promotes greater trust in theiг riders' Note
the Iove|y sympаthy shoWn by the position of
the Ieading joсkey,s fingers; the horse has
struсk the hurdIe and сou|d weIl have fа|Ien
without fu|| freedom of his head and neсk.
will, of сoursе, have bееn praсtisеd all thе
time that thе аbovе shortеning work has
bеen going on. By thе timе thе thiтd phasе
(dispеnsing with thе larger сirсlеs) hаs
bееn rеасhed thе horsе should bе саpaЬlе
of a numbег of even, long-sшides _ border-
ing on medium - without losing his bal-
аnсе. ЕIе will havе beеn allowеd to strеtсh
into thesе progrеssivеly ftom working trot
wittr thе first fеw steps smooтhly gеtting
longer and longеr. Now thе timе has сomе
for him to lеarn to makе а propеr transition
in thе long sшidеs (it will not yеt be а fullу
devеlopеd mеdium trot) and for this he will
nееd the сollесtion that hе is сurrentlу
lеarning and аt whiсh hе is alrеady mod-
еstly profiсient.
If thе 10m сirсlе of сollесtion is сen-
trаlizеd at A or C, its sidе tаngеnts сoinсidе
wittr thе quarter linеs running thе length
ofttrе sсhool. Еvеry so often, then, instеad
of going into working trot at A and going
largе, thе rider should hold thе сollесtion
for a furthеr quarter-сirсle and, upon
reaсhing thе quartег line tаngеnt, ask for а
trаnsition sшaight into thе lengthenеd trot
(or mеdium trot when thе timе сomеs) аs
he proсeeds down sсhool on thе quartеr
linе. Thе downward transitions from
medium or extended into working or сol-
leсtеd arе very diffiсult and must bе
approaсhеd with сarе, but at the same timе,
thе strong pасеs must not Ье allowеd to
just fadе away. Thе lеssons dеsсгibed for
aсhieving сollесtion and еxtеnsion аt thе
trot may bе rеproduсеd еxaсtly for thе
сanter when thе timе сomеs.
The above proсеdurе thеn is а good
еxamplе of how сarеfully сhosеn exеrсisеs
will bring about а dеsiлed result as a
nаturаl сonsеquеnсе, whiсh is so muсh
bеttеr than а lot of сompliсatеd intеrfeг-
еnсе by the ridеr. To sum up what has beеn
aсhieved so far, we sее that thе hoгsе is
making good transitions tfuough halt,
walk, and trot; hе has aп understanding of
thе ridе1s lеg аnd hаnd to thе еxtеnt whеrе
hе will advanсe or rеtаrd his paсes to quite
a сompеtеnt dеgrее of сollесtion and
еxtеnsion, and he will yiеld his quаrteгs
latеrallу' willingly Ьut undеr сontrol. Thе
rider, however, has donе nothing morе
than to ridе him forward сonsistеntlу and
to guidе him саrеfullу.
Lаtеrаl work should bе approасhed with
muсh the samе attitudе. Therе is nothing
сompliсatеd or mystегious аbout thе aids
used herе but theу must bе appliеd from a
sесurе and сorreсt position and thеir tim-
ing is сritiсal. Thе fust of thе sidewаys
movеmеnts is саllеd Leg-yielding. It is
сarriеd out at working шot, with no сollес-
tion аnd no bеnd, and is taught in two
distinсt stages. !Иhеn thе sесond stagе is
еstablished' Ьoth forms will bе used thеrе-
аfter at vаrious timеs for vаrious геаsons.
Thе fust phаsе is Ьеst dеsсribеd as Leg-
yiеlding from linе to linе. Thеre are flvе
mаin longitudinal linеs usеd in thе sсhool;
the two outеr traсks whiсh run сlosе to thе
boards down еaсh long side; two quаrtеr
lines, еaсh 5 m in from thе traсk; аnd thе
сеntrе linе markеd at еaсh еnd by A and C.
Thегe are, in faсt two more _ onе on eaсh
long sidе, whiсh run 1m in from the outеr
trасk аnd thеsе arе саlled thе inner traсk.
Thе innеr traсk is a mцсh nеglесtеd linе
whiсh should bе usеd a lot morе than it
gеnеrally is - еspесiallу in indoor sсhools.
Thе two linеs сhosen for the first lеssons
of Lеg-yiеlding аre thе quaгtеr line and thе
innеr trасk. Thе horsе is going to bе askеd
to move from the quarter linе to thе innеr
шaсk without сhanging direсtion, and hе
will rеmain parаllеl to both linеs through-
out thе movement. In othеr words, his
forеfееt аnd hind fееt will lеave thе quarter
linе at thе same momеnt аnd theу wi1l
arrivе at thе innеr traсk simultanеouslу.
The rеasons for сhoosing thеsе two linеs
should bе understood from thе start.
For some unknown reason thе boаrds
havе a magnеtiс effесt on horsеs and it is
always еasiеr to ridе towards thеm thаn
awаy from them, thus for thе first аttempts
of this nеw lеsson thе horsе is asked to
movе in a dirесtion thаt hе is morе willing
to go. Beсause of that very аttrасtion, how-
еvеr, he is onlу allowеd to go as far as the

iпner шaсk, so thаt it is аlwаys thе ridеr Put thе horse on to thе сhosеn line (prеf-
к'ho stops tlrе sidеways movеmеnt and eraЬ|у not the outer tтaсk) and, aftег а fеw
пеvег the boaгds. Thе proсedure for thе hoгsе's lеngths to сheсk sшaightпеss and
fiгst phasе of Lеg-yiеlding thеrеforе' is аs give the warning signals, takе thе forehand
follows: litdе bу littlе to the insidе, until thе outsidе
At thе short еnd of thе sсhool, ridе a foгefoot is stеpping in front of thе insidе
15 m hаlf-сirсlе and pгoсeеd down thе hind foot (in othеr words until hе is mov-
quartег linе. Ride the linе аЬsolutely ing on tfuее trасks). As bеforе thе hoгse
straight onсе or twiсе to tеst and' if nесеs- rеmains аЬsolutеly sшaight from poll to
sагy, сheсk any tеndеnсy Ьy the horse to сroup аnd thе movement is riddеn fгom thе
dгift ovеr towaгd thе boаrds of his own inside lеg аt thе giлth into thе stеadying
eссoгф for hе must not go until askеd. outsidе rеin. As hе beсomеs сompеtеnt'
Nеxt timе hold thе straightness down thе the angle сan bе inсrеasеd to Ьеtweеn 30"
quаrtеr linе until гougЫу oppositе Е (oг and 40. whiсh mеans, of сoursе, that hе
B), at whiсh time apply thе insidе lеg will bе moving on two traсks; that is to sаy
frгm1y' but not suddеnly аt the giлth. The that whilst Ьoth hind fееt rеmain on thе
hoгsds rеaсtion will bе to try to go fastеr or original linе his forеfеet aге moving on a
slrongег (quitе undеrstandаbly bесause sеparate parallеl linе of thеiт own'
rhяt is what hе hаs bееn tаught to do), and The pidаlls to watсh out for arе аllowing
уou should аntiсipate this геaсtion by a the horsе to bеnd, usually in the nесk, and
сleаrly definеd steadying influеnсe down fall out or esсapе thтough his outside
йе outsidе rcinbеforе applying thе insidе shoulder, (almost сегtainlу саused by nеg-
leg. Continue to exert this influenсе on thе lесt of thе outside rеin, or altеrnаtivеly, Ьy
rеin until rеaсhing thе innеr trасk, at too muсh inside rein); tilting of thе horsе's
rгhiсh point, softеn thе outsidе hand, and hеad саusеd Ьy an ovеr rеstraining and
аpply thе outsidе lеg to stop thе sidеways baсkward fееling hаnd; and quaпers going
movеment. Usе thе other lеg to drive him oцt into thе movеmеnt insteаd of thе
foгwaгd, so тhаt in thе momеnt of dтiving forеhand сoming in (proЬablу a rеsult of
foгward both lеgs aгe bеing firmly appliеd the ridеr drawing baсk his insidе lеg). This
eт thе girth. Thе horsе should remain lаst point nееds pагtiсulаr еmphasis, for on
sЕaight from poll to сroup thтoughout. zo ассount shoцld thе ridег drаw tlrе inside
It is not a diffiсult еxeгсisе and' provided lеg bасk Ьеhind the giтth in Lеg-yiеlding
тhе gтound work has bееn thorough, or in Shoulder-in. Not only will it геsult in
hoгsеs pеrform it rеmaгkably wеll in a vеry sеnding thе qualters out' but loss of impul-
shoгt timе. Thе sесond stagе is pегhаps sion will аlmost сeгtаiлly еnsue and it wi.ll
sШghtly moге diffrсult. It is сalled Lеg- vеry likely саuse сonfusion to thе hoгsе
уЬlding on thе line, whiсh meaпs thаt whеn thе timе сomеs foг him to leaгn the
аlthough thе horsе is making a sidеwаys half-pаss. AIl of thesе аrе very serious mis-
movеmеnt, his body is plасed at an angle to takes and must be eхtremеlv саrеfullv
thе oгiginal linе and his hind fееt nеver guardеd against.
lеаvе it. It is usually perfoгmed on onе of
тhe longitudinаl linеs but it сan bе done on Lightness, gaiety аnd obedienсe агe с|ear|y
aпу strаight linе inсluding diagonally or apparent in both these fu||y trаined horses.
асгoss ttrе sсhool. WhiIst the finaI objeсtives are very different
Thе aids here arе еxaсtly thе sаmе аs in the basiс eduсation of this advаnсed
thе fust stage, Ьut сaггied out in thе follow- dressage horse and this showjumper hаs
lng mаnnеr: been aIong very simiIar Iinеs.
PR0GBEsSIvE ТRA|NlNG
onсе Lеg-уiеlding has dеvelopеd to thе
stаgе where the hoгse is moving сlеarly on
two trасks it beсomеs a gymnastiс еxerсise
in thе truе sense of the teтm, and it will
еxегt сonsidегable influеnсе on improving
the working trot. At the samе timе, thе
horse will havе bееn prасtising smallеr
сirсles аnd сolleсtion' so wе now have а
horse who is сapaЬlе of moving lаtеrally at
working trot, bending еasily, аnd of саrry-
ing himsеlf to а more or less modest degrее
of сollесtion. Togеthеr thеsе thrее things -
that is lateral movemеnt plus bend plus
сollесtion - сomprise thе Shouldеr-in.
Shouldеr-in is, in prinсiple, thе samе as
Lеg-yielding on the linе but with thе
added dimеnsions of сollесtion аnd a
unifoгm bеnd. Thesе еxшa dimensions
hаve beеn lеaгned and prасtisеd as sеpаratе
еntitiеs and it follows that thе morе
thorough thе lеssons havе beеn, the fewеr
problеms will arisе when thе horse is
asked to сombinе two or morе of thе results
in thе onе movеmеnt or еxеrсisе.
llerеin lies thе essеnсе of pгogrеssivе
training. It is in having a сlеаr intеntion of
thе аims and objeсtivеs, сoupled with a
knowlеdgе ofthe сritегia to Ье appliеd. It is
in reсognйing thе bеnеfits and qualitiеs
inhеrent in onе lеsson whiсh will сontri-
butе to the еаsiеr lеaгning of thе nеxt. It is
in devеloping а fеel for ttrе way in whiсh a
horse will probаbly rеaсt in thе fцturе in
thе light of thе way hе is reaсting now. It is
in thе dеtегminаtion of the rideг to adopt
thе сoггесt postцrе on thе horse and nеver
to сompromisе that position in ordеr to gеt
a rеsult.
The lеssons that hаve bееn dеsсгiЬеd
here аs еxаmplеs havе shown, it is hopеd,
that by building саrеfully on a seсцrе
foundаtion of knowlеdge and understand-
ing, a sound аnd lasting struсturе zlil/
result. Advаnсеd work is thе direсt produсt
of early work, еaсh lеsson is еntfuely
depеndеnt oп its prеdесеssor foг its suс-
сess. Theге aгe no short сuts.

HЕN thе internal сomЬustion
еnginе Ьеgan to drivе horsеs offthе
roads аlong whiсh thеy had сarriеd man
through thе agеs, аnd off the land whiсh
thеy had hеlped him to сultivatе' mаny
thought it would lеad to thе gradual extinс-
tion of thе spесiеs.
This is not thе сase, howеver. Thеrе аre
probably аs many horsеs in thе world today
as there wеrе whеn thе horse was mаn's
indispеnsаble helpmate. Thе diffеrеnсе is
ttrat in this age of teсhnology, hе has
beсome an indispеnsable part, not of man, s
work' but of his lеisurе. In most сivilized
сountriеs' more and more pеoplе are tak-
ing up leсrеationаl riding' beсoming
horse-ownеrs or stаrting studs _ with thе
rеsult that evеry yеar, molе trained and
knowlеdgеablе pеoplе are nееdеd to look
аfter horsеs, to handle and bгeak young-
sters, to manаge stablеs, and to tеасh rid-
ing to the сonstant flow of noviсеs.
For thosе who want a сarееr with horsеs,
providеd thеy are willing to шаin and quаl-
ifу, thеrе is a grеаt variеtу of opеnings. It
is not possible herе to givе dеtailеd infor-
mation on сarееrs thгoughout thе world.
The еxаmples whiсh follow all rеlatе to
Grеаt Britain but muсh thе same oppor-
tunitiеs ехist in other сountries.
Thе most urgеnt neеds in the horsе
woгld oftoday аrе for good instuсtors, and
for rеsponsible and skillеd stud workеrs.
For еaсh of these сarееrs фere is an offiсiаl
govеrning body, or soсiеty, whiсh sets thе
nесеssary grаded еxaminations, and
whose qualifiсations arе aссеptеd as
guaranteеing сеrtain stаndards of know-
ledgе and еffiсiеnсy. In Grеat Britain, for
the шaining of instruсtors and staЬlе mаn-
agеrs, it is tlrе British Horse Soсiеty; and
for stud workers, thе National Pony Soсie-
ty. The еxаminations offеred by thеse
soсiеtiеs are rесognizеd аs сarееr tгaining
Ьy most Еduсаtion Authoritiеs, and those
wishing to train for thеm сan genеrally
oЬtаin Furthеr Еduсation grants.
Trаining is nесessary Ьесausе in аny
profession it is advisablе to oЬtain thе
qualifiсations offеrеd by that profеssion's
.еstablishmеnt'; but thеrе are othеI
reasons' too. ЕIorsе owners аnd brееdеrs
сan hardly be expесtеd to paу a wagе to
somеonе who doеsn't know еvеn thе rud-
imеnts of the job, howеvеr muсh ttrat pеr-
son may like horsеs. ЕIoгsеs arе valuablе
animals аnd сannot bе left in the сare of
somеonе inехpеriеnсеd. In аddition' rid-
ing, stable manаgеmеnt, handling brееd-
ing stoсk and brеaking young horses arе
not tесhniquеs onе aсquirеs by thе light of
onе as anу othеr. No onе would dаre to саll
thеmsеlves а doсtor, or a lawуеr, if thеy had
no qualifiсations to show for it; thе sаme
appliеs, if one is to bе suссеssful, in thе
horse world of today.
Thеre arе сarееrs to be madе in the vari-
ous forms of raсing, and in Hunt serviсе.
And thеrе is the profеssion of vеtеrinаry
surgеrу in whiсh, onсe qualifiеd, it is pos-
sible to spесializе in horsеs. Two anсillary
pгofеssions, or сrafts, аrе farriеry аnd
saddlery.
It is important to rеmembеr thаt all
aсtivе сareеrs with horsеs involve a сon-
sidеrablе amount of hard phуsiсal work;
ttrat nonе offеrs the joys of riding without
thе inеvitаblе сhorеs of stablе worl1 at
lеast, not until onе is sцссessful еnough,
and probably old еnough, to be aЬle to
еmploy help and train others. A сarееr with
horsеs сonsists of a grеat dеal moге thаn
lеarning to .look niсе' on a horsе, аnd per-
forming in jumping сompetitions bеforе
an admiтing publiс!
British Horsе Soсiеty
Еxaminations
In Grеat Britain, thе British Horsе Soсiеty
is rесognizеd аs thе offiсial Ьody responsi-
blе for sеtting and mаintaining thе stan-
dards of both riding and teасhing' Thе
Muсking out is one of the Iess g|аmorous
aspeсts of a сareer with horses, but a|| working
pupils in stables will have to join in when it is
time for suсh сhores.
Soсietу offеrs four graded еxаminаtions
and anyonе wishing to tеaсh riding should
aim to take аs many of thesе as arе within
thеir саpabilitiеs.
Thе examinations аrе: the Assistant
Instruсto1 s, whiсh сan bе taken at thе agе
of 17; thе Intеrmediate Instruсto1s; thе
Instruсto1s, for whiсh onе must be 22' and
thе Fеllowship. Bесausе it takеs intеllig-
еnсе to bе a good insшuсtor, beforе starting
to train for thе first of thеsе, it is nесеssary
.СР
to have four lеvels, or four CSЕ Gradе 1
passеs (unless thе саndidate is over 20,
when extrа mаturity is hеld to makе up for
a possiЬlе laсk of sсholаstiс aсhiеvеmеnt).
It is, thеrеforе' not neсеssary to start trаin-
ing immediately on lеaving sсhool.
Rathеr than givе thе еxасt syllabus for
thе first еxam, it is enough to say that it
сonsists of four sесtions, aпd that onе must
aсhievе а .pass' standard in еaсh sесtion.
Thеsе arе: Riding, Stable Маnagеmеnt'
Nlinor Ailments' and Powеrs of Instruс-
tion. Thе standаrd of riding саlls for a
сompеtеnt' сorrесt ridеr, who сan jump
fеnсеs up to 1 mеtrе (3 ft 3 ins), ride with-
out stirпrps' and ridе diffегent horses. Sta-
ble Мanagеment сovеrs fеeding, groom-
ing, rugging, bandaging, шimming, plait-
ing, аnd thе generаl саrе of horses, both
stablеd and at grass. Мinor Ailmеnts is a
writtеn papеr, its titlе being self-
еxplanatory. In Powеrs of Instruсtion, ttrе
сandidatе is ехpeсtеd to know not only
whаt, and how, to teaсh bцt аlso how to
сontrol а ridе.
It should bе obvious that to pass this
еxam, it will not Ье enough just to havе
riddеn and lookеd after onе's own horsе or
pony. To be suссеssful, it is еssential to
lеaгn what the еxaminers want. It is аlmost
alwaуs nесеssаry, thеrеforе, to go for a
pеriod of training to а rесognйеd Riding
ЕstaЬlishmеnt: one t}rat is on thе гесom-
mеnded list of thе British Horse Soсiеty.
The most есonomiсаl wаy to train is as a
.working pupili and most еstаblishmеnts
aссеpt working pupils providеd they stay
for at lеast a year. As thе name suggests'
work is еxpeсtеd in rеturn for шaining.
Thе аltеrnаtive is to bе a paуing student,
for whatеvеr lеngth of time it maу take to
reaсh еxаmination standаrd. Somе еstab-
lishmеnts allow studеnts to bring thеir
own hoгsеs, provided thеy pay for thеiт
kееp. Thе British llorsе Soсiеtу will sеnd
on rеquеst a list of approved sсhools, as
well as thе еxaminаtion syllabus. It is
аdvisаblе to visit sеvеral bеforе mаking a
final сhoiсe.
Thе point of thеsе examinations is to
produсe riding instruсtors, but for thosе
who arе genuinеly not intеrеstеd in tеaсh-
ing, thеrе arе two othеr еxaminаtions: thе
Cеrtifiсatе of ЕIorsеmаstеrship and thе
StаЬlе Мanagе1s Cеrtifiсаte. Thе first of
thеsе is rеallу еxaсtly the sаme as thе
Assistant Instruсtot's without the teaсh-
ing sесtion. In thе sесond, therе is moге
aссent on gеnеral horsеmastеrship, and
thе business sidе of running a yаrd. Aftег
passing onе еxaminаtion, it is advisable, iI
possiЬle, to tаke a position in а riding
sсhool фat will help to шain you for thе
next onе. It is also somеtimеs possiЬle to
 сAпЕEвs W|тH H0RsЕs

Аbove Strapping or grooming is another
dаi|у task essentia| to the horse,s hea|th and
we|l-being. Pupi|s woгking for NаtionaI Pony
Soсiety examinations hаve to spend time on
аn аppгoved stud where they wi|| Ieаrn about
a|| аspeсts of breeding as we|I as stаb|e
maпagemenт.
Right First steps in teaсhing. lnstruсting
foгms а major part of British Horse Soсiety
eхаms, and сandidatesfrom aII overthe world
study in the U.K. to qua|ify as offiсiа|
I nstru сto rs.
аresult of ignoranсе or of no propеr еarly
шaining, for although thеrе arе todaymany
knowlеdgеаЬlе breеders, thеrе arе not
nеarly enough knowlеdgеаЬlе handlers
and brеakеrs. It is unlikеly that any foal is
born viсious' or a rogue, it is inсorrесt
humаn hаndling - somеtimes too rough,
somеtimеs too sеntimеntаl _ that produсеs
warped еquine tеmpеramеnts.
Working in a stud' whеrе аnimals spеnd
а lot of their timе at libеrty, tеnds to givе
a far dееpег insight into the truе naturе
of thе horsе than working only with
thosе that are stдblеd or partlу stаblеd. Thе
bеhaviour pattеrns of hoгsеs at libеrty
are fasсinаting to watсh аnd hеlp to-
wards a gгеatеr understanding of horsе
psyсhology.
Thе Natioпal Pony Soсiеty offеrs two
еxaminаtions: the Stud Assistаnds Cеr-
tifiсatе, and thе Stud Assistаnds Diploma.
The first сan be tаken at the agе of 16,
аlthough it is doubtful whеthеr аnyone so
young сould havе had еnough еxpеriеnсе.
For thе sесond, the сandidаte must bе ovеr
22уeats old. Both еxams сan bе takеn with
or without riding. To takе thеm with rid-
ing obviously offеrs a wider сhoiсе of
futurе jobs, but thеrе аrе mаny pеople who
are not Pаrtiсularly kееn, or ;killеd, ridеrs
who nеvеrthеlеss havе thе right tempera-
mеnts for dealing with brееding stoсk arJd
young horsеs. Sinсе a greаt dеal of a young
horsе' s eаrly work is donе .on thе gгound,
people not intеIеstеd in riding should not
Ьe put off tаking stud шаiлing beсausе thеy
do not wish to ridе. Thе standaгd of riding
askеd for is high, nееding knowlеdgе of
Ьaсking, sсhooling and bringing on a
young horsе.
To tаkе thе Stud Assistаnt's еxaminа-
tion, it is neсеssary to hаvе at lеast a yеat's
еxperiеnсe at one of thе studs rесognizеd
by t}rе Soсiety as a srudent training сеnше.
This is how long it takеs to сovеr thе stud s
full асtivitiеs and all thе stagеs of a mare's
foaling сyсlе.
Thе addrеss of thе National Pony Soсi-
еtу is: 7 Сross and Pillory Lanе' Alton,
Hampshirе. Thе Sесretary will sеnd on
rеquеst a syllabus of thе еxаminаtion and a
list of thе studs whiсh aссept pupils for
tгaining.
Although thе еxaminations arе offered
bу thе National Ponу Soсiеty, this of
сourse doеs not mean thаt thе
qualifiсations arе only for working with
poniеs ' For thе highly spесialized work of
Ьloodstoсk brееding, howеvеr, thе
Thoroughbгеd Breedеrs' Assoсiаtion, 168
High Sшеet, Nеwmarkеt, Suffolk, CB8
9AJ, сan аdvisе on studs whiсh might be
willing to aссept studеnts.
Flat Raсing, National
Hunt Raсing
Theге is no short сut to bесoming a joсkеy,
еvеn if onе is smаll аnd alrеаdy a good
гidеr! Thе way in, to anyone interеstеd in
this as a сarееr' is through apprentiсеship.
Apprentiсеs are oftеn takеn on straight

get a further gгant for training for the

highеr ехaminations.
Somе knowledgеablе privatе ownеrs
takе pеoplе into thеir stаblеs to train, but it
will probably bе nесessary also to takе а
short сoursе аt an offrсial sсhool, for how-
еvег good private tеасhеrs may bе (and
many arе еxсеllеnt), thеy may not kпow
exaсtly what the еxаminеrs arе looking for.
Nor may thеy hаve an indoor sсhool in
rvhiсh a сandidаte must gеt used to гiding
Ьefore еxam day.
The аddтеss of thе Bгitish Horse Soсiеty
is: National Еquеstrian Cеntre, Kеnil-
woгth, $Иarwiсkshiте, сv8 2LR.

Thе National Pony

Soсiеty Еxaminations
Тo many, training for stud work mеаns
tгaining for thе most rеwaгding of all
сarееrs with horsеs. This is bесause thе
srud- thе stallions, marеs, foals and young
animаls _ is the foundation of еvеry othеr
horsе асtivity; and also bесause it is thе
hаndling, brеaking and sсhooling of the
young аnimals that саn mаke or mar thе
thousаnds offoals born еvеry yeаr. Fаr too
many young horsеs аnd poniеs arе spoilt as
from sсhool, but arе usuallу askеd to work
for a trial pеriod bеfore bеing finally .in-
dеnturеd: that is, bеfore signing on to
rеmain with a partiсular tгаinеr foг three,
fivе, or sеvеn yеars.
A limited numЬer of сoursеs for apprеn-
tiсes and would-Ье apprеntiсеs arе held
еaсh уear аt thе National Еquеstrian
Cеnше. Thesе arе mainly fillеd by trainеrs'
nominees, but Sсhools' Carееrs Offiсers or
pаrеnts сan apply for a plасe for a pupil or
сhild by writing to thе Nаtional Еquеstian
Cеntre' I(enilworth, Warwiсkshirе' CV8
2LR.
Not еvеry apprеntiсe makеs a joсkеу,
and not еvеry joсkеy makes thе top gradе.
But if it is a lifе's аmbition to ridе raсеs on
the fаstеst horsеs in thе world, thеn it is
worth making thе еffort to realizе it. Thеrе
arе, howеver, othеr opеnings in raсing stа-
blеs. An ordinary .lad nееd not rеmаin so
forеvеr. Ifhе is good, hе саn woгk his way
up thе laddеr and bесomе Senior Lad, or
Trаvelling Lad, mаyЬе Hеad Travelling
Lad - perhaps еvеntuallу rеaсhing thе
highеst position in any yard, that of Head
Lad, the person who, undеr thе trаinеr, is
rеsponsiblе for thе running ofthе yard, thе
welfarе ofthe horses and thе supervision of
the staff.
Thе wаgеs of lads when they stаrt arе
tied to thе minimum agriсultural wage of
thе timе, although somе trаinеrs paу morе.
107agеs risе with ехpеriеnсe, and thеrе arе
usuаlly quitе а numЬеr of .pеrks', givеn bу
gratеful ownеrs to thе lads who .dol their
horsеs whеn thе horsеs wiп or are plасеd
in raсеs. Also, many good Sеnior Lads,
Trаvеlling Lаds and all Hеad Lads will bе
providеd with а housе.
For many yеars' a grеat many lаds hаve,
in faсt, Ьeen .lasses', and theге is nothing
to stop a girl going right to thе top of thе
lаddег in raсins stаblеs. Until reсеntlv, it
wаs not possiЬle for girls to bесomе
apprеntiсes, bесausе girls were not
allowed to ride raсеs under rulеs. This is
now сhangеd, but what thе futurе holds for
girl apprеntiсеs and Womеn joсkеys
rеmains to bе sеen.
Thе еasiеst way to gеt into raсing stа-
blеs' as an apprentiсе or as a lad, is to write
to а шainеr _ if thеrе is onе in thе nеigh-
bourhood _ аnd ask for аn appointmеnt to
sее him. Тrаinеrs аrе аlways on thе look-
out for good lаds, and apprеntiсes who may
onе day makе good joсkeуs. If thеrе is no
training еstaЬlishmеnt in thе distriсt, writе
to the Joсkеу Club, 42 Portmаn Squarе,
London, !Й.1. Theу will provide a list of
trainеrs who may Ьe aЬle to hеlp.
In сonsidering а сarееI in National
Hunt stablеs, with thе idеa of perhaps
bесoming a stееplесhasе joсkеy, it is
important to rеmembеr that thе profеssion
of National ЕIunt raсе riding is an
exшеmеlу tough onе, сalling for аn еxtra
аllowanсе of nеrvе. It is also hazardous; a
jump joсkеу during his сarееr will prob-
aЬly Ьreak most of thе brеakaЬle bonеs in
his body аnd will, morеovеr' oftеn ride in
the next rасе aftеr a fall whiсh would have
kеpt lessеr mortals out of thе saddlе for
days, if not wееks.
Мost Nаtional Hunt trainеrs take on
lads rather than apprentiсеs, for whilе
аlmost еvеryonе сan be taught to stay
attaсhеd to а horse on the flat, it takеs
сonsidеraЬlе riding talent to Ьeсomе good
ovеr fеnсes. As most National Hunt lads
ridе thеir horsеs at work (thе Ьеtter onеs
over fеnсеs too), trаinеrs are quiсk to spot
talеnt, whеn а lаd will bе givеn thе bеttеI
holses to ridе and sсhool, and probablу
also the сhanсе to ridе in somе of the
.Opportunity Raсеs' whiсh arе spесially
organizеd for would-bе jump joсkеys.
Theгe are similar сhаnсеs to сlimЬ
thе
hiеrarсhiсal ladder in thе yаrd as thеIе arе
in flаt-raсing stаbles, аnd thе wages, аnd
thе .pеrks', are similаr. The waу in to
National Hunt Stаbles is thе samе as thе
way into flat-raсing: сontaсt a trаinег
diгeсtly or write to thе Joсkеу Club.
Hunt Sеrviсе
This is a wondеrful сarееr for somеonе
who wаnts a сountry lifе аs wеll as a lifе
with horsеs.
Thе opеnings into Еrunt Sеrviсe are
naturallу limited bу thе numbеr of Hunts
in ехistеnсе, Ьut all Hunts takе on new
stаff from timе to timе, and most will takе
pеoplе stгаight from sсhool ifthеу are kеen
аnd willing to lеаrn. ЕIunt horsеs аrе еasier
sсhool-mastеrs for thе lеаrnеr-ridеr thаn
rасеhorsеs. Whеn thеy сomе up from grass
in thе latе summеr' they nееd a lot of slow
еxеtсise, and еvеn whеn they arе hunting
fit thеу arе in rеgular work аnd сonsе-
quеntly seldom so еЬullient. A саrееr in
Еrunt Serviсe bеgins with being a sort of
gеnеral .dogsbody' around thе stablеs.
Thеrе may Ьe anything up to about 25
horsеs stablеd, whiсh makеs a lot of work.
From .dogsЬody' onе graduatеs to groom'
or .strappet', with two or thlеe horses to
look aftет. The nеxt stеp, providеd onе is а
good еnough ridеr, is to bесomе Sесond
ЕIorsеman, thеn Sесond Whippеr In, First
Whippеr In, and finаlly, Huntsman, who
hunts hounds, or Itеnnel ЕIuntsman, who
in the absеnсе of the Маster is in сhargе of
the fiеld. The Huntsman is in ovеrаll
сhargе of thе stаЬlеs, kеnnеls, and аll еm-
ployed thеrеin. This is а rеsponsiblе and
well-paid position and good ЕIuntsmеn are
widеly sought аftеr.
Wagеs start with thе minimцm agriсul-
tural and proglеss upwards. An important
.pеrl{ is that а1l riding сlothеs arе providеd
Ё
t(
lfi'
bу the Hunt. To entеr Еlunt Serviсе, thе
ретsonal approасh is bеst: if therе is a loсal
Hunt, find out whеrе thе kеnnеls arе (thе
stab1еs aте thеrе too), go to see thе
Huntsman and ask if thеre is а сhanсе of
bеing takеn on. If not, hе maу know of
аnothеr Hunt looking for a trainее, oI may
bе ablе to givе a dеfinitе datе for starting in
thе futurе. Thе life of the Еrunt sеrvant hаS
manу advantages' not thе lеast being thе
сhаnсe to live in, and bесome part of'
a сountry сommunity and a paтtiсular
сountrуsidе.
Vеtеrinary Surgеry
Howеvеr muсh anуonе wаnting to Ьесomе
a vetеrinary suIgеon wants аlso to
spесializе in horses, it is nесеssаry first, as
it is in human mеdiсinе bеfore spесializ-
ing, to takе thе gеnеrаl qualifying dеgrее:
tо .bесomе а vеd. This is not еasy. any
morе than Ьeсoming a doсtor is easy. It
tаkеs аt lеast fivе уеaIs to qualify and nееds
high aсadеmiс standards. .A' lеvеls are сal-
1еd for, or Sсottish .Highers', еmphasis
bеing on Ьiology, physiсs and mаthеma-
tiсs. Thеre is grеat сompеtition to еntег the
profеssion; all Veterinary Сollеges havе
morе appliсants еaсh yеar thаn thеу have
+..
=з+
;i:=
plaсes for, but therе is no sеx disсrimina-
tion. lwomеn should rеmеmbеr, howеvеr,
that bесаusе thеy аrе usuallу smallеr and
not so stIong as men' that whеn it сomеs to
praсtiсе thеy aIе oftеn bеtter in .smаll ani-
mal' praсtiсеs.
In Greаt Britаin, thе сontrolling body of
the vеterinary pгofession is thе Roуal Col-
1еgе of Vеteгinary Surgеons, 32, Belgravе
Square, London, s.\uи.1. Thе Collеgе rес-
ognizes the dеgгееs grantеd by thе six Vеt-
erinarу Collegеs in thе Unitеd l(ingdom,
еaсh of whiсh is a part of thе parеnt Uni-
vеrsity. In Еngland, thеsе arе London,
Bristol' Livеrpool and Cаmbridgе; аnd in
Sсotland, the Glasgow Vetеrinary Col-
1еge' and Royаl(Diсk) Vetеrinary Collеgе'
Еdinburgh. Thе usual studеnt grants are
obtainaЬlе for vеtеrinary сotllsеs, at the
еnd of whiсh thе first degreе is that of
Baсhеlor of Vеtеrinarу Меdiсinе and
Surgеry (BvМs). Thе holdеr of this
dеgrее is еntitlеd to bесome a Меmbеr of
thе Royаl Collegе of Vеtеrinaгy Surgeons
(МRCvS) аnd саn stаft praсtiсе.
Тhе mаin diffеrеnсе bеtwееn the vеtеri-
narу and thе human mеdiсal сoursеs is
that during thе foгmеr, a spесifiеd timе has
to be spеnt eaсh vaсation doing praсtiсal
work. For the first two yеarsJ this should Ье
Three totа||y differеnt сareers сonneсted With
thе horse wor|d' left: A уoung appгentiсe
trains for the joсkey,s trade, a tough and
сompetitive career with Iong hours and
re|аtive|у smal| гewaгd eХсеpt for those at the
top middle: Working with hounds entails long
hours too, and in all types of weather, but this
уoung hunt servant is undismayed ' above''
Тra in i ng to be a veteri nary sU rgeon is аrd uous,
and high асademiс quaIifiсations are required
for a universitу degree сourse, but the сarеer
саn providе substantiaI finаnсiaI rewaгd for
hard work.
spеnt on а farm lеarning aЬout animаl сaге
and feeding; during thе last threе уеars,
vaсations must bе spеnt as а studеnt work-
ing with a praсtising vеtеrinarian.
On going into prасtiсе, it will Ье nесes-
sary for thosе who wish to spесializе in
horses to сhoosе a distriсt wherе horsеs
abound. Although it will noт Ьe possiblе in
gеnеral praсtiсе to dеal with horses only, it
will bе possiblе to еarn а rеputаtion as а
.good horsе vеc. But by no mеans all who
qualify in vetеrinary mediсinе go into gеn.
eral praсtiсе. Мanу study for postgraduate
dеgrееs in spесial suЬjесts, for example,
vеtеrinaгy radiology or vеtеrinаrу аnaеs-
thеsia; oI thеy takе сouтsеs in laЬorаtory
rеsearсh. For anу of thеse, furthеr grants
сan usually bе obtаinеd. Thеrе агe also
opеnings in Govеrnment serviсe in, for
instanсе' thе Animal Hеalth Division of
thе Мinistrу of Agriсulturе. This is
responsiblе for thе prеvеntion, аnd сontrol
ifthеy oссur, of all notifiаblе disеаses, and
for the inspесtion of mаrkеts, aЬbatoirs аnd
ports of еntry into thе сountry.
Thе Ьest start' howevеr, for anyone
wishing to spесializе in horses, would bе to
try to gеt into onе of the Ьig vеterinary
praсtiсеs nеar Newmarkеt, or anу othеr
major training сentrе.
2з9
 Animal Nursing
This is a subsidiarу profеssion to that of
vеtеrinаrу surgery, and сould appеаl to
mаny who may have left it too latе to gеt
thе aсаdеmiс qualifiсations nесеssary to
Ьесomе vеtеrinаrians. Thе full titlе of а
quаlified animal nursе is: Rеgistеred
Animal Nursing Auxiliarу (RANA). Thе
sсhеmе to train and kеep a registеr of ani-
mal nurses wаs started bу thе Roуal Col-
lеge of Vеtеrinary Surgеons in 1961.
Thеrе is a big demand for RANAs' somе
vеtеrinаry prасtiсes emploуing sеvеral' not
only to hеlp during operations' but for
post-opеrational сaте, and the сare of ani-
mals kept in for long-term trеatmеnt.
A trainее must bе 17 yеars old, or over,
and havе threе .o' lеvels, one of whiсh
must Ье Еnglish, and onе of thе others
еither mathematiсs, or physiсal or biologi-
сal sсiеnсе. It takеs two yеars to train for
thе nесessary examinations but training
nееd not bе сonsесutivе. It саn bе tаkеn
working as a studеnt nursе to a vеt-
еrinarian, whеn thе trаinее will rесеivе а
wage. It is also possiblе to train at a Vetеri-
nary Collеgе, attеnding leсtures and gain-
ing prасtiсal experiеnсе from thе аnimals
in for сarе oI opеration. The сurriсulum
for thе еxaminations is сomprehеnsivе; it
inсludеs anatomy' physiology' anaеs-
thesia, and detailеd knowledgе of thе саre
aпd fеeding of differеnt animals in siсk-
nеss and in hеalth.
Onсе trainеd as a RANA' it is a сarеет
thаt саn be сarriеd on part-timе, if that is all
сirсumstanсеs allow. And' likе human
nursing, it is onе whiсh саn bе pursuеd
wherеvеr onе is living.
240
Thе Royal Collеge of Vetеrinary
Surgeons will sеnd а booklet саllеd .Ani-
mаl Nursing Auxiliariеs' to anyonе
interestеd, togеthеr with a list of plaсes
whеrе it is possiblе to trarn.
Farriеry
Farriery is onе of thе most vitаl of all pro-
fеssions сonneсted with horsеs. If thеrе
were no farriеrs, thе еntire hoтsе world
would сomе to a stop, еxсеpt pеrhaps for a
fеw fortunаtе individuals luсky еnough to
Ье аЬlе to ridе always and еxсlusivеly on
grass. Еvеn thеy would find it hаrd to kееp
thеir mounts going sound and true if thеrе
were no onе to trim, shapе, and gеnеrallу
сarе for, thеir fеet.
Conкаry to popular imagination, it doеs
not takе enormous strength to bесomе a sion of farriery than is probablу imagined
fаrriеr. A сombination of knaсk and
know-how is rеquirеd, as proЬaЬly anyonе
who has strugglеd to remove a loosе shoе,
tаking ages ovеr what takеs thе farrier a fеw
seсonds, will havе disсovеred. What it does
tаkе, as doеs еvеry profеssion сonnесtеd
with hoгsеs, is a real intеrеst in and feеling
for thе animal itsеlf, and the right kind of
temperamеnt _ сalm and patiеnt, but firm.
A hot-tеmpered, impatient pеrson, who
hits thе horsе if it makеs thе slightest
movеmеntj willnеvеr Ьe a good fаrriеr; nor
will thе nеIvous peIson who piсks up а foot
аs though it wеrе madе of еggshеlls. It also
takеs intelligenсе, for farriеrs havе to bе
rеgistered and to bесome rеgistеrеd thеy
have to provе thlough ехaminations that
thеy know a lot morе than jцst how to make
shoеs, and put them on and tаke thеm off a
horse. Thеу must know aЬout сorrесtivе
,No
foot, no horsе, is a wel|-worn phrase, but a
relevаnt one, expIaining why fаrriers arе suсh
lmportant peop|e in the horse wor|d. Тhough
Iitt|e more than a Iad, this farrier knows exaсtIy
what he,s doing, asthe horse,s serenitу makes
сlear.
shoеing; aЬout thе anatomy of thе horsе, in
paltiсular thе workings of thе tеndons, lig-
aments and joints of thе lеgs; аbout dis-
еasеs of thе foot and thе sшuсшre of thе
foot; how a horsе should stand сorrесtlу in
natцral balanсе and how the fеet should bе
shaped or trimmеd to еnablе him to .bеaт
еvеnlf on а11 four. Qualifiеd fаrriеrs arе
reallу .vеterinarians of thе fееt : thе word
.farrie1 mеans .horsе-doсto1 as wеll as
.shoеing smith'.
Thеrе is in faсt muсh morе to the profеs-
from wаtсhing a farrier at work tгimming,
fitting and nailing on shoеs with sцсh
appalеnt еasе. With thе trеmеndoцs сon-
temporary upsurge of interest in riding,
thеre is today a vеry good living to bе madе
as a farriеr. For those who likе to think of
Ьеing thеir own mastеrs' it is a most satis-
fying profеssion, for thе majoriry of farriers
arе just that - theу сan work whеn thеy
J'ikе, for as long as they likе, on whatеvет
daуs of thе wееk thеy likе. Alternativеlу,
theте arе a numbеr of salаriеd positions for
farriers. Мany raсing stablеs, studs and
largе showing еstablishmеnts likе to havе
thеir own residеnt farтiеrs.
Thе proсеdurе for training is to find а
Маstеr Farriеr willing to takе on a tтainее.
This is not always еasу but the Sсhools
Carееrs Offiсеr сan somеtimеs hе1p. If hе
сannot! thе loсal Small Industriеs
 сAпЕEпs W|тH H0RsЕs

Oгganizer, ifthеre is onе, should bе ablе to
assist. Thе Youth Еmploymеnt Bureau
may also Ьe ablе to hеlp, and the loсal
Еduсаtion Authoritiеs сan bе approaсhed.
If in diffiсultiеs, writе to The Worshipful
Compаnу of Farriеrs, explaining any prob-
lems, and аsking for the apprentiсeship
аppliсation form. Thе аddress is: Thе
Fiеld Offiсer, 58 Hаll Park Drivе, Lytham
wеst Park, Lytham, Lаnсashire.
To bесomе а Rеgistеrеd Shoеing Smith
.ftSS) takes fouг years of шaining, or
аpprеntiсeship. With thе аpproval of the
Compаny, Rеgisterеd Shoеing Smiths сan
tаkе on and шain apprеntiсes. Thеrе arе
two furthеr сеrtifiсatеs that сan be
аttainеd: Assoсiatе of thе FarrieЦ Com.
pany of London, and Fеllow of the Vor.
shipful Compаny of Farriеrs.
A mаjor diffеrеnсе bеtween farriery
today and in thе past is thаt whеrеas thеn
everyonе took thеir horsеs to the forge,
most people now еxpесt thеir fаrriеrs to
сomе to thеm. Мost fаrriеrs thеrеforе find
it nесessary to hаvе a small portaЬle forgе
аswеll as thеir homе onе. whеrе thev makе
thе shoеs.
amount of seсond-hand trade, training will
inсludе how to run this aspесt so as to Ье
fаir both to thе businеss and thе сliеnt.
Thеre will also be сliеnts who ask the sad-
dlеr to Ьring sаddles out to thеm to try on
thеir horsеs for сorrесt fit, so this sidе of
thе suссеssful saddlе/ s сraft will bе lеаrnt
as well.
Thеге are othег ways of lеarning thе
сraft of saddlеrу. Thе Cordwainеrs Teсh-
niсal Collеgе, 182, Marе Strееt, }Iaсknеy,
London, Е8, runs a Rural Saddlегs'
Course. Thosе who pаss thе thеorеtiсal
аnd praсtiсal еxaminations at thе еnd of
thе сoursе саn often gеt a bursаry from thе
Worshipful Companу to сontinuе tfain-
ing. Both thе Citу and Guilds of London
Institute' and the Walsall Sсhool of Arts
and Crafts гun сouIses in saddlery and
Training sсhemes in the highIy specialized
trade of sаdd|ery are аvаi|аb|e in Britаin to
both boys and girls, Iike these trainees at the
benсh of a Mаster Sadd|er,s workshop
lеathеrwork; again, those who pass the
nесеssary examinаtions аt thе еnd of thе
сourses сan bе hеlpеd to furthеr training bу
the Worshipful Company, whiсh will also
somеtimеs pay full apprеntiсеship fееs for
thosе who сannot afford thеm, oг who have
been unablе to get еduсational grants.
Whatеvеr mеthod of training is сonsidеrеd
it is аlways a good thing to writе to thе
Company, asking for thеir adviсе and hеlp.
The address is: Thе \07orshipful Compаny
of Saddlers, Sаddlers' FIаll, Guttеr Lanе,
London, Ес2v 6вR.
Although a saddlеr doеs not havе to be a
ridеr, the more hе knows аbout horsеs and
riders, and фeir oftеn vеry diffеrеnt nееds,
thе bеttеr. Naturally, many of his сliеnts
will Ье еxperienсed peoplе who know
еxaсdy what they want. But many will bе
noviсes knowing littlе morе than that in
ordеr to ride a horsе' thеy nееd a saddlе and
bridle. They thеrеforе need, and thеiг
horsеs will apprесiatе, a good saddlеt's
adviсе.

Saddlery
Тhe \Х/orshipful Companу of Sаddlегs is
thе oldеst of thе pгеsent-day Livеry Com-
paniеs of thе City of London. Thе earliest
doсumеnt in thе Company's possеssion
goes Ьaсk to 1 160, in whiсh therе is alreadу
mеntion of .сustoms of old, whiсh makеs
it appеar that thе Company was originаlly
an Anglo-Sаxon Craft Guild. The first
Chartеr wаs grantеd to thе сompany by
Еdward I in 1272' аnd the Inсorporation
Chartеr bу Riсhаrd II in 1395. Thе provi-
sions of this wеrе amended oI ratiflеd ьу
subsequеnt monarсhs until Jamеs I,
whose Chartеr of 16o7 is in forсе today.
Although muсh сontemporary sаddlеry
is morе or lеss mass produсеd, аnd many
so.сallеd sаddlers little more thаn rеtail-
eгs, thеге isstill a great nееd for сraftsmen
and women. Thеrе aге manу Мastеr Sаd-
dlers, сapablе of making еvеry сonсeivable
аrtiсle of taсk (metal woгk ехсludеd) thаt
anу horsе might nееd. The bеst way to
learn thе сraft is to work with suсh a sad-
dlеr, as a lеarnеr-worker, or as an apprеn-
tiсе. A lеaгnеr-workеr will get a wagе'
small at first, and rising as hе progrеssеs.
An apprеntiсе will sign on to remain for a
stаtеd numbеr ofyеars, probаbly paуing an
apprеntiсеship fее. It is usually possiblе to
get аn Еduсation Grant to шain in this way.
Trаining in the workshop of а Маstеr
Saddlег is сomplеtе аnd сomprеhеnsive.
Starting work with the simplest of stitсh-
ing rеpair jobs, it plogгеssеs through to
making, as well as rеpairing, most artiсles
of tасk, exсept pеrhaps saddlеs. Еvеn then
it will havе bееn nесеssaгy to have lеarnt
all about thе anatomy of sаddles, so theу
сan bе restuffеd or relinеd, or takеn apаrt
for the trеes to Ье сhесkеd. Training will
also inсludе how to run a saddlегy busi-
nеss, or shop, so as to makе a pгofit; whiсh
wholеsalе firms arе the best to dеаl with,
and whiсh еxtra goods it may Ье pтofitablе
to stoсk. As most working saddlеrs do a fаir
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