So, you want to put a horse in the story you are writing? Congratulations! You've chosen one of the most loyal, useful, intelligent, and interesting animals to add to your story. They truly are impressive. From the large eventing bred horse, to the little backyard pony. All of them are magnificent and each has a story to tell. I have been lucky to have spent over a decade not only riding, but training, giving lessons, and caring for these wonderful animals. I even owned two of them and handled most, if not all, of their training.
When I read books with horses in them, often they are portrayed akin to a motorcycle. You pull it out, saddle it, ride around for untold hours, and when you're done it goes back. What writers often miss are the myriad of nuances that makes up horses, their care, and their uses.
The first thing I would like to address is that horses need a lot of care. They require trimming their feet, health checks, grooming, and the most time consuming of all: training. Even a good minded horse needs long rides and wet saddle blankets. They want to be around people as well. They need that connection as the rider or handler has replaced their natural herd order. Horses like to know where they stand in the herd, and need to be a part of one. Even if it's a herd of the horse and its handler.
Most often I read stories of people simply pulling the horse out for use, and not putting in an effort to care for them. In certain situations this makes sense, such as a horse that may be traded in every tavern for a fresh one. But they still, at the end of a riding day, require attention and care.
The second is that there are many different kinds of horses, and their characteristics often change based on where their breed originates from. An example? The Friesian horse from the Netherlands. These animals are large, with an impressively arched neck. They are usually jet black with a flowing mane and tail. Very athletic, built uphill, their movements are sweeping and large. These horses were bred for war, and could easily carry a knight in full armor. Opposite the Friesian horse is the Shetland pony. Shetland's hail from the very north of Scotland, standing from 28inches to 46 inches at the withers. They are small. Their feet end in tiny hooves, they have copious amounts of hair all over their body for warmth, and with short sturdy legs are built for packing or pulling heavy loads. You would not put a knight a Shetland. It just doesn't fit. Before placing a horse in your story, think about how they will be used, and then pick a breed or type that best suits those needs.
The third, and one that drives me crazy, is color. There are in fact "brown" horses. They tend to be rare, and some colors just don't show up in some breeds at all. Here are just a few of the colors a horse can be: black, bay, white, chestnut, grey, palomino, buckskin, dun, gruella, albino, blue or red roan, and brown. Within some of those "colors" there are further variations that set them apart. A horse's fur color is just like a person's hair. Color is a multi-gene controlled aspect, and as such there are large variations and distinctions. Which means that a horse breed, such as the Friesian listed above may not even be capable of being a certain color. I was reading a book that a horse was of Spanish origin and was described as a buckskin, but later was mentioned that she had a dorsal strip. This horse would actually be considered a dun because of this. Buckskins cannot have a dorsal strip.
The fourth, and last one that I am explaining today is usually the LARGEST misconception. A horse can not gallop all day. Even over grassy plains they can't let, alone galloping through a forest or mountains. In fact, if the ground is rocky and rough, the horse should go no faster than a walk or a trot to ensure the safety of horse and rider. If you ever watch a horse on uneven surfaces they pick their way carefully. It's not easy to get back up when you're over a thousand pounds, and it's worse if you have a hundred some pound rider and supplies on your back. Horses, just like people need rest. A person can't run all day, so why would a writer make a horse? They also need to stop to graze frequently. Horses do not eat three square meals a day. They are grazers, and need time to eat smaller amounts throughout the day and night. When going on a long trip to give the horse some rest and time to graze, have the characters stop for lunch. Or even walk alongside the horses on their way.
Horses are not machines, they are living breathing beings that operate in and obey our natural laws. Now, if the story takes place in some magical realm and there is a solid reason why a horse has attributes that one on our planet wouldn't, THEN EXPLAIN why. Otherwise do some research, talk to someone who knows and understands them. The extra time will be well worth it.
No comments:
Post a Comment