Writing about Horses...Myths and Rants (long)
Okay, this is a bit of a rant... every so often I pop over to Romance Central, yesterday I see this helpful posting. And by helpful, I mean a rant of sorts. Okay, I get it- in a way. I have horses, lots of them- primarily mustangs of Spanish origin. I have ridden both English and Western, worked as a wrangler at a dude ranch in Colorado, started colts...basically all sorts of experiences. I read books with horses- in fact if there is one on the cover I will buy it on principal. And, I have read thing that make me roll my eyes. Yes, when you are an "expert" in a field it will happen. My nurse friend bickers about Grey's Anatomy- but hey- no one is studying to be a doctor by watching the show. No, it is entertainment. So, yes some liberties and creative license will be taken. But I digress... I am irritated with this particular rant. Mostly because he is wrong.
Charles Montgomery www.authorsinc.com/ - K, so I can't find him on this site (which has a very annoying way of fading in and out)- so I can't confirm his experience or see pics of his ranch life. I did try to google his name and there is a Canadian journalist who is pretty cute, but no horses. This guy did grow up on a farm??? Could I be ranting about a cute guy? You know what they say about sparks!!
Well, here's the deal- he makes several points and we'll address them all here:
"Myth 1: You cannot guide a horse with your knees." - He claims you will end up in the dirt if you try this. Um...no. I guide my horses with my "legs" all the time- it is how you cue them to take up a lead for instance. Is it my "knee"- not exactly- more the whole leg or the heel or my seat (hipbone/weight)- depending on exactly what I want. But point here is that this isn't all that wrong of a statement. Some people do believe that the reins are for steering and the legs are for speed- but not all. Most horses (untrained- just raw) move in a way that will keep them balanced- so if you put more weight on one side, the horse will move into it to balance itself. Now, that said, you can train a horse to move away from pressure- so use the legs, some use the bridle (reins- mouth for a snaffle, neck for a curb bit)
"Myth 2: You saddle a horse, step into the saddle, and ride the bucking bronco until he quits" - On this one I agree with him- this is not a good practice for training a horse. Does it happen, though? Yes. Many trainers are idiots who believe this. If you work around horses will you ever get a horse that responds like this? yes. Because they were trained by an idiot and there are a lot of them out there. So for the purpose of story writing- just use this to show that the character is an idiot, a bad guy, OR show how the good character can work this horse through this is a productive manner. But don't try to make your hero look good by riding a bucking bronco unless he his specifically training for competition with such animals.
"Myth 3: The word Stallion is not in the vocabulary of horse people" - Well, yes, most people in the horse business refer to uncut male horses of any age as studs. The word stallion is used, is understood, and even appears on show forms for halter classes- so it's not like this is such a big deal to get wrong. Stallion is more romantic, is it not? And honestly- depending on the area and time period- it may well be the more common term. In my parts, people call them studs almost exclusively, but would understand you if you said stallion.
"Myth 4: You can disguise a horse by changing it’s color or some other such foolishness." - Um, yeah, this is pretty dumb. I'd advise against it. I can tell my horses by the way they hold their head, their walk. I can identify them from a distance by their shape. If someone is familiar with a horse, they will know it even if it is covered by a blanket. I have two mares that are identical in color and markings- there is no way I would ever confuse them even from a great distance, but most casual observers do. So use this, if you must, just be sure you are fooling people who don't matter- like the police or the guy at the guard gate or the wealthy owner who doesn't have dust on his shoes- but not the trainer or the groom.
"Myth 5: There’s no such thing as a rodeo circuit." Yes there is- there are several- the Dodge Rodeo Circuit for one. Do a search on Rodeo Circuit- you'll get responses. A Rodeo circuit is where the points from those events get calculated together for an end of season total. It is generally speaking a higher level of competition. Local rodeos are different. Would a cowboy say "I'm going on the rodeo circuit." Probably not, he'd probably say "Goin' to Gainesville, you?"- just like with anything, when you are embedded in the life, you drop off all the qualifiers when you speak about it. It doesn't mean they don't exist, though.
So, here's the deal- in the horseworld there are a lot of people who are "experts"- if you are researching, good luck. Chances are you will talk to an idiot. I have known people who have been around horses all their lives- blahdiddtyblahblahblah - and they do stupid things. One of my good friends is an idiot- her boyfriend is supposedly a trainer- but I'd never ever send my horse to him. Also, depending on the location, the type of riding/competing/whatever you are writing on will change everything- terms used, methods used, types of horse used.
Some of my own rants: 1> Arabians- they show up everywhere. Most cowboys hate them (even though they do pretty good on cows). But is it possible that Big, Rich Cattle Baron/Texas Rancher guy has an expensive, well bred Araibian stallion- sure, it's possible- very weird, IMO, but I'm sure it happens. 2> The popular not-good-with-horses girl (or child, or whatever) has emotional break down and takes off on a wild stallion scene- yes, a lovely plot device, yes it is possible. It is more likely that the rider will get his/her neck broke and the animal will get hurt (esp. if it is a Thoroughbred). 3> The insatiable need to define everything- "saddle- a leather apparatus used for riding a horse" - lordy, I'd rather have a glossary in the back than have this defined in the text. 4> Putting a horse on your cover and not including a horse in your story. DIE!!!! But give me my money back first.
Charles Montgomery www.authorsinc.com/ - K, so I can't find him on this site (which has a very annoying way of fading in and out)- so I can't confirm his experience or see pics of his ranch life. I did try to google his name and there is a Canadian journalist who is pretty cute, but no horses. This guy did grow up on a farm??? Could I be ranting about a cute guy? You know what they say about sparks!!
Well, here's the deal- he makes several points and we'll address them all here:
"Myth 1: You cannot guide a horse with your knees." - He claims you will end up in the dirt if you try this. Um...no. I guide my horses with my "legs" all the time- it is how you cue them to take up a lead for instance. Is it my "knee"- not exactly- more the whole leg or the heel or my seat (hipbone/weight)- depending on exactly what I want. But point here is that this isn't all that wrong of a statement. Some people do believe that the reins are for steering and the legs are for speed- but not all. Most horses (untrained- just raw) move in a way that will keep them balanced- so if you put more weight on one side, the horse will move into it to balance itself. Now, that said, you can train a horse to move away from pressure- so use the legs, some use the bridle (reins- mouth for a snaffle, neck for a curb bit)
"Myth 2: You saddle a horse, step into the saddle, and ride the bucking bronco until he quits" - On this one I agree with him- this is not a good practice for training a horse. Does it happen, though? Yes. Many trainers are idiots who believe this. If you work around horses will you ever get a horse that responds like this? yes. Because they were trained by an idiot and there are a lot of them out there. So for the purpose of story writing- just use this to show that the character is an idiot, a bad guy, OR show how the good character can work this horse through this is a productive manner. But don't try to make your hero look good by riding a bucking bronco unless he his specifically training for competition with such animals.
"Myth 3: The word Stallion is not in the vocabulary of horse people" - Well, yes, most people in the horse business refer to uncut male horses of any age as studs. The word stallion is used, is understood, and even appears on show forms for halter classes- so it's not like this is such a big deal to get wrong. Stallion is more romantic, is it not? And honestly- depending on the area and time period- it may well be the more common term. In my parts, people call them studs almost exclusively, but would understand you if you said stallion.
"Myth 4: You can disguise a horse by changing it’s color or some other such foolishness." - Um, yeah, this is pretty dumb. I'd advise against it. I can tell my horses by the way they hold their head, their walk. I can identify them from a distance by their shape. If someone is familiar with a horse, they will know it even if it is covered by a blanket. I have two mares that are identical in color and markings- there is no way I would ever confuse them even from a great distance, but most casual observers do. So use this, if you must, just be sure you are fooling people who don't matter- like the police or the guy at the guard gate or the wealthy owner who doesn't have dust on his shoes- but not the trainer or the groom.
"Myth 5: There’s no such thing as a rodeo circuit." Yes there is- there are several- the Dodge Rodeo Circuit for one. Do a search on Rodeo Circuit- you'll get responses. A Rodeo circuit is where the points from those events get calculated together for an end of season total. It is generally speaking a higher level of competition. Local rodeos are different. Would a cowboy say "I'm going on the rodeo circuit." Probably not, he'd probably say "Goin' to Gainesville, you?"- just like with anything, when you are embedded in the life, you drop off all the qualifiers when you speak about it. It doesn't mean they don't exist, though.
So, here's the deal- in the horseworld there are a lot of people who are "experts"- if you are researching, good luck. Chances are you will talk to an idiot. I have known people who have been around horses all their lives- blahdiddtyblahblahblah - and they do stupid things. One of my good friends is an idiot- her boyfriend is supposedly a trainer- but I'd never ever send my horse to him. Also, depending on the location, the type of riding/competing/whatever you are writing on will change everything- terms used, methods used, types of horse used.
Some of my own rants: 1> Arabians- they show up everywhere. Most cowboys hate them (even though they do pretty good on cows). But is it possible that Big, Rich Cattle Baron/Texas Rancher guy has an expensive, well bred Araibian stallion- sure, it's possible- very weird, IMO, but I'm sure it happens. 2> The popular not-good-with-horses girl (or child, or whatever) has emotional break down and takes off on a wild stallion scene- yes, a lovely plot device, yes it is possible. It is more likely that the rider will get his/her neck broke and the animal will get hurt (esp. if it is a Thoroughbred). 3> The insatiable need to define everything- "saddle- a leather apparatus used for riding a horse" - lordy, I'd rather have a glossary in the back than have this defined in the text. 4> Putting a horse on your cover and not including a horse in your story. DIE!!!! But give me my money back first.
posted by wilddunz at 6:35 AM
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