Ask Me About Horses

[SeverinR]

Having been in a medieval reinactment group with horses, not a single woman rode side saddle, and they were quick to point out this was authentic.

This gives a good quick over view.
Medieval Women, Riding, and the Side Saddle | Sarah Woodbury

 

[BWFoster78]

I don't know what they used in medieval times for a sidesaddle, but in early American history women used sidesaddles to compete in fox hunts and such, so they could definitely kick up some dirt in them, including jumping quite high.

Edited in: Just looked it up, sidesaddles were invented in the middle ages, but they weren't very easy to sit in, and typically the horse was led or they rode astride or on a pillion behind a man. It wasn't until the 16th century that sidesaddles adapted to allow women more athleticism in the saddle.

So I don't know how time accurate to this world you want to keep your world, but that's what I found. Thanks Severin for pointing that out.

Thanks again. I'm pretty flexible with my technologies, and my world is completely made up. No need at all to keep it accurate to the middle ages.

 

[BWFoster78]

It takes time to adjust the dress when sitting in a regular saddle, but it can be done.
riding a horse in a flowing gown - Bing Images

I think it depends on the culture.

Thanks for the link. I think that it will depend on my characters. One of them wouldn't mind at all flashing a little ankle flesh while getting on the horse while another wouldn't dream of it. The other two I'm less sure about.

 

[gavintonks]

Woman in a dress like that would not ride, it is like the Spanish they literally sit behind a male rider. The length of the front of the dress would prevent view and froth interfering with the reins, as it would bunch.

Most dresses of that nature are hooped so the wire bends the cloth up. You need to drop your leg down to ride, as you require contact. Horses are trained to be ridden side saddle you just do not throw a saddle on and expect the horse to obey.
So the rider rides up to a plinth and the woman sits on her dress behind her rider, it also means the dress does not interfere with the horses actions, the horse unless trained would probably see the bouncing dress in the peripheral vision and spook

 

[ArielFingolfin]

I guess I should have asked what type of dresses your characters are wearing. I was assuming it was just fabric, not a hoop skirt (which would be a challenge to ride in).

 

[BWFoster78]

To be honest, there are things that I know less about than medieval women's fashion, but not too many. I'm envisioning big dresses, but they're not coming from a ball. I was thinking fabric.

 

[Ankari]

To be honest, there are things that I know less about than medieval women's fashion, but not too many. I'm envisioning big dresses, but they're not coming from a ball. I was thinking fabric.

You should ask Anihow to steer you in the right direction. I am going through much of the same confusion as you when it comes to clothing. She has helped tremendously. From what I gathered about the time period most noble women wore many layers of clothing. They wore a shift (long tunic), then another shift atop that, then petticoats, then the outer dress then finally a coat. I'm sure I'm missing some layers.

Unless they are based of of Mediterranean nobles (implying your area is hot) then your noble would wear drastically less layers. Check out Anihow's gallery to see some of the stuff she created, they're awesome.

 

[Graylorne]

Speaking about saddles, I've got this young lad in a WiP who is paralysed from the waist down (its a psychological matter, not physical). He very much wants to ride again. The society is magical/semi-medieval, but not primitive. I've googled some elaborate contraptions, but that's not really in style. I'd appreciate any suggestions.

 

[SeverinR]

Speaking about saddles, I've got this young lad in a WiP who is paralysed from the waist down (its a psychological matter, not physical). He very much wants to ride again. The society is magical/semi-medieval, but not primitive. I've googled some elaborate contraptions, but that's not really in style. I'd appreciate any suggestions.

Horse Saddles for Disabled Riders
Currently even modern day paraplegics have trouble getting a saddle. There is a pic of a saddle for para's.

Not primitive? Like not caveman era? Or not primative like the wild west?
Hard to nail down a time frame. Bc, 100ad, 1200ad, 1600 ad, 1800's, industrial age? Saddles for these eras are alot different.
oldest saddle known to man-3000bc.

Here is a site of saddles through history.
Historical Saddles - Home

 

[ArielFingolfin]

Sweet site, Severin!

Graylorne: The most important thing is lower back support, so something on the back of the saddle like a chair seat, and then secure straps for the legs. The horse would have to be trained to go off voice command and the reins since horses are trained to listen to seat and legs first. A driving horse would be good for him since they're trained to listen to voice more than anything else as well as reins.

 

[Graylorne]

Not primitive as in not medieval. It's not an industrial society, because of the magic. But they could produce highlevel saddles, as long as there's no technological elements involved. Thanks for the links, SeverinR, I'll check them out.

Lower back support and something to secure the legs. I think I get the picture. So I need to find a obedient carthorse for him. This helps a lot, thanks, ArielFingolfin.

 

[ArielFingolfin]

No problem A carthorse would be a good start while they were training another horse if he wanted something flashier if that's what your character wanted. Just out of curiosity, why can your character not use his lower body?

 

[Mindfire]

Is there any kind of horse that does fairly well in arid/desert climates and savannah? If not I'll just invent one I suppose. But if there was such a horse, what would the breed look like and what kind of physical features would it need to live in that kind of environment?

It should be noted that said desert does have oases here and there.

 

[Graylorne]

No problem A carthorse would be a good start while they were training another horse if he wanted something flashier if that's what your character wanted. Just out of curiosity, why can your character not use his lower body?

Shock. When he was younger (he's about 17 in the book) he was riding out with his best friend. They encountered some monsters who chased them. His horse stumbled into his friend's mount and both boys fell off. The friend was horribly killed by the monsters, while he played dead. After the monsters were gone, he was in shock and gradually lost strength in his legs. He also started to stutter, lost self-confidence, feels guilty and has an over-protective father.

After posting I realized a discrepancy, for he had to be able to walk with crutches. So it's not a total paralysis but more of a severe weakness.

Also he is found to have powerful magic, so my MC forces him out of his despondency.

Training a horse wouldn't be a problem, the king has plenty. But to start with a lazy old carthorse would be a nice touch.

 

[Ankari]

Is there any kind of horse that does fairly well in arid/desert climates and savannah? If not I'll just invent one I suppose. But if there was such a horse, what would the breed look like and what kind of physical features would it need to live in that kind of environment?

It should be noted that said desert does have oases here and there.

Arabian horses.

You can read the Wiki article here

They are smaller but very strong. They thrive at endurance races.

 

[ArielFingolfin]

Yeah, look up Arabian horses. The basics characteristics of the breed are that they're built very lightly and have a lot of endurance. Also they're known for having a dished face (look up pictures and you'll see that I mean). Temperment is very smart but also they can be a littly flighty and high strung.

 

[SeverinR]

Shock. When he was younger (he's about 17 in the book) he was riding out with his best friend. They encountered some monsters who chased them. His horse stumbled into his friend's mount and both boys fell off. The friend was horribly killed by the monsters, while he played dead. After the monsters were gone, he was in shock and gradually lost strength in his legs. He also started to stutter, lost self-confidence, feels guilty and has an over-protective father.

After posting I realized a discrepancy, for he had to be able to walk with crutches. So it's not a total paralysis but more of a severe weakness.

Also he is found to have powerful magic, so my MC forces him out of his despondency.

Training a horse wouldn't be a problem, the king has plenty. But to start with a lazy old carthorse would be a nice touch.

pinched nerve could cause the need for crutches, or even just a psycological block.

Ariel: I never realized cart horses were cued verbally, always in the movies they snap or flip the reins.

 

[Graylorne]

SeverinR said: pinched nerve could cause the need for crutches, or even just a psycological block.

It's a bloc I was thinking of. Something that can be cured if it becomes necessary.

 

[ArielFingolfin]

I never realized cart horses were cued verbally, always in the movies they snap or flip the reins.

Ah, movies

Snapping the reins (or whip if you have one) is a way to cue a horse, but your typical driving horse is well trained to voice as well. It's one of the reasons I love working with horses that are broke to drive; they tend to keep an ear cocked to your voice.

Have you ever tried driving? If not and you get a chance, I'd totally recommend it, Severin. Maybe not quite as exciting as throwing spears from a galloping horse (which I still plan to try sometimes), but still fun

 

[ArielFingolfin]

Shock. When he was younger (he's about 17 in the book) he was riding out with his best friend. They encountered some monsters who chased them. His horse stumbled into his friend's mount and both boys fell off. The friend was horribly killed by the monsters, while he played dead. After the monsters were gone, he was in shock and gradually lost strength in his legs. He also started to stutter, lost self-confidence, feels guilty and has an over-protective father.

After posting I realized a discrepancy, for he had to be able to walk with crutches. So it's not a total paralysis but more of a severe weakness.

Also he is found to have powerful magic, so my MC forces him out of his despondency.

Training a horse wouldn't be a problem, the king has plenty. But to start with a lazy old carthorse would be a nice touch.

Yikes, sounds like fun. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have moved from the ground at all; I'd still be there terrified out of my wits.