Working Class Ponies

You only have to look through old Equestrian books to see why Hunting was banned. The underlying aura of class privilege, the contempt for the abilities of those who do it for money and the attitude that only horses used for leisure purposes are horses, it is all bound to irritate.

The Saddlechariot has thousands of years of chariot tradition to draw on but I am a bit wary of using it. After all traditional British chariot dress was stark naked, blue body paint, edged weapons and for the survivors, rape and pillage after. The Governments ban on knives and a generally PC environment could make this a bit tricky, so lets just say, wear what you like.

And here are a few quotes to keep you amused. I am always on the lookout for more so please e-mail any gems to simon@saddlechariot.com

From Henry Wynmalen "Equitation" 1938 Country Life Ltd.
"on the continent the vast majority of horsemen are, or have been, officers of the mounted arms;"
So the men in the cavalry didn't learn to ride, only the officers.
"the primary object of schooling the horse is to make him perfectly obedient to his rider.........The secondary object of schooling the horse is more particularly to prepare him for the special purpose for which we require him. In England that purpose, I think, can be defined safely as that of a "pleasant riding-horse, able to follow hounds smartly and safely across a country"
So that thing pulling the grocers van wasn't a horse.

William Fawcett "Riding and Horsemanship"
The Sportsmans's Library, Adam & Charles Black.
"Above all, see that your instruction is given to you by instructors certificated by that excellent body the Institute of Horse, and not by grooms, whose ideas are hidebound by conservative traditions and who, more important still, cannot impart knowledge, and are, as a class, bad horsemen."
so now you know.

Lt.-Colonel F.C. Hitchcock, OBE, MC
"Cavalry training creates the faculty of making quick decisions; it gives an "eye for country", it fosters initiative, independence and resourcefulness, all of which qualifications can be further developed and exploited in the hunting field for the benefit of the Army. In the training of officers for either cavalry or infantry, nothing can supersede the horse in fostering those essential qualities for leadership."
Isn't it lucky it doesn't bring out leadership qualities in the other ranks or we would have to shoot them for mutiny.
"If one has not personally saddled the horse before mounting, it is always advisable to look over "the tack" and see that everything is correct. The curb chain may be too tight, or perhaps unravelled, and so chafe the chin groove....... The horseman will instantly detect anything which is not correctly adjusted by a quick glance of an experienced eye,"
Grooms aren't horsemen, they just work with them all day, every day.
"The Institute of the Horse And Pony Club Ltd 66, Sloane Street, London SW1. Syllabus of Examination for Ladies and Gentlemen wishing to obtain an Instructors Certificate in Equitation, Horse Training and Stable Management. "
Equitation and Training the Horse are Practical Exams, Stable Management is Written.
We wouldn't want to get our hands dirty, would we?

Captain C Morley Knight "Hints on Driving" 1884 reprinted 1973
1969 Mrs. Nubar Gulbenkian in foreword to Hints on Driving says "This book should be considered the British Driving Society's Bible."
"There ought always to be a little weight on the shafts, as nothing looks so vulgar as shafts pointing up to the skies, with all the weight in the belly band."
And there is nothing worse than being vulgar.
"Mind and keep a good steady pressure on the reins at all times and keep the horses up to that pressure with the whip."
It wastes energy, it's tough on the horse, but it looks good.

"If a horse is inclined to put his head down and bore, a bearing rein will prevent him from doing so; but it must not be too tight. There are many horses that would be undriveable without one, as it keeps the heads in the proper position, and thus takes the weight off the driver's hand."
After all it is only appearances that matter. The horses comfort is irrelvant.
"The pad as well as the crupper should be buckled up pretty tight if there are any steep hills to go down and a breeching is not used; otherwise the pad will slip forward and gall the horses withers."
Why not use a breeching then? Is using the crupper as a brake really a good idea? Why should this be considered to be the BDS Bible?
"If a horse is at all inclined to be a puller, an ignorant groom will very often fit it (the curb chain) as tight as he can"
Just can't trust the working classes. There is no polite comment about grooms or ostlers. All are derogatory.
"the horse should be led out by the noseband, not by the rein or the bar of the bit, otherwise the groom is very apt to job him in the mouth...."
ditto
"It is never safe to trust entirely to the servants or ostlers."
ditto

Peter Churchill, "Progressive steps in riding" Blandford Press 1964
"As a boy I was trained and brought up in the school of thought that ALL horses or ponies should have a sound basic dressage training, irrepective of what their potential might be, whether steeplechaser or gymkhana pony;"
When Peter Churchill was a boy there were at least 30,000 pit ponies. Did they deserve basic dressage training?
Peter Churchill "Riding for Everybody" Blandford Books 1962
"Not that I am inferring that jockeys are not equestrians, for I know that some of them are very competent horsemen."
I wonder what jockeys say about you, Peter?

Marylian Watney and William Kenward "Show Driving Explained" Horseman's Handbooks. Ward Lock 1978
"The best English book on driving....was "Hints on Driving" by Captain Morley Knight
see above
"So far nothing has been said about the positioning of the reins on the bit, and while most horses go kindly in the "double cheek" position, there are those who require it to be dropped down to "middle bar"- particularly perhaps when in the show ring. For those who need this deterrent, and there is no reason against it, extra care must always be taken when first trying it out, for with too hard a pull on the reins the horse may well rear up, and perhaps even come over backwards."
Gosh let's try the severe setting then. This is why I don't recommend Liverpool bits.
" the reins should never be loose and flapping on the horse's back, or he will slop along and might even fall down...."
I'm forever tripping over horses in fields that have fallen over because they aren't being held up by the bit. To practice holding your animal up by the bit, sit on a trestle table with the reins stapled to the table top in front of you. Get a friend to kick the table legs out from under you and practice holding the table up level. Ring me when you have got the hang of it. I am on 01768 351380.