The Writer’s Guide to Horse Myths: Part 3
Posted on January 22, 2021 45 Comments
This is my third and final installment on misinformation about horses. After this, I will be moving on to historical clothing.
As always, magic is the exception to the rules. Because magic.
Training for Battle
Horses are naturally flighty, easily startled animals. After all, in the wild, they are in almost constant danger from predators. A horse’s natural reaction to any scary situation is to spook and run away. When humans started using horses in battle, they had to train this flight reaction out of them. It’s similar to a human who trains themselves not to freeze in a dangerous situation through martial arts or other combat instruction. A critical part of normal training for a horse is to trust the rider and every horse must be desensitized to one extent or another. For some, it’s learning to not be afraid of the hose; for others, like police horses, it’s learning not to shy at gunshots, explosions or screaming people. Here is an interesting video about training police horses.
Horse Emotions
Horses experience a wide variety of emotions from joy to trauma to grief. They bond with horses, people, and other animals. They will put themselves in danger to save the ones they love.
A friend of mine told me a story of having to put a horse down. They led him from the corral to the barn and as my friend was walking back afterward, passed the horse in the next pen. The horse looked at him, look toward the barn and nickered. My friend said, “I’m sorry. He’s gone.” The horse let out a loud whinny and charged for the gate, calling for his friend. Then he turned and walked back slowly, his head held low.
Becoming a Good Rider
Becoming a competent rider takes time and training. Most people cannot mount a horse for the first time and be good riders. Yes, you can be told the basics of steering and getting the horse to move in a few minutes and probably do well enough at slow speeds but you are probably going to be in trouble trying to do anything more advanced like jumping or mounted combat. Another detail to keep in mind is that riding uses muscles that normally don’t get a lot of exercise so even if an amateur rider is fit, they are probably going to be in a world of hurt after a few hours.
Writer’s Tip: I would love to see a scene in a book showing the struggles of a first-time rider.
Breaking a Horse
Breaking a horse to saddle also takes time. If the horse has had little to no contact with humans it will take weeks to months before the trainer can even touch the horse. Once the horse is used to being touched and groomed, then they must become accustomed to the tack being put on them then weight put in the saddle. Generally, it’s not recommended to ride horses before the age of 2-4 because their skeletal and muscular structures are still maturing and too much weight could hurt them.
There are people who claim to be able to break a horse to saddle in a day or a week but usually most of their methods are abusive and involve terrorizing the horse into compliance. These methods are sometimes called rough breaking.
I hope this was helpful. Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions by using the Contact Me form on my website or writing a comment. I post every Friday and would be grateful if you would share my content.
If you want my blog delivered straight to your inbox every month along with exclusive content and giveaways please sign up for my email list here.
Let’s get writing!
Copyright © 2021 Rebecca Shedd. All rights reserved.
The Writer’s Guide to Horse Myths: Part 2
Posted on January 15, 2021 1 Comment
Today we are busting more horse myths. This is misinformation I see repeated by well-meaning authors who unfortunately don’t know they are spreading untruths.
As always, magic is the exception to the rules. Because magic.
Sleeping Standing Up
A horse can enter certain phases such as light sleep while standing but to go into deep sleep and REM (rapid eye movement) the horse must lie down. If the horse is standing when it enters these phases of sleep it would probably fall over due to the muscle relaxation. An adult horse needs a minimum of thirty minutes of deep and REM sleep to avoid sleep deprivation. [1] Foals spend a lot more time napping, up to half the day when they are less than three months old. [2] Usually horses will sleep only when they feel safe and often with one of their herd mates acting as a lookout.
Neglecting Grooming
Unfortunately, I have read several books where the protagonist rides all day, makes camp at night, and completely ignores her horse except to maybe take the saddle off. Grooming is important to a horse’s health because it removes dirt and sweat from its coat and gives the rider the opportunity to check for any injuries. One of the most important grooming tasks is cleaning the hooves. The sole of a horse’s foot has two grooves. Rocks and other debris can get caught in them and if not removed can cause the horse to go lame. Cleaning the hooves is also a good time to make sure the horseshoes are not coming loose.
Not Warming Up or Cooling Down
Just like it is important for you to warm up and cool down as part of a workout, it is critical for horses. When starting a ride, the horse should be walked or slowly trotted until its muscles warm up before attempting faster paces. The same should be done at the end of a ride to prevent the muscles from cramping up. Yet I see several books, shows and movies with riders mounting and galloping off or galloping up and immediately hitching their horse.
Not Tying Up
Speaking of hitching or tying up your horse, I’m amazed how many times I’ve seen the hero dismount and walk away, leaving his horse loose. It’s not like parking a car because your car won’t wander off. If you want your horse to be there when you get back it’s important to either hitch or hobble them. Hobbling involves connecting the horse’s front legs with a short piece of rope or leather. The horse can take small steps comfortably but can’t go very far.
Riding Without a Saddle
In a pinch, you can ride without a saddle but it does have some drawbacks. First, it’s not very comfortable. You are straddling the horse’s spine with the bony withers right in front of you. Second, without stirrups to help you stay in place you must use a lot more leg which becomes tiring after a while and starts to chafe.
I hope this was helpful. Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions by using the Contact Me form on my website or writing a comment. I post every Friday and would be grateful if you would share my content.
If you want my blog delivered straight to your inbox every month along with exclusive content and giveaways please sign up for my email list here.
Let’s get writing!
Copyright © 2021 Rebecca Shedd. All rights reserved.
[1] https://ker.com/equinews/sleep-requirements-horses/ [2] https://www.thesprucepets.com/learn-how-all-horses-sleep-1887328
The Writer’s Guide to Horse Myths: Part 1
Posted on January 8, 2021 4 Comments
Today we are busting some of the most common horse myths that are repeated over and over in books, tv shows, and movies.
As always, magic is the exception to the rules. Because magic.
Noises
It seems that almost every movie or tv show I watch that has horses in it, the sound artist has a bizarre obsession with adding horse noises. Horses in these productions are constantly whinnying, whickering, screaming, and snorting. Most of the time they will add these sounds and the horse’s mouth won’t even be moving!
If you spend any time around horses you will quickly noticed that they are not noisy animals. In fact, they make few sounds at all and not with the level of frequency that movies and tv depict. The reason for this is because they are prey animals.
Here are some of the noises a horse will make:
Whinny – A loud noise that is usually used to communicate across distances. It is also common for horses to whinny when they know food is coming.
Nicker – A soft low-pitched sound that is usually a sign of affection.
Snort – Self-explanatory. Horses will snort when they see something that scares them.
Squeal – Usually a sound of frustration, like when another horse gets too close.
Blowing – When a horse blows out of its mouth or nose.
Screaming
Yes, I am covering horse screaming separately. There are so many books I have read that talk about horses screaming. While there are equestrians who will claim that horses don’t actually scream, I think that’s due to how rarely it happens. Horses will suffer horrific injuries and pain without a sound because noises of suffering draw in predators. However, we have soldier’s writings from World War I, the last major conflict to use horses, describing animals with horrific injuries screaming in pain such as this account by Lieutenant Dennis Wheatley. The British Army lost half a million horses in the war.
Cutting the Traces
I have read so many books in which a character has been riding in a carriage, needs to make a quick getaway, and cuts the traces of one of the carriage horses to ride off. It makes me cringe every time and makes it painfully obvious that the writer knows little about horse harness.
Let’s start with the basics. The traces, also known as tugs, are what connect the horse to the vehicle or load it is pulling. For light loads such as a cart the traces extend from a breastband. For heavier loads, a collar is used and the traces are attached to two metal pieces known as hams that are buckled over the collar. Most traces are between 3-5 inches wide (7.6-12.7 cms) and between ¼ to ½ inch (0.64-1.27 cms) thick.
There are two main ways the traces are connected to the vehicle. One way is to have slit or hole in the end of the traces that is slipped over a hook. The second is to have a length of chain at the end of the traces that is attached with a snap. There are also additional straps that connect the breech strap, which runs around the horse’s rump, to the vehicle, preventing it from bumping into the horse if it stops suddenly.
It would be hard and time-consuming to cut through the traces with something like a knife. It’s possible to use a sword as long as the shafts of a cart aren’t in the way. However, it makes no sense to cut through two traces when you can simply unhook them and unbuckle the breech straps.
Girths
Just like cutting traces, cutting girths doesn’t make a lot of sense either. Most girths are roughly 4 inches (10 cms) wide and up to 1 inch thick (2.5 cms) due to the padding. Obviously, this would take a while to cut through. It would be a lot easier and faster to simply unbuckle it. Western cinches are usually wider but not as thick but the same issues still apply. Again, it would be easier to undo the cinch strap.
Another misconception I see is that a girth can be sabotaged by partially cutting it. The first problem is that most girths are heavily reinforced and it would take significant damage for it to fail under stress. Another problem is that most riders or grooms saddling a horse are checking every piece for damage or weakened leather.
In Brandon Sanderson’s “The Way of Kings,” a character bunches up a girth and tucks it in his pocket. Due to the size, it is very unlikely this could be possible. It would however be plausible if it was a cinch strap, the strap that connects the cinch to the saddle, since it is a thinner strap than the cinch itself.
I hope this was helpful. Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions by using the Contact Me form on my website or writing a comment. I post every Friday and would be grateful if you would share my content.
If you want my blog delivered straight to your inbox every month along with exclusive content and giveaways please sign up for my email list.
Let’s get writing!
Copyright © 2021 Rebecca Shedd. All rights reserved.
The Writer’s Guide to Tack
Posted on January 1, 2021 5 Comments
Of course, a critical part of riding a horse is the saddle, bridle, and other equipment, collectively known as tack. As with several the other topics we have covered, things have changed a bit since the Middle Ages. While modern tack is a descendant of medieval tack there are some distinct differences.
As always, magic is the exception to the rules. Because magic.
Parts of the Saddle
Just as with the names of the parts of the horse, there is unique lingo for describing the parts of a saddle and bridle. Please refer to the diagrams below.
Types of Saddles
Today most saddles fall into one of two categories: English and Western. There are differences in weight, shape, and purpose. The English saddle was primarily designed for jumping while the Western saddle was developed for ranch work. One important difference that I unfortunately see messed up frequently is the name of the strap that goes around the belly and holds the saddle on the horse. On an English saddle it is called a girth and attaches with two buckles on either side. On a Western saddle it is called a cinch that is attached either by a buckle or a cinch strap that wraps repeated through the ring of the cinch and a ring on the saddle.
There are some variations within these two categories such as dressage saddles that are usually put in the English saddle group but are shaped differently to encourage the rider to adopt the desired straight-legged upright posture. Outside of these categories there are several other styles including Australian stock saddles, Spanish saddles, racing saddles, and side saddles.
Medieval Saddles
However, medieval saddles looked quite different from our modern ones. The primary reason for this is because they were designed for warfare and keeping the rider as firmly in the saddle as possible. The front of a medieval saddle has a tall pommel, which offered protection to the rider. It also caused the rider’s legs to be quite straight, much more so than a modern English rider. The back or cantle was also tall and wrapped around the rider’s hips, helping to hold him in place.
However, just like today, there were other types of saddles for different uses. There were light saddles that were used when speed was needed, such as carrying messages and racing. [1]
From the History of Alexander at the Bibliothèque Nationale de France. Photo source.
Side Saddles
For noble ladies in the Middle Ages, riding astride came to be seen as vulgar as well as impractical in long skirts. The earliest version of the side saddle was developed in the 14th century and is commonly credited to Anne of Bohemia. [2] The woman would sit sideways on the horse in a chair-like contraption with a footrest. However, since she was not very secure and the design made it difficult for her to control the horse herself, her horse would often led by a person on the ground or mounted astride another horse. This is why smooth-gaited and calm palfreys were popular for ladies.
In the 16th century, a better design was developed reportedly by Catherine d’Medici. This style had a pommel that the rider would hook her right leg over with a stirrup for the left foot. This design allowed the rider to face forward and have control of her horse although it was still not secure at high speeds. [3] However, some women still preferred to ride astride including Diane de Poiters, the mistress of Henry II of France, Marie Antoinette, and Catherine the Great of Russia. It wasn’t until the addition of a second pommel in the 1830’s that a side saddle rider was secure enough to gallop a horse and take tall jumps.
Here is a fantastic video that shows the differences between a modern and medieval saddle.
I hope this was helpful. Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions by using the Contact Me form on my website or writing a comment. I post every Friday and would be grateful if you would share my content.
If you want my blog delivered straight to your inbox every month along with exclusive content and giveaways please sign up for my email list.
Let’s get writing!
Copyright © 2021 Rebecca Shedd. All rights reserved.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saddle [2} Strickland, Agnes (1841). Berengaria of Navarre. Anne of Bohemia. Lea & Blanchard. p. 309. anne bohemia sidesaddle. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidesaddle#cite_ref-4 [3] "Sidesaddle History". georgialadiesaside.com. Georgia Ladies Aside. Archived from the original on 2007-10-09. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidesaddle#cite_ref-georgialadiesaside.com_1-1
The Writer’s Guide to Horse’s Paces, Speed & Range
Posted on December 18, 2020 4 Comments
I have unfortunately seen a lot of misinformation on how far and fast a horse can go. In some books and movies, horses can gallop all day with a break. In others, they can barely make it a mile without collapsing. We are going to be looking to real-world averages and records to make your book more realistic.
As always, magic is the exception to the rules. Because magic.
Paces or Gaits
All horses have four basic gaits.
The slowest is the walk, a four-beat pace in which each hoof hits the ground separately. The walk is comfortable for the rider and the horse can go at that pace pretty much forever.
The second gait is the trot, which is also known as the jog if you are riding Western. The horse’s left back leg and right front leg move forward together followed by the other pair. This pace is quite bouncy and uncomfortable. In English-style riding, the rider will post or sit up and down with the rhythm of the gait, allowing them to escape the discomfort. The jog is a slower version and the rider can usually sit comfortably during it. The trot is energy efficient and horses can cover miles at this gait.
The third is the canter, known in Western as the lope, and is a three-beat pace. It is a significantly faster gait with a rocking motion that is comfortable to sit. However, the horse can only keep it up for so long.
The fourth is the gallop, the fastest gait. This four-beat pace is decently comfortable to ride but horses can only maintain it for limited amounts of time, especially if they are sprinting.
If a horse is ridden at a canter or gallop for part or most of a day then it will need rest and will not be able to keep the same pace up the next day. This is why throughout history relays of horses have been used to continue traveling at speed. A rider would reach a remount station and switch to a fresh horse. Pony Express riders changed horses roughly every 25 miles (40 km), allowing them to routinely cover 80-100 miles (128-161 km) in a day. [6]
There are other artificial gaits that have been bred and trained into horses over the centuries including the running walk, slow gait, pace, fox trot, classic fino, and rack. [1]
How Fast Can a Horse Go?
The fastest recorded speed for a horse is 55 miles per hour (88.5 km/hr). The record is held by the American Quarter Horse which excels at sprinting short distances but they can’t keep up that speed for longer than a quarter mile. [2] The Guinness world record for the fastest speed from the starting gate for a Thoroughbred is 43.97 miles per hour (77.6 km/hr) over two furlongs (0.25 mile or 0.4 km). [3] The average speed of a gallop is 25-30 miles per hour (40-48 km/hr). Modern Thoroughbred races are usually no longer than 1.5 miles (2.4 km) although in some countries such as those in the Middle East, races can be as long as 2.5 miles (4 km). [4]
How Far Can a Horse Go?
There is a modern sport called equestrian endurance in which horses and riders cover incredible distances. These endurance records give us a good idea of just how far and fast a horse can go. For example, in 2008, an Arab rider and his horse won the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Cup, setting a new record by completing the 99.4 mile (160 km) race in just under six and a half hours. [5] The thing to remember though is these horses are elite athletes and it is doubtful that the average horse could cover such distances so fast unless there is magic involved. In Robert Jordan’s “The Eye of the World” Moiraine uses her powers to take away the horses’ exhaustion although she still cautions they will have to rest them in the future.
An average horse can cover 20-30 miles (32-48 km) in a day without becoming exhausted. Pushing for more than that is detrimental to their health. A famous race held in 1892 that covered 350 miles (563 km) in 72 hours killed 13% of the horses entered. [6]
Writer’s Tip: I have read so many books in which the horses run full out for days on end. I want to see the realistic consequences of this catch up with the rider.
I hope this was helpful. Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions by using the Contact Me form on my website or writing a comment. I post every Friday and would be grateful if you would share my content.
If you want my blog delivered straight to your inbox every month along with exclusive content and giveaways please sign up for my email list.
Let’s get writing!
Copyright © 2020 Rebecca Shedd. All rights reserved.
[1] https://www.myhorseuniversity.com/single-post/2017/09/25/Natural-and-Artificial-Gaits-of-the-Horse#:~:text=There%20are%20five%20natural%20gaits,Paint%20Horse%2C%20Appaloosa%2C%20etc. [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fastest_animals [3] "Fastest speed for a race horse". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 16 April 2015. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_leading_Thoroughbred_racehorses#cite_ref-3 [4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horse_gait [5] https://www.horsetalk.co.nz/news/2008/01/083.shtml#:~:text=An%20arab%20rider%20has%20bettered,six%20and%20a%20half%20hours. [6] https://www.zagoradeserthorse.com/general-information-about-horses/#:~:text=How%20Far%20Can%20a%20Horse,averaged%2031%20miles%20per%20day.
The Writer’s Guide to Types of Medieval Horses
Posted on December 11, 2020 6 Comments
People during the Middle Ages thought of horses differently than we do. Today horses are defined mainly by their breed, which indicates the common size, conformation, and types of work or sport they are best suited to. For example, if I am told a horse is a Thoroughbred, I expect it to be tall, leggy, athletic, and fast.
However, during the Middle Ages horses were usually characterized by their use and if a medieval equestrian were to look at our modern horses, they would probably start putting them into these categories.
Rouncey or Rounsey
An all-round general-purpose horse used for transport and war. Since they were not expensive, they were used by squires, men-at-arms, and poorer knights. At times they were used as pack horses but never as cart horses. [1] They were considered fast and agile. In 1327 in England, when a summons to war was sent out rounceys were specifically requested for swift pursuit. [2]
Hobby
Yes, they are not just a children’s toy. Hobby horses were lightweight mounts that were popular for skirmishing and often ridden by light cavalry known as Hobelars. They were developed in Ireland from Spanish or Barb stock and were used by both sides during the Wars of Scottish Independence. During the war, Edward I of England tried to prevent exports of the horses from Ireland to Scotland. Robert the Bruce used them for his guerilla warfare and mounted raids, covering up to 60-70 miles (97-113 km) in a day! [3]
Palfrey
A palfrey was a better-quality mount than a rouncey or a hobby horse, usually taller and finer-boned. A well-bred one could cost as much as a destrier. They were fashionable for riding and hunting with wealthier knights and nobles, especially since their ambling gait allowed them to smoothly cover long distances in relative comfort. [4] Palfreys were a popular choice for ladies because of their calm and dependable temperaments. [5]
Mai, Breviarium Grimani by Gerard Horenbout. Photo source.
Jennet
Another type of riding horse commonly used by ladies, but usually not as nice as a palfrey. They were bred in Spain from Arabian and Barb stock. [6]
Charger
Chargers, also known as coursers, were strong, fast, and light. [7] They were preferred for hunting and battle. [8] They were an economy option, quality but not top of the line.
Destrier
The destrier was the most valued medieval horse type and were renowned for their capabilities in warfare and the joust. They were well trained, tall, majestic, and strong and were always stallions because of their extra musculature and aggressiveness. They are referred to as “great horses” in contemporary sources. They were highly desired and prized by wealthy knights and the nobility although they were not common due to their cost. [9] The modern breeds that come the closest to the medieval destrier are Friesians and Andalusians. They were usually trained in special combat maneuvers such as the capriole, in which the horse leaps off the ground and kicks out with its back legs. Here is video of the horses and riders of the Spanish Riding School in Vienna performing some of these advanced maneuvers.
Writer’s Tip: I would love to read a book with a destrier using his combat training in a battle scene.
La batalla de San Romano by Paolo Uccello. Photo source.
Draft Horses
Draft horses, also known as affers and stotts in medieval English records, were used for plowing and pulling heavy loads because of their size and strength. Basically, they were the tractors and semi-trucks of their day. They were faster and more efficient than oxen, especially with the advent of the horse collar and horseshoes. Their common use in agriculture and heavy transport continued until the tractor and automobile began to replace them. [10]
Work Horses
A variety of working horses existed during the Middle Ages including cart horses, pack horses (also known as sumpters), and common riding horses such as hackneys, which could be used as pack horses. Generally, these horses were smaller than drafts, about 13-14 hands (52-56 in, 132-142 cms) but could pull weights up to 600 pounds (270 kg). [11]
This is a good video to show you the modern equivalent to these medieval types of horses.
I hope this was helpful. Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions by using the Contact Me form on my website or writing a comment. I post every Friday and would be grateful if you would share my content.
If you want my blog delivered straight to your inbox every month along with exclusive content and giveaways please sign up for my email list.
Let’s get writing!
Copyright © 2020 Rebecca Shedd. All rights reserved.
[1] Hyland (1998), p. 222. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horses_in_the_Middle_Ages#cite_ref-22 [2] Prestwich, p. 318. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horses_in_the_Middle_Ages#cite_ref-21 [3] Hyland (1998), pp. 32, 14, 37. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horses_in_the_Middle_Ages#cite_ref-24 [4] Bennett (1998). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horses_in_the_Middle_Ages#cite_ref-Bennett_(1998)_4-1 [5] Oakeshott (1998), p. 14. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horses_in_the_Middle_Ages#cite_ref-Oakeshott14_23-1 [6] Bennett, Deb (2004) "The Spanish Mustang: The Origin and Relationships of the Mustang, Barb, and Arabian Horse" Archived 6 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine. Frank Hopkins. Retrieved 2008-08-14. [7] Oakeshott (1998), p. 11. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horses_in_the_Middle_Ages#cite_ref-Oakeshott11_17-2 [8] Hyland (1998), p. 221. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horses_in_the_Middle_Ages#cite_ref-19 [9] Prestwich, p. 30. Gravett, p. 59. Eustach Deschamps, 1360, quoted by Oakeshott (1998), p. 11. Oakeshott (1998), p. 11. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horses_in_the_Middle_Ages#cite_ref-Oakeshott11_17-1 [10] Claridge, Jordan (June 2017). "The role of demesnes in the trade of agricultural horses in late medieval England" (PDF). Agricultural History Review. 65 (1): 5. Dyer Making a Living p. 129. [11] Clark, pp. 27-28
The Writer’s Guide to Horse Basics
Posted on December 4, 2020 11 Comments
Humans and horses have a long history together so it’s no wonder we include them so much in our stories. Even Brandon Sanderson put them in the Stormlight Archive when he included no other real world animals. Unfortunately, there is so much misinformation about them. I am going to be starting with the basics today.
As always, magic is the exception to the rules. Because magic.
Body Parts
I’m going to spend very little time on this. Please reference the diagram below for the names of specific body parts.
Colors & Markings
The names of horse colors have their own idiosyncrasies. Some of them make sense and others can be quite foreign. Since I’m familiar with them it always makes me winch when I see a horse given the wrong color name. No, Master Dennet from Dragon Age: Inquisition that Fereldan Forder is a bay not a chestnut.
Unless otherwise noted, the following colors would have brown eyes.
Black – Just what you’d expect.
Bay – A brown body with a black mane and tail and black legs.
Chestnut or Sorrel– A brown body with a matching brown mane and tail. This is the most common color among horses. A liver chestnut is a darker brown. A flaxen chestnut has a brown body with a tan or cream mane and tail.
Grey – This one is tricky. The color is judged by the color of the skin, not the hair. Obviously, a horse with a grey coat, mane and tail is a grey. However, one with a white coat, mane, and tail but with grey or black skin, which will be visible at the nose and around the eyes, is considered a grey. I know most of the time a horse with this coloring is called white but technically in the horse world white horses don’t exist. A fleabitten grey has a white coat with small grey or black dots. A dappled grey has a pattern of dark grey rings over a coat of lighter grey or white.
Albino – A horse with a genetic lack of pigment giving it a white coat, mane, and tail with pink skin. It’s also common for them to have blue or hazel eyes.
Cream or Cremello – A horse with a cream-colored body, mane, and tail and normally blue or light brown eyes. This color is caused by a dilution gene.
Dun – A tan or dark gold body with a black mane, tail, and legs. There are also red dun, black dun, blue dun, and bay dun depending on the genetics. The color commonly comes with a dark dorsal stripe and is the most primitive color according to prehistoric cave paintings.
Roan – A coat pattern with a mixing of colored and white hair. The mane, tail and lower legs are usually a solid color. There are multiple variations including red roan, blue roan, and strawberry roan.
Palomino – A light gold body with a white mane and tail.
Buckskin – A horse with a golden tan body and black mane, tail, and lower legs.
Pinto – A horse with large patches of white and another color. There are multiple variations such as piebald and skewbald.
Appaloosa – A breed as well as a color identified by their colorful spotted coats. The spotting can be over the whole animal or confined to a white patch.
There are more colors than I listed above but I’ve covered the most common ones. The remainder are rarer. Horses also come with a variety of leg and face markings. Please reference the diagram below.
Genders
Stallion – An adult intact male horse.
Gelding – An adult nurtured or gelded male horse.
Mare – An adult female horse.
Foal – A baby horse of any gender under one year of age.
Colt – A male foal.
Filly – A female foal.
Yearling – A horse of either gender between the ages of one and two years old. After two, horses are referred to by their adult gender names.
Measuring Height
A height of a horse is measured from the ground, up the front leg to the withers, the bony bump where the neck meets the back. Horses are not measured to the top of the head. Traditionally, people used their flat palm, counting the number of “hands.” Today horses are still measured in hands, which has been standardized to four inches (10.16 cms).
A horse is 14.2 hands and taller while a pony is under 14.2 hands.
There has been debate about the size of medieval horses with some historians claiming them to be as tall as 18 hands. A review of literary, visual, and archaeological sources done by the Museum of London puts the average between 14-15 hands (56-60 in, 142-152 cms).
I hope this was helpful. Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions by using the Contact Me form on my website or writing a comment. I post every Friday and would be grateful if you would share my content.
If you want my blog delivered straight to your inbox every month along with exclusive content and giveaways please sign up for my email list.
Let’s get writing!
Copyright © 2020 Rebecca Shedd. All rights reserved.
The Writer’s Guide to Arrows: Part 2
Posted on November 27, 2020 6 Comments
Fire Arrows & Removing Arrows
Today I’m going to be tackling two topics regarding arrows that are rife with misinformation but included repeatedly in books, TV and movies.
As always, magic is the exception to the rules. Because magic.
Fire Arrows
Why am I giving fire arrows their own section? Because it’s complicated.
Yes, there is historical evidence for the use of incendiary arrows. There are accounts of flaming arrows used by both sides during the siege of Lachish in 701 BC. [1] The Romans developed iron boxes and tubes which they filled with flammable substances and attached to arrows. However, they had to be shot from lighter poundage bows or the flame would go out. [2] The Spanish attacking the Moorish town of Oran in 1404 used bolts and quarrels dipped in tar according to the writer Gutierre Diaz de Gamez. [3] Fire-darts were used during the British Civil Wars in the 17th century against enemy soldiers and property. The arrows had a flammable substance attached to the shaft close to the arrowhead and were shot from a bow or musket. The Royalists used them against thatched houses in Chester and the town of Lyme Regis. [4]
The main problem with fire arrows is trying to get them to the target while still on fire all without burning the archer’s hand or bow. The primary idea shown in movies and television seems to be to wrap the arrowhead or just behind it, with rags soaked in pitch or another flammable substance. Unfortunately, most shots of any length will put out the flame not to mention the danger of the fire damaging the wooden arrow shaft. Arrowheads with cages to hold coals were developed but the biggest problem with them is that the bodkin point has to be shortened to prevent the arrowhead from being too forward heavy, lessened its penetrative power. If a thicker arrow shaft is used to compensate, the arrow can become too heavy to go far at all. For a more in depth look at these issues, I recommend Lindybeige’s video here. I will say I have seen fire arrows shot and usually they cannot go further than a few feet without going out.
Probably my biggest gripe about fire arrows in literature and cinema is how they are used. Let me set the scene: An army sneaks up on their enemy at night and decides to launch a surprise attack. Their first volley is flaming arrows which are highly visible in the dark thus alerting their opponent and indicating their location. It makes more sense to fire volleys of regular arrows, which are pretty much invisible in the dark. Think of how devastating that would be! However, I will say that if the point of the fire arrows is to set fire to highly flammable materials like thatch and the archers aren’t having to shoot a long distance then I think that fire arrows are actually a plausible option.
Writer’s Tip: I would love to see a scene in a book where regular arrows are shot at an enemy in the dark.
Notice that the arrow that’s been loosed has left its flame behind. Photo source.
Removing Arrows
Of course, if arrows are being shot in your book there is a high likelihood that a character of yours will have to deal with removing one. The challenge with arrow injuries is that they have the cutting damage of a knife plus the impact and penetration damage of a bullet.
There are only two methods of removal: pulling the arrow out or pushing it through. Which methods works best is determined by the location of the arrow, the depth of penetration and the type of arrowhead. The consensus seems to be if the arrow isn’t stuck in bone or if pushing it through will not damage internal organs or other sensitive structures, especially if the arrowhead has flanges or barbs, that it’s the best option. Otherwise, it has to be pulled out, requiring the wound to be expanded.
Since most people nowadays aren’t being shot with arrows there is not a lot of modern medical literature on their removal and the treatment of the resulting wound. Although there has apparently been a rise in cases thanks to the increasing popularity of archery as a sport. If you’re interested in a modern example, I suggest this article documenting the case of a 35-year-old man shot in the base of the skull. The removal was successful and the patient had no complications. I warn you there are some disturbing images in the article.
The ancient Greek healer Diocles of Carystus wrote of both methods of extraction. He developed a tool named the spoon of Diocles, which was used to remove the injured eye of Phillip II of Macedonia. [5]
During the battle of Shrewsbury in 1403, Henry, prince of Wales, who later became Henry V of England, was struck in the face by a bodkin-tipped arrow. The arrow shaft was removed but the arrowhead remained lodged in the bone of Henry’s skull. The Physician General John Bradmore removed the arrowhead using honey, alcohol, and a surgical instrument he designed himself. For a more in-depth look, I recommend this video.
One of the best historical resources on treating arrows wounds is a 19th century surgical encyclopedia by US Lieutenant Colonel J.H. Bill. In it he discusses both the pushing and pulling methods of removal based on depth and whether the arrowhead was lodged in the bone (determined by gently twisting). All his methods are done by feel, without the help of modern imaging. Most of the causes of death in his cases are due to infection such as peritonitis from the arrow piercing the abdominal cavity but he also lists pneumonia, encephalitis, compression of the brainstem, empyema, tetanus, and shock. [6] Here is the link to Dr. Bill’s work, which is a fantastic resource.
I hope this was helpful. Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions by using the Contact Me form on my website or writing a comment. I post every Friday and would be grateful if you would share my content.
If you want my blog delivered straight to your inbox every month along with exclusive content and giveaways please sign up for my email list.
Let’s get writing!
Copyright © 2020 Rebecca Shedd. All rights reserved.
[1] Grant, p. 17. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_thermal_weapons [2] Nossov, pp. 190–191. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_thermal_weapons [3] Diaz de Gamez, p. 90. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_thermal_weapons [4] Stephen Porter, Destruction in the English Civil Wars, 1997, p. 50. [5] "Ancient Medical Instruments". Retrieved 26 June 2015. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spoon_of_Diocles [6] Bill JH. International Encyclopedia of Surgery: A Systematic Treatise on the Theory and Practice of Surgery By Authors of Various Nations. Vol. 2. New York: William Wood & Co; 1882. Sabre and bayonet wounds; arrow wounds; pp. 101–117. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5999391/#REF3
The Writer’s Guide to Arrows: Part 1
Posted on November 20, 2020 4 Comments
Types & Construction
I’ve been spending a lot of time discussing bows but of course the bow is pretty worthless without arrows, which we will be diving into today. Just like bows, modern arrows differ significantly from historical arrows.
As always, magic is the exception to the rules. Because magic.
Arrow Terminology
Shaft – The wooden dowel that makes up on the body of an arrow. Modern arrows are also made of aluminum.
Nock – A notch in the back of the arrow that allows it to be set on the string. To nock, means to put an arrow on the string in preparation to fire, basically “loading” the bow.
Fletching – The feathers at the back end of the arrow that help steady it in flight.
Index or cock feather – On an arrow with three fletches, the one that faces the archer when nocked. It’s common for it to be a different color from the other two.
Arrowhead or Tip – The metal end of the arrow that penetrates the target.
Arrow Shafts
The average length of a modern arrow is 28 inches (71 cm). When Henry VIII’s flag ship, the Mary Rose, was discovered, it carried over 3,500 arrows. [1] They ranged in length from 24-33 inches (61-83 cms) with the average being 30 inches (76 cms).
Most modern arrows are around 5/16 – 11/32 inches or roughly 0.32 inches (0.81 cms) in diameter. By comparison, the war arrows or livery arrows found on the Mary Rose ranged from ½ – 3/8” inches (1.27-0.95 cms). Imagine that coming off a 185 pound (84 kg) bow! It would definitely have some punching power.
Types of Arrowheads
Most arrowheads were made of iron, which wasn’t good at keeping a sharp cutting edge. However, making arrowheads of steel got expensive. There are medieval records talking about “steeled” arrowheads. While historians aren’t totally sure what that means, the general consensus is that they were case hardened. The process of case hardening involves baking metal at high heat for hours which impregnates the iron with a layer of carbon, making it substantially harder. [2]
There were multiple types of arrowheads during the Middle Ages, each designed for a different purpose.
Probably the most widely known one is the broadhead, which has been used since ancient times for hunting. It usually has two to four broad blades, which make it ideal for cutting. Another benefit to this shape was that pulling it out caused even more damage. A swallowtail is a larger version of the broadhead used against game and horses.
With the advent of better armor, the bodkin became more widely used in warfare. It’s a needle-shape arrowhead which gave it a better chance of finding a hole through chainmail. Later into the Middle Ages, the bodkin became thicker and shorter as plate armor became more common.
Leaf-shaped arrowheads are an ancient design that was still in use throughout the medieval period. They are similar in shape to a broadhead but lack the “wings.”
There is some documentation of whistling or signal arrows from the Middle Ages.
I recommend this video by Tod’s Workshop in which he discusses six types of arrowheads.
How They Are Made
How arrows were made in the Middles Ages varies somewhat from how traditional arrows are made today.
The body of the arrow began as a square section of wood which was turned on a jig to round them into dowel-like shafts. Then they were sanded until smooth. Types of wood used included black popular, beech, ash, and hazel.
The arrowheads were forged with a cap that slipped over the end of the shaft. It was held in place with hide glue. [3]
Fletchings were made from swan or goose feathers since they were the only feathers long and strong enough to withstand flight. [4] Today, turkey feathers are the standard. The fletching was attached using the same hide glue, sometimes mixed with beeswax or other components. Today a fletching gig is used to hold the feathers in place while the glue dries. However, there is little historical evidence that fletching gigs existed in the Middle Ages. It’s possible but we just don’t know. However, we do know that the fletching was normally wrapped with linen or silk thread to keep the feathers in place. This was important since hide glue is not water resistant. [4] There were several popular shapes for fletching including triangular, parabolic and parallelogram.
Lastly, a notch would be cut into the end of the arrow to form the nock.
I hope this was helpful. Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions by using the Contact Me form on my website or writing a comment. I post every Friday and would be grateful if you would share my content.
If you want my blog delivered straight to your inbox every month along with exclusive content and giveaways please sign up for my email list.
Let’s get writing!
Copyright © 2020 Rebecca Shedd. All rights reserved.
[1] https://leatherworkingreverendsmusings.wordpress.com/research/arrows/mary-rose/#:~:text=Over%203500%20arrows%20were%20found,was%20810mm%20(32%20inches). [2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McnKrV0aDjo [3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arrowhead [4] https://www.bow-international.com/features/arrows-in-the-middle-ages/#:~:text=Arrow%20shafts%20from%20the%20high,wood%20with%20a%20small%20saw.
The Writer’s Guide to Bows: Part 5
Posted on November 13, 2020 4 Comments
Miscellaneous
This is the last in my series on bows before we move on to arrows. Today we are busting myths! There is so much misinformation being spread by books, television, and movies. Some of it’s completely false while the rest is true of modern bows but not traditional or historical bows.
As always, magic is the exception to the rules. Because magic.
Holding at Full Draw
I have seen multiple scenes in movies and television shows where an archer is holding their bow at full draw for minutes on end. At the end of season three of Game of Thrones, Ygritte confronts Jon Snow, aiming an arrow at him. She holds at full draw for 1:18 before releasing!
While not impossible, especially with a lighter poundage bow, holding full draw for an extended time becomes difficult because of two factors: draw weight and stacking. If the draw weight (pounds of pressure at full draw) is high, such as a traditional English longbow that ranged from 100-185 pounds (45-84 kg), it would require tremendous strength to hold the string back for any length of time. Stacking is the increase in weight as the bowstring is pulled back. On average, this is an increase of 2-3 pounds (0.9-1.3 kg) per inch (2.54 cm). [1]
Modern compound bows have a let-up point at which the string resistance decreases dramatically. An archer with this type of bow can stay at full draw for minutes on end. However, most depictions of holding at full draw in literature and film involve either a longbow or a recurve.
Effectiveness Against Armor
I covered effectiveness in my first post on writing medieval armor which you can find here. As the bow became more widely used in warfare, armor was developed to protect against it. Early armor only offered partial protection while a full suit of 15th century plate had few spots an arrow could penetrate. By contrast, the peasant wearing a gambeson will be less protected. If you are interested in the effectiveness of a specific type of armor, I recommend you check out my posts on gambesons, chainmail, plate, and brigandine.
Below is one of my favorite quotes about the power of the 12th century Welsh longbow by Gerald of Wales. The wars with the Welsh were the first time the longbow was used to great effect in war and the armor worn by the English wasn’t rated against it.
“[I]n the war against the Welsh, one of the men of arms was struck by an arrow shot at him by a Welshman. It went right through his thigh, high up, where it was protected inside and outside the leg by his iron chausses, and then through the skirt of his leather tunic; next it penetrated that part of the saddle which is called the alva or seat; and finally it lodged in his horse, driving so deep that it killed the animal.[2]”
Bows Have to Be Unstrung
It is essential when a bow is not in use for it be unstrung. If left strung for too long then it will lose its spring, causing a decrease in the draw weight. The power of a bow comes from a bent bow trying to be straight again. One that is strung for too long will start to permanently take on that bend.
Wet Bowstrings
It is incredibly important to keep the bowstring dry. A wet string stretches, causing your shots to fall short. During the Middle Ages, if there was any risk of rain or damp, an archer would remove the string and place it in an oiled bag or under his helmet. Points to Robert Jordan for including this detail in “The Eye of the World.”
Dry Fire
A dry fire is when the bowstring is pulled back either partially or fully then released without an arrow. This is the greatest sin in archery. Dry firing a bow can damage or even snap or shatter it or cause the string to break. The reason it is so bad is because the kinetic energy generated by drawing which normally goes into the arrow to propel it forward instead slams back into the bow.
Writer’s Tip: Having a character dry fire a bow could be a way of showing what a novice they are, especially if other more experienced characters around them react in horror.
I hope this was helpful. Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions by using the Contact Me form on my website or writing a comment. I post every Friday and would be grateful if you would share my content.
If you want my blog delivered straight to your inbox every month along with exclusive content and giveaways please sign up for my email list.
Let’s get writing!
Copyright © 2020 Rebecca Shedd. All rights reserved.
[1] https://archeryboss.com/guides-info/archery-stacking [2] Weapon 030 - The Longbow, Osprey, p. 66, 12 At the time, 1191, this would be mail chausses, and the story is that having had one leg shot through and pinned to the saddle by an arrow, the knight wheeled his horse around, only to receive a second arrow, which nailed the other leg in the same fashion. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_longbow
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