- - { BUKIT KIARA EQUESTRIAN & COUNTRY RESORT}

Back To Main Page

The Wonderful World of Horses

There is perhaps no other animal that captures the imagination of human quite like the horse. These versatile and majestic creatures have been linked to man throughout the annals of time and in very many ways. Horses have been around for some 60 million years, long before humans came into the world. Their appeal transcends all boundaries - young and old, rich and poor - and men and women have all been captivated by this half-ton of energy, spirit endurance and magnificence. As one of the most widely recognised animal in the world, the horse holds a special place in many people's hearts and horses both real and imaginary have their own spot in history.

The ancient Greeks were so enraptured with the graceful contours and conformation of the Arabian that they had added the winged-horse deity, Pegasus to catalogue of constellations. Napoleon, perhaps in an attempt to disprove the limitations of his stature, rode a stallion appropriate as a mount for a much taller individual .

The role of the horse is often mystical. From art to poetry, literature to film, the horse has been much loved and admired. Often given fabulous abilities or been surrounded by fantasies the horse has always played one of the characters or the main role. Our romantic association with the horse extends from the time before Christ to present day from the man eating horses of Diomedes, Alexander's great horse Bucephalus, Persia's Rekuch, China's kun, the horse god Odin's eight-legged steeds Sleipner to Phar Lap and red Rum, racing legends as well as stars of the silver screen like Tringger and Silver.

Mythology

Pegasus
In times of ancient Greeks, Pegasus was deemed to be the most splendid of mythical creatures. Its appearance was much to be awed at - a white horse with golden and sometimes white wings and the ability to fly. The origins of this flying horse can be traced back to Perseus and his famous battle with the gorgon, Medusa. Perseus, son of Zeus, was sent to slay Medusa and legend has it that Pegasus was created from the blood of Medusa by Poseidon.

Pegasus in partnership with Perseus saved Andromeda from being sacrificed to appease the sea dragon Borea who has been slaughtering people. However, the partnership was brief.

In another adventure, Pegasus was captured by the Corinthian folk hero Bellerophon and together they flew to battle and defeated a beast called the chimera. After his victory, the ambitious Bellerophon wished for greater things and he wanted to ride to the heavens to take his place with the gods. In his attempt to fly to the heavens, Pegasus bucked and threw him over as punishment. Pegasus continued to fly on without Bellerophon to the heavens and became a servant of the gods.
He also served Zeus, the father of all gods and for all his noble services, Pegasus was honoured by a constellation.

Unicorn
The legend of the unicorn stems from the medieval days of the Greeks and Romans. It was in medieval Europe that the unicorn attained it greatest fame and where it began to assume the physical attributes we associate with it today. There are various versions to its form - from that of a large white steed with a flowing white mane, a tuft of white hair on the chin and a white spiral horn to a horse with legs of a buck, tail of a lion and single horn protruding at an upward angle from its forehead. The mythology of and belief in the unicorn is worldwide as the mystical and magical equine has been depicted in thousands of paintings, sculptures, tapestries and in literature from those early times. The unicorn must surely be one of the best known of all mythical equines.

The Trojan Horse
The Trojan Horse was an instrument of war used by the Greeks to gain access to the city of Troy in the epic of the Trojan War, the main issue of the Illiad by the Greek writer Homer.

It all started at the wedding feast of King Peleus of Pthia and Thetis, the goddess of the sea with the problem as to who was the most beautiful goddess. Paris, the son of the King of Troy was selected to judge and he picked Aphrodite as the most beautiful provided that she gifts him with the most beautiful mortal woman in the world. To fulfil her obligations, Aphrodite put a spell on Helen of troy, the fairest in the world at that time, so that she would go with Paris. Helen who has married to King Menelaus of Sparta, left with Paris to return to troy when he came to visit.

King Menelaus was enraged and launched a fleet of a thousand ships to go to troy to retrieve Helen but to no avail. For 10 years, the Greeks laid siege to the city of Troy without much success until they came up with a new idea. And so a giant, wooden horse with a hollow belly was built and was sent as gift to the Trojans who believed it to be a peace offering. The city of troy rejoiced thinking that the Greeks had admitted defeat and by nightfall the whole city was in drunken uproar. In the wee hours of the morning, while everyone was either drunk or asleep, the Greek soldiers climbed down from the belly of the horse where they had hidden and killed the Trojan sentries at all the city gates. They then opened the gates to admit the bulk of the Greek army who captured the city and Helen was saved.

Equine Heroes
A great many equine heroes have lived and left hoofprints through the passage of time. Horses such as Marengo (Napoleon's mount), Traveller (General Robert E. Lee), the Black Stallion, Black Beauty, National Velvet, Toranado (Zorro) and Silver (Lone Ranger) all have a large-than-life dimension.

Bucephalus
Known as the Conqueror's horse, Bucephalus was the mighty war horse that Alexander the Great rode into battles with. Alexander was the one who tamed this beautiful but high-spirited horse when he was just a boy. At that time, neither the Master of the cavalry nor the best race rider of his father, King Philip of Macedonia, could ride him. How did Alexander manage to tame the horse? He rode Bucephalus into the sun so that his shadow was behind and since he could not see it, he did not shy away. As Alexander was riding, he also caressed and talked softly to his mount. King Philip was so pleased with his son that he purchased Bucephalus for him. Bucephalus which mean's 'head like an ox' was very swift of feet and even King Philip's fastest horse could not catch up with him.

Nelson
The favourite mount of George was a chestnut hunter named Nelson, after the Governor of Virginia, Thomas Jr. General Washington rode this gift horse from the Governor to fox hunts for 10 years before the Revolution and during the war, he took Nelson with him on many of his campaigns. Though many of General Washington's other horses died from exhaustion carrying him through furious battles, Nelson survived the rigours of near-starvation at Valley Forge and relentless marches form Boston to the Carolinas. When Washington became the first US President, Nelson was still his favourite horse. He too remained 'first in war, first in peace…' if not first in the memory.

Comanche
Comanche was a good looking bay gelding, part mustang which stood at 15 hands. Purchased by Captain Myles Keogh of the US Cavalry for his own use, Comanche was the horse that Captain Keogh rode into battle with.

During the fight with the Comanche tribe in Kansas, the horse was wounded but his master being unaware, continued to fight from his back until the battle was over. The wound was treated and after his recovery, the horse has earned the name Comanche for his bravery. Comanche was wounded twice but each time he recovered. However at his last battle which was also the last battle of the native Americans, Comanche was the only survivor of the 7th Calvary in the valley of the Little Big Horn.

He was officially retired upon his recovery and no one was allowed to ride him ever again. Given the title as "the Second Commanding Officer" of the 7th Cavalry, his only duties were to be led in the front of official parades occasionally. He lived to the ripe old age of 82 and after his death, his body was mounted and displayed at the University of Kansas, where it stands to this day.

The Dancing Circus Horse
A friend of the famed Sitting Bull, this horse used to perform for Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show and Circus all over the United States and in Europe. Sitting Bull, who left his land and his tribe to explore the world after they had been defeated by the white invaders, only had to make an appearance in his most colourful outfit and ride a white horse in buffalo Bill's show, eventually Sitting bull left the circus to return to his people on the reservation and Buffalo Bill gave him the beautiful white horse as a gift.

Upon his return, he argued with his people about the loss of their own culture and religion. The tribe paid heed, ignored the federal policy and continued to speak their own tongue and worship the Great Spirit. This led to his arrest which he resisted and in the process Sitting Bull and 15 others were killed. While the battles was going on, his white horse heard the shooting, a sound that he has heard all his life in the circus. He began to dance and draw himself up to snort. He arched his neck and pranced in a circle, bowed and stood up, shook his long mane and pawed the ground, and reared up and leaped into the air. He cantered round and round in the circle, and stopped. He continued dancing until he was exhausted. It is said by the lakota Sioux tribe that when Sitting Bull died, his white horse danced in his honour.

Big Ben
A 17.2 - hand liver chestnut Belgian, Big Ben was born in Belgium in 1976, Purchased and brought to Canada in 1983 by Ian Millar for show jumping, Big Ben received innumerable awards during his ten years in the competition ring. Some of his major achievements were two World Cup titles, two gold medals in the 1987 Pan Am Games, countless Grand Prix titles and the titles of Canadian Champion. His career was never stopped even by two major colic attacks in 1990 and 1991 and a serious trailer accident in 1992.

Big Ben retired in 1994 at the age of 18 after a long glorious career representing Canada in showjumping, With his long time partner Ian, Big Ben's talent and strength brought Canadian showjumping to the world. The emotional reactions to his final appearances were a great tribute to a great horse which gave much for his country. Big Ben and Ian Millar, Canada's most famous showjumping team have since inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame.

Honor the Hero
From track to cross country eventing was what made Honor the Hero an exceptional equine athlete. A ligament injury forced him into retirement in February 1996. This gelding was eight then and has recorded 13 wins, eight seconds and three thirds in stakes competition and an overall record of 57 starts for 25 wins, 11 seconds and four thirds with earnings of more than US$600,000. He has also set some records on the track.

He has retired to the Trojan Horse Farm where he was taught the basics of eventing by trainer Nadrew Popeil. Hero competed in eight horse trails, two showjumping and two dressage events. His trainer had to slow his training because Hero was getting just a little too brave in the cross-country endurance phase of eventing, which includes dressage and stadium jumping. Hero gets macho in cross country competitions but he needs to know what he is doing before he can become truly proficient jumping over ditches, water, banks, hedges and solid jumps that comprise a cross-country course.

Despite his injury which has made one of his hooves smaller than the others, he still has the physical ability to jump and run at speeds up to 29 mph during the steeplechase which is part of the endurance test in Three day eventing Hero has done so well that his trainer has entered him into in more competitions.

Trigger
Originally named Golden Cloud, Trigger was known as the 'smartest horse in the movies'. This gorgeous palomino stallion was an actor before he took the role of Roy Roger's horse. He played the horse that Maid Marion rode sidesaddle in the movie, The Adventures of Robin Hood.

Golden Cloud played Trigger for the first time in 1938 in the movie Washington Cowboy, where Roy Rogers was the Cowboy. It was the beginning of a life-long partnership and Roy, liking him so much, bought him. He was one smart horse and performed tricks for the cameras with no problems. Because of his speed, Roy renamed him Trigger. This duo made quite a few movies and went on to a television show. His son, Trigger Junior took over his part when Trigger went into retirement. Roy had Trigger's body stuffed after he died at almost age 30. His body is now displayed in his famous rearing pose at the Roy Rogers Museum.