How quickly can you saddle a MEDIEVAL horse?
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- Опубліковано 7 лис 2023
- Jason Kingsley, the Modern Knight, shows you how to tack up a horse to ride in medieval equipment. If you had to make your escape, how quickly can it be done? #D&D #riding #medieval critical role
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I never considered that you would need to brush down the horse to make sure there's no dirt or sand or other "bits" that would be pressed into its skin when the saddle goes on the back, but that makes an enormous amount of sense now!
It's basically the same as walking with something in your shoe would be for you. Not necessarily hugely painful, but certainly irritating. And the comfort of the horse aside, you don't want an irritated mount, if you can avoid it.
And if it leads to a sore and possibly to an infection, you really got a problem.
That's why you tip the stable boy to do it the night before
You should always groom your horse before tacking up. Not only does it remove dirt and anything that may hurt the horse under the saddle or bridle area but it also gives you a chance to bond with your horse and get familiar with your horses body and normal behaviors.
If you groom your horse every day you will be more likely to notice if something is off with your horse and also notice small injuries your horse may get (they are prone to injuries in the Human world not sure if they are as prone to them in the wild).
However if you are in the medieval ages and are running from someone you may not have the time to fully groom your horse as you normally would.
Also you usually would clean the undersides of the hooves before saddling. Otherwise small stones can travel inside the hoof and form an entry for bacteria wich then can lead to inflammation and in worst case to hoof abscesses.
@@TheMysteryDriver It makes no sense to do it the night before because horses actually sleep lying down.
For all my fellow fantasy authors: notice how concerned Ghost is from some hasty fitting? A younger (=less trained) horse or a horse you don't know might spook or will have trouble standing still while you tack it up. 😉
If you see Ghosts floppy lower lip hes not all too concerned. But you're right a less "well broke" horse or a "green" horse would be more upset with being rushed, also from your own rushing energy and anxiety. They can sense us very well and best to pretend your not scared when around them, even if you are.
Yeah, Ghost goes from "WTF is this? Something's not right" to "Oh. More shenanigans. 1000-yard stare, activate"
Horses also have keen senses and are very good at "reading" human emitions - when you in your position as "herd leader" are stressed/worried/angry and rushing on top of that, any horse that isn't completely apathetic/desensitized will absolutely react to you basically broadcasting "imminent danger!". To what degree it will react to this is then again down to training, as you pointed out, as well as the ability of the rider to calm the horse in the moment.
Absolutely true.
I can saddle up my old experienced horse in half the time I can saddle my colt I’m training, simple because my old horse is more used to it and had all the nervousness worked out of him. My colt doesn’t, so I have to be careful and take my time.
Yes if I tried girthing the school horse I ride that quickly I'd wind up with a nasty bite. Plus that old girl ain't going nowhere fast, lol.
DM: The guards will be there in 5 minutes!
Player: I saddle up my horse and run for it.
DM: You don’t have time.
Player: Well, actually…
😂😂
I cannot help but imagine Ghost thinking "Jason, please make your mind up, are we going out or not?" :)
Imagine some medieval watchman pulling (literally) you over and saying, "Oi, did you know his head collar is still on? I'm going to have to ask you some more questions."
"Oh good sir, I was in a rush last night. You see, the inn I had rested last night really needed the room quickly and I had no time to properly gear up."
"That's really unfortunate, take your time now, get off the poor horse and check to make sure the saddle isn't chafing. Wouldn't want him hurting, right? By the way, what did you say was the inn you were staying at?"
Or: “that’s my master’s horse-what are you doing with him?”
Horses are easily recognizable as individuals. Locals would spot and identify a well-known local horse if they saw it being ridden out of town by a visitor or a stranger.
Been writing a fantasy book with historical elements and I'm glad to see a character of mine could indeed get her horse ready in time 😂
As a fellow fantasy writer, this channel has been absolutely invaluable to me. He talks about so many things that I would never consider, which helps me add little touches of realism here and there.
It would be pretty funny if someone tries to flee from your MC only for their horse to get spooked because the person is rushing and making a heap of noise, only for the horse to bolt leaving the person at the mercy of your MC
Care to share the names of your books? Or maybe it's too early... Should I look for other books? Either of you😉✌️
Sadly no book yet but sometime soon!
same. i did some horse riding in my life, but then i decided to write about a main character whose one of the main traits is being great with horses, so i guess Jason is going to be my main source of inspiration of how to actually make it believable XD i'm such a noob i need like, 10 minutes to saddle a horse. this channel has been a godsent.
If the horse had been in a field, you would probably need to check for stones in the hooves as well. So, for a quick getaway, keep the horse in a stable 😁
Depends how fond the horse is of its rider. I'd expect Ghost to walk straight up to Jason, whereas a less friendly one could take you an hour to catch!
In a stable, blanketed, legs wrapped for protection etc etc.
I live in AZ where there’s lots of rocks, my horses are both pastured and I’ve never had one get a rock stuck in their feet. Granted, both have extremely hard feet and are unshod.
I can always count on Jason to teach me things that I didn't even realize I wanted to learn. Thanks for the upload.
Same 😂
How fun! One of the best parts of this video was Ghost watching Jason to make sure he was doing it right. Our four-legged family members like to keep an eye on us. Lovely start to a day. Thanks!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Always enjoy MHTV videos and Future Imperfect/MHTV podcasts. @@ModernKnight
One of the great joys of Jason's videos is the strong and unique characters all his equines bring to them. I'm partial to The Mule With No Name, myself!
Ghost is thinking "Ugh, not again! Just pay your bar bill, you cheapskate!"
Don't forget you'd likely be doing all this in the pre-dawn dark in this scenario, for an extra degree of difficulty. Great video!
Hell, if the bar tab being unpaid is the reason for fleeing, as Jason suggests, then there might be some other difficulties. If my bar tab is expensive enough that I'd much rather flee, I don't want to know what state of inebriation I might be in 🤣
You’d have to add in the time it takes to find tinder and light a candle or oil lamp, too, because stables back then were not large and were pitch black at night.
Then you find the horse snoring on one side in whatever is covering the floor. When you do wake him up, he looks at you and goes like "who dares to disturb me in this ungodly hour? People are so stupid, but I am no human, so let me sleep."
@@u.v.s.5583 Not if the horse was stalled, rather than in a loose box, and far more likely to be standing in the restricted space - stalls used to be very commonly used, because more horses can be packed into available space, but most horses don't lie down for long anyway. As for grooming/tacking up in the dark, if you know your gear and the horse is cooperative, you can easily do it by feel. Been there, done that, when my head torch has failed, although I was just going for a dawn ride before work, rather than fleeing bills!
Guard at the gate: Hey, who was that?
Second guard: It was this crazy knight who bet he'd get out of town in one minute fifteen seconds.
Having worked at a couple of lesson barns, when a client just shows up or next to go into the show ring, YOU HAVE TO BE THIS FAST! Doesn't matter if they are an old lesson horse or in-training, saddle, bridle and rider up! I've striped horses just as fast as well to get them cooled off.
I love it when you show your horses.
On the beginning Ghost was looking like anybody just woken up 😅 "What time is it? Do I have to get up? What are we doing? Give me a hug."
He is super lovely horse ❤
I sure wish I could have known this July 4th, 1974. I threw a saddle on a "untamed" horse and it just about killed me. I had a stainless steel plate installed from my right knee, up the femur, to my hip, which was also broken in several places. After he threw me off, he literally tried to kill me. I just didn't understand that if you were to go up to a dog that didn't know you (which is "man's best friend"), and you placed a saddle on his back, he has the right to bite the hell out of you.
we owe a lot to these beautiful creatures
Wonderful to see Ghost! As for that speed-saddling: I'm still out of breath just from watching you - all ready to be off in 75 seconds? Blimey!
Thanks, - that was fun to watch!
I never knew I needed to know how to get away on a horse quickly! Very interesting
That was the only get-away vehicle before the steam-train.
The moment you put that saddle on his back, Ghost looked around with an expression of pure, "--WHAAAA? You're not gonna BRUSH me first??" 🤣🤣🤣 Also, THANK YOU for this! This is the single most USEFUL piece of information for a writer, regarding how quickly you can saddle a horse & get ready to ride. Thank you for discussing all the considerations for the horse's cleanliness & comfort, the reason why (galling or harming the horse from caught debris), and more.
Being late fora lesson with a tough trainer is a great motivator!
LMAO! So true.
7:04 Ghost looks like he's either rehearsing the telling-off he's going to give, or else imagining the telling-off he wishes he'd given!
when I used to do horseback riding regularly I always allocated at least half an hour for brushing and putting on saddle and bridle, I felt rushed if I had 15 minutes or less for it. But we also had the standard of checking hoofs too and some horses are quite skittish with having you touch their hoofs for cleaning (I blame this on some people not being careful with tools in such a sensitive area while cleaning).
I also always did the check with hands after brushing, because sometimes you can't see the dirt but you will always be able to feel it.
True. Normally one should take a lot of time when preparing the horse.
So lovely. Your horsemanship shines through in these details. Also made me think of "dress me slowly, for I'm in a hurry", attributed to Napoleon. Clumsy fingers like myself learned the hard way!
Horses and undue haste do not mix well at all.
I never knew I even wanted to know this. Ghost is such an amazing fellow as well!
At least one Holy Roman Emperor - Frederick II - departed town in a rush being shot at if I recall correctly by enthusiasts for his noble cousin Otto IV who had been battling for the imperial crown for ten + years against Frederick's uncle Phillip (who actually had possession of the imperial regalia). I suspect Frederick didn't bother with saddle, perhaps not even bridle... something about being shot at can make a hasty retreat the utmost necessity.
How interesting! Something I'd never considered before but it makes so much sense watching it. I love Ghost's expressions the whole time, like he was comfortable but still slightly concerned.
"Are we in a hurry Jason? Is someone after us? Who've you p*ssed off this time?"
Ghost was ready to look for a spear or sword to shank whoever was coming after Jason. I think once he realized it was just more chicanery he calmed.
that's standard for alot of horses. they are flight animals after all - also they communicate alot with ear positioning/posture
Now that's a good boy. I mean, Ghost is always a good boi.
The look on Ghost's face was priceless: "O my, here we go again, wished he would make up his mind!" 😂
i grew up on a horse ranch that used to show Peruvian Pasos in both shows and parades, and was always helping riders tack up. If you've never seen Peruvian Paso horse tack, it's quite elaborate with leather straps that hang down like a hem-line around the horses' feet. A prevailing theory is this design is supposedly left over from the Conquistadors draping banners down over the back of the horse to keep the fabric from tangling in the legs, and has survived into the present. Even with all the extra gear, I could have a horse show-ready in less than 15 minutes when we were really down to the wire!
Loved this video very much, and it's a delight to see how much Ghost trusts you and how sweet you are with him!
It would depend to a great part on if the gear belonged to the horse or was just random "gear" A horses personal tack is usually set up for them and won't need a lot of adjustment but random tack might be well out
I like it that you considered that you don't need to do perfect saddling just get distance and do it properly hidden somewhere else
I didn't even know I wanted to know this, but thank you! Lovely to see Ghost again, he sure looked suprised that you didn't groom him though 🙂
And it always helps to have a calm, well trained horse! ❤
Actually the key is not to scare the horse. Show him/her that he can trust you No training needed.
My horse is ready with just a hackmore. 3 minutes to catch and climb on her. Otherwise with all the gear about 7 minutes start to finish. Good video.
Heh, the speedrun tacking up for me was always going bareback. bush, bridle, saddlepad (to keep my pants less full of horsehair), hop on, go. I was lucky enough to have an extremely comfortable pony and I think she preferred going without the saddle too. I always did the bridle last though, leaving her tied with her halter while I futzed about with her saddle was safest, you never want to tie a horse by its reins (under threat of pain and death from everyone who ever taught me how to handle horses) and mine would sometimes try to wander off when being saddled.
Awww handsome Ghost!!! So glad to see him again!! He's still as stunning as ever, what a good boy!
So nice to see Ghost again! I just love these horsemanship videos! 👍❤
Wow. Ghost is such a good boy. Glad he has an owner like you who care and has so much love and respect for him. Great video. As usual.
You clearly love ghost! ❤
I love the look he gives the camera 😂😂
And that he's first listed in the credits.
Could be interesting to tell more about practical horse-care in medieval times (and compared to today).
Like was there organisation at town level, or what can you expect when you travel with a horse and use a livery stable or inn. How was the blacksmithing, stable and horse doctor service in towns and on the road?
I would assume horse care would happen close to the town gate. There is no reason to ride into town, so you leave the house at the door. Either outside or inside, depending on location.
If there is a local lord or similar, they would obviously have their own stables at their castle or estate, but for regular travelers I guess the stables and overnight in are right next to the gate. We don't want any uncomfortable travelers inside, right?
not medieval but the book black beauty has a lot of information about how horses were treated in the victorian times. if someone knows a good accurate medieval equivalent would love to read it!
I really like the video's with horses (and donkey/mule)
It is something I know very little about, but it is fascinating. More please :D
Mule not donkey donkeys are much smaller stature.
@@elizabethjansen2684, Except for the Mammoth Jack donkey, which is about as big as a saddle horse. They were developed for "making" mules.
Ghost´s looks are almost pure comedy 😍
That really was very quick! I love watching how Ghost's attitude shifts as soon as the saddle is on his back. This was a fun and informative video, and I appreciate it a lot.
Greetings, Sir Knight!
I greatly appreciate the care and affection you show your horse. you are indeed partners and I know Ghost appreciates your manner with him.
I am sure your ways with im are a comfort to him and this all helps to reinforce your working relationship.
I just noticed that Ghost is not a gelding, but a stallion. Ghost is a magnificent beasty!
He's an Andalusian, a breed known for being calm, in-your-pocket horses, including the stallions. Looks like he's got problems with his nauchal ligament (genetic condition) which is causing the floppy crest, a semi-common thing found in the breed for both stallions and geldings. But I digress... His breed is known for being easy to work with and eager to learn, and it's been wonderful to watch him work through the things he's asked to do.
The fingertip search of the load bearing surfaces is absolutely the most vital part of grooming; brushing never gets rid of all the fine grit, especially on a horse as hairy as mine! Always the last thing I do before tacking up.
A very good idea for a film, and you have a great partner this time, Ghost has become the same "TV animal" as Warlord, a born actor. I love that the second time you time it, you're basically in no rush at all. It's impressive how Ghost helps you, none of your moves come as a surprise to him.
So happy to see another video about your wonderful horses.
What excellent timing! I was just writing a scene in which someone had to saddle a horse quickly in the middle of the night to make a getaway! Of course, it is complicated by the fact that they're injured and that the horse is not exactly theirs...
Incidentally, the horse they're stealing bears a suspicious resemblance to Warlord. A little Easter egg for myself.
Who does the horse belong to? There is a certain type of human whose horses all bite and kick. They turn with the hindlegs towards anybody approaching them. Could be useful for writers.
For the 18th Century (more like a 1812 average with mixed century equipment) my speed (well, mid speed at least) was 14 minutes. It takes about 11 minutes to get dressed with Belly Box, Sword Belt, Carbine Clip, Haversack, and Canteen. Then Clean Hooves, quick brush where the saddle sits (with girth), pad, blanket, saddle (wool blanket strapped on the back), Holsters (two flintlock Pistols), Bridle over halter, and then mount with carbine clipped and off to battle.
So, 3 minutes for the horse. If you had cleaned the hooves when you put him in his stall, how much time do you think it would have saved?
@@hollyingraham3980 None. Horses are very good at stepping in things that require their feet to be picked out every singe time you pull them out. XD
I'm loving that alicorn shield.
Ghost is majestic, what a beautiful animal. Love your videos!
Wow, Ghosts incredible eyes!
From my riding days, I seem to recall that a crafty horse will often suck in air as its being saddled up, which increases its girth when you're tacking up the straps. It would be wise to walk that horse a few steps (say to the gate of the stable), and then tighten the straps before attempting to mount, or you could wind up flat on your ass.
Ghost just standing there like "uhhh we going or what" 😂
Ghost is so beautiful! He looks a little confused though 😂
Unrelated but Ghost is the prettiest and cutest horse i ever saw. He is perfect.
He's a wonderful companion.
Quick get away Huh?? That's what the look on Ghost's face said! LOL I also love him in the introduction, when you cut through the watermelon. He is watching the whole time!
The face of the horse at 07:40 is like "Dude!? My headcollar is still on. And the saddle is still sligthly tilted. Usually you’re totally chill. You feeling alright? What’s the rush?" 😆
I'd add 15 sec for quickly running your hands over the horse before placing the saddle, like you did the first time, but that'd still be half as long as my guess from before your video.
Thanks for taking the time to share these nuggets of knowledge like this with us poor, unfortunate, horse-less individuals!
Always a joy to see a master immersed in his work, and such a great partner!
The look on Ghost’s face says it all “ make up your mind”😅
So, this means Picard was potentially only a minute or so behind Kirk, when he chased him down on horseback while they were in the nexus.
That was awesome Jason! Ghost was looking as if you lost your mind,,,,lol your videos are my favorite, Ghost reaction was hysterical. . lol
“Do I have enough time to get on my horse and escape?”
*chuckles in French professional crossbowman with 3/4 harness*
Perfect timing, Sir Knight! I was just doing a bit of Journaling to record some of the information in your videos on paper, and was looking forwards to something new to take down. As a writer, I love referencing your content. Even if my stories are fantasy/fictional, I love having a solid, grounded base in history to make the human aspects of a medieval-like society feel real. This information is so useful for writing escape scenes! Especially since I like depicting characters who care very much for their mounts.
Add on an additional 30 seconds to a minute for any bedrolls, saddle bags, etc, and an additional 30 seconds to pick out feet. You *can* wait until you're down the road if you had to, but a stone in a hoof is going to slow your horse by a LOT, and possibly put them out of commission for up to several weeks depending on the rock and speed you're tearing out of there. :)
As always I am very impressed with your knowledge of the subject and of course your very beautiful horses . Please keep making your excellent videos I really appreciate them thank you.
Thank you, I will
Would you do a video on the Border Reivers and small raids in general, how they operated, size of groups, how places were defended etc. When you were preparing the horse it made me wonder how much preparation for these raids would be needed and how long it would take. There is a fortified tower house near me that is not even that close to the border which makes me wonder what it was like back then, how it worked, if it was just general raids from people closer by that they were worried about etc.
Would be a very interesting Video or series. But i am pretty Sure IT will need contain a LOT of different conditions. Time Periode for example and Location. British Isle will be probably very different from Continental Europe in the time of the magyars.
@@Quasimodo-mq8tw well I was specifically talking about Border Reivers so that's Scotland and England and I live in England, so is in his wheelhouse
That's a great idea! The Reivers were a fascinating bunch.
He references it, briefly, in an earlier video with the small hand crossbow used to shoot from horseback.
@@thefallofhousedenari ah thanks, I,'ll check it out
The looks of Ghost are priceless! And it is clear to see, that you have a long and good relationship with him, I am sure if he was not that familiar with you, he would be less patient.
Amazing... a little over a minute; horse is so well behaved
Cheers brother.. .
The videos with these beautiful animals makes me want to learn how to ride.
Do it!
Ah, the Great Ghost! With yiy we learn so many important details ! Thank tou
the way Ghost is just 👀👀👀 during the whole thing just cracks me up 😝
Another brilliant and interesting video, thank you! Ghost looking fabulous!
Relevant also for any tabletop RPG 😁 Fascinating historical information and insight again! ⭐️ Thank you!
Great timing! I have a scene like this for my fantasy novel and I was wondering how long this process would actually take to do. A lot of fantasy novels skip over this (obvious reasons of pacing and tension), but its an important detail to consider for realism.
I see 5 minutes as comfortable and 2 minutes if the rider has to hurry.
And if you have to load on your adventuring gear (the two-handed sword, shield, bedroll, bag with magical artifacts, bow, etc) and bag of loot, obviously a bit more.
For the latter part, just imagine how long it would take to securely store that stuff on a bicycle or motorcycle if you don't have any horse at hand.
@@HappyBeezerStudios That seems reasonable. So in total (packing everything), probably somewhere under ten minutes at least (if the horse is clean and doesn’t need a brushing). So if you’ve got all this gear and are in a rush…that could add tension to a scene-how much are you willing to leave behind in order to save on time to get out of the area?
@@HelenaCross Excellent thinking, really. Though a great deal of your gear would be "already packed" in some form if you're already traveling - you'd probably go to bed with almost everything packed into saddlebags and so forth. I'd note too, that if you've got two adventurers together, the time spent saddling up can be an excellent moment for a quiet conversation before the bigger action stuff happens.
@@HelenaCross Depending on the scenario and type of character, I could certainly see a rider who did not care one bit about the horse. The rider might saddle up and charge out the gate, knowing he is going to ditch the horse as soon as he gets to the big city/deep woods and leg it, and so is uncaring of the prep. Or an inexperienced noble running away, who normally has servants to prep the horse, and soon finds his animal unable to carry him in short order due to various griefs (Like sores, cuts, infections, stones, etc).
@@littlekong7685 Great points. Just thought of another sort of scene to add for the classic “hero training scene montage” would be a more experienced rider probably lecturing the main character on horse care, that the horse is just as important (or even more so), then his gear. So unless he wants a lame or injured horse, they have to check that things fit properly and how to prepare to leave in a hurry if they have to.
Love your videos! Love Ghost! I’d love more warhorse training videos if you’ve considered making more.
Me too! Those are very enjoyable!
Dammit Jason I logged onto UA-cam to put some music on whilst I work and end up watching (and commenting!) on another superb video from your goodself!
He surely is busy playing with that bit.
Hes very patient
his horse is adorable hahaha!❤❤❤❤
How is the war mule doing?
Jason, always a pleasure to watch any of your equestrian videos! This one is no exception!
I can watch the two endlessly.
also check the straps after a few minutes or when you're out of town and safe, because horses usually blow up their belly in order to sabotage the rider trying to get the strap tight enough, thus the saddle could be a bit loose if you don't re-fasten the belt after a few minutes. Also, don't make it too tight...
Not a trained horse like Ghost.
I'm pretty sure horses aren't aware of what sabotage is hahaha. It's just a reaction some have to it, no ill intentions, even the best trained horses do it (depends on each horse, but in the end all of them need re-adjusting of the girth after a few minutes).
@@analaborda3572 I was just kidding saying Sabotage. I like joking about horses, they are funny
@@p4radigm989 they really are. Sabotage does sound funny, but might give the wrong idea that horses are plotting against people or whatever to somebody that doesn't know
Horses are not mean or calculating. If they blow up their belly it's because the tacking has been uncomfortable for them so far. Maybe the girth doesn't fit or it's been tightened too fast or too tight. So they try to defend themselves by blowing up. Give some kindness to your horse and always ask: "why is he doing this?"
Isn’t it strange how horse riding was so common and it’s almost like humans are scared of them now. It’s strange but beautiful..
Ghosts face when you practiced your getaway was like "The hell's goin' on here, mate?"
Looks like Jill is safe with her “grand theft equine“!
Hahaaa! And another real life scenario...for some! 😂 And Ghost has been a real sport!
Thank you so much for all the information you share! I love horses and enjoy learning about the evolution of horsemanship. I can tack up really quickly, but if I am talking through the steps or explaining things to people, I will, without fail miss something! Did people in medieval times ever use blankets or sheets to cover their horses? My horses always have something covering them to keep them warm in the winter and to reflect heat and prevent sun bleaching in the summer. It also serves to keep flies and mosquitoes from pestering them, and they stay clean so it cuts down on grooming before a ride. I live in California, so it’s never too cold to hose them off after riding. I would guess that in medieval England horses did not get fully washed very often. Thank you again for producing wonderful content! 😊
i know nothing about horses; this is very informative.
That was really quick
That was so much fun & interesting to watch 😊
The construction of the saddle & bits is pretty amazing, really cool to see what people made even all those years ago 🐎
Excellent stuff! I did want to say for the ones interested in horsemanship, the curb chain does limit and direct the pressure a levered bit has on the tongue and poll of the horse. It also stabilizes long levers so they don't open and close as much and pinch the horse. Tighter chain will cause much more pressure in tongue and jaw and little to no poll pressure and a loose chain will allow the levers to put more pressure against the poll vs the jaw.
These are the actual questions I want to have answered!❤
As always, Ghost really is a good boy!! And it's quite interesting that even with the "more complicated" medieval saddle you can get everything on and set up so quickly - it's not just cowboys that can be in the saddle and on the go with lightning speed, clearly! Even when you were talking your way through the process it didn't take you much more than five minutes. I'm sure it makes a big difference that he wasn't completely filthy - to Ghost if nothing else! But I'm betting he really enjoys a good grooming and that's part of why he likes to get dirty, haha!!
"My human is weird today, but it's ok" ))
For me, with my faithful Eagle, my 11 year old buddy, both of us were the same age, 5 minutes. Brush his back. Put on his bridle. Swing my self up, by his mane. Go off for the day. I didn’t even own a saddle or even a pad. Many many happy years. He was such an awesome horse. Perfect child horse. Oh, and he was about 15 1/2 hands. He was so patient while I slung up, and my friend, we rode double all the time. But still, 5 minutes😉 I guess if I was going to war or a message for the king, I probably would have been different lol Maybe how fast can you tack up
During the worst of the Covid quarantine the lovely ladies at my barn got desperately chatty. One time I was tacking up and saw one coming. Instead of getting caught in a half hour conversation I didn't want to have I did away with the saddle, snuck out the back and hopped on bareback to make a break for the woods. Not practical for every escape but it worked that time!
Ahaha, the horse giving the camera the bombastic side-eye at 1:15. So funny.
I used to have to get my horse ready in a hurry either before or after work, especially in autumn/spring, when daylight hours were limited, but the horses still needed exercising. If they were stabled, about five minutes to go, with most of that being part-grooming saddle/girth/bridle areas and picking out hooves - no foot, no horse, so a vital check before you ride. Probably about a minute to tack up for me, on average, although I've seen people do it in about 30s on a clean, cooperative horse.
That is one beautiful horse!