OT: More Equestrian

Ummm, how is that different from pacing, which lots of animals do? My boyz pace when I walk them, if I don't go fast enough, and some horses are bred specifically to pace. Is there something different about what giraffes do?

Elizabeth

OR, perish the thought, go on diets! Who would eat my iced cream? All that Ben and Jerry's chocolate brownie, raw cookie dough.

Not sure what pacing is. When a giraffe walks, he takes a step using both left legs, then both right legs. They don't walk using an alternating front and rear leg. I read they are the only four letted animal which walks like that. When they run, they also use both front and rear on the right, then the left.

I have also seen some things that say camelids are the only mammals that pace naturally (which is the term for stepping out with both right legs, then both left legs); however, if you look up other animals and their gaits, there are quite a few mammals that pace naturally, including everything from giraffes to camelids to bears to opossums to goodness knows what else, and many others that sometimes pace. For sure camelids (camels, llamas, alpacas, etc.) use pacing extensively.

Best wishes, Ericka

Umm, horses do that when they're "pacing" - essentially a non-diagonal trot. But, they don't do it normally when walking.

Ellice

Differences of the same language. Here, in the US, I think we tend to group tinkers/travellers with gypsies - as gypsy has the common connotation of a travelling person, in addition to its usage as a noun.

Ellice

That's an interesting cross. Did she get any of the Clydesdale height? I can see that being one fireplug of a horse - so to speak. I've had friends, barn mates with draft horse/T-Bred crosses - all were pretty large, but didn't get quite so broad. I did have a great affection for the Percheron/T-bed - but then I have a big liking for greys with dark mane/tail.

Ellice

Right, pacing is using both legs on the same side, while gaiting or trotting is using back and frong on opposite sides together. A lot of animals pace, not just giraffes.

Elizabeth

Perhaps in your part of the US. I am used to a distinction between Travellers, who are Irish; and Gypsies who are Roma, just as Trish mentions. A gypsy may be someone who roams, but a Gypsy is a Rom. The name comes from the misperception that these people originated in Egypt. Nowadays, it's thought they came from what is today northern India. The term Gypsy is not preferred, by the way.

Elizabeth

"Dr. Brat" wrote

Isn't that a way of describing harness racing horses--some are pacers, some are trotters, depending on their running gait??

Dawne

I thought camels paced as well.

Right you are, form someone who remembers harness racing in Foxborough, MA.

-- Carey in MA

Thanks for clearing that up. I have to go see where I read that and ask why they put that information online if it isn't true. Then, part two would be to take my own advice which is; just because it's on the Internet doesn't mean it's right.

v

She sure did! Kate's about 16.3hh and looks mostly like a very large QH (only without the big bum). When she was growing, she came up first in the hindquarters (nearly a hand's difference between her front and back!) and then in the forequarters like a seesaw. She took a long time to mature (she's rising five now) but is quite a wonderful riding horse: calm and sensible and very sure-footed. The only drawback is that she's

*bone* idle and you have to carry a crop if you want her to move out at all. (You don't have to use it, mind. Just carrying it is enough).

I think in New England it is more common to differentiate. But, in the other parts of the country where I've liveed, SE, SW & mid-Atlantic - not so much.

Having travelled in Northern India, my experience is that is defintely the belief. And there are certainly tribes/families groups that are referred to as Gypsies. Twenty years ago that was my introduction to the thought that the Romany Gypsies had come from tribes in India who migrated across to Eastern Europe. The women in these groups do a lot of distinctive embroidery, some of the mirror-work is done by them, and wear very particular types of bracelets, not seen commonly in the rest of India.

For the Romany families? In India, during the 15 years I was travelling there, it was the common term. But, here, don't actually have much occasion to use either. Though, when I was a kid in South Florida there was indeed a "gypsy" encampment about 1.5 miles from my house. On the other side of a swamp that bordered some woods - we'd adventure thru the swamp, and to the woods to check it out - on one memorable occasion were actually shot at (well, over our heads - but when the kids are betwwen 9-11 it's still scary).

Ellice

Perhaps we're just more familiar with the Irish here and therefore with the distinction between Rom and Travellers. Never have to spell my last name for anyone around here. Always did when I lived in Delaware and in the Midwest.

Huh. Interesting.

In Europe, people were still using the term Gypsy or its language appropriate equivalent twenty years ago, but there's been a real battle for recognition of their rights and for the term Rom or Romany. In my experience, this is especially true in countries where discrimination runs high - Slovakia, for example.

Elizabeth

To keep the irritating flies from their ears. When I was young and still riding, we used to stick elderberry leaves into their browbands for the same reason - not as neat but just as effective.

Pat

DH was quite taken with the "Horsey Caps" - thought some of them were quite cute. As I explained their purpose. Then he was wondering if there was something on the inside - "no, dear, they're like ear warmers with a brim" . Oh. Felt for Beezie Madden when during team jumping something appeared to get to her young mount's ears, as despite the cover he suddenly was shaking his head, ears all over the place, and took down a rail. But, those covers are so much neater than leaves, or cotton wadding!

Ellice