Re: Robert Duvalls casting call for his Civil War Movie

[Tara Wheeler <harpy@io.com>]

Title: Re:  Robert Duvalls casting call for his Civil War Movie

> "Barbara McCrary" <bigcreekranch@cruzio.com> said:
>
>
> Every time I see a movie with the main character riding a horse that rears, I think "I wouldn't allow any horse I rode to rear."  Granted, it looks flashy to anyone not a horseman, but rearing is on my list of all time dangers.  Another comical one is horses that whinny at inappropriate moments....such as, standing quietly at a hitching rack or trotting down the trail.  Generally, it's been my observation that horses don't whinny readily and usually only when anxious.  Now, soft blowing through the nostrils I can accept, but not whinnying.  Lots of funny stuff thrown into the movies that has little to do with horse reality.  It surely looks flashy on the screen, though.
>  

Rearing is a battle move.  So are 'airs above the ground'.  You wanted to psyche out your enemy wherever possible.  Also, rearing up on horseback, you can see further.  Also made you a better target.  :)

Just devil's advocate.  I have no interest in teaching a horse to rear, but boy, howdy, I'd love to teach my  horse 'airs above the ground' for some of these damn aggressive cows.

I agree with the mis-placed whinnying being annoying, but remember, that's why Bedoins rode mares into battle.  Stallions like to talk.  

The crusader-knights prefered riding stallions, the moors prefered mares.  Can you imagine the chaos when they met in battle?