George Washington's horsemanship

nr · Rancher Joined: 10 Feb 2005 Posts: 2786 Location: DE

I've been reading a really wonderfully interesting book Washington's Crossing by David Hackett Fischer in which he describes what a great horseman General Washington was, the fact that he'd been born quite sickly and to strengthen himself he walked 3 miles a day and rode horses incessantly. He was quite impressive on horseback and sat "quiet"
with his muscular legs extended on long lrathers and toes pointed down. One observer said he and his horse moved fluently and was the most graceful a man could be on horseback.
On the stormy icy night he had his troops cross the Delaware River to attack the Hessians they then had to struggle with artilllary down steep iced slopes and the book says:
"Washington rode up and down the column urging his men forward. Suddenly the general's horse slipped and started to fall on a steep and icy slope. "While passing a slanting slippery bank," Lieutenant Bostwick remembered, "his excellency's horse's hind feet both slipped from under him." The animal began to go down. Elisha Bostwick watched in fascination as Washington locked his fingers in the animal's mane and hauled up its heavy head by brute force. He shifted its balance backward just enough to allow the horse to regain its footing on the treacherous road. Bostwick wrote that the general "seized his horses mane and the horse recovered." It was an extraordinary feat of strength, skill and timing and another reason why his soldiers stood in awe of this man.

If you want to mentally cool off this summer, try this book about the freezing our soldiers went through in 1776.

Faster horses · Rancher Joined: 11 Feb 2005 Posts: 9400

"toes pointed straight down"...

Today that wouldn't be considered a good rider.

the_jersey_lilly_2000 · Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2005 9:34 pm Post subject:

Yeap I noticed the "toes down" too.....dont know how many times I've told my daughter and heard others tell their kids....heels down!!!

Faster horses · Rancher Joined: 11 Feb 2005 Posts: 9400

I felt kinda bad after I posted something negative about nr's book recommendation. I didn't mean it against the book at all, but perhaps the writer knew how revered George Washington was; but didn't really understand horsemanship. Anyway, it really doesn't matter as far as the book goes.

However, I was glad for jersy lily's post so I know I wasn't the only one that picked up on the toes down bit. Confused

the_jersey_lilly_2000 · Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2005 12:16 am Post subject:

nope nothin against the book....might be a good read...

nr · Rancher Joined: 10 Feb 2005 Posts: 2786 Location: DE

I didn't quote that whole page (but should have knowing this would be read by uhoh REAL RIDERS Wink

hahaha which I'm not- riding lessons were way out of my family's budget. The author actually said something like Washington rode in the old way with toes pointed down. Forgive me for not writing "in the old way". I suppose if the leathers (which I mispelled) were really long he'd have to point his toes down to reach? Would he have had a better grip on the horse's body that way? Maybe the riding boots were different back then?? It didn't say what type saddle. It did say he went on fox hunts as often as possible sometimes 3 times a week! And of course during the French and Indian War he was riding through rough wilderness when he wasn't on foot with the men and had his horse shot out from under him twice.
The author was very thorough in documenting his writing- this book has about a 180 pages of references alone (old maps, old Hessian and American soldier diaries etc! A really good read.)

OldDog/NewTricks · Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2005 12:11 pm Post subject:

Ok "nr" you gota know when to stop diggin'

nr · Rancher Joined: 10 Feb 2005 Posts: 2786 Location: DE

OldDog/NewTricks · Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2005 4:09 pm Post subject:

About that time V¬ will be heading back to College - - I may be able to go with out a sushi fix but I'd have to leave now - - and my horse, - - my Horse would kill me one or two days out - she'd take one looks at the Sierras and say
"You want me to What Exclamation

- Are You Somekinda Nut Question

-
- Leave California for Where Question

- Think bout it - it's warmer in Alaska Exclamation

- And and them (not Nice) Indians Exclamation

- Do You Know What They Did to Custer Question

- Your Tring to Kill Me Off Just So You Can Ride That Young Peroxide Palomino I Saw Giving You The Eye At The Rodeo"
- As Soon As She Gets Your Saddle…
- I Know I'm From Idho but I've seen Tha Light
- I'm saving my Hay for a BooB Job -
- I Can Be a California Horse Exclamation

-
- "(not Nice)" I'm a California Horse Exclamation

>
>
>
Blame the Horse Not Me Rolling Eyes

katrina · Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2005 11:31 am Post subject:

Speaking of horsemanship......Is anyone watching Cowboy U on CMT?
For being a cowboy Rocco has very poor horsemanship skills. Did anyone see him jerk the paint's head around?????? I was agast!!!!!!!!! Now little judd did well............

V_Key · Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2005 5:19 pm Post subject:

NO! I quite watching CowBoy U long ago. To Dudieeee.

Cowboy Programs on TV got on the "Slippery Slope" that started in the 60's with "Stony Burk" played by that EGO Trip from Hawaii 5-0 - - "O" Yes - Jack Lord - - Remember that "Dude" - - wore his Spurs Every Where - - Told eveyone he was the NEW John Wayne - - all real Cowboys Laughed - - before SB only DUDES wore their Spurs to Town - - I still laugh when I see that - -

The good part was Warren Oats - - he just died a couple months ago.

I had (2) 1/4 Horse foals that year-
War-On-Oats
and
Hell-On-Oats

OldDog/NewTricks · Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2005 5:55 pm Post subject:

I'm sorry about that - didn't know V¬ had "Logged In"

That above post is mine :0

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