Wednesday, 16 February 2011

Why the Pose?

Recently, I acquired a selection of glass plate negatives. This is one of them. I think it was taken around 1905 and depicts a groom with one of his charges. What I cannot understand is why this white horse was posed in this way? Is it normal? For that matter, what sort of horse is it? It seems quite small. Are there any equestrian-minded people out there who would be prepared to offer an opinion? Click twice on the image for a really close-up look.

6 comments:

  1. I know nothing about horses, but it's a stunning photo. Rich detail.

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  2. Thanks TAL. You can understand why I was so keen to acquire it - most unusual!

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  3. Are you sure it's not a stuffed horse, just back from the taxidermist ?

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  4. I have a whole collection of photos of people ca. 1900 posing with their farm stock. Usually, they have the horses and dogs do something such as this (probably because they can... who really trains a sheep or cow to do such a thing.) This looks like a connemara pony, but I am not as smart with the pony breeds, nor british equines. It is quite a feat to get a pony to do this without halter or rope. This must have been an appreciated pony.

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  5. I have a photo of myself with a pony called Jerry doing the same thing but on something a bit wider. I was about 12 and had been asked to make him more obedient for his little owner so I had a lot of fun teaching him circus tricks like this one and shaking hands. Didn't get as far as having him balance with all four feet on the tub. He was too intelligent and scary for his boy.

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  6. Owen, Thanks - stuffed, indeed! Lots more treasures to come.

    Blue Shoes - Thank you - your collection sounds fascinating.

    ElizT -Sounds like a great photo. Circus tricks? Sounds great fun.

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