hi, im back again! more questions for you my friend :) it's about horses this time. if they decided to try and attempt to train wild horses, what method would they use? would it be like the snow method from that one Nart saga? or a more modern way? or would tavros, rufioh, equius, and horuss have a different way that they used at home?
Hey again!! Aw yiss, more questions. And a question about horses, too! Awesome!!
Okay, there are a couple of methods to train/domesticate wild horses, most notably the snow/water method you mentioned, the “pressure and release” method, the “bamboo pole” method, “desensitization”, and the “blanket” method. The scenario in which the characters encounter a wild horse would theoretically determine which method they would use, because some are faster than others and some yield better results, and the result of any method is, of course, dependent on the personality of the horse.
This would be the most likely method the characters would use, because it’s relatively quick (in that a person could potentially calm a horse in a single day) and the characters are constantly on the move so they wouldn’t have time to properly train a wild horse until they’re back on base. As you mentioned, it was first recorded in the Nart Saga, a collection of folk tales from North Caucasus, but because the stories are old as balls the method itself has been around for literally thousands of years.
Basically what it entails is wrangling a wild horse, getting on its back, and forcing it to slog through heavy snow or a large river until it has tired itself out. The horse learns to trust the rider because the rider successfully guides it through the rough terrain, encouraging it and keeping it safe, and that trust makes the horse easier to “officially” train. It’s pretty simple and straightforward--not a lot of steps, so it’s perfect for characters who are, you know, trying to survive the apocalypse.
This method has a lot of steps and takes a few weeks to complete, depending on the personality of the horse, but it’s probably the most effective way to gentle a wild horse. The characters probably wouldn’t use this method unless they were able to bring a wild horse back to base, but if they could they would probably use it.
To summarize, it essentially involves exactly what the name entails: pressuring the wild horse into doing something, and then rewarding it by backing away. Typically this means getting it to run around in circles around the perimeter of the pen in different directions over the course of a few days, and then after that getting it to look at you by calling for it and then backing off until the horse feels safe enough to step toward you. Little steps like this continue (letting the horse sniff your hand, eventually attaching a rope to the horse’s halter, teaching it to follow your lead, etc.) until the horse feels secure enough to let you get on its back.
As I mentioned, the process can take a few weeks or longer, depending on the personality of the horse.
Like the pressure and release method, this one can take several weeks, but it’s been proven effective so this would be an alternative the characters would use if they were able to bring a horse back to base. It was developed by an Oregon horse-rearing family in the early 20th century, so it’s relatively new, but it’s gained popularity across the US since then.
Basically you take a long pole, usually bamboo because it’s “soft”, and gently get the horse used to touch by dragging it across the horse’s body in sections. You start at the withers, and reward the horse when it does what you want it to (e.g. look at you) in intervals, sort of like the pressure and release method. Eventually you introduce the horse to the concept of a rope, then move up to actual touching, etc, etc.
Although all methods are some form of the literal definition of desensitization, this method involves slowly forcing the horse to accept the rider through touch using any means necessary. It’s sort of, like, a broader version of the bamboo pole method. Once the horse is comfortable enough with the rider to be touched, you basically just rub your hands all over the horse until it responds to the contact without anxiety.
As for Tav, Eq, Rufioh, and Horuss--unfortunately, most Native American cultural records have been lost to time or just simply aren’t available to the public because Native American history was/has been typically passed down through the generations via oral tradition. The Lakota tribe in particular was a horse nation, meaning their lives revolved around and depended on horses, and they valued and respected the horses spiritually as a result.
During my research I found information that some Native American tribes used blankets to build trust with wild horses.
Apparently this is a quick method for building trust, sort of like the snow/water method. Essentially the rider uses a blanket to distract the horse from the potential threat of the human, getting the horse used to movement (i.e. the blanket fluttering in the wind) while you stand perfectly still in the pen and then, once the horse has relaxed, slowly moving around until it doesn’t see you as a threat. Once that happens, you should be able to easily interact with the horse.
I can’t claim to be an expert on Native American culture despite research, though, as a bit of a disclaimer.
Anyway, I hope this answers your question! As always, it’s rad hearing from you!
