And I want a little more than a little

[sovay]

Because I had not previously seen this picture which is just as striking as its subject banked it would be, I thought people might like to know about Brianna Noble and Dapper Dan: "I'm just another protester if I go down there alone, but no one can ignore a black woman sitting on top of a horse."

You might also want to read Zin E. Rocklyn's "The Night Sun," because it's excellent and she is not yet as prolifically published as she deserves to be. (If you want it as an e-book, that can also be done.)

Hawa Allan writes usefully on the inevitably racist history and deployment of the much-discussed Insurrection Act of 1807: "Insurrection in the Eye of the Beholder."

Courtesy of the Boston Globe: "A list of 40+ Black-owned Boston restaurants to support."

Comments

[jreynoldsward]

Given the goals of the equally impressive rider (compete in Olympic-level jumping competition), it can also be impressively trained horse. I am impressed with her horsewomanship, and if I had any influence, I'd be agitating to fundraise to send her to train with someone like Denny Emerson.

[sami]

...

Yes, obviously the horse is well-trained, but the best horse trainer in the world won't necessarily be able to make a horse stay calm in front of a crowd like that, especially without blinkers, given that "angrily shouting crowds" isn't a condition it's particularly easy to have previously trained the horse for, and that horse is completely chill.

The horse has a good disposition by nature, and that's, like... allowed? To be a thing?

[jreynoldsward]

Blinkers wouldn't make one bit of difference (they're primarily a driving thing and not exactly safe for under saddle work). And yes, good training DOES make a difference (note: I spent eighteen years with a very, very good trainer and while equine temperament is a factor, in a setting like this it's only a part of it). Even the best-tempered horse in the world will freak out in those settings unless it a.) has absolute confidence in its rider and b.) has had significant desensitization training. Temperament alone is not enough. Training and handler confidence can make a world of difference. If you look at the pictures in the Guardian article, the horse's facial expressions are relaxed. He has one ear on Brianna when he's worried, but the other ear is almost all the way forward. That's not temperament, that's training and trust.

It is also possible that she has done the sort of training and desensitization work that police horses receive. Such clinics are available and the training knowledge is not secret. Or else she may also already be competing in rodeos. Rodeo horses also have to handle similar sorts of chaotic environments, and competitive rodeo horses are not exactly...phlegmatic. And I suspect they've done their share of horse shows, which can be equally chaotic at times. The saddle and set up looks like she's done barrel racing, though if it were me I'd have the stirrups a couple of notches longer (which may reflect a jumping background). Also note that she has a long rein at all times on him. More training.

What is quite impressive is when you look at her tack. The Guardian article has a good side view. Look at the bridle setup. Bosalito with a mecate or get-down rope, not sure if that's a spade bit or a Mona Lisa from the shanks, and romal reins. Both she and the horse have had training. You don't rig tack like that if you're a novice. Now she's holding those romal reins like she would split reins so my guess is that her training is not Western show training.

[sami]

...

yeah I'm taking this to DM for sovay's sake