Riding Rules & Meet The Horses

[Imogen Sauveterre]

Riding Rules

Hogwarts is currently home to nine horses, eight of which can be ridden by students. While the horses can be visited any time, there are some rules that must be followed.

• No one comes to the stables alone. This is a safety precaution more than a method of socialising. There must always be at least one other adult or student of at least fifteen years of age accompanying you.
  
• Proper riding gear must be worn each time. This includes a properly-fitting helmet (available in the barn), long pants, and proper footwear. Half-chaps, chaps, and gloves are not necessary, but they are highly reccommended.
  
• When taking a horse out to ride, permission must first be obtained by Professor Hagrid, and a witness must be present. In the stable, there is a Riding Book where you sign out each time you ride. In the chart, fill in Your Name, House, Year, Time You Left the Stable and Time You Arrived Back in the Stable. Horses can be signed out for a maximum of two hours per ride and four spread-out hours per day. If any student is caught over-working a horse, all of his or her riding priviledges will be revoked indefinitely.
  
• If you plan on riding, you must properly care for the horse before and after each ride. This means you must properly and thoroughly groom and tack up the horse yourself, both before and after you go out. This benefits the horse's health and comfort, and therefore your own by extension. All grooming materials have been provided, and each horse has its own tack, properly labelled and colour-coded in the tack room. Everything is specially-fitted to each horse; please take care to ensure the right horse gets the right tack.
  
• Do not attempt to pull stunts while riding. This includes standing on horseback, jumping on and off while the horse is in motion, using magic while on horseback, and riding through the Forbidden Forest. These are not magical creatures and cannot defend themselves against the creatures within. They are flighty animals and you can get hurt if a horse is spooked.
  
• Please use discretion when choosing a horse to ride. There are horses of all riding skill levels here; do not ride a horse suited for Expert riders if you are a Beginner. Again, your riding priviledges will be completely revoked, and you can end up seriously injured.
  
• Horses are not to be fed by students. Professor Hagrid ensures that each horse gets its daily nutrition, and over-feeding with treats could result in colic and possibly the death of the horse. All treats must be pre-approved by Hagrid.
  
• In the event of an emergency or injury, of either rider or horse, get help immediately. Send up red sparks with your wand if you are injured or endangered; do not wait to see if things will "calm down". If your horse begins to panic at something you can't see, trust your horse's instincts and leave the area cautiously. Because there should always be at least two of you, if one is injured, the other can always send for help in some manner.
  

Meet The Horses

Name: Pirate
Breed: Welsh Cob
Age: Seven
Gender: Gelding
Colour and Markings: Black with a white strip and snip on his face and white socks on his front legs and left hind leg
Experience Level: Advanced to Expert
Personality: Pirate is definitely “the wild one”. He thinks he’s a stallion, and sometimes can act like it, too. He’s aggressive toward the other males, dominant over the females, and can be a little crazy around people. He’s a biter, so fingers are definitely at risk. Despite being gelded, he’s still full of testosterone and acts out quite a bit. He’s a speedy horse, preferring to go at a full-out gallop than walk. He’ll race other horses, he’ll challenge them, he’ll kick at them and bite if they get too close, even when riding. Despite living on private property, Pirate might as well have been born a wild horse, since the little herd belonging to the landowner had been roaming free on the land for years. When he died and his son inherited the land, the horses were rounded up and shipped to auction. It was a terrifying ordeal for all the horses, and because of it, Pirate can never have a rope anywhere on him without freaking out. Despite having been domesticated for a majority of his life, his wild streak runs strong. Whoever rides Pirate needs a firm hand – not a rough hand, but a firm hand. He’s sure-footed, and a very strong, very built horse, with fantastic endurance and would be great for cross country courses. With the right rider, he can be a thrilling mount; with the wrong rider, however, he can be a terror.

Name: Aztec
Breed: Irish Sport Horse
Age: Twelve
Gender: Gelding
Colour and Markings: Dapple Bay
Experience Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Personality: Aztec is quite a playful horse. Out in the pen, he’ll nip at other horses before trotting away. He also loves to touch and be touched. If he’s near enough, he’ll lean on other horses. When being groomed, he’ll often lean on the person grooming him. He wants to be touched, and will make a point to thrust his muzzle into someone’s hand and rub his head against them to get them to pay attention. Aztec likes to be in the spotlight, and has ever since he was a foal. Aztec was raised by a breeder and sold to a Muggle-born girl shortly before she graduated Hogwarts. However, after graduation she was finding that she was far too busy to take care of him, so she asked Hagrid if he wanted to adopt another horse. Thus, Aztec joined the others, immediately fitting in and becoming one of the herd. He’s a bit of a show off when riding, as if he’s trying to be better than the other horses. His steps are prettier and more precise, his gaits are smoother, and he’s generally very obedient. However, sometimes he can be a bit rambunctious, and would rather play than be ridden. He is an experienced horse, though, due to his previous owner, so he’s a good horse for a more experienced rider who wants to do more on horseback than a beginner level.

Name: Denae
Breed: Quarab
Age: Fifteen
Gender: Mare
Colour and Markings: Sorrel with a white strip on her face and white half-stocking on her hind legs and front left leg
Experience Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Personality: Denae is definitely the dominant mare. She has a bit of a mean streak, and is generally untrusting of most people. If she doesn’t like the way someone approaches her, she’ll pin her ears back and snap. If she doesn’t like the way she’s being touched, she’ll attempt to bite and move away. She’ll kick if she doesn’t know who or what is behind her. Denae isn’t a nervous horse, but it takes her a long time to trust someone. She has a severe fear of whips and riding crops: the sight of one will send her into a terrified frenzy. This is due to her previous stable as being very abusive; the husband would take out his anger on his wife, who in turn took her anger out on his horses. Whoever chooses to ride Denae has to be aware that they can’t simply saddle up and go. Denae needs to trust her rider to not harm her; whoever rides her has to be prepared to spend extra time with her and not be riding. This means grooming, feeding, mucking out her stall, or just standing by the fence or by her stall and gently petting her. As for riding, she’s definitely one of the smoothest-gaited horses, and is all business when she’s being ridden. She’s a pleasant horse to actually ride, and is quite versatile, it just takes a bit more effort to get to that point.

Name: Gemma
Breed: Welsh Pony
Age: Nineteen
Gender: Mare
Colour and Markings: Dapple Grey
Experience Level: Beginner to Advanced
Personality: The “mommy” of the Hogwarts horses, Gemma is a very laidback and calm old mare. She’s traded owners several times in her life and is finally calling Hogwarts her final home. Because of her gentle nature and small stature, she was a great first pony for children; however, the children would quickly outgrow her and go off to school, and Gemma would be sold to whoever was ready for her next. She was purchased at an auction for a very low price; because of her age, no one wanted to purchase her. When Gemma came to Hogwarts, she seemed to adjust right away, and didn’t even seem bothered the first time she encountered a magical creature. A friendly horse, Gemma is a general sweetheart who loves sugar cubes and being washed with a gentle Aguamenti charm. Gemma’s calm demeanour is excellent for beginner riders, but anyone up to advanced can find her a suitable mount as well. Despite her age, she still has some spark in her hooves, and if encouraged enough, she can definitely get up and go.

Name: Obie
Breed: Dutch Warmblood
Age: Fourteen
Gender: Gelding
Colour and Markings: Bay with a white strip on his face and white socks on his left hind leg and front right leg
Experience Level: Intermediate
Personality: Obie was bred to be the next champion jumper, though he was quite funny-looking as a colt. His legs were always too long for his body, his ears were too big, his tail barely grew for months… he wasn’t the most impressive-looking horse, but if he could jump, it wouldn’t matter, would it? His training was exceptionally strict and strenuous to the point where an electrified wire would be run across the top rail, giving him a small shock should he ever rub it. After years of this and still no blue ribbons, Obie was sold to a riding lesson stable, where he was a lesson horse for the more advanced riders. When that stable went bankrupt, Hagrid decided to take him in and brought him to Hogwarts. Obie can definitely be problematic for a passive rider who is hesitant about taking control and “being the boss”. He’s a bit on the lazy side and prefers to stand still rather than do work. Obie can be easily distracted by his surroundings, so the rider must work to ensure he stays focused on the task ahead. Also, he has a bad habit of throwing his head down to munch on grass, so if a rider isn’t paying attention, they can easily flip over his head and land on the ground. The rider doesn’t need to be rough with him, they just need to “be the boss”. Once he gets down to business, Obie is one of the strongest jumping horses, so riders with an interest in show jumping would probably benefit from riding Obie.

Name: Piper
Breed: Anglo-Arabian
Age: Nine
Gender: Mare
Colour and Markings: Chestnut with a white stripe and white socks and stockings on all legs
Experience Level: Advanced
Personality: Piper is a very trusting mare. She’s excessively affectionate toward humans and loves people more than horses. Her previous owner was an elderly widow who passed away in her sleep one winter, and without adequate feed, Piper was slowly starving to death. A neighbour passed by the farm and saw her standing listlessly by the fence, and realised that no one had heard from the widow in days. Upon discovering that she was dead, Piper and a few housecats were taken to shelters. Because of her excitable nature, it was determined she wasn’t a good horse for young children; as well, she didn’t cooperate with other horses as she hadn’t been around any for most of her life. When she was adopted by Hagrid and brought to Hogwarts, she seemed to take immediately to the atmosphere, and loved interacting with the students. She’s always at the fence when there’s a Care of Magical Creatures class, eagerly watching the goings-on and curious about the students more-so than the creatures. Generally Piper keeps to herself and stays away from most of the other horses, except for Lucky. When students venture toward the paddock, Piper is the first to approach the fence and eagerly searches for pats and affection. She’s a very energetic horse to ride and can be excited and jump at little things; her rider must always be alert of both their surroundings and Piper’s body language. She a fast mare, and tends to rush jumps if the rider doesn’t have a good hold of the rein. She responds to verbal cues more than body, so a calm “Whoa” will often get her listening again.

Name: Willow
Breed: Selle Francais
Age: Five
Gender: Mare
Colour and Markings: Dapple Grey
Experience Level: Expert
Personality: The youngest of the Hogwarts horses, Willow is definitely the hardest to ride and the most difficult to get along with. Willow was purchased by a wizarding couple, then donated to Hogwarts when they moved to the city for work reasons. Freshly trained, Willow is still learning how to be ridden and be a good mount. She’s a very stubborn horse and seems to be determined to have the ride go her way; her rider must take care to always keep control. She’s still a little green and sometimes doesn’t respond to signals. Her rider must be able to keep calm and not let nerves get the better of him or her when Willow pulls stunts – like bucking, rearing, or attempting to bolt. She’s also still adjusting to life at Hogwarts, and can be easily startled by magical creatures and other signs of magic. She’s still learning, though she’s a great horse for an experienced rider who wants a bit of a challenge.

Name: Dandy
Breed: Appendix Quarter Horse
Age: Seventeen
Gender: Gelding
Colour and Markings: Roan with a small white star and a white stocking on his right hind leg and a white sock on his left.
Experience Level: Beginner
Personality: You would never guess that this easygoing slowpoke was once and expert cattle roper. Dandy came from a travelling American rodeo that decided to venture “across the pond” into the UK. It was definitely a physically-demanding rodeo, where the riders often used sharp spurs to get their points across… no pun intended. A highway accident while travelling between towns resulted in tragedy, and only two horses survived the crash. Dandy was one; his sire, Lucky, was the other. Lucky was quite injured, whereas Dandy managed to scrape through with minimal injuries. Both horses were taken to Hogwarts almost right away, where Hagrid successfully nursed them back to health. During that time, Dandy developed an attachment to Hagrid to the point where if Hagrid is present, Dandy’s full and undivided attention is on him. He’s a very loyal, devoted horse, though he’s definitely let retirement get to him over the years. Because of his slowness and patience, he’s a good horse for a first-time rider; really, he’s too lazy to even spook at anything. Dandy’s a good horse for the not-so-serious rider, for someone who’s looking to relax and spend time outdoors with animals more than get a work out.

Name: Lucky
Breed: Quarter Horse
Age: Twenty-six
Gender: Gelding
Colour and Markings: Palomino with a white blaze and stockings on his hind legs and right front leg
Experience Level: Not applicable (unrideable)
Personality: Lucky originated in the States, and was part of a rodeo for most of his life. His name honestly fits him to a t. Lucky is probably one of the luckiest little horses around. He was attacked by a dog almost the moment he was born, but pulled through the trauma and injuries incredibly quickly. He suffered through multiple illnesses as a colt, but they seemed to be over by the time he reached adulthood. In the rodeo, he was one of the expert reining horses. He won assortments of competitions, becoming one of the top reining horses around. While staying at a fairground one night, he jumped his pen and wound up siring a colt; the dam’s owner didn’t want him, the rodeo did, and so they purchased a colt named Dandy. Years passed, both horses participating in the rodeo as it moved from the States to the UK. When the collision happened, a tendon in Lucky’s ankle was torn, and he was supposed to be put down. But he proved to be a tough old horse, his injuries healing shockingly quickly, even with Hagrid’s care. However, his leg injury meant he could never be ridden again. It doesn’t seem to matter, though. Lucky is the “grandfather” figure of the horses, in a funny sense; he’s the only horse Piper remotely gets along with. He’s a tired old thing, but he still loves visits from people and the occasional treat. He’s elderly, and in rough physical shape. His joints and back ache, and he’s completely blind in one eye and losing sight in the other. But Lucky keeps on trucking, determined to live, because he’s just not ready to move on yet.

OOC:
Special thanks to Seraph for helping with the horses!
iconcred
iconcred
iconcred
Permission for this thread was obtained from Najooj.