| There are two popular schools of thought when it | | | | blinders. Imagine using one instead of the other in a |
| comes to writing fiction. One says an author should | | | | story, where it doesn't belong. |
| write about what they know. The other suggests | | | | The horse world is full of a wide range of characters, |
| you write about a subject you want to learn more | | | | and while they each have different personalities and |
| about. I can't argue with either, except maybe when | | | | habits, they wouldn't lead a horse from the right side |
| it comes to horse fiction. I don't think horses are a | | | | nor would they ever mount from the right side; not |
| subject that can just be researched on paper and | | | | unless their lives depended on it. They wouldn't |
| put into play in a story. The author needs to live it. | | | | mount their horse and gallop off into the sunset |
| He or she needs to actually experience horses to | | | | either. They may have done that in cowboy movies, |
| bring them to life. And I'm not just talking about | | | | but it has no place in reality today. Nor could |
| standing on the rail at a racetrack and watching the | | | | someone sneak into a barn in the early hours of the |
| horses gallop by. Sitting in the stands eavesdropping | | | | morning, tack two horses and leave the barn without |
| and taking notes at a horse show won't suffice | | | | a stir. Every other horse in that barn will/would be |
| either. | | | | nickering and acting up. The sight or sound of that |
| Common pitfalls for the non-horseperson writing | | | | first person entering the barn in the morning means |
| about horses, is to use horse terms that are rarely, if | | | | food. It's breakfast time. |
| ever, used by real-life horsemen and women. They | | | | In dialogue, the difference between sounding as if |
| may in fact be the correct terms. But for the | | | | you know what you are talking about, might lie in the |
| everyday horse person, they end up getting in the | | | | understated. If you know how to ride, it doesn't take |
| way of the story. Using terms that don't apply to a | | | | a lot of explaining. Your characters' actions just |
| certain horse group is another red flag of | | | | become part of the story. The same with horse |
| not-knowingness. For example, a stable of | | | | care. Don't make the mistake of naming every body |
| hunter-jumper horses will not be turned out in a | | | | part on the horse to prove you've done your |
| corral. Yes, a corral is a corral, and any horse can be | | | | homework. You and your characters needs to think, |
| turned out in one, but in the real world, that hunter | | | | live, and breathe horses to be a horseperson. And |
| jumper is going to be turned out in a paddock. A | | | | there are no shortcuts. |
| racehorse wears blinkers, a buggy horse wears | | | | |