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'World Horse Day' 🐴 1st March




"Horses lend us the wings we lack."

Pam Brown


"A horse gallops with his lungs, Perseveres with his heart, And wins with his character."

Tesio



Begin the session by asking members who has ridden a horse, or owned one?

Who has been pony trekking?

What about riding a donkey on the beach as a child?

Who places a bet on ‘The Grand National’? Has anyone had a win?


What are the best things about horses - their grace, speed, intelligence etc.


Think about working horses - war horses, cavalry horses, pit ponies, racing horses etc.

What kind of a life do or did they have, compared to say a Dartmoor pony?





IDIOMS


Next, complete these well known phrases together …


You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it DRINK

Back in the saddle AGAIN

Champing at the BIT

Like flogging a dead HORSE

Don’t look a gift horse in the MOUTH

Don’t shut the stable door after the horse has BOLTED

As stubborn as a MULE

Getting a leg UP

Get off your high HORSE

Horses for COURSES

Jump on the BANDWAGON

Sowing wild OATS

Don’t put the cart before the HORSE

A nod is as good as a wink to a BLIND HORSE

Hold your HORSES

Put out to PASTURE

Well GROOMED

Back the wrong HORSE

Donkey's YEARS

On the home STRETCH

Wild horses couldn't drag me AWAY

One trick PONY

Talk the hind legs off a DONKEY





Complete the rhyme ...


"Ride a cock horse to Banbury Cross ... "




REMINISCENCE


Enjoy this first song together …



‘On White Horses’, Jacky - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtCNbERKvMs


Who remembers watching this TV show?

Which region lends its name to white horses (because there are thirteen carved into the hills there)?



Lyrics


On white horses let me ride away

To my world of dreams so far away

Let me run

To the sun


To a world my heart can understand

It's a gentle warm and wonderland

Far away

Stars away


Where the clouds are made of candyfloss

As the day is born

When the stars are gone

We'll race to meet the dawn


So when I can only see the grey

Of a sad and very lonely day

That's when I

Softly sigh

On white horses

Snowy white horses

Let me ride away




This is one of the chalk horses in Wiltshire.




QUIZ


ROUND 1. General Knowledge


What are a male horse, female horse and baby horse called?



What is a 'Stallion'? What is a 'Gelding'?


​What is a cross between a horse and a donkey called?


Name this African horse?

Why is it striped?



How do you measure the height of a horse?

How big is the biggest horse?


What do you call a person who makes and fits horseshoes?

What are horseshoes also associated with?


Where are horses sheltered?


What do you call horse riding or racing events?


What is the sport of 'horse ballet' called?

What can you tell by looking at a horse's teeth?

How old do horses live?

What noises does a horse make? (Bonus point if you can make them.)



What are the smallest and biggest horses in the UK?




Name these types of horses ...


- Name this national animal of Scotland (maybe? Or is it a Shetland pony?))

- Name this sea creature? Can it change gender?

- A mythical flying horse? Which country's mythology is it associated with?

- A Greek wooden horse? How many warriors could fit it in, according to the legend?




Song break ... 'The Lightning Tree', The Settlers - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqwJoEGyGMY


Name the actors?





ROUND 2. Famous Horses


What was the name of this talking American TV horse?


Name the mule & name the lady? Here is the TV theme - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fud_pQdIgg


What was the name of Gene Audrey's horse? Here is the TV theme - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMdVuiac27U


What was the name of Roy Rogers's horse?


What was the name of The Lone Ranger's horse? Name his American Indian friend?


TV intro - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9lf76xOA5k


​What was the name of Zorro's horse?

Who is this playing him in the 1998 movie 'The Mask Of Zorro'?


TV intro - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQnle_3KuOE&t=15s


What was the name of Dick Turpin's horse?

Who starred as him in the 1970s TV series?


What was the name of Robin Hood's horse? (Trick question) Which actor is playing him here? Here is the TV theme - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbyYr6L5xQM



What was the name of the horse in the 1944 movie 'National Velvet'? Name the child actress?


Name this 'Grand National' winning horse, who was kidnapped in 1983?

Where is he buried?


What was the name of the Queen's pony, who bowed her head when her master's hearse passed?




Who wrote the 1877 novel?





ROUND 3. TV & Movies


Name the 1937 movie & the brothers?


Name the 1959 movie & the actor?


Movie clip - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3QM0b3MqqQ


Name the 1967 movie & the actor?


Song link - 'If I Could Talk To The Animals' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOvlKgoeP4s&t=100s



Name the 1969 movie & the actor? Clue: "Get off your horse and drink your milk."


Name this sheriff actor?

What genre of movies did he star in?


Name the TV show & the horse?

What business were they in?


TV intro - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nkjjti0SNn8


What was the name of the family in 'Only Fools And Horses'?

How much is a 'pony'?


TV intro - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnF5GgcDRsI


Which book, written by James Herriot, was this TV series based on?

What was the name of the main character?


TV intro - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2rsFhAHAS4


​Name this 1998 movie about a horse doctor & the actor?


Name this 'Cowboy & Indian' actor & the 1990 movie?



Name the horse and cowboy in the 1995 movie 'Toy Story'?




SONG. 'Deadwood Stage', 'Calamity Jane' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_xmujSyxkU


Who starred in this 1953 movie? Who was Calamity Jane's boyfriend?



Lyrics

Oh, the Deadwood stage is a-rolling on over the plains With the curtains flappin' and the driver a-snappin' the reins A beautiful sky, a wonderful day Whip-crack-away, whip-crack-away, whip-crack-away

Oh, the Deadwood stage is a-headin' on over the hills Where the Injun arrows are thicker than porcupine quills Dangerous land, no time to delay So, whip-crack-away, whip-crack-away, whip-crack-away

We're headin' straight for town, loaded down with a fancy cargo Care of Wells & Fargo, Illinois, boy

Oh, the Deadwood stage is a-comin' on over the crest Like a homing-pigeon that's a-hankerin' after its nest Twenty-three miles we've covered today So, whip-crack-away, whip-crack-away, whip-crack-away

The wheels go turning round, homeward-bound Can't you hear them hummin' Happy times are comin' for to stay, hey

We'll be home tonight by the light of the silvery moon And my heart's a-thumpin' like a mandolin a-plunkin' a tune When I get home, I'm fixin' to stay So, whip-crack-away, whip-crack-away, whip-crack-away Whip-crack away, whip-crack-away, whip-crack-away





ROUND 4. Famous 'Horsey' People



Name these famous 'horsey' people?


- Name this jockey, about whom a movie was made in 1984 about his recovery from cancer?

- Name this tax avoiding jockey?

- Name the cigarette brand being advertised here?

- Name this pundit, who infamously picked his nose on 'Big Brother' in 2007?

- Name this Olympian royal?

- Name her daughter? - Name this famous Polo player? - Name his late grandfather? - Name his late grandmother?




SONG. 'Rhinestone Cowboy', Glen Campbell - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kAU3B9Pi_U


What was the name of his other big hit, about him working for the county?



Lyrics

I've been walkin' these streets so long Singin' the same old song I know every crack in these dirty sidewalks of Broadway Where hustle's the name of the game And nice guys get washed away like the snow in the rain

There's been a load of compromising On the road to my horizon But I'm gonna be where the lights are shinin' on me

Like a rhinestone cowboy Riding out on a horse in a star-spangled rodeo Like a rhinestone cowboy Getting cards and letters from people I don't even know And offers comin' over the phone

Well, I really don't mind the rain And the smile can hide all the pain But you're down when you're ridin' the train that's takin' the long way And I dream of the things I'll do With a subway token and a dollar tucked inside my shoe

There'll be a load of compromisin' On the road to my horizon But I'm gonna be where the lights are shinin' on me

Like a rhinestone cowboy Riding out on a horse in a star-spangled rodeo Rhinestone cowboy Gettin' cards and letters from people I don't even know And offers comin' over the phone





ROUND 5. Horsey Bits & Bobs



Name the foot hold and the metal disk?

Name the rope?

Name the headgear?

Name these seats? Name these bits of metal?

Name these prizes?




Name these different kinds of horsing events?


- Riding a wild horse / What is a wild horse called?

- A competition based on time and errors

- The biggest horse race on the calendar (think 'Beechers Brook')

- An assault course for horses




What are these 'horses' called & where would you find them?






Name the 1964 movie?

Name the horsing event where there is a 'Ladies Day'?

What was her character's name in the movie?



Final singalong ...





Lyrics


Three wheels on my wagon And I'm still rolling along The Cherokees are chasing me Arrows fly Right on by But I'm singing a happy song


I'm singing a higgity, haggity, hoggety, high Pioneers, they never say die A mile up the road there's a hidden cave And we can watch those Cherokees Go galloping by


"George, they're catching up to us!" "Get back in the wagon woman!"


Two wheels on my wagon And I'm still rolling along Them Cherokees are after me Flaming spears Burn my ears But I'm singing a happy song


I'm singing a higgity, haggity hoggety, high Pioneers, they never say die Half a mile up the road there's a hidden cave And we can watch those Cherokees Go galloping by


"Duh, Paw? Are you sure this is the right road?" "Will you hush up? You and your maps!"


One wheel on my wagon And I'm still rolling along Them Cherokees after me I'm all in flames At the reins But I'm singing a happy song


I'm singing a higgity, haggity hoggety, high Pioneers, they never say die Right around that turn there's a hidden cave And we can watch those Cherokees Go galloping by


"George? Should I get the bag of beads and trinkets?" "Woman, I know what I'm doing!"


No wheels on my wagon So I'm not rolling along The Cherokees captured me They look mad Things look bad But I'm singing a happy song


"C'mon all you Cherokees, sing along with me!"

Higgity, haggity hoggety, high Pioneers, they never say die Higgity, haggity hoggety, high Pioneers, they never say die Higgity, haggity hoggety, high






FACTOID. Did anyone get to see the stage production 'War Horse' (or the movie)?

It is estimated 18 million horses, mules and donkeys died in the First World War, many of them from the extreme conditions they were kept in!


FACTOID. In 1878 the RSPCA calculated that there were over 200,000 horses at work in British mines.


FACTOID. The number of horses in training to race in the UK is 23,500 in any year.






SINGALONG. 'I Know An Old Lady', Burl Ives - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZnLxqUyFK8



Lyrics


I know an old lady who swallowed a fly I don't know why she swallowed the fly Perhaps she'll die


I know an old lady who swallowed a spider That wriggled and jiggled and tickled inside her She swallowed the spider to catch the fly But I don't know why she swallowed the fly Perhaps she'll die


I know an old lady who swallowed a bird How absurd to swallow a bird She swallowed the bird to catch the spider That wriggled and jiggled and tickled inside her She swallowed the spider to catch the fly But I don't know why she swallowed the fly Perhaps she'll die


I know an old lady who swallowed a cat Imagine that. She swallowed a cat. She swallowed the cat to catch the bird She swallowed the bird to catch the spider That wriggled and jiggled and tickled inside her She swallowed the spider to catch the fly But I don't know why she swallowed that fly Perhaps she'll die


I know an old lady who swallowed a dog What a hog to swallow a dog! She swallowed the dog to catch the cat She swallowed the cat to catch the bird She swallowed the bird to catch the spider That wriggled and jiggled and tickled inside her She swallowed the spider to catch the fly But I don't know why she swallowed that fly Perhaps she'll die


I know an old lady who swallowed a goat Opened her throat and down went the goat! She swallowed the goat to catch the dog She swallowed the dog to catch the cat She swallowed the cat to catch the bird She swallowed the bird to catch the spider That wriggled and jiggled and tickled inside her She swallowed the spider to catch the fly But I don't know why she swallowed that fly Perhaps she'll die


I know an old lady who swallowed a cow I don't know how she swallowed the cow She swallowed the cow to catch the goat She swallowed the goat to catch the dog She swallowed the dog to catch the cat She swallowed the cat to catch the bird She swallowed the bird to catch the spider That wriggled and jiggled and tickled inside her She swallowed the spider to catch the fly But I don't know why she swallowed that fly Perhaps she'll die


I know an old lady who swallowed a horse She's dead of course!





SINGALONG. 'Ernie', Benny Hill' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rwa0vaR7slQ

What was the horse's name?



Lyrics


You could hear the hoof beats pound as they raced across the ground

And the clatter of the wheels as they spun 'round and 'round


Now Ernie loved a widow, a lady known as Sue

She lived all alone in Lindley Lane at number 22

They said she was too good for him, she was haughty, proud and chic


They called him Ernie, (Ernieeeeeeeeeee)


She said she'd like to bathe in milk, he said, "All right, sweetheart,"

And when he'd finished work one night he loaded up his cart


That tickled old Ernie, (Ernieeeeeeeeeee)


Now Ernie had a rival, an evil-looking man

Called Two-Ton Ted from Teddington and he drove the baker's van




SOME FINAL SONGS



























PRACTICAL ACTIVITIES



You could play a game of 'Buckaroo'.




Or ... You could have a go at drawing or modelling horses?




Or ... You could make Origami horses. There are some good guides on YouTube.





Better still, you could make arrangements to pet some horses or donkeys at your local community farm.







TIME FOR SOME ANSWERS



Ride a cock-horse to Banbury Cross,

To see a fine lady upon a white horse;

Rings on her fingers and bells on her toes,

And she shall have music wherever she goes.



Stallion, Mare & Foal

Uncastrated male horse & castrated male horse

Mule

Zebra / The shimmering effect wards off biting flies

In 'Hands' / The tallest horse alive as of 2021 is Big Jake, who measures over 22 hands tall (7ft 4ins)

Farrier / Good luck

Livery Stables

Equestrian

Dressage

Their age / 25 years

Whinney or Neigh Shetland Pony & Shire Horse



The Unicorn / Yes it is the national animal of Scotland

Sea Horse / It can't change gender, but the male does raise the baby seahorses Pegasus / Greek

Trojan Horse / 40



Gillian Blake & Steve Hodson


Muffin The Mule / Ann Hogarth

Champion "The Wonderhorse"

Mr Ed

Trigger

Silver / Tonto

Tornado / Antonio Banderas

Black Bess / Richard O'Sullivan

"Through The Glen" / Errol Flynn

Pie / Elizabeth Taylor

Red Rum / Aintree

Emma



Lloyds/TSB



'A Day At The Races' / Marx Brothers (Harpo, Groucho & Chico pictured)

'Ben Hur' / Charlton Heston

'Dr Doolittle' / Rex Harrison

'True Grit' / John Wayne

Clint Eastwood / Spaghetti Western

'Steptoe And Son' / Hercules / Rag & Bone

Del Boy & Rodney Trotter / £25

'It Shouldn't Happen To A Vet' / Tristan Farnham

'The Horse Whisperer' / Robert Redford

'Dances With Wolves' / Kevin Costner

Woody & Bullseye



Doris Day / Wild Bill Hickok



Bob Champion, Lester Pigott, Marlboro Man,

John McKirrick, Princess Anne, Zara Phillips

Prince William, Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth11



'Wichita Linesman'



Stirrups & Spurs, Lassoo

Bridle, Saddle

Horse Brass, Rosettes



Rodeo/Mustang, 'Horse Of The Year Show'

'Grand National', Eventing



'The Kelpies' / Forth & Clyde Canal



'My Fair Lady' / 'Royal Ascot' / Eliza Doolittle



Trigger



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