"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 - cavalry horses, pit ponies, racing horses etc.
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
REMINISCENCE
Enjoy this first song together …
‘On White Horses’, Jacky - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtCNbERKvMs
Who used to watch this TV show, when in younger years?
QUIZ
ROUND 1. Famous Horses
1. What was the name of Dick Turpin's horse?
2. What was the name of The Lone Ranger's horse?
Name his American Indian friend?
3. What was the name of Zorro's horse?
'Black Beauty' TV theme - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8u5NgC4lZ8s&t=8s
4. Which bank uses a black horse as its logo?
5. What was the name of this talking American TV horse?
6. What was the name of the horse in the 1944 movie 'National Velvet'?
Name the child actress?
7. 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
8. What was the name of Gene Audrey's horse?
Here is the TV theme - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMdVuiac27U
9. What was the name of Roy Rogers's horse?
10. Name this 'Grand National' winning horse, who was kidnapped in 1983?
SONG. 'Rhinestone Cowboy', Glen Campbell - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kAU3B9Pi_U
11. What was the name of his other big hit, about him being a lineman for the county?
ROUND 2. TV & Movies
12. Name the 1937 movie & the brothers?
13. Name the 1959 movie & the actor?
14. Name the 1967 movie & the actor?
15. Name the 1969 movie & the actor?
Clue: "Get off your horse and drink your milk."
16. Name the cigarette brand being advertised here?
17. Name the 2000 movie & the actor?
18. What was the name of the horse in 'Steptoe And Son'?
19. Name this TV series about a farm?
Here is the TV theme - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVo7BFss8Vc
20. Which book, written by James Herriot, was this TV series based on?
21. What was the name of the family in 'Only Fools And Horses'?
SONG. 'Deadwood Stage', 'Calamity Jane' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_xmujSyxkU
22. Who starred in this 1953 movie?
ROUND 4. Famous Horse Riders
23. Name this medal winning equestrian from Yorkshire?
24. Name this tax avoiding jockey?
25. Name this jockey, about whom a movie was made in 1984 about his recovery from cancer?
26. Name this horse whisperer?
27. Name this sheriff actor?
28. Name this actor?
29. Name this Olympian royal?
30. And her daughter?
31. And her mother?
SONG. 'Stand And Deliver', Adam And The Ants - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4B2a6l6wM2k
32. What was their other royalty related number 1 UK hit?
ROUND 4. Horse Paraphernalia
33. Name the foot hold and the metal disk?
34. Name the rope?
35. Name the headgear?
36. Name the place where horses are kept?
37. Name the footwear?
(Has anyone got one on their door for good luck?)
38. Name these seats?
Song. 'Back In The Sale Again', Gene Autry - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5F-O_19lSI
SONG. 'I Know An Old Lady', Burl Ives - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZnLxqUyFK8
39. What happens to the old lady when she swallows a horse?
SONG. 'A Horse With No Name', America - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocLCLMZO6dc
40. According to Google, what are the ten most popular male horse names. See how many you can guess.
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.
FACTOID. Horses live 25-30 years.
FINAL SONGS
I wasn't sure whether or not to include this, but it a great song and was a big hit in 1976.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3GM0GM4fW4
Or there's this ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXQVSTfhoRo
Or this ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQTHB4jM-KQ
And finally my favourite ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B62EO0rqRcM
PRACTICAL ACTIVITY
You could have a go at drawing or modelling horses?
Or you could make Origami horses. There are some good guides on YouTube.
Here's one - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiQnNIIIDbc
Better still, you could make arrangements to pet some horses or donkeys at your local community farm.
TIME FOR SOME ANSWERS
1. Black Bess
2. Silver / Tonto
3. Tornado
4. Lloyds TSB
5. Mr Ed
6. Pie / Elizabeth Taylor
7. Through The Glen / Errol Flynn
8. Champion
9. Trigger
10. Red Rum
11. Wichita Linesman
12. A Day At The Races / Marx Brothers (Harpo, Groucho & Chico pictured)
13. Ben Hur / Charlton Heston
14. Dr Doolittle / Rex Harrison
15. True Grit / John Wayne
16. Marlboro
17. Gladiator / Russell Crowe
18. Hercules
19. Follyfoot Farm
20. It Shouldn't Happen To A Vet
21. Trotters
22. Doris Day
23. Harvey Smith
24. Lester Piggott
25. Bob Champion
26. Robert Redford
27. Clint Eastwood
28. Kevin Costner
29. Princess Anne
30. Zara Phillips
31. HRH Queen Elizabeth 11
32. Prince Charming
33. Stirrups & Spurs
34. Lassoo
35. Bridle
36. Stables
37. Horseshoes
38. Saddles
39. She died
40. Jack, Charlie, Billy, Harry, Bailey, Alfie, George, Murphy, Bobby and Paddy are the ten most popular male horse names
