The Horse

He placed one foot in the stirrup and swung a leg over the saddle and sat upright. A moment to be savoured. For at least 1500 years the feet of kings and heroes and all the nobles of Europe had made the same movement on the way to battle, to the hunt or to the place of the loved one. As if the whole of history was embodied in that gesture. Only gradually did the men on foot or in a vehicle replace the mounted ones. Many plinths in public squares are still graced with the statues of forgotten heroes on horseback. At this moment something of this phantasy resonated in this 19 year old boy in a distant land when Europe and parts of Asia were engaged in mutual slaughter.

The opportunity was not to be missed as this was his first experience on horseback. Horses were available in the military college and two comrades had decided to go for a ride. They were already mounted and asked him if he would like to join them. A tall handsome dark brown animal was ready harnessed. They had already trotted off but his horse knew the way. It was a warm afternoon under an Indian sky. His horse began to canter and then a slow gallop. He was now aware that horse and rider are not two separate things but one. He manoeuvred hands and legs to cling on. They arrived at the bank of a broad river. His comrades had already crossed. His horse had no hesitation in stepping into the brownish flood. The swirling waters flowed just under the stirrups. The opposite bank was a low slope and a stony path lead to a broad flat field. The horse knew what to do next and from a trot began a serious gallop to the discomfort of the rider who now just managed to hang on. On reaching the end of the field the horse suddenly swung left, the rider was thrown off and the horse stood still.

The ground was hard but no broken bones. The rider remounted. As soon as he was upright the horse reckoned it was time to go. Same story. Trot, gallop, and rider hanging on. The rider was now prepared for a sudden left swing but at the field’s boundary the horse veered right and again the hard ground was hit. Remount and head for home. No need to guide the animal. Across the river and then the homeward stretch. The canter was followed by a challenging gallop. As they approached the stables the horse suddenly left the path and headed for an area where washing lines stood in the way. Just in time he lay flat on the horse’s neck and passed under the lines. He dismounted and the horse headed for its stable.