Elven
sliderkta said:Just thought I should add one more thing --> Okay, let's say the horse is real. How come the legs (esp. the left foreleg) and tail are covered? It doesn't make sense to cover up the horse like that and have it trot through a crowd with a rider on its back. It's dangerous because the legs could get tangled in the sheet and the animal could fall down and injure itself. Plus, the rider could also be seriously wounded from such a fall. If the animal is real, it could be the rider is taking a big safety risk as he parades around on the horse. Hmm...
Yep, I think Rosanne mentions this as well as myself also - the bards are usually fitted, this one certainly does not look very 'fitted' more like a cast over - but it leads me to think about a couple of things - 1. That it may be a real horse on a 'stage'. 2. Do you think that it may not be a bard, but a victory rug (like the ones they throw over Racing Horses after theyve just won a cup)? I wonder this because the face of the horse is not protected either, and in battle, a face sheild for the horse was worn.
Getting back to what kind of victory it is - its in the parade - so I assume that both rider and horse are rested, out of battle attire, and are indulging in their victory?
Though Rosanne - your right about the guy looking as if he just about to slide off the way the angle of the illustration is drawn Though the rider looks confident enough. Im thinking - (not so much about Pams interpretation in illustartion, but my own) that the stance the rider has on the stirrup, and the horses head at that angle - the rider could be turning the horse around - right leg lean and right tight rein. Maybe hes gonna do a 'victory lap of honour' lol!
caridwen - If you put all the horsies in a row - you can see how similar they are - in size and proportion too - I thought this was interesting too. Even if the illustrations were resized slightly, the lines still match on some of the horsies bellies.
Blessings
Elven x