1. Lonestar Sanctuary by Colleen Coble
Why the Chinese developed horseback riding late.
Look back at man's struggle for freedom.
Trace our present day's strength to its source,.
And you'll find that man's pathway to glory.
Is strewn with the bones of a horse. .
anonymous.
Wherever man has left his footprints in the long ascent from .
barbarism to civilization, we will find the hoofprint of a horse beside it.
-John Trotwood Moore-.
Ancient civilizations of the world have all made important progressions related to their use of the horse. The ancient Chinese appear to have been significantly more advanced in a wide range of areas than their contemporaries in other nearby countries. Why, then, did the development of horseback riding occur so much later than in some less sophisticated societies? There are several answers for this question, relating to China's politics, culture, and geography. The Chinese sedentary lifestyle did not demand horseback riding the way the Mongolians" did. They acquired and domesticated horses much later and did not develop the same reverence for horses that the northern people had. The Chinese avoided contact with the Mongolians, from whom they would eventually learn horsemanship skills much more effective than their own. The Chinese took to horseback riding slowly, but once it caught on it became an integral part of their lives and the Chinese became some of the world's most accomplished horsemen.
Domestication of horses seems to have started in the Ukrainian steppes around 5000 BC and slowly moved south, east, and west from there. The primitive, nomadic man of the steppe hunted horses for meat, which lead to them following herds and eventually keeping horses. Horses served not only as livestock, but the docile ones could be used as pack animals as well. The Mongols kept herds of sheep, goats, and other livestock. Keeping these animals together and moving them at any significant speed is much more easily done from horseback.
During World War II there was a shortage of nurses, but defense officials were reluctant to let recruit black nurses. ... The Freedom Riders also helped with African Americans by helping them to receive fair transportation. ... The Freedom Riders were even arrested during their struggle for equal rights. ...
Long and short board riders were still competing against each other in 1969. Some surfers are reluctant to give up their longboards because it was and still is well known that paddling and being able to catch more waves in poor quality surf was a lot harder with a shorter board that has less volume. In defense of the short board, the lighter, smaller board gave the rider the freedom to move more and change direction more rapidly on the wave. ... A surfers relationship with their home break is much like the relationship between the rider and their board. ...
After many days of pursuit without sign of trail or hope, Aragorn sees riders coming their way. The riders are men of Rohan and their leader is Eomer. ... The White Rider The story now returns to the three travelers hunting for their lost companions. ... Theoden is reluctant to show gratitude; he says this is because Gandalf almost always heralds bad news and asks for help. ... He decides that he will himself lead the riders of Rohan against Saruman. ...
The queen was an avid, skillful horse rider and a thrill seeker, an aspect of her personality that often terrified her council who feared for her life. ... However, because of political overlap on religion and pressure from her advisory, Elizabeth had to prioritize the affairs of the country against her beliefs as demonstrated in her reluctant approval of Mary's (Queen of Scots) execution for alleged involvement in the Babington plot (Thomas). ...
His decision to accompany Frodo on his quest is fuelled by this unwavering loyalty, "If you don't come back, sir, then I shan't, that's certain I am going with him, if he climbs to the moon; and if any of those Black Riders try to stop him, they"ll have Sam Gamgee to reckon with"{Book 1,123}. ... The little hobbit is a reluctant hero who proves that Good will always prevail. ...
This design made steering the velocipede somewhat awkward because the riders leg would constantly be hitting the front wheel as the rider was turning. ... Those who could physically ride it were often reluctant due to the high accident rate. ...
This boycott would probably be successful since 70% of the riders were black. ... Although press reports at the time focused on his inspiring oratory, King was actually a reluctant leader of a movement initiated by others." ...
With the quincentennial of Columbus's "discovery" of America upon us, it now is, perhaps more than ever, an appropriate time to reevaluate the actions of the European explorers who subjugated the Native American peoples and their civilizations. Undoubtedly the most glorified and heroically portrayed of these figures of the European conquest of the New World were the conquistadores, the Spanish conquerors of Mexico and Peru in the 16th century. These men, under leaders such as Hernan Cortes and Francisco Pizarro, nearly eliminated the Aztec and Inca peoples. Surely many of these soldiers w...