We watch the Kentucky Derby on TV annually. One year we were in Las Vegas where I had booked us in January to escape the northern California fog; by the time May rolled around it was sweltering in the adult play land and we spent the heat of the day indoors, placing bets and watching the Derby on a big screen at one of the casinos. This year we will be rooting for California Chrome, a long shot but a horse that is surprising many people.
But the photos I share today are not of Derby horses but jumpers, car hoppers, a stretch of the expression, but an activity that must require finesse and synchronization, as much as dancers.
This first photo comes from http://www.old-picture.com/american-legacy/012/Jumping-Horse-Over-Car.htm .
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| Horse Shows. Ralph Coffin Jumping His Horse Over Sylvanus Stoke's Rolls Royce. It was created in 1916 by Harris & Ewing. |
This next photo I found while web surfing some time ago and set it aside to use someday. It is from the National Photo Company, 1923 and I have found is famous and used today in note cards and posters. Jack Presage on Tipperary. I know nothing more about the rider or horse but wonder what was going on back then that would inspire people to jump over autos with horses.
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This is my offering for the prompt. To see what others in the Sepian world are offering, click on this link http://sepiasaturday.blogspot.com/2014/04/sepia-saturday-226-3-may-2014.html
It's a given we'll be rooting for Calif. Chrome as well, but those pictures of horses jumping over cars makes me uneasy. I wonder if it's even allowed any more? All I can think of when I look at those pictures is what if one of the horse's hooves should catch on some part of the car? Jumping a hedge or even a stone wall would seem to me to be safer for the horse.
ReplyDeleteHOORAY FOR CALIFORNIA CHROME. THE TRIPLE CROWN AWAITS! :)))
DeleteFor a moment I thought the caption on the photo was saying that the Rolls Royce was created by Harris and Ewing until I found out that it appears to be that the photo itself belongs to Harris and Ewing. Fancy risking a lovely old lady like that Rolls Royce by letting a horse jump over it ! Great photos.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos. I'll be rooting for California Chrome along with yu. Thanks for reminding me about the derby.
ReplyDeleteNo photo of a horse is ever bad. But I notice that no one is behind the wheel.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness. I couldn't really believe my eyes until I enlarged those photos. Amazing. The man near the car in the first photo looks like he's changed his mind at the last minute but it's too late...it's happening. What brave horses.
ReplyDeleteYou have to admire their athleticism. Not for me though; I’d be with you, parading round in a big hat!
ReplyDeleteSeems a weird thing to do - risking damage to horse, rider and car.
ReplyDeleteI don't really follow horse racing, though I do like to watch the Derby and the Queen's Plate. This is the 50th anniversary of Northern Dancer's amazing win (which I remember, vaguely). I don't think he would ever have leapt over cars like these guys - he didn't need to to catch the ladies!
ReplyDeleteBravo, on coming up with an awesome idea. These photos rock my world today What fun. One of the reasons this is so appealing to me, is that our neighbors have horses and their girls enjoy doing little stunts all the time!
ReplyDeleteall I can offer is "WOW and GEE!" I went to a Derby party yesterday and wore a hat. We all threw money in the pot to go to charity and drew a horse out of a hat. Lots of fun even though my horse didn't win.
ReplyDeleteIt seems more sensible to jump a horse over one car than to jump a motorcycle over a bunch of cars. The cars look about the same size as a regular horse jump.
ReplyDeleteMust admit that I have never watched any horse race on TV. But, years ago did make several trips to NJ racetrack when we lived in that state. Definitely would not have wanted to see horses jumping over cars.
ReplyDeleteCool pix.
ReplyDeleteNow THAT'S What I Call 'HORSE-POWER' !:)
ReplyDeleteWhenever I look at photos like these two or watch horses jumping - in a movie or real life - it just takes my breath away. I am in awe of their abilities to life such large bodies so high off the ground with such thin legs. It truly amazes me. That being said, jumping over cars just looks plain scary. You probably noticed that the rider in the first photo appears to be watching to see if the horse's hooves clear the car. Congrats on picking the Derby's winner.
ReplyDeleteAlways interesting to see what else someone comes up with - certainly an original post.
ReplyDeleteWell you and Yuba City had to be very happy. Sadly I even forgot it was Derby day. There used to be a horse ranch down the road where a horse lived that competed in the Derby in the '90s and came within a nose of winning. The horse is long gone as is the ranch. It's now just another boring vineyard.
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