Discussion Main / AutomatonHorses

Previous Trope Repair Shop thread: Misused, started by Malady on Apr 18th 2017 at 2:44:57 PM

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman

How is this at all distinct from Somewhere, an Equestrian Is Crying?

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Why is there an aversion section?

There is a fine line between recklessness and courage — Paul McCartney Hide / Show Replies

A little surprised Black Beauty isn't under aversions. It not only shows how much care goes into horses, but the horrible and potentially lethal consequences if they are treated like automatons.

Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving. -Terry Pratchett Hide / Show Replies

As far as I can tell, this means it's not an example of the trope. If someone knows better, please restore it in a more straightforward manner (natter aside, this is pretty much the worst use of strikethroughs I've seen on this wiki, and that's saying something).

• This Troper is surprised Lord Of The Rings hasn't been explicitly mentioned yet. There is one section in which several thousand Rohirrim cavalry ride, over a period of three days six days, the best part of 900 400 miles. Flat out. Over terrain shown to be distinctly... suboptimal broad and flat roads. And are still in good enough shape to wade straight into the Battle of the Pelennor Fields.
  • Did Not Do The Research indeed. The distance from Dunharrow to Minas Tirith was 390 miles. The first 296 miles were along the long, broad, gently sloping road that had been built specifically to facilitate rapid travel between the two locations back when Gondor controlled the whole area. After that there was a two mile slog through thick underbrush led by expert guides to bypass enemy defenses along the road. The guides led them to another gently sloping road specifically stated to be wide enough for them to ride four abreast at great speed. This road led all the way to their jumping-off point for the attack. 63 miles per day over even terrain, while not optimal, is easily achievable for the expert horsemen the Rohirrim are stated to be.
    • Really? My maps must be mislabelled then. They show it as 390 leagues by the easiest route, which, according to the appendices are 4 miles (remembering that Tolkien's mile works out at slightly less than a statute mile). Generous allowance for shortcuts brings it closer to the 900 quoted earlier, but still- even if they were only doing 63 miles per day, they should have been in no shape to make their charge into Pelennor without another half-day of resting the horses.
      • They must be mislabeled, then, as an examination of the maps in the back of my omnibus edition shows the distance to be roughly 400 of Tolkien's miles. Besides, their horses are pretty obviously not just regular horses—Shadowfax is evidence of that. If they aren't quite magical, they aren't quite natural, either. Furthermore, spare horses are definitely mentioned—they certainly didn't go the whole way on one horse apiece.
  • Clearly, Rohan is an entire nation of Cool Horses.

Edited by Haven Productivity is for people without internet connections. -Count Dorku