Man and the Prehistoric Horse

The advancement of civilization has required many changes in attitude in mankind, perhaps none more revolutionary than the idea that horses might be our partners. The lesson of prehistoric horses is that our world has possibilities that exceed not our grasp … but our attitudes.

Eclipsed by Shadow begins the story of an accidental journey though history by a young horse-enthusiast named Meagan. The first place she goes (though unknown to her) is prehistoric times … where she finds a band of wild horses.

Evidence exists of man’s earliest relations with horses over 20,000 years ago and, though details of prehistoric times can be murky, something not in reasonable dispute is that prehistoric man hunted horses long before domesticating them.

Horses haven’t changed much since ‘caveman’ times; equines are an ancient species that retain their natural instincts. Cavemen could have harnessed the horses available … yet it took tens of thousands of years to even begin learning how to do so.

Taming horses required a strikingly new attitude, something quite beyond the ‘kill eat food’ pattern prehistoric humans lived by. Once early man did change its outlook on horses, a whole world of possibilities opened that were unimaginable before.

The lesson of prehistoric horses is that the world can have potential that exceeds not our grasp … so much as our attitudes.

The Cave Horse (part 2)

… if nothing else, water was a softer landing than dirt. She took a breath, hitched up her nightgown and gently closed her hands around the horse’s knotted mane. – Eclipsed by Shadow (excerpt)

“A horse got me into this…”

The first thing would be to halter the horse, but Meagan had nothing to use for restraint. “I am not letting you get away,” she whispered to the mare. “I’d never catch you again.” She was positioned on the horse’s right side, of course—the wrong side to mount. Meagan’s next move was bound to be unwelcome.

Mounting in deep water is an old riding trick, or so Meagan had read. The idea sounded logical and, if nothing else, water was a softer landing than dirt. She took a breath, hitched up her nightgown and gently closed her hands around the horse’s knotted mane.

The first broodmare waded out of the water with a snort. This was the signal to depart and each horse ducked its head for a last drink. The little gray horse started back to shore, but before the animal could swing away Meagan pulled herself up and threw her leg over. She clasped her feet around the little horse’s belly and waited for the explosion.

It came quickly.

Excerpted from Eclipsed by Shadow, the award-winning 1st volume of “The Legend of the Great Horse” trilogy. (Hrdbk pg. 97)

Book II: The Golden Spark will be published Fall 2010.

Read the 1st Chapter online!

Copyright © 2008 John Royce

The Cave Horse (part 1)

Warm breath smelling of cut lawn blew on her neck. Meagan blinked in surprise but did not move. She thought of something else her grandfather used to say: “Horses are as unpredictable as people, only they have more sense.” – Eclipsed by Shadow (excerpt)

In the growing light, Meagan could see the horse was a mare…

The animal’s round belly was tucked into thin, drawn quarters and her cream-colored coat was mottled with patches of darker gray. The scrubby mane and tail were chewed off in spots, and her coat was covered in scars and puffy lumps.

“Poor thing, no one’s taking care of you.” Meagan’s voice was loud in this quiet place and many small eyes were quickly upon her. She decided to rinse off her coating of dust and grime, and knelt in the cool water to gently splash her arms. She inhaled deeply, drawing in rich scents of animals and earth.

Warm breath smelling of cut lawn blew on her neck. Meagan blinked in surprise but did not move. She thought of something else her grandfather used to say: “Horses are as unpredictable as people, only they have more sense.”

Meagan let the flutter of horse nostrils explore her hair as she reached slowly for the mare’s shaggy withers. The small gray horse half-closed her eyes as Meagan scratched gently to imitate the nuzzling greeting of equines. “A horse got me into this,” she told the mare softly. “Maybe you could get me out…”

Excerpted from Eclipsed by Shadow, the award-winning 1st volume of “The Legend of the Great Horse” trilogy. (Hrdbk pg. 97)

Book II: The Golden Spark will be published Fall 2010.

Read the 1st Chapter online!

Copyright © 2008 John Royce

#32- The Watering Hole

A horse with the unmistakable girth of a broodmare stepped haltingly to the water’s edge. When the mare lowered her head, blowing softly across the water, the whole band flowed in, heads high and ears taut. The stallion stayed back from the edge and paced the dark shore. – Eclipsed by Shadow (excerpt)

I will not panic, Meagan told herself bravely. It is only the legend. This was supposed to happen.

The edges of the water were becoming distinct in the gray light of morning. Animals were materializing around her. A horse with the unmistakable girth of a broodmare stepped haltingly to the water’s edge. When the mare lowered her head, blowing softly across the water, the whole band flowed in, heads high and ears taut. The stallion stayed back from the edge and paced the dark shore.

The horse herd spread along one bank, interspersed with small creatures that drank cautiously at the edge. One small gray horse began moving further into the riverbed in search of clean water, its steps comically high. “I think you have the right idea,” Meagan told the animal quietly. She stepped further into the warm water, feeling mud flow around her bare toes. If there were danger, the horses would know.

The gray horse’s soft eyes fixed on Meagan’s progress. Her grandfather often called horses the “nosiest animal in Creation.” He called curiosity a fatal weakness of the species … well, that and a fondness for oats.

Excerpted from Eclipsed by Shadow, the award-winning 1st volume of “The Legend of the Great Horse” trilogy. (Hrdbk pg. 96)

Book II: The Golden Spark will be published Fall 2010.

Read the 1st Chapter online!

Copyright © 2008 John Royce

#31- Lost in Place

At least it smells nice, Meagan thought, breathing deeply. Maybe I could live off the land. Of course, she had not the slightest idea of how such a thing was done: she was the primitive here. Uneasiness hummed beneath her consciousness like a low bass note. – Eclipsed by Shadow (excerpt)

It was some time before Meagan would admit she was lost…

Besides being hungry and thirsty, and barefoot in her nightgown, Meagan was growing rather frightened. There was nothing to be seen of civilization—no buildings or roads, no power lines or airplanes. In all directions were endless grassland and ridges of rocky hills, all under a brilliant clear sky. A low breeze floated over her, heavy with the sweet scent of vegetation.

At least it smells nice, Meagan thought, breathing deeply. Maybe I could live off the land. Of course, she had not the slightest idea of how such a thing was done: she was the primitive here. Uneasiness hummed beneath her consciousness like a low bass note.

Meagan passed a mammoth stack of manure, a pyramid where generations of stallions had dropped to mark their presence. To her, horses had always been some kind of domesticated, almost manmade beings—beautiful, disciplined and familiar. But this pile was a clear warning, made by and for other wild animals.

At dusk, Meagan saw movement in the haze ahead. At first she stopped in fear—she did not want to meet any more horse-killers. But as she studied the haze, the patches resolved into silhouettes of grazing horses. A herd stood against the fading sunlight. She hurried after them…

Excerpted from Eclipsed by Shadow, the award-winning 1st volume of “The Legend of the Great Horse” trilogy. (Hrdbk pg. 93)

Book II: The Golden Spark will be published Fall 2010.

Read the 1st Chapter online!

Copyright © 2008 John Royce

#30- 20,000 years ago today

“I am sure you are very nice,” Meagan said tightly, “but you don’t have a shirt and, well, you are wearing blood. I will find Promise and then this can all go away. I really am sorry. It’s all my fault.” – Eclipsed by Shadow (excerpt)

Meagan simply had to find Promise and put things back…

“I’m sorry, but I need to go.” Meagan swallowed, seeing the girl’s lips moving in odd contortions as if mocking her. “I will find my horse before everyone wakes up. Thank you for not attacking me.” She stood and took a step toward the edge.

Without taking her eyes from Meagan, the girl laid a dark scrap on the rock between them.

It was a careful moment. Meagan picked up the strip with the ends of her fingers and held it out. “Burned horse meat … why, thank you.” She wanted to hurl the meat off the ledge, but politeness and precaution made her keep it instead. “I hope this won’t come in handy,” she said with forced cheerfulness.

Stepping to the edge, Meagan let herself over. She slid down and dropped to the top of the next boulder. Above her, the mute girl crawled up to the edge, preparing to follow. Meagan climbed down faster. “I don’t want to be rude,” she called over her shoulder, “but I’m trying to get away from you. It’s nice, but please don’t follow me.” She made the last feet in a jump. The girl landed a few moments later. “Thank you so much for cooperating,” Meagan said tightly. “Look, I am sure you are very nice, but you don’t have a shirt and, well, you are wearing blood. I will find Promise and then this can all go away. I really am sorry. It’s all my fault.”

A movement attracted Meagan’s eye and she looked past the girl. Several of the glutted clan of horse-killers were watching with unfocussed eyes. Meagan backed away and turned to the open field. She looked back only once. The girl was still staring.

Excerpted from Eclipsed by Shadow, the award-winning 1st volume of “The Legend of the Great Horse” trilogy. (Hrdbk pg. 92)

Book II: The Golden Spark will be published Fall 2010.

Read the 1st Chapter online!

Copyright © 2008 John Royce