Tag: history

Horses & the Olympics

In writing Eclipsed by Shadow, I researched the history of the original Olympic Games and their relation to horses. The original Olympics were a religious ceremony, and were as much a poetry contest as a sporting event. The equestrian events were considered an athletic poem. They were a major focus of the original Games.

We have chosen to honor the “Olympics,” but there were actually four major Grecian Games, the Olympian, Pythian, Nemean, and Isthmian. These were held in yearly cycles, so that the largest Games near Olympia were held every four years. The equestrian events were the most popular and religiously significant. The contests included flat Racing, Dressage and Chariot Racing (today the sports are Dressage, Eventing and Jumping). Note that Dressage is the definition of “classical.”

The fact that the ancient Games were religious in nature has given a special moral character to the modern Olympic movement. There were two sports in the original Games: Athletics and Equestrian. Each type of competition held a specific meaning. Athletics represented the striving for human excellence, and Equestrian events represented man’s survival and conquest against the elements.

Inclusion of horses ennoble the Games, and the honorary aspect of equestrian sport is the origin of the famous “Olympic spirit.” The integrity of the Olympic ideal is upheld in the equestrian sport above all, for it is the horse which competes for no prize except the joy of taking part, and horsemanship which puts the mount’s welfare higher even than the Olympic rewards of money and fame.

Are Horses Important in the Modern World?

Here is a question whose answer may not be obvious: “Since we now have internal combustion engines, why bother with horses anymore?”

Horses have been mankind’s transportation, and yes, today cars have replaced horses on the interstates and parking lots. However there are more horses today than ever before, so it seems this affection is universal in the world. Does this affection matter, or is it nostalgic sentimentality only?

Horses play roles besides the one of passenger propulsion. Antiquity revered the horse as a symbol of power and prestige, an inspiration to artists and warriors, a respected teacher of youth and the partner of kings. The ancient world provided modern society’s foundation, so this is a significant world view. The upcoming Olympic Games in Asia this summer will provide an opportunity to view the modern revival of an ancient equestrian sports ceremony, which the media will cover badly or simply ignore as part of mankind’s ongoing loss of ancient knowledge. But beyond the ancient roles, what importance does the horse have in the 21st Century and beyond?

One can point to spiritual roles, as in the recreational or therapeutic aspects of horsemanship, or to the material roles where horse-keeping provides economic benefits both enormous and widely dispersed. More deeply, horses have helped build the fabric of our society. The rhythms of our lives and institutions move to the cadence of hoofbeats.

The commercial cycle remains horse-centric. Industries such as those of automobiles and television first consciously mimicked habits from our common history. Examples are how new “models” are introduced (born) each year, or how product obsolescence was planned to match a horse’s prime working life, some three or four years, followed by a longer serviceable period as a “used” commodity.

Belief that horses have been made obsolete by technology also forgets the central role of horses as teachers and human inspiration. Riding teaches leadership, and the results of its wide absence is well within view. Yet much of modern humanity has seemingly decided that now is the time to discard ancient wisdom and dismount the partnership that brought civilization to its current technological state. This is not, in my view, a good decision. The sanity of the “forgetful” human race may in some way depend upon simple horse-sense.

Equines are too ancient to have become domesticated by man’s last-minute meddling, and perhaps it is beneficial to humankind to have an unchanging partner entwined with our swaying societal structures. We may not need the horse for mass transportation (though it may yet) but we should not dismiss the value of modern horsemanship to our culture–not only for what is known and remembered, but for what is not.

Pre-Publication Review: Library Journal recommends “Eclipsed by Shadow”

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LIBRARY JOURNAL RECOMMENDS “ECLIPSED BY SHADOW”

MAY 15, 2008 | The following is a pre-publication review of Eclipsed by Shadow from Library Journal.

» See full Review

Publishing Date: Summer 2008
Reviewer: Jackie Cassada | Library Journal

 

“Belongs in most libraries’ adult and YA collections”

Veteran horseman Royce combines history and myth with action and adventure to create a fast-paced, well-informed tale of a flying horse and the young girl who loves her.

Following the birth of a palomino foal, 12-year-old Meagan names the young horse Promise, and an uncommon bond forms between the two. Told by an elderly woman that Promise is one of the legendary Great Horses, Meagan flees with Promise through time after she discovers that others want Promise for themselves.

This series opener should appeal to fans of equestrian novels as well as historic fantasy and belongs in most libraries’ adult and YA collections.

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Established in 1876, Library Journal is the largest trade publication for American libraries, and gives selected pre-publication reviews of upcoming books published each month.

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Eclipsed by Shadow is the first book of the new trilogy, The Legend of the Great Horse, arriving this Summer 2008 with a fresh and original look at the colorful role of horses in civilization.

Further information about this entertaining and educational novel can be found at www.TheGreatHorse.com. For questions or other requests, please contact:

Robert Hall
R_Hall@MicronPress.com
Micron Press | Marketing Director

“Eclipsed by Shadow” Early Reader Comments

I had a very hard time putting this book down once I started reading it … With its interesting plot, good character development, descriptive nature, and educational qualities, I would highly recommend this book to anyone.—Cayce V, Early Reader

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The equestrian site HorseGroomingSupplies.com opened its forums to offer their members an Advance Review Copy of Eclipsed by Shadow.

Comments came back from readers all around the United States and Canada.

The equestrian’s version of the Harry Potter series

I think I made record time in finishing the book… I couldn’t pull myself away, once Meagan got to Rome I was stuck in the book.

The character is someone most horse women will be able to identify with, whether they are the character’s age or long past I believe we all dreamed of equine adventures like hers, being able to be strong, yet compassionate.

What really surprised me was the equine and historical accuracy; the author must be a horseman since he managed to avoid a lot of the misconceptions that a lot of books/tv shows/movies fall for. I really can’t wait for the next book in the series and will be recommending it to others. To me this is the equestrian’s version of the Harry Potter series; I can’t wait for the next book to see what happens to our young equestrian dreamer.

Sabrina, California

Up front I want to say that I loved the book

For anyone that loves horses and love to read, it is an excellent well written story and I look forward to reading books II and III.

The descriptions of places, things, people and horses is great. There is not ‘too much’ or too little. I think there are many authors who try to go into too much description, and thus lose the reader to them instead of keeping on track with the story. That is not the case here, but there is enough description to paint a picture of everything, and the interactions and words spoken by the characters helps to paint that picture.

I love the different times. The author did a wonderful job of doing research into the eras mentioned to include daily life and the culture. The characters from each of these times contributes to the era through their actions and words and helps the reader to understand that era better.

The end of the book is a cliffhanger and I cannot wait to read the next book. It is a great way to lead readers into wanting to read the next book to find out what happens to Meagan. I look forward to reading Book II. Thank you for allowing me to be a Pioneer Reader, and if you have any specific answer you want as to my thoughts on the book, please write back!

Thank you,

Crystal, Camp Ramadi

The perfect reading experience

Eclipsed By Shadow is definitely one of the best horse books I have ever read. The research was impeccable, and told the truth, not just the romantic, nice parts about it. It was nice to finally find a book that wasn’t too fast or too slow. I often find myself rushed throughout a story, as if I can’t catch up, or bogged down with the details. This book was the perfect reading experience, that provided a strong image of exactly what was going on. I was never lost, or confused, nor did I have to go back and re-read parts that I didn’t understand.

I couldn’t put the book down from start to finish, and nearly died when I read that the next installments wouldn’t come out until later. Definitely a page turner, with a suspenseful ending that left me pining for the next one.

Thank you so much for this awesome experience!

Anika, Georgia

Take a chance; pick it up and read it – you won’t regret it!

I can honestly say that Eclipsed by Shadow is one of the most amazing books I have come across in my lifetime.

I am an avid reader of horse books, and always have been, but I can’t say that I have ever been terribly interested in history. For the author, John Royce, to combine history with horses was an absolutely brilliant idea and the outcome is incredible. Not only did I get to enjoy reading about horses but I also learned a whole lot about the history of our world and how things once were. The author seemed to capture the essence of the horses in the story, which I think is a big part of what makes it such a fantastic book.

I had a very hard time putting this book down once I started reading it and I am positive it will be the same with the next two! With its interesting plot, good character development, descriptive nature, and educational qualities, I would highly recommend this book to anyone. I don’t think I can put into words how much I enjoyed this book, so you will have to check it out yourself. Take a chance; pick it up and read it – you won’t regret it!”

Cayce V | BC, Canada
Miniature Horse Breeder

From start to finish I did NOT want to put it down

I have just finished with Eclipsed by Shadow and I have to say it has been one of the most well written horse stories I’ve read in a long, long time. From start to finish I did NOT want to put it down. I was riveted from the first page to the last, and I was very saddened that the next book will not be out until next fall.

I am very grateful that I was able to get an advanced review copy, and would do it again in a heartbeat. I have recommended this book to all my horsey friends.

The writing was incredible!

– Jessica P, North Carolina