Horses arses

From: David Cake <dave_at_starfish.net.au>
Date: Mon, 6 Dec 1999 10:44:57 +0800

        To add a little more Gloranthan detail to all this horse's arse stuff - - - the different sized wheel ruts between Sun County and Pavis could be because the Pavis wheel ruts where originally designed for Orlanthi pony drawn wagons (Galana breed), while the Sun County horses where always full horse sized seredae, probably originally from Peloria (plus some imported from Pent/Kralorela?). Note that you do not even have to actually have any Galana ponies present in Prax for this to be true - just assume that the wagons where originally imported from Dragon Pass, even if they drew them with mules or native beasts or zebras instead of the original ponies. Zebras are smaller (pony rather than horse) as well.

        Note that the popularity of chariots in early Orlanthi culture is largely because they had only small horses, unsuitable for carrying a fully equipped mounted warrior. The shift from chariots to riding is largely because of increased access to larger horses.

        This accords with the Sun County fielding a reasonable number of mounted warriors traditionally - the Galana are only the size of fell ponies, and can't carry heavy loads, so they must have got their horses elsewhere.

        While I have nothing against Keiths mythic explanation for the wheel ruts, I think it more likely that there is a practical explanation.

	Cheers
		David

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