How to Ride a Horse or Seahorse-Hermipedia: The Viking and the Hermit

how to ride a horse

Today’s Hermipedia Feature: How to Ride a Horse or Sea horse on Hermit Island…

The sea horses in our children’s story, The Viking and the hermit: Spear Fishing with Sasha & Kasha, are not like other seahorses, but you can ride them very similarly, just like a regular horse.

The Difference Between a Horse and Our Sea horses

First, we need to point out some differences on how to ride a horse from one of our sea horses in our story.  A sea horse  is more upright than a horse, but is similar in height.  Instead of holding reins like on a horse, you hold around the neck of the sea horse.

Horses Gallop vs. Sea Horses Skip

The sea horse does not gallop or trot like a horse, but a ride on one springs and bounces much like a pogo stick instead.

There is a rhythm of movement while riding a sea horse as well. It is both forward, and riding over a hump, like a horse on land, but the hump is bigger and more vertical in riding, as the sea horses spring, skip and jump.

A horse can navigate over land of course, and water too, but the sea horses of our story are supreme swimmers as well as mobile on land for riding.

Similarities Between Riding a Horse and Our Sea Horses

Our sea horses have a saddle area or curve of their backs for riders to sit, although the ride is bare back, and without any stirrups.

Mount a Sea Horse

To mount a sea horse for riding, a rider must hold to the sea horse neck, and lift and swing up onto the sea horse.  The sea horses are very good at sitting still to make this easier if you first pet them, and rub their long noses.  You can then rub between their eyes, and stroke their head comb, over and down to the back of the neck, where you need to place your hand to lift yourself up for riding.

How to Ride

A rider sits upright and straight on the back of the sea horse, much like a horse. To ride, you want your shoulders straight and not rounded.  For riding, you need your lower back to not be curved, but lined up under your shoulders.

To ride like Viking, and because she is so tall, she does not need to swing up onto the back of the horse like Hermit.  She can just scoot up, and keep both legs to one side, like side-saddle on a regular horse.

how to ride a horse

The Difference Between How to Ride and Stop a Horse from a Sea Horse

Since there are no reins with our sea horses, to stop the skipping, hopping or jumping, riders need to lightly squeeze with their legs to first let the sea horse know.  Then, a rub on the neck where riders hold, will tell the sea horses to come to a stop.  It also helps to just say, “Whoa Kasha.”, or “Let’s stop Sasha.”

Our sea horses in our story, and particularly Kasha and Sasha are very smart, and will hear voice commands well.  Especially if they have gotten to know you, like Hermit, and know that Hermit likes Viking, and it’s OK to like Viking too.

How to Ride a Horse or Seahorse-Hermipedia: The Viking and the Hermit

Courtney & Betina

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Seahorses of Hermit Island-Hermipedia

seahorses

Today’s Hermipedia Feature: Seahorses of Hermit Island

Seahorse Physical Description:

Seahorses of Hermit Island present atypically from most seahorse species. They are significantly larger at heights reaching over 6 feet, and they can weigh as much as 200-300 lbs.

They do not have scales like other sea species, but color spotted, grey-ish toned skin stretched over their bones in a ring-like fashion.  These rings continue down to their coiled tails, and present in brightly colored stripes.

Seahorse Function and Navigation:

The ringed stripes in their seahorse tails  serve as sensors to determine the exact proximity to any object nearby in the sea, and give them a heightened ability to navigate the treacherous Hermit Bay sea floor filled with striking uggies.

Their coiled tails also allow them to spring, and hop either above or below the surface of the sea.  Seahorses of this species can reach top speeds of over 30 mph. This seahorse species can also leap into the air as high as 30 feet.

Seahorse Environment:

The seahorses have ability to breathe both above and below water, allowing great agility and flexibility to their environments, and they can navigate both water and land easily by hopping and springing with their tails.

Seahorse Features:

Hermit Island seahorse species have combed fins at the top of their heads varying in shape and color. Each head fin is distinct to the individual seahorse. Seahorses have long snouts, designed to suck up food, and very large black eyes providing them excellent vision.

Disposition of Seahorses:

This seahorse species present very tame, friendly and  intelligent.  They can be trained to listen and respond to various calls and prompts, and learn to take instruction and direction well.  The seahorse species can be domesticated pets, much the same as dogs, and can be ridden the same as a horse on land.  The natural curve of their backs provides a perfect sitting area for riding.

Seahorses Habitat:

The seahorses of Hermit Island live in the deep sea of Hermit Bay, where they can rest at the bottom seagrass if so desired. With their excellent vision, they can see any predators approaching easily, and work and communicate in groups to alert each other of any dangers.

Seahorses Courtship:

Hermit Island seahorse species will pair and mate for life.  During courtship, they swim side by side, and hold tails.  They dance circles around the seagrass together, and change the colors of their head fins, skin spots and tail stripes while circling.

Medicinal Purpose of Seahorses:

The colored spots or pores on their seahorse skin can secrete an herbal liquid that can be used for medicinal purposes such as skincare, sun burn or skin rash, or to protect any cut or laceration.  The secretion supplies antibacterial protection.

Seahorses of Hermit Island-Hermipedia

 

Courtney & Betina

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