Headless Horseman at MNSSHP

[oldhag]

Watch him .. IT IS AWESOME!!!!

 

[Marie2794]

Here's another picture....

As a side note, I don't see anything special on his feet.

Edited to add...
Chill - I just saw your post about not being able to get a pic with your camera. Well this photo was taken the same night you were there, at the 2nd parade on Oct 20th.

 

[horseshowmom]

Interesting picture!!! and thank you for all the great info!!! Personally, I don't think I would ever canter my horse on pavement.... with or without pads!!! but I'm sure they know what they're doing... Everytime I go, I always notice how well the horses are groomed and their hooves are always trimmed and shod (never long!!!)

The horse in the picture appeared to be a lighter breed (thoroughbred???) but with several of you suggesting that it could be a friesian... I'm even more excited!!!

Now, do I actually try to take a picture... or just get a really good look with my own eyes??? Decisions, Decisions, Decisions!!!

I showed the picture to my DD, and she said that she was pretty sure it was a Friesian (but might could be a black Shire). She's the current national champion in Horse Bowl and has a lot of experience in horse identification (but that doesn't necessarily mean she's right).

I agree with the previous poster about not seeing anything on his feet (not even shoes), but they're bound to be there. I can't imagine them taking him/her out on pavement and not being shod. Since his hooves are black, I'm sure whatever he has on is colored to blend in (they really did a great job though!).

 

[PatriciaH]

It is one of the Percheron's that are over at Fort Wilderness.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Percheron

Dallas is my favorite He is very friendly.

 

[eeyoreiscool]

We have seen the horseman at both parades in the past as well. Alot is dependant on weather so if it is raining or misting, they will not ride.

 

[BABYJOSIE98]

I remember reading a post a few years ago of someone who got too talk to the "headless horseman" and he said that the horse was a Freisian...

Freisians have those thick necks and that brilliant black coat...He is just perfect for the "headless horseman".

Great picture! Mine did not turn out????? I just loved watching him run by!

 

[miste76]

The picture just above is definately not a friesian... (friesians have a different look, much more proud - is the only way that I can explain it, as well as heavier feathers and usually not quite as large as this one is.) I would be about 99% sure that it is a Percheron (my mare is part percheron as well.)

If you look close at the picture, you can see there is a shoe on the horse's front right hoof. look towards the back of the hoof, you'll see a bump - and I know all of their carriage horses have pads, but that's still a hard surface to run on!!!

Thank you again!!! This is great information!!!

 

[Disney Doll]

I have no idea as far as which parades he rides before, but let me tell you, it is quite a sight.

All of a sudden, you hear a loudspeaker announcement saying something to the effect that the Headless Horseman has been spotted and you need to clear the streets. Then about 2 minutes later, coming down Main Street (from the train stattion end) is a guy on a fairly big horse with the horse galloping at a pretty good clip and the guy has no head. Obviously his head is inside the costume and I am sure there is some kind of eye hole thing or something so the rider can see, but the effect is great.

All I could think was I wouldn't want to be riding that horse down Main Street USA with throngs of people lining it at the pace that horse was galloping.

 

[Chrisj]

What surprised us last year was how fast the horse was running. It was much more than a trot, not quite a gallop. Poor DW was trying to get a picture and missed the whole thing. All we have is a photo of the horse's *ss!

 

[PatriciaH]

There are no Friesians over at the barns. If you take a trip over to Ft. Wilderness you can see the Percherons. There are pictures hanging in the barn and one is of the Headless Horseman with one of the Percherons. They also have Clydesdales and the smaller white ponies that pull Cinderellas coach.

 

[BABYJOSIE98]

He just did not look thick enough to me too be a full Percheron??? Maybe his is crossed with something?????

Guess it does not really matter????

No matter what breed he is he is awesome..

We have Quarter horses!

 

[J_Rae_A_Pex]

He starts each and every MNSSHP parade. It's very cool..

 

[alan01]

I can't wait to see him!!!

 

[mickeyfan2]

As a side note, I don't see anything special on his feet. :

It is the way the shoes are made. They don't look any different, but sound different.

 

[salmoneous]

The HH is just about the hardest thing I can think of to get a good picture of at Disney. He's moving fast in the dark. If you do try and take a picture, but sure to have everything (exposure, light, etc.) pre-set.

 

[PatriciaH]

Hey guys I got to meet Ike, the Headless Horseman's horse today. He is a Percheron and he is 18 hands high! What a beautiful animal.

 

[Windy City Heather]

I saw him in the first parade and the pavement was wet. He seemed to go much slower with the wet pavement then he went last year when it was dry. Last year if you blinked you missed him. This year you could really get a good look at him and get pictures.

Last year I saw him in the second parade. I did hear he was in the second parade on Friday night.

 

[HolliePoppins]

My husband got to ride him on our honeymoon. I rode one of the horses that pulls cinderellas coach. It was so much fun. Cant wait to see him again on 9/29

 

[sunny_]

On September 15th, THH rode for both parades - even with wet pavement (wow!)

 

[Dan Murphy]

Here is a thread from brisully who used to be here. The thread is trashed with no HTML, but I know if you grab some of the url's in there, there are a few, if I recall, great ones, of the headless horseman.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=286384