What's the deal with the Headless Horseman

[DISshopkeeper]

here's one of my pics from last year.. i'd like to think i did better this year, but at least you can see the horse in profile

What a beautiful horse!

 

[bradk]

Really? No one made that announcement at either parades we saw, if they had I wouldn't have used the flash.

that's because there is no such announcement. if anything, it's certain CMs taking it upon themselves. as i explain:

(1) if it was really important, there would be an announcement over the PA - people would probably do it anyway
(2) if it was really that important with people doing it anyway, they'd stop the whole thing altogether
(3) if it was really that important, someone like myself with the SLR and external flash and cables all over the place would probably be told something - i've never been told anything of the sort
(4) with everyone using flash regardless, how many incidents have there been?

the horses are trained to deal with it all. if a horse can't deal with it, the horse doesn't go on stage. there's plenty of worse things going on throughout the day for the horses that are pulling the carriages. at disneyland, i was told one of the things that spooked the horses the most was the gun shot coming from the jungle cruise which you can clearly hear in town square there.

 

[mazdabug]

I talked to several cm`s. They all said it was a new horse this year. From what they say he is still kind of skittish about all the flashes and people around.

 

[rstamm]

This was our first MNSSHP and couldn't wait for this speeding horse, and all we got was a slow trot.

We asked a CM whats wrong with this horse and he said Ike has retired, he did his last show, and we are seeing the new slow horse.

What a dissapointment, we had to laugh because everyone said how great this was going to be and it was a big bust.

The parade was fantastic though, so we are still glad we went.

 

[Donold_Fan]

I talked to several cm`s. They all said it was a new horse this year. From what they say he is still kind of skittish about all the flashes and people around.

Here's my picture from last year, you can see what a difference an external flash makes, but it appears that last year's horse had a white spot on it's head. (Unless that's the glare from the flash on a piece of metal.

I don't have any editing software here at work, so I can't lighten it up, but looking at Brad's pictures, last years horse does look bigger/thicker to me.

I'll have to lighten the picture and compare this evening.

 

[winniedapooh]

Pavement to horseshoes is like an ice rink to high heels - dangerous!

I can't imagine running a horse on pavement unless a rubber "boot" had been added to the bottom of the horseshoes.

I totally agree

 

[steph73]

We were at the Oct 11th MNSSHP, and I too noticed that the Headless Horseman wasn't racing by, but slowly trotting. Interesting to learn that it's a new horse - makes sense. And I never heard any CM's tell anyone not to use flash photography when he went by.

 

[irisbud]

Hmm...Interesting

We went to MNSSHP on 09-30-07. We decided to view the late parade, and did so from a spot right near where the parade route started (in frontierland). We saw the horse come out from back stage, and he burst through the gates at a fast canter or slow gallop. There was hardly any dely between this and the start of the parade in this area.

 

[praline3001]

Since I have never seen the headless horseman (never been during Halloween) I looked it up on utube and found a decent video of it in case anyone is interested in seeing it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6s-myyHXow

 

[northie]

He was going so fast when he went by us on 9/21 all I got was a blur! so I am really happy to see the photos others got.

 

[bulah1]

that's because there is no such announcement. if anything, it's certain CMs taking it upon themselves. as i explain:

(1) if it was really important, there would be an announcement over the PA - people would probably do it anyway
(2) if it was really that important with people doing it anyway, they'd stop the whole thing altogether
(3) if it was really that important, someone like myself with the SLR and external flash and cables all over the place would probably be told something - i've never been told anything of the sort
(4) with everyone using flash regardless, how many incidents have there been?

the horses are trained to deal with it all. if a horse can't deal with it, the horse doesn't go on stage. there's plenty of worse things going on throughout the day for the horses that are pulling the carriages. at disneyland, i was told one of the things that spooked the horses the most was the gun shot coming from the jungle cruise which you can clearly hear in town square there.

Totally get what you're saying, but also those other horses don't have to deal with "blind" riders/drivers. I think it's just courteous to not use flash if possible. Yes, you're right - the horses are probably used to it - BUT completely broke and laid back horses are still known to spook from things from time to time - just as any person would. I don't plan on using flash when I go, though I know there will be plenty of people that have no clue and still will. I just wanna do my part to keep everybody safe - spectators, horse, AND rider alike.

As for the "fast" issue - a previous poster was right, it depends on the "footing" the horse and rider have. If the horse is equipped with the right shoes it won't be such an issue to "run" though as some people have stated. But traditional horseshoes don't provide a "grip" for the horses and that could be bad for everyone - the horse could slip and disaster would ensue.

I like the variety of horses I'm seeing though! Can't wait to see who's at my party nights!

 

[Lintasare]

Last year when we went to MNNSHP the rider practically flew by. This year it was a slower trot which I liked since I was able to get him on video as he was coming around the hub.

I agree with previous posters in that the speed of the horse depends on the horse and the person riding the horse. If the rider is confident in his horse then I suppose he can urge the horse to go faster for more of a thrill for the spectators. But as some one said it is a new horse this year so perhaps the rider wanted to slow him down a bit in case the horse spooked.

Also when I was there no one ever said we could not use a flash on our cameras. We were only told to keep our feet off the street. Course I was courteous and did not use the external lighting on my camcorder.

I was just glad he was going slow enough this year for me to gaze in awe of his mount. That was a beautiful horse.

 

[icarus]

We were at the parade last week, and the horseman kind of trotted through where we were.

Four years ago, he seemed to move at more of a gallup, at least through the Frontier portion of the park - near the Country Bears show.

Of all of the parades, this year's Halloween parade was one of the best I've seen, and I'm not really a parade person. As repetitive as the music was, it was kind of catchy and it didn't bother my like the Dreams Parade music.

 

[Magickndm]

Totally get what you're saying, but also those other horses don't have to deal with "blind" riders/drivers.

You really think the rider can't see? Those costumes are made with areas that are pretty see-through, I'm assuming the area for the Horseman is around the neck. I don't think Disney would take on the liability of a blind rider.
That being said, it never crossed my mind that a flash would spook a horse, if any announcement had been made to refrain from flash photography, I certainly would have listened.

 

[mollygirl13]

I like the idea of the Headless Horseman going a little bit slower!

 

[praline3001]

You really think the rider can't see? Those costumes are made with areas that are pretty see-through, I'm assuming the area for the Horseman is around the neck. I don't think Disney would take on the liability of a blind rider.
That being said, it never crossed my mind that a flash would spook a horse, if any announcement had been made to refrain from flash photography, I certainly would have listened.

Osha would have a field day
Seriously, my mother is a horse trainer and shows them. I seriously doubt the rider is blind. I am sure there is a trick in there somewhere so he can see. Anyone who really knows horses knows that even the best trained ones can spook for the oddest of reasons. Horses are prey animals and by nature anything new to them is out to eat them
Being so close to so many people who don't know a thing about animal behavior would make this a huge accident waiting to happen! If a child ran out in front of the horse, the horse would either naturally swirve to miss the kid or come to a VERY fast stop... either way it could throw the rider and that would NOT be good in front of 1,000's of kids let alone a bruised backside of the headless horseman even a shiny camera lense tossed or dropped right in front of him COULD upset the horse enough to change course.. even the best trained ones! My mom has a horse that is 25 years old and in retirement on her ranch. He was born on her ranch and trained from day one. I love him DEARLY and teasingly call him my brother as I grew up with him Of course I can't ride him now but I do groom and baby him when I am up there... I trusted putting my little girl on him for her first horse ride when she was only a year old (we walked around a large stall and he was old and she was little so no need for speed there) the point of this story is .. even though this is one of the best trained horses you would ever see, one of the most friendliest, sweetest, nothing bothers him kind of horse ... I would not get up on him and ride him blind in the daylight in a pasture let alone a street of screaming kids. I have seen those costumes a LOT (my hubby has a similar headless one) and there is a secret panel in which ol' headless can see out of I promise

 

[bulah1]

You really think the rider can't see? Those costumes are made with areas that are pretty see-through, I'm assuming the area for the Horseman is around the neck. I don't think Disney would take on the liability of a blind rider.
That being said, it never crossed my mind that a flash would spook a horse, if any announcement had been made to refrain from flash photography, I certainly would have listened.

Yes I really think he's BLIND. NOOOOOO - did you not see the "" around my word blind?
DO you honestly think someone would really think that? BUT he is hindered in sight. It's not like he has perfect line of vision, I'm sure there's an amount of peripheral hinderance, and shaded vision. Seriously. Come on. Think about it.

It really wouldn't cross your mind that something like that would spook a horse?? I guess you and many people think the same way. I understand that, not everyone knows horses. Which is why I put in my two cents. I am a professional trainer, so I just like putting it out there. I've ridden and trained for over 20 years... I think I have the authority to say things like that.

As I had stated though, many horses do become accustomed to the "environment" - but you can't always be 100% sure. Better safe than sorry... hence the lawsuits you spoke of in your reply. JUST be aware it's an animal that even though well trained, can't always help natural instinct.

ANYWAYS... I'm not complaining one way or the other, I was just adding a statement and assumed people would get what I was saying. I guess it needed to be spelled out a bit better. I'm kind of happy the dude's going slower - makes it easy for me to catch him on camera for my first MNSSHP since I won't be sure when he's coming most likely.

 

[EnnEss]

Can not believe this thread turned into such a heated debate (a fight ).

I'm sure Disney has assessed this likelihood as being EXREMLY LOW. Disney cares about money, and a horse running into a massive crowd containing small children would be DISASTROUS. They are well aware flash photography is going to occur and as such I am certain they make the horse very used to this, probably by subjecting it to flash photography.

Probably can just leave Disney to decide on their own flash photography rules and so on and while it may be rude to use during rides and shows, at night time parades, its common and thats pretty much how it is.

 

[beattyfamily]

I've read many many times here from those in the 'know' that the rider cannot see so the horse is trained to do the whole route on his own.

I also remember reading that it was a VERY big deal when, back in 2005, when there was construction at the Train Station, and they had to do the parade route in the opposite direction, the horse had to be re-trained to go in the opposite direction and went significantly slower that year.

That is also why all our feet must be off the street before he'll ride.

The delay from the HH ride to the parade start is significantly longer if you are at the end of the parade route vs the beginning of the parade route. He rides about 5 minutes before the parade starts but if you are at the end of the parade route then from when he rides to when you finally see the parade is a good 20 - 25 minutes.

 

[bulah1]

I've read many many times here from those in the 'know' that the rider cannot see so the horse is trained to do the whole route on his own.

I also remember reading that it was a VERY big deal when, back in 2005, when there was construction at the Train Station, and they had to do the parade route in the opposite direction, the horse had to be re-trained to go in the opposite direction and went significantly slower that year.

That is also why all our feet must be off the street before he'll ride.

The delay from the HH ride to the parade start is significantly longer if you are at the end of the parade route vs the beginning of the parade route. He rides about 5 minutes before the parade starts but if you are at the end of the parade route then from when he rides to when you finally see the parade is a good 20 - 25 minutes.

See, that makes sense to me. Thanks for the info too! I can't wait to see this! He's one of the main reasons I wanted to go to the party!