Special Sub-Topic: Unlikely Meetings by Heroes and Horses Authored by: bracklaman Sub-topic of: People's Pets

Imagine a meeting taking place between the epic Greek hero rider of Xanthus and the epic Spanish rider of Babieca. Can you identify the riders concerned?

Achilles and El Cid. Xanthus was an immortal horse belonging to Achilles. The goddess Hera gave Xanthus the power of speech so that he could warn Achilles that he was about to die in the Trojan War. Babieca was the long-serving horse of El Cid. The last instruction of El Cid was that his body be secured on Babieca, in full armour and with sword raised. He was sent out ahead of the Spanish knights into battle, the opposing moors fled, crying that El Cid had risen from the dead. Babieca was not ridden again and died 2 years later at the age of 40.

Just after the English highwayman rider of Black Bess completed his legendary ride to York he might have encountered the singing cowboy rider of Champion. If they had met who would we be talking about?

Gene Autry and Dick Turpin. Many people think of Dick Turpin as a lone highwayman. However, for the majority of his criminal career he was a member of the so-called "Essex Gang" and really a common thief and smuggler. His famous ride to York was actually a feat achieved by 17th-century highwayman John 'Swift Nick' Nevison. Gene Autry’s career lasted seventy years in the world of film, radio, television, and live theatre and rodeo performances. He was one of the most successful singing cowboys, completing ninety-three movies and starring in ninety-one television productions. Singing Sandy was John Wayne who appeared as this singing cowboy for eight years at the start of his long career.

This revered Asian religious philosopher was the rider of Kantanka. If he had engaged in conversation with a wandering mythical godly rider of an eight legged horse called Sleipner then who would be talking together?

Buddha and Odin. The Buddha rode Kantanka, a white horse, on his road to enlightenment. Odin rode his eight-legged steed, Sleipnir, hunting for the souls of great men to help in the battle of Ragnarok.

If the only survivor of the Battle of Little Big Horn (non human of course) from the Custer Command was stabled with the “Wonder Horse” which two horses are being described?

Comanche and Champion. Comanche was found on the Custer Battlefield, wounded by bullets and arrows. He was nursed back to health and became the regimental mascot and accompanied the regiment until his death at Fort Riley, Kansas on November 9, 1891. "Champion the Wonder Horse" was a TV series produced by Gene Autry. It featured a wild stallion who befriended twelve year-old Ricky North (Barry Curtis) in the American Southwest in the 1880's. Ricky, who lived on his Uncle Sandy's (Jim Bannon) ranch, attracted trouble and had to be rescued by the wonder horse.

It was said that at the battle of Waterloo the Duke of Wellington rode one horse throughout the entire engagement, even riding in full view of the enemy to encourage his own troops. Napoleon, known to be a very poor horseman had earlier performed the same feat. Which two horses are remembered as the chief mounts of the Commanders-in-Chief of the day?

Copenhagen and Marengo. Copenhagen carried Wellington throughout the battle of Waterloo and was very well known and easily recognised in the horse mounted society of that era. Wellington was never sentimental about Copenhagen but said "there may have been many faster horses, no doubt many handsomer, but for bottom and endurance I never saw his fellow". Marengo was the most famous of Napoleon's many horses. Named for Napoleon's success at the Battle of Marengo in 1800, the horse carried Napoleon in several subsequent battles. It was often thought to be the horse portrayed in Jacques-Louis David's famous 1801 painting titled "Napoleon Bonaparte Crossing the Alps".

If the only horse ever made a Consul of Rome was paired with the cart horse who pulled the rag and bone cart of Steptoe and Son then which two horses are being described?

Incitatus and Hercules. Caligula was emperor of Rome from 37-41 A.D., and in four short years established a reputation for manic behaviour which has lasted since then. Apparently he created Incitatus a Consul of Rome to bring the self important politicians opposing him into line. "Steptoe and Son" was a landmark television comedy series. Hercules was the Steptoe's horse and achieved stardom. Hercules was a genuine rag and bone man's horse - he belonged to brothers Arthur and Chris Arnold.

Imagine that the horse of the Cisco Kid was in harness with the horse of Garibaldi. Can you name the pair in harness?

Diablo and Marsala. Duncan Renaldo starred as the hero in this popular televised cowboy series called "The Cisco Kid" which was broadcast in the USA between 1950 and 1956. Giuseppe Garibaldi (July 4, 1807 - June 2, 1882) was a brilliant guerrilla fighter and probably Italy's most famous soldier. He was called the "Hero of the Two Worlds" because of his military adventures in both South America and Europe.

East meets West again it seems when the epic historical Greco-Macedonian hero rider of Bucephalus encountered the Spanish Conquistador rider of El Morzillo. Can you please identify the people concerned?

Alexander and Cortez. Alexander the Great, was one of the most successful military commanders of all time. He was able to build on the work of his father. Alexander conquered the Persian Empire, Egypt and many other smaller kingdoms in just twelve years. Cortez was picked by Velasquez, governor of Cuba to build a colony in Mexico but he soon went beyond his orders and conquered the Aztecs.

This legendary club bearing Greek hero was the occasional rider of Arion. He could have been a great friend of the television western hero and rider of Silver. Who might these two friends be?

Hercules and The Lone Ranger. Arion was owned by Oncius in Arcadia. Arion was supposedly swifter than any other horses. Heracles won Arion from Oncius. However Heracles gave up Arion to Adrastus, the king of Argos. At the beginning of each episode of the TV western series "The Lone Ranger" shots are fired and The Lone Ranger rides up to a rock formation and reins up on his horse Silver: "A fiery horse with the speed of light, a cloud of dust and a hearty hi-yo Silver. The Lone Ranger!"

If the romantic rider of Rosinante thought to romance the former rider of Burma then who would be the unlikely pair?

Don Quixote and Queen Elizabeth II. Queen Elizabeth traditionally rode Burma to the annual "Trooping of the Colours" until the horse was retired and the Queen subsequently arrived by carriage. Don Quixote appeared in one of the first modern novels. He was described as an elderly, idealistic knight who set out on his old horse Rosinante to seek adventure.