Elegant Equines Trivia Quiz

Answer: Old Henry Clay

Old Henry Clay's breed is now extinct as it was bred with other horses so many times. Trotter racing or harness racing is still popular at many race tracks. Instead of the rider being on the back of the horse, he rides in a two wheeled carriage called a sulky.

Answer: Television Champion

The original Champion was used from 1934 until his death during World War Two when Autry was flying military cargo planes in Asia.

Returning to films, Autry used Champion Jr. through the rest of his film career.

The television Champion was seen in Autry's television series and also in a short lived television series of his own called "Adventures of Champion" in the 1950s.

Lindy Champion, Touring Champion, and Champion 3 were used in personal appearances and rodeos. Lindy is believed to be the first horse to fly in an airplane.

Little Champion was a pony used as a novelty.

All the Champions were well trained and could do many tricks such as dancing the hula and the Charleston, jumping through a ring of fire, and playing dead. At the height of his career Champion received thousands of fan mail letters a year. His international acclaim led him to be served high tea at the Savoy in London.

Note: This does not include stunt doubles in films.

Answer: Native Dancer

Native Dancer won the Preakness and Belmont but finished second in the Derby to Dark Star in 1953.

Affirmed won the Triple Crown in 1978, Secretariat in 1973, and Whirlaway in 1941.

Only eleven horses have won the Triple Crown in the 20th century.

Answer: Dan Patch

Dan Patch was one of the most loved horses of all time. At the height of his popularity he drew crowds of a 100,000. His image was used in numerous product endorsements such as toys, cigars, cut plug chewing tobacco, washing machines and automobiles. Dwight Eisenhower remembered his father taking him to see Dan Patch at the Kansas State Fair. Harry Truman confessed that he wrote a fan letter to Dan Patch.

In the musical play and film "The Music Man" Professor Harold Hill proclaimed:

"Not a wholesome trottin' race, but a race where they set down right on the horse! Like to see some stuck-up jockey boy sittin' on Dan Patch? Make your blood boil? I should say!"?

Answer: Had a taxidermist preserve him

Trigger's first name was Golden Cloud. His movie debut in 1938 was in "The Adventures of Robin Hood", ridden by Olivia de Havilland as Maid Marian. Rogers selected him and he became his career horse. After Trigger's death, Rogers had him on display at his museum in Victorville, California.

When the museum closed in 2009, Trigger was purchased for $266,500 by television channel RFD-TV with plans to start a Western museum.

Answer: Bucephalus

According to Plutarch: "In 344 BC, a thirteen-year-old Alexander won the horse. A horse dealer offered Bucephalus to King Philip II for the sum of 13 talents, but because no one could tame the animal, Philip was not interested. However, Philip's son Alexander was. He promised to pay for the horse himself should he fail to tame it. He was given a chance and surprised all by subduing it. He spoke soothingly to the horse and turned it towards the sun so that it could no longer see its own shadow, which had been the cause of its distress. Dropping his fluttering cloak as well, Alexander successfully tamed the horse."

Alexander rode Bucephalus in many battles. He died at age thirty at Battle of the Hydaspes in what is now Pakistan. Bucephalus became a favorite of artists and poets in various paintings, sculptures, and poems.

Answer: Mr. Ed

Mr. Ed was played by Bamboo Harvester, a palomino. Bamboo Harvester died in 1966 from an accidental overdose of tranquiliser. A lookalike horse was used until 1970 for publicity pictures and personal appearances. He was voiced by Alan "Rocky" Lane who, curiously, was never listed a member of the cast and was a star in 'b' westerns.

Alan Young played an architect who worked at home and took his troubles to Mr. Ed. Mr. Ed always provided some homespun commonsense advice to whatever issue Young had. The series ran from 1961 to 1965 and was well received. Mr. Ed was an excellent chess player too.

Answer: Consul to the Senate

Roman historians report that Incitatus had a stable of marble, an ivory manger, purple blankets, a collar of precious stones, was attended to by servants, and was fed oats mixed with gold flake.

Although it is quite possible that Caligula made the proposal for Incitatus to become a consul, it was more likely, according to modern Roman historians, that it was a piece of satire, intended to ridicule and provoke the Senate. The counter argument is that was rather a sign of Caligula's insanity.

Answer: Steeplechase

Red Rum won the Grand National Steeplechase three times and finished second twice. Steeplechase racing requires horse and rider to jump fences and ponds, hence many fall. Red Rum is said to have run a hundred races without a spill.

Answer: Black Beauty

Although several films have been made or adapted from the novel "Black Beauty", it is still a fictional horse.

"Seabiscuit" (2003) concerns an undersized horse that became a winner. The plot relates the life of the horse and how it effected the personal lives of its owner, trainer, and jockeys.

"Ruffian"(2007) chronicles the life perhaps the most famous filly in horse racing that was undefeated until her last match race with Foolish Pleasure. The sight of Ruffian's fall and subsequent putting down in front of millions of television viewers created a public outcry against treatment of horses.

"Phar Lap"(1983) concerns Phar Lap, a New Zealand/Australian horse that was one of the biggest money winners of the 1930 depression era. He died at the height of his career under what was considered mysterious circumstances. Later forensic scientists determined that the cause was a serve case of gastroenteritis.