I am reposting something that I originally published over a decade ago for the benefit of those who did not see it, because it is one of those things that makes me feel good whenever I see it.
The video is undoubtedly enhanced by the music by the Greek composer Vangelis that begins around the one minute mark. It was the soundtrack for the film 1492: Conquest of Paradise (1992). He also won an Academy Award for his equally memorable score for Chariots of Fire (1981).
Thanks.
Vangelis also did the score (and the actual audio performance) for Blade Runner. Story is that Ridley Scott kept calling him, “how’s it going when will it be ready?” and Vangelis dropped a masterpiece on him at the last minute.
Given the aptness of the Chariots theme in capturing the rhythms of human running, I can’t help but wonder if Vangelis ever composed anything about the movement of horses.
Those were some very happy horses once they reached green grass. Look at them gamboling!
It didn’t take much time for the lead mares to understand that they should follow the riders back to the shore.
Damn, this post spurred me to dig up some of his clips and led me to discover that he died, just three months ago.
Music never enhances a documentary, and undoubtedly does the opposite when it obscures the actual ambient sounds.
(If I wanted to have music playing at the same time I watch a video, I’d just put some on for myself)
The horses seem to be galloping to the tune of the music .Gear rescue effort 👍
The rescuers took advantage of the one thing that made horses domesticable, unlike zebras. Horses have hierarchical herds and will tend to follow a dominant animal and keep at it.
I think I have read somewhere that our ancestors here in Central Europe also took advantage of this instinct in a different manner -- by deliberately driving horse herds off a cliff as a hunting strategy.
This is more inspirational story than that, I admit.
#8 Charly
I have heard that said of American bison… it might be one of those stories that gets around a bit.