Talk:Mounting block

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A fact from Mounting block appeared on Wikipedia's Main Page in the Did you know? column on 22 October 2007.
Wikipedia


WikiProject Equine This article is within the scope of WikiProject Equine, a collaborative effort to improve Wikipedia's coverage of articles relating to horses, asses, zebras, hybrids, equine health, equine sports, etc. Please visit the project page for details or ask questions at the barn.
Start This page has been rated as Start-Class on the quality assessment scale
Low This article has been rated as Low-importance on the importance assessment scale

If I wanted to know about mounting blocks then would this help? Yes it would, but there is extra stuff like knowing that there is one in a country called Scotland which is only 100s of miles away but for others maybe 1000s. Does it tell me all the important syuff? No. The hole? Why the hole.... an article must tell me this and provide a ref to prove it. These died out after 1790 ... says who .... and stopped being used when cars arrived... so what happened between 1800 and 1880? Advice is free, its meant to be helpful Victuallers 13:36, 19 October 2007 (UTC)

Evolution is the name of the game - more information added as it is found. Surprisingly few of these 'blocks' have actually survived. I would link the demise of these blocks with the rise of carts, coaches, etc. which took place once good quality toll roads had developed. Rosser 10:19, 20 October 2007 (UTC)

Rosser its looking good and I think it is evolving as you said. I'll see if I can find a useful picture for you. Victuallers 13:58, 20 October 2007 (UTC)

I managed to find over 100 pictures of mounting blocks but only one with a correct blicense. I have added it to creative commons and put the picture of a church and the text that describes the mounting block on the article called Barming (in the last half hour). Use it if you want as I'm not sure the picture shows the mounting block. Victuallers 15:59, 20 October 2007 (UTC)

Let me know if you want a photo of a modern plastic mounting block, I can take one, with or ;without a person using it. Montanabw(talk) 01:04, 21 October 2007 (UTC)
Sounds like an excelent idea and would balance the historic stuff.Victuallers 12:12, 21 October 2007 (UTC)

A photo of a modern block would be a good idea. Thanks for the additions. Rosser 15:07, 21 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] A new picture

[edit] Dates

  • "They began to fall into disuse in about 1790."
  • "As stated, mounting blocks were a common feature up until the late 17th-century."

The two sentences above seem contradictory. If they are, please correct the false one; otherwise clarify. -- 213.6.13.161 15:29, 22 October 2007 (UTC)

I'm surprised at the assertion that "surprisingly few of these blocks have actually survived." As far as I know, they are still a fairly common site on the sidewalks of downtown Charleston, S.C., albeit no longer used. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 128.143.245.13 (talk) 16:54, 22 October 2007 (UTC)

Seems to me the thing needed is to explain that the mounting block as a permanent fixture went out with changing times. You didn't need one for getting into carriages, and thus as roads got better and fewer people rode, the need decreased, correct? With the invention of the automobile, the need for the public mounting block vanished and they now are used exclusively by equestrians. I will leave it to others to figure out how to say that, but that is the point here. Montanabw(talk) 20:28, 22 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Modern mounting block

OK gang, as promised, here is a modern mounting block, portable, as you can see. I am giving you two photos to choose from, one with helpful barn cat, one without. Take your pick and place where you feel is appropriate:

In terms of modern usage, I think I already put some material into the text, but mounting blocks today are primarily used by a) beginners b) people who have difficulty mounting (either a tall horse, a short person, or someone with some mobility impairments) and c) people who feel that use of a mounting block reduces strain on the spine of the horse, particularly at the withers. So do with this as you will. Montanabw(talk) 05:14, 28 October 2007 (UTC)