The Roving Ronin Report delivers yabusame to the MTV generation.  We love it!

(Yabusame is the Japanese art of mounted archery, carried through history by the Samurai, and currently thriving in ritual and celebration.)

Be sure check out a brief history of yabusame at http://samuraidave.wordpress.com/2006/08/07/yabusame-japanese-horseback-archery/

Long before the first mounted warrior swung a leg over the back of a mighty steed, chariots were the deadly equine weapon of choice.  In approximately 1345 BC, the Mittanian horse master Kikkuli authored the oldest known written horse training treatise (remember Xenophon wasn’t even BORN until around 430 BC.)  “The Kikkuli Text,” discusses the training and care of the chariot horses which allowed the Hittites and later the Assyrians to conquer their empires.  For thousands of years, victory rode behind, rather than upon, the warhorse.

The Discovery Channel teamed up with one of my favorite modern-day horsemen, Tommy Turvey, for an episode of Weapons Masters.  The challenge?  Improve on the design of a weapons system successful through centuries!  (We’ll stick with horses!)

Enjoy!

We are currently incubating a combination Jousting/Mounted Archery clinic with Alexander Caithnes and his lady!

Date TBA after Ice Dragon.

5 riders and their steeds braved the chill winds for our first unofficial equestrian practice of the year.  AEthelmearc’s current KEO, Alexander Caithnes,  thumbed his knightly nose at the winter storm warnings and joined us for a day of chivalry, learning, and authorizations prep.  Alli arrived with her whippets to add to the medieval flair.  Mark had squirreled away his camera in his pocket, and snapped these shots perched atop Dolly’s mountainous back:

Armed and elegant! Rachel and Pete

Alexander expounds, Cricket cogitates, and Kirsten tries not to Freeze!

Worldview from a War Horse: Weapons rack through Dolly’s ears

Alexander gave us a generous grant towards procuring insurance for official SCA practices. Mark stepped forth to offer the balance.  Many thanks to them for their knightly largesse!

Riders and their mounts:

Scott and Cassandra

Noel and Sioux

Rachel and Pierre Pointille

Mark and Dolly Madison

Kirsten and Red Sonja

Tags: Medieval, SCA, Siege of Glengary, Society for creative anachronism, aethelmearc, equestrian, glengary, horse, reenactment, renaissance, sylvan glen, war horse, warhorse

Gunnarr and Banshee will be traveling down from Endless Hills to conduct authorizations for our local equestrians on Saturday, April 4.  The bad weather back up date will be April 18.

Tags: Medieval, SCA, Siege of Glengary, Society for creative anachronism, aethelmearc, equestrian, glengary, horse, reenactment, renaissance, sylvan glen, war horse, warhorse

This professionally produced video clip from last year’s Lysts at Castleton was just posted on YouTube.  The riders are Sir Alexis la Bouche and Master Terafan Greydragon.  The event is held in the Barony of Bryn Gwlad, Ansteorra.  Enjoy!

We are thrilled to have 2 equestrian practices on the calendar so far.

On Feb 21 we will be holding an unofficial equestrian get together.
Alexander, Aethelmearc’s current KEO will be coming down as well as
Gunnar, the Equestrian Marshal for Siege.

On March 21 Gunnar will be coming down again along with Banshee and/or
his lady to authorize riders.

We will no doubt be locking in more dates as the season advances, and
encourage equestrians to participate in nearby Atlantian practices.

Practices will be held at Almost Heaven Horse Source in Leetown (Mark
and Kirsten’s family farm) and are weather dependent. We will post
details and directions closer to the date. There are a FEW horses
available to rent for intermediate and advanced riders. Please
contact me as soon as possible if you think you may want to ride.

Rules for the games, and many other resources are on the kingdom
equestrian site at http://frontpage.velocity.net/duane/ae-eqindex.htm.
Googling “sca equestrian” and suchlike will provide endless hours of
entertainment and inspiration. At some point I promise I’ll put all my
favorite historical horsey hangouts in one spot…

Wanna play but don’t want to ride? We can’t pull it off without our
wonderful groundcrew! Come to the practices and start becoming
familiar with our beloved steeds, the crazy things we do and ways you
can join in!

So, mark your calendars, read your rulebooks, and shoot me any
questions you may have.

Tags: Medieval, SCA, Siege of Glengary, Society for creative anachronism, aethelmearc, equestrian, glengary, horse, reenactment, renaissance, sylvan glen, war horse, warhorse