Le Grande Tournoi die Amitie was held in April 2009 in the Canton of Attillium, in the kingdom of Atlantia. The Tournoi featured an SCA Jousting Tournament.  Clint B. put together this great clip. Be inspired!

Tags: , Medieval, SCA, Society for creative anachronism, atlantia, cavalty, dark ages, destrier, equestrian, equitation, horse, horsemanship, knight, pig sticking, queen, reed chop, renaissance, tilt, tilting, tilting at rings, video, war, war horse, warhorse

On May 15, 2009, members of  the Lance of the Argent Bear and House de Montfort, all denizens of the fair kingdom of Atlantia, created a medieval demo for the fortunate students of Shoal Berry Intermediate School in Duncan, SC.

The riders were competing for the honor of becoming the Queen of Camelot’s champion. About 150 students were divided into groups to cheer for their chosen knight. Who reigned victorious?  Watch and find out!

Many thanks to sommerbrendan for posting this footage!

Tags: , Medieval, SCA, Society for creative anachronism, atlantia, cavalty, dark ages, destrier, equestrian, equitation, horse, horsemanship, knight, pig sticking, queen, reed chop, renaissance, tilt, tilting, tilting at rings, video, war, war horse, warhorse

Lexington , Kentucky is the heartbeat of America’s horse country.  Each year in April, elite riders from around the world gather at the Kentucky Horse Park to test themselves and their horses against the course at the Rolex Three-Day Event.

Three Day Eventing began as a complete test of the mounted warrior and his horse. Eventing consists of three phases. The first phase, dressage, mimics battle drills and regimental parades.  Horse and rider must navigate a pre-memorized pattern of intricate movements.  They are judged on balance, obedience and accuracy.  For the veteran event horse, a thoroughly fit athlete amped up for the wild run which comes next, dressage is also a test of patience.

The second phase, cross-country, is a long, fast gallop over varied terrain and solid fences, as if a soldier were bearing a critical message to a distant ally.  Horse and rider accrue penalties and can be eliminated from competition for going off course, refusing a jump, exceeding the optimum time, or falling.

The final phase is show jumping in an arena over fences that knock down at the lightest brush of a hoof. This tests the fitness, suppleness and continued obedience of a horse who has already completed the grueling cross-country test.

Only the most athletic, courageous and well-trained horses successfully complete a three-day event.  Through their skills, such horses pay homage to great war steeds throughout history.

Below, Great Britain’s  Lucy Wiegersma and Woodfalls Inigo Jones cleanly navigate the Duck Pond. Enjoy our extensive gallery of video clips from the 2009 Lexington Kentucky Rolex Three Day Event at Laughing Gypsy Photography.

Tags: FEI, Inigo Jones, cavalry, challenge, combined training, cross country, day, destrier, dressage, event, eventing, horse park, kentucky, kentucky horse park, ky, ky horse park, lexington, lucy wiegersma, rolex, show jumping, stadium jumping, test, three, three-day event, video, war horse, warhorse

We are so excited to announce the birth of our newest war horse! Luna the spotted draft/ Shire mare delivered a spirited, strapping colt to welcome in April Fools Day. Both mama and baby are doing great!

The colt’s sire is Jack Flash, a Gypsy cob stallion imported from the UK.  The foal will be registered as a Gypsy Sport Horse.  He is a rare chestnut tobiano, and sports a perfect chanfron-shaped blaze!  We are not sure what color his eyes will end up.

We are tossing around name ideas, playing with baby and doting on mama, We look forward to a future full of adventures in trail riding, medieval reenacting, dressage, eventing, and just horsing around.

We wish you all a Happy April Foals Day!

Tags: Medieval, SCA, Society for creative anachronism, colt, courser, destrier, draft, draft horse, draught, equestrian, foal, gypsy cob, gypsy horse, gypsy sport horse, gypsy vanner, horse, horsemanship, joust, jousting, knight, medieval destrier, medieval equestrian, medieval equestrian games, medieval equine, medieval horse, medieval horsemanship, medieval joust, medieval jousting, medieval knight, medieval mounted games, medieval tournament, medieval warhorse, middle ages, middle ages destrier, middle ages equestrian, middle ages equestrian games, middle ages equine, middle ages horse, middle ages horsemanship, middle ages joust, middle ages jousting, middle ages knight, middle ages mounted games, middle ages tournament, middle ages warhorse, palfrey, rouncy, sca destrier, sca equestrian, sca equestrian games, sca equine, sca horse, sca horsemanship, sca joust, sca jousting, sca knight, sca mounted games, sca tournament, sca warhorse, shire, spotted, tournament, war horse, warhorse

Our southern cousins Lady Alienor and Lord Reinmar hosted an SCA equestrian practice at their farm.  We loaded up the beasties and dragged Scott and Noel along as well.  Scott and Noel rode at Siege of Glengary when we hosted the equestrian events. Noel now owns my old warhorse, Sioux, veteran of Gulf Wars.  It was just like old times!

The two young horses I brought had never played the games before.  Gideon was a little leery–especially of the heavy machinery next door! Lucy, my Thoroughbred racetrack rescue, took it all in stride:

Our novice horses faced new places, new horses, and new challenges…even new outfits!  The natural horsemanship foundation laid at home gave them a solid grounding for acceptance and quick mastery of new experiences. Clicker training accelerated the horses’ comfort level with flailing swords, bobbing lances and billowing costumes.

Everyone rode well and had a blast!  Lady Brandwyn Alston again marshalled.  Our thanks to the ground crew who kept everything running quickly and smoothly. My hands were too full with 2 horses to take photos. Next time I promise to get more!

Tags: Medieval, SCA, Society for creative anachronism, courser, destrier, equestrian, horse, horsemanship, joust, jousting, knight, medieval destrier, medieval equestrian, medieval equestrian games, medieval equine, medieval horse, medieval horsemanship, medieval joust, medieval jousting, medieval knight, medieval mounted games, medieval tournament, medieval warhorse, middle ages, middle ages destrier, middle ages equestrian, middle ages equestrian games, middle ages equine, middle ages horse, middle ages horsemanship, middle ages joust, middle ages jousting, middle ages knight, middle ages mounted games, middle ages tournament, middle ages warhorse, palfrey, rouncy, sca destrier, sca equestrian, sca equestrian games, sca equine, sca horse, sca horsemanship, sca joust, sca jousting, sca knight, sca mounted games, sca tournament, sca warhorse, tournament, war horse, warhorse

Saturday morning lessons finished, I played hooky from farmwork and snuck over the Potomac to an Atlantian equestrian practice.  Lady Alienor graciously shared her steeds with me.

Atlantia’s Deputy Earl Marshal of the Horse, Lady Brandwyn Alston of the Rift, marshaled a day of medieval horsemanship.

Several of the riders are also musicians.  Impromptu concerts sprang up during breaks.

Gorgeous day in the pouring sunshine, doing the things I love most in the world, while ethereal voices sang period ballads under the pavilion. Yup, great times had by all!

Click here to see the full gallery of images.

Tags: Medieval, SCA, Society for creative anachronism, courser, destrier, equestrian, horse, horsemanship, joust, jousting, knight, medieval destrier, medieval equestrian, medieval equestrian games, medieval equine, medieval horse, medieval horsemanship, medieval joust, medieval jousting, medieval knight, medieval mounted games, medieval tournament, medieval warhorse, middle ages, middle ages destrier, middle ages equestrian, middle ages equestrian games, middle ages equine, middle ages horse, middle ages horsemanship, middle ages joust, middle ages jousting, middle ages knight, middle ages mounted games, middle ages tournament, middle ages warhorse, palfrey, rouncy, sca destrier, sca equestrian, sca equestrian games, sca equine, sca horse, sca horsemanship, sca joust, sca jousting, sca knight, sca mounted games, sca tournament, sca warhorse, tournament, war horse, warhorse