For those who are curious as to what it takes to train a horse for the medieval equestrian games (and not content with a lot of patience as an answer!) I have started to document her training on Horses…Naturally! as patience and trust bear relevance to all disciplines of horsemanship.

Please follow along at your leisure!

Sliante!

Mark

Equestrian Activities at the SIege of Glengary will commence on Friday, Sept 27 according to the following schedule.

(Please note, times and activities are open to modification and interpretation!)

Tentative Schedule:

Friday
3:00 Marshalls arrive, settle in.  Site open to horses.
all hands help set up!
5:00-6:00 Authorizations (by appointment), practice
8:00-9:00 Tentative Crestfallen Torchlight Tourney

Saturday
8:30 Aethelmearc EEquestrian Authorizations (by appointment only)
9:00 Mandatory Riders meeting for all equestrians.  Be sure to hand in TYPED blurb for herald in procession!
10:00 Procession
11:00-1:00 Games, IKEqC
2:00-4:00  Challenge Course: Quest for the Sylver Apple

Sunday
All hands help breakdown
All horses off site by noon

If you have NO experience with horses, begin a journey that can last a lifetime (beware though, horses are EXTREMELY addictive!) Go online, hit the library, find a local mentor in the SCA or your mundane world who can teach you about horses and horsemanship.

Horses are large animals whose evolutionary success was based on fleeing or fighting predators (humans included!) Some modern horses have not gotten much beyond that! Even the most placid horse can bite or kick violently in an instant if startled. Learn to handle and ride horses safely BEFORE you attempt to do it in garb and with weapons.

Here are some suggestions to get the most enjoyment out of equestrian activities at Siege:

• Read the rulebook to understand the games we are playing and the historical roots we honor.
• Willingly sign the equestrian waiver. It is an SCA wide requirement and a mundane fact of life.
• Help set up the tourney field before the event, and breakdown when the event is over. You’ll meet lots of horse people that way and earn their enduring gratitude!
• Respect any posted signs or verbal suggestions or warnings— equestrians are not elitists, they are obsessed with their mounts’ well-being and YOUR safety.
• Take lots of photos (ask all horsemen before using a flash though—some horses can react dangerously to the sudden light explosion.)
• Consider a horsey theme for your personal passion: create an equestrian-based entry for the Arts and Sciences display, help sew a caparison (full cloth covering for horses) or learn the Horse’s Bransle if you love dancing.
• Ask lots of questions- horse people LOVE talking about their passion!

If you know how to ride but do not have a horse, consider asking private owners about sharing a mount. Bear in mind, horses are priceless companions and valuable investments. Most people would not consider asking to borrow someone else’s spouse, or the ’69 Stingray they lovingly restored. In addition, horses have individual personalities, quirks, and pet peeves which may not mesh with your own.    Do not take it personally if an owner say no!  They are not being selfish, they are simply looking out for both you and their horse.

If they say yes, be grateful for the generosity! Expect to

• share or cover expenses, or pay a fee similar to what a wrangler would charge.
• sign a waiver holding the owner harmless in case of incident or accident.
• Practice beforehand to solidify your skills and communication with the horse
• help with the horse before, during, and after the event

If you don’t have access to a horse, you can still participate. The games require a horse-savvy ground crew to reset props, hand off weapons, and keep things going on the field. Horse people ALWAYS appreciate extra hands both in the lists and in the stable area.

While many events team up with local stables to offer rental horses, there are no rental horses at Siege.

If you know how to ride and have access to a horse (this includes folks from the previous paragraph who have secured a steed), prepare, prepare, prepare!

• If you are not authorized, find out if authorizations will be conducted at the event. If not, get in touch with an equestrian marshall or your KEO to find out if there are alternate possibilities. We will have some authorizations at Siege, check the websites for more details.

• Think about everything your horse needs to be able to do and practice it at home. Practice the skills required for the games, then the games themselves. Acclimate them to their barding (horsey garb) and to seeing other horses in barding. Expose them to the mayhem of heavy fighting, general event ruckus, and crazy people in garb. Make sure they load and travel willingly in a trailer. Check the accommodations provided and make sure your horse will be comfortable and safe- he may need to tie (without breaking away or getting upset), high line, stall (this can be tough for pasture dwelling ponies) or stay within a small temporary pen. The event is NOT the time to train them! A solid foundation will ensure a fun day on the playing field.
• Research and satisfy mundane requirements. Most events, including Siege, require a negative Coggins certificate for all horses, and a health certificate for out-of-state equines.

The equestrians of Sylvan Glen began preparations as soon as the site was approved. As Siege looms closer, we continue to weave unofficial practices and project days into people’s crazy schedules. Watch the yahoogroup for updates, and come join the fun!

Resources:

Aethelmearc Equestrian Site: http://frontpage.velocity.net/duane/ae-eqindex.htm

Destrier Today! http://www.joustingwarhorse.com/ warhorse news and link library

Sylvan Glen yahoogroup: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sylvanglen/

A mighty steed made weak by chance
And foul unlucky happenstance
Siege of Glengary will miss her thunder
Until the next year’s tales of wonder

Mark

Yep, unless an especially kind Lord creates miracles of hoof growth, my mighty warhorse Dolly will miss Siege of Glengary.

She is, of course, receiving the absolute best of care, but there is no reasonable expectation that shell be anything resembling sound in 10 days… and it would probably be unwise to try even if she does make radical moves towards four-leggedness.

As far as my riding goes, I will be continuing to work with Ally to prepare for the Equestrian Games at Siege of Glengary 2009.

I suppose there are a lot worse fates in this world than having a big, beautiful Clydesdale with lots of feather to ride as an alternate mount. They are about the same size heightwise, and its possible that Dollys barding will fit. And shes a Scot breed, so its even appropriate!

Of course, the only less period name I can think of than Dolly Madison happens to be Metallica, Allys proper name! LOL I hope everyone has a sense of humour!

Well, that all for now. Assuming no major training/weapons issues, Ill be changing mounts for Glengary.

Sliante Mhath!

Mark

The Mongol Derby spans 1000 km.  Every 40 km, competitors will ride into morin urtuu, horse stations.  They will have the opportunity to eat, rest a (if desired) and saddle a fresh steed for the next leg of the journey.

Over 700 native Mongolian horses are expected to take part in the adventure.

The Mongol Derby is steeped in controversy.  Animal welfare concerns brew amidst conflicting communications.  Politics between nations and organizations threaten to overshadow sportsmanship and achievment.

Read about the race at: http://mongolderby.theadventurists.com/index.php

Read about the controversy at: http://www.thelongridersguild.com/mongolia.htm.

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!

An Imposing Silhouette: Rachel and Pierre Pointelle, Scott and Cassandra, and Lady Banshee

Lord Gunnarr and Lady Banshee traveled down from Endless Hills to conduct authoriztions and direct the merry mayhem.  Lady Bathory Rose accompanied them.  Participating equestrians were: Scott, Noel, Rachel, Mark and Kirsten.  Paticipating equines were: Cassandra, Sioux, Dolly,and Pierre Pointelle.  Rosamund ground crewed– thanks Rosamund! The newborn colt studied the grown warhorses from his lookout in the roundpen and impressed us all with his levade (a controlled rear used during mounted warfare as defense against artillery and elephant warriors.)

The authorization process first tests the rider’s control of the horse with the reins carried in one hand, leaving the other hand free for a weapon.  Riders performed figure-eights and transitions (changes in gaits) to prove their communication with their mounts.  We then took up weapons and demonstrated the games.   In Gunnarr’s words, all riders passed the authorizations “with flying colors.”

Mark and Dolly Behead the Enemy:

 Noel and Sioux Tilt the Rings:

Kirsten and Pierre Pointelle Gallop the Reed Chop:

We put our horses and equipment away and reconvened in the barn.  Bathory Rose brought forth examples of her beautiful horse barding and caparisons.  The patient Pierre Pointelle (made even more agreeable by Rachel’s endless apple supply) modeled the exquisite equine garb.

Mark, Kirsten and the Endess Hills contingent then joined Margarita, Bera, and Snaebjorn at the fairgrounds to discuss layout and scheduling for the upcoming Siege of Glengary.   The site is perfect and the autocrat is amazing.  We equestrians invite you join us in September… and for all the practices leading up to an unforgetably good time!

Click here for the slideshow