In 1862 Brigadier General Phillip Cooke compiled “Cooke’s Cavalry Tactics” to educate and train cavalry horsemen.  Sir Wulfric Peverel of Meridies rewrote the relevent portions of the manual for SCA Equestrian use.  Click here to enjoy!

Tags: , Barding, Medieval, SCA, Society for creative anachronism, aethelmearc, authorization, brigadier general, caparison, cavalry, costume, drill, drill team, equestrian, equitation, garb, joust, jousting, knight, meridies, middle ages, phillip Cooke, renaissance, shire, sylvan glen, war horse, warhorse, wulfric peverel

Mother nature challenged Sylvan Glen’s equestrians once again on authorization day!  Gale force winds howled through spring’s sunshine and deep mud, knocking over equipment and carrying conversations away.  Our intrepid equestrians refused to be swayed and gathered on the fields of honor at the Bower farm.

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

Tags: Barding, Medieval, SCA, Siege of Glengary, Society for creative anachronism, aethelmearc, authorization, caparison, costume, equestrian, equitation, garb, joust, jousting, knight, middle ages, renaissance, shire, sylvan glen, 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