Tag Archives: medieval

Authorizations Scheduling Change

Posted on February 19, 2009 by admin

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.

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Sylvan Glen Equestrian Practices

Posted on February 1, 2009 by admin

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.

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Equestrian at Siege of Glengary

Posted on January 9, 2009 by admin

Equestrian events are returning to Siege of Glengary in the Shire of Sylvan Glen!
Yippeee! Thank you Margarita for your persistance in securing the site we’ve dreamed of since the Lazy A days!Equestrian events are fun to participate in and exciting to watch. Our
magnificent steeds carry us back to the very roots of chivalry and the
dream we continue to create. As we thunder towards towards September,
please let me know how you would like to be involved.

If you ride, we can help you get started with the games. If you love
horses, being a groundcrewsman is a wonderful way to get your feet
wet, and again, we can get you going.

Your input will help us shape the road to Glengary. How can we help
you further the dream?

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Welcome Luna

Posted on December 31, 2008 by admin

Luna and her soon-to-be-born Gypsy Sport Horse foal joined our family on winter solstice this year.

Luna Spotted Draft in foal to Gypsy Cob Stallion Jack FLash

Luna Spotted Draft in foal to Gypsy Stallion Jack Flash

Luna had been through four owners since April, through no fault of her own. Luna is a 4 year-old Spotted Draft mare, small despite her Shire blood. She’s sweet, sound and healthy, like so many equine victims of today’s economy.  A foreclosure loomed large in Luna’s recent past, as well as a cancer situation.  She was huge with foal and facing uncertainty with her now-trademark Mona Lisa smile.

We needed another horse like a fish needs a bicycle but Luna needed a safe place to foal.  As has become our mantra during this challenging season in our country, it’s not about what we need but about what needs us.

The sire of Luna’s baby is Jack Flash, a registered Gypsy Cob stallion imported from the UK.  (His owner took the original picture at their Dakota Winds Ranch, and Susan Gallien at Blue Moon Gypsies worked her magic to photoshop the wire fence out of the foreground.)

Jack Flash Gypsy Stallion

Both Luna and the foal will go through our foundational program in classical dressage and natural horsemanship before they specialize.  I can see Luna as a great little all-around mare- fox chasing, local shows and events, dressage… and of course donning garb for medieval reenactments.

Right now it matters not if we are just the open door to their happily-ever-after home.  Luna is happily munching hay on this blustery winter day, Mona Lisa smile keeping her foaling time secret, watched over by people who love her.

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From Jessie Doernberger, Globetrotter

Posted on November 21, 2008 by Kirsten

In 2007, I left the country for half a year, forcing me to find a barn for my four-year-old Oldenburg gelding, Volly. As I’d owned this horse since he was a fetus, I was outstandingly picky: he needed tons of turnout; he needed a place where he would be cared for properly, and he needed correct, classical riding that would keep him progressing towards being a respectable dressage horse without pushing him too hard. Also, I needed to be able to afford board.
I had no idea where I would find such a place, until I had the idea of tracking down Kirsten. She had taught me from when I was eight until I was eighteen, from when I couldn’t canter until I could comfortably perform in eventing, dressage, and showjumping. I had always respected and enjoyed her methods of teaching both horses and riders, and I knew she was someone I could trust to provide superb care for my horse and to train him excellently.

I managed to find Kirsten, and I shipped Volly from Connecticut to West Virginia so that he could stay there for the half-year I was away. (In the end, he stayed closer to a year). The first time I visited him, I was thrilled: he was soft, responsive, and full of impulsion; he was receiving correct, balanced training; he wasn’t being asked to do more than a four-year-old should. Most importantly to me, Volly was obviously incredibly happy: he was calm, composed, and confident.

I’ve recently had to move Volly so that I can ride him more than occasionally. Because of his time with Kirsten, he is now a pleasure to ride: light, responsive, impulsive, correct, and, most importantly, happy to do his job every day.

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Horseback Trip Cost Calculator

Posted on October 24, 2008 by admin

Nothing beats trailering to off-the-farm field trips for increasing a horse’s confidence and competencies… and nothing is more fun!

We just discovered this trip cost calculator.  How cool!  Our F350 didn’t show up in their automatic fields, but they allow you to enter your own information.

Before you hitch up your horse trailer and load your tack and your horse for a clinic, horse show, or trail ride, plug in your stats. You’ll find out how much fuel you’ll use, how much it’ll cost, and even where to find cheap gas and diesel along the way!

What’s big horsey adventures are YOU planning?  Share your plans in our comments!

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Recent Anne 340 Photos

Posted on October 22, 2008 by admin

Tonia, Gracie’s breeder, is a wonderful correspondent! These photos of Grace’s sire Anne 340 greeted me from my inbox this morning.

Tonia bred Hillie, Grace’s mom, back to Anne 340 last spring. We agree it is a wonderful cross!

anne 340 friesian stallion

Anne 340 Friesian Stallion

anne 340 friesian stallion trot

Anne 340 Trotting Loose

anne 340 frisian stallion spanish walk in hand

Anne 340 Spanish Walk In Hand

anne 340 friesian stallion spanish walk

Anne 340 Spanish Walk Bareback

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Natural Horse for Sale Sites

Posted on October 20, 2008 by admin

While updating our resource of “Horse for Sale” websites over at wvhorsetrainer.com, we found a new site showcasing classified ads of naturally trained horses.

We’ve thought about hosting free classified ads for the natural horsemanship community here at Horses…Naturally! I’m always reluctant to feature anything I haven’t seen “with my own eyes,” and this includes thousands of strangers’ horses!

On the other hand, it could be a valuable resource to connect natural horsemen and women with their equine partners-to-be, and to help good horses find homes fluent in natural horsemanship.

So, dear readers, sound off! Would you like to see a corner of our site dedicated to naturally trained horses for sale? We could We love to hear your opinions!

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Ailenor’s Equestrian Practice

Posted on October 8, 2008 by admin

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:

Lucy, 5 yo TB mare for sale, cross-trains at an SCA medieval equestrian practice

 

Lucy, all around TB mare for sale, cross trains at an SCA equestrian practice

Lucy, all around TB mare for sale, jousting at the quintain

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!

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New Trails, New Partnership

Posted on September 16, 2008 by admin

Suzi invited us trail riding at Stoney Creek Farm when we first met Mikey, our large, lovely TB gelding. Today needed to bring home Cricket, the 6 year old appendix Quarter Horse mare. We used the extra trailer space to transform this task into an adventure! I had the tack loaded in the horse trailer when Mark got home from work. In loaded Dolly and Gideon, and off we went.

What a ride we had! The sudden crispness in the air out Dolly on edge. Natural horse training methods put a variety of tools in our mental tack trunk to quickly engage her mind and her movement. Clicker training speeds the process and enhances results even more.

Gideon, on the other hand, sauntered off the trailer and down the trail like the pro he is rapidly becoming. Suzi was out of town, but Phyllis joined us riding Cricket.

We couldn’t have asked for a nicer ride! The beautifully mown trails meandered through thick forest. The horses wound through the trees and scaled strength-building hills.

New experiences in new places builds precious confidence in our young horses. Today’s gorgeous scenery kept us humans oohing and ahhing and thoroughly enjoying every new twist in the trail! We got to see Cricket doing what she does best: happily moving down the trail and showing the less experienced horses how it’s done. Cricket has enjoyed success in the horse show ring, but truly loves the trails. We’re excited to welcome her into the family!

We gave Phyllis a thank-you bottle of Monavie. Monavie gave Mark and I relief from the constant pain of back issues, overuse, and old injuries. We feel Monavie is the biggest gift we can share!

Tomorrow I’ll post Cricket’s pedigree and pictures. Tonight she grazes peacefully under a full autumn moon.

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