Blue Spur Curriculum: Cutting from the Falsemount
What is a falsemount?
Our falsemounts are simply wooden horses from which we can safely work on perfecting techniques with steel weapons without the distraction of an animal with a mind of it's own, or the worry of injuring it. Falsemounts don't buck, bite or bolt, and most importantly, don't mind getting accidentally hit with a sword.
For your Blue Spur you will have to demonstrate a number of skills from the falsemount, the first of which is:
Demonstrate proficiency with making all cuts safely and fluidly, in a fashion safe for your mount.
When you are facing forward, your cutting options are limited by your horse's, or your falsemount's, head. The true fendente (vertical descending cut) is not available, and becomes instead a squalembratto, or diagonal cut that descends from one side of your horse's head to the other. Likewise the montante becomes a sottano rising from your knee to the other side of your mount's head. Horizontal tondi (aka mezzani) are possible, but must be delivered high to avoid the horse.
By turning your torso to the side, however, all eight cuts become available, though care must be taken not to allow the follow-through to hit your mount. This means the mounted swordsman has 22 cuts available, eight on each side, and six facing foward. Some are more awkward than others, particularly on the reining hand side. In reality there is never a target directly in front of you, which means all cuts involve some angle of the torso.
For your Blue Spur assessment you will need to show fluidity with the following six cuts: squalembratto, sottano and tondo, as both mandritti and roversi (ie, from the right and left of the body).
What targets are available?
As a mounted warrior you may face opponents who are on the ground as well as those who are mounted. You should be able to deliver cuts that target both of these. Descending cuts are typically most available for mounted opponents, especially if you want to avoid injuring your opponent's horse, but rising as well as descending cuts are useful for opponents on the ground.
What are we looking for?
Since the falsemount is the best place to develop speed and fluidity, we want to see that you are able to deliver as series of related and unrelated cuts moderately quickly (not franticly) and with good flow. The most important criterion, however, is that you do not hit your mount. Always imagine that the falsemount is a real horse, and that any touch with your sword could cause injury, or an unexpected bolt or buck!
We will also be watching your lower body to see that it remains isolated from the movements of your torso. Loose legs or a shifting seat would cause a real horse to move, and you want to make sure that any movement of your horse is intentional, not caused by lack of an independant seat.
Even if you don't have a falsemount at home you can still work on these skills. Find a piece of furnture like a narrow tall backed chair (nothing valuable, please!) and plant yourself behind it in horse stance, legs apart, toes forward, knees bent as if in the saddle. Practise your cuts through all quadrants, moving smoothly and slowly to start, and gradually developing speed. Have a friend watch to see that your hips and knees don't twist as your sword moves from one side to the other. Bonus: horse stance is a great workout for the thighs!
Upcoming Classes & Events
Mounted Games Practice
Friday 11 April, 4:30 - 6:30pm
cost: $10 for use of school horse
Richmond Pony Club is holding a PPG practise this Friday. Cavaliere program members with a minimum of Riding level 1 are invited to join in.
Cavaliere Classes
Sundays 13 & 20 April 1 – 4:30pm
Red Colt Equestrian Farm Co-op, 12320 No 2 Road, Richmond
cost: $60 ea
Instructor: Jennifer Landels
Horsemanship, Riding and sword drills for all levels of riders and swordsmen
prerequisites: none, Intro to Mounted Combat recommended
Bonfire Day(s)!Friday 18 April OR Monday 21 April
Time to burn those piles of brambles. Our target date for burning is the holiday Friday, with the backup date of Monday if the weather is against us. We'll also be doing some improvements to the shedrow as well as other work party chores. Bring your tools, skills, enthusiasm, and marshmallows!
Mounted Combat Skills
Sunday 27 April 1 – 4pm
Academie Duello Centre for Swordplay, 412 W Hastings, Vancouver
cost: $60
Instructor: tba
This indoor Mounted Combat session is a chance to practice your swordplay, spear and wrestling skills from the ground and the falsemount, without the distractions of weather or four-legged creatures.
Horseback Archery - Beginner
Saturday 3 May, 10am - 1pm
Red Colt Equestrian Farm Co-op, 12320 No 2 Road, Richmond BC
cost: $90
Instructor: Robert Borsos
Prerequisites: none
In this three hour workshop you will spend an hour and a half on the ground learning the fundamentals and body mechanics of Hungarian style horse archery. You will then have an opportunity to shoot from both the falsemount (wooden horse) and real horses led by experienced handlers.
This workshop is appropriate for
- beginner archers and riders
- experienced archers who would like to learn to shoot from horseback
- experienced riders who would like to add archery to their repertoire of mounted skills.
Horseback Archery - Intermediate
Saturday 3 May, 10am - 1pm
Red Colt Equestrian Farm Co-op, 12320 No 2 Road, Richmond BC
cost: $60
Instructor: Robert Borsos
Prerequisites: Beginner Horseback Archery plus Riding Level 1 or equivalent
This workshop is intended for those who have already taken Beginner Horseback Archery. We will spend about an hour on the ground refreshing our shooting skills, then move to horseback for the remainder of the workshop.
Intro to Mounted Combat Workshop
Sunday 4 May, 10am – 1pm
Red Colt Equestrian Farm Co-op, 12320 No 2 Road, Richmond
cost: $149
Instructors: Jennifer Landels & tba
A taste of everything in the program. Learn about grooming and tacking up, get some swordplay fundamentals, and ride a horse with sword in hand.
prerequisites: none
Mounted Combat Workshop
Sunday 4 May, 1- 4pm
Red Colt Equestrian Farm Co-op, 12320 No 2 Road, Richmond
cost: $60
Instructor: tba
Swordplay from the ground, the falsemount, and from horseback.
prerequisites: Intro to Mounted Combat or permission from the instructor
Package deals
Cavaliere 4- and 12-packs are available. These packages are valid for all classes offered in the Cavaliere program, as well as for private or semi-private lessons.
4-pack: $200 ($50 per class)
12-pack: $480 ($40 per class)
When you purchase a package you are automatically signed up for all upcoming Cavaliere program classes. If you are unable to make a class and let the front desk know in advance, you will be credited for a future class.
Jennifer Landels heads up Academie Duello's Cavaliere Program. She has been swordfighting since 2008, and riding since before she could walk. She started the program as an excuse to combine those passions. Read more from Jennifer Landels.