Summer is here at last! Don't let the beautiful days slip through your fingers ... get out and on a horse this month! In addition to our regular classes we have added jumping and cross country clinics this month. Look for more clinics next month as well ...

Summer Courses at Red Colt

Jumping Clinic

This clinic is intended for riders who are working on the jumping requirements for Level 3 and Level 4 riding. The hour and a half session will cover gymnastics and course work over crossrails, small oxers, and verticals up to a maximum of 2'6". The length of the clinic will vary from one to two hours, depending on the number of participants (eg: 2 students will take an hour 3-5 will take an hour and a half, and 6 will take two hours).

Sunday 9 July, 2:00 - 3:30pm
cost: $60 + gst
instructor: Kate Landels
prerequisite: Riding Level 2

Cross Country Clinic

For riders who are ready to take jumping to the open fields, this clinic will cover cross country safety, galloping rates, and small obstacles in the fields at Red Colt. Students should have a solid seat and be comfortable galloping in two-point position. Safety vests are mandatory -- some loaners available.

Friday 14 July, 6:30 - 8:00pm
cost $60 + gst
instructor: Kate Landels
prerequisite: Riding Level 3 OR Riding 2 and permission from the instructor

Mounted Combat Fundamentals

This 6-week series of classes is intended to give you the basics of swordplay from the ground to prepare you for fighting from horseback. Participants at this level will practise from the ground and the falsemount to achieve the combat skills needed to attain the rank of Green Spur. Students who have their Riding and Horsemanship Level 1 and who attend all five classes can reasonably expect to attain their Green Spur by the end of the series. Once you have your Green Spur, you can sign up for Intermediate Mounted Combat, and can spar in our regular Playday event, as well as competing in our annual Carosella tournament.

Sundays 1pm – 3pm
16 Jul – 20 Aug
cost: $135 + gst for 6 classes
instructor: Aaron Lamontagne

Beginner Riding & Horsemanship

If you’ve never been on a horse, or if it’s been a long time, here’s the place to start. When you arrive at the barn at 11am, you’ll begin with a horsemanship lesson, familiarizing yourself with the horses and their tack, as well as how to groom, handle and tack them up. Then you will have a riding lesson, working through the requirements of Riding Level 1 — the prerequisite to most of the fun stuff we do on horseback!

Saturdays, 4pm – 6pm
15 Jul – 19 Aug
cost: $300 + gst for 6 classes
instructor: Stephanie Laversin

Riding & Horsemanship Level 2

This course is intended for riders who have taken classes through the program and are comfortable tacking up their own horses. Riders should arrive at 9:30am, to tack up and warm up their horses before starting their riding lessons at 10am, followed by Horsemanship Level 2 or 3 lessons at 11am.

Saturdays, 5pm – 7pm
15 Jul – 19 Aug
cost: $300 + gst for 6 classes
instructor: Stephanie Laversin

Riding Level 3+

This class is intended for independent riders who have achieved Level 2 or higher. Riders are expected to be tacked up and warmed up prior to class. Your own helmets, boots, and half chaps are recommended, as are safety vests for the occasional cross-country class, weather permitting.

Saturdays, 4pm – 5pm
15 Jul – 19 Aug
cost: $200 + gst for 6 classes
instructor: Stephanie Laversin

Horsemanship Level 3

These classes cover the material for Horsemanship Level 3, including grooming, tack-fitting, nutrition, farriery, vet & first aid, conditioning, and shipping. A level 4 assessment is included at the end of the series. These series are only offered around twice a year, so don’t miss it!

Saturdays, 5pm – 6pm
15 Jul – 19 Aug
cost: $100 + gst for 6 classes
instructor: Kate Landels

Mounted Combat Playday

Sunday 2pm – 5pm
13 Aug
cost: $15 + $15 for use of school horse

Come out and practise your mounted games, sparring, and archery in a fun and friendly environment. Prerequisites are Riding Level 1 for mounted games, Riding 1 + Beginner Horseback Archery for archery, and Green Spur for mounted sparring.

Beginner Horseback Archery

Whether you are an expert rider or archer, or a complete beginner at both, this is your starting point. You will spend about an hour and a half on the ground learning the techniques of Hungarian archery from the Kassai school. After that, you will begin shooting from horseback while our handlers lead your mounts past the targets at the walk. Experienced riders may have the option to try shooting at faster paces without handlers if they are competent and comfortable at the walk.

Sunday 6 Aug, 10am – 1pm
cost: $149 + gst
prerequisites: none

Intermediate Horseback Archery

If you have taken our Beginner course previously and have a minimum of Riding Level 1 or the equivalent this course is for you. Riders with Level 1 will walk and trot, Level 2 Riders will be able to shoot at the canter. Last time we practised multiple targets on canter circles — what will we get up to this time?

Sunday 6 Aug, 2pm – 5pm
cost: $75 + gst
prerequisites: Riding Level 1, Beginner Horseback Archery

Ongoing Mounted Combat Mastery classes

These 2-hour sessions focus on the weapons skills needed to progress from Green to Blue Spur. Regular tuition includes classes taken entirely from the ground (no riding skills necessary).
Sundays noon – 2pm
cost: 2 hours tuition
instructors: Jennifer Landels

You can register for classes in person at the front desk, by calling 604 568 9907, or online here.

Mark Your Calendars for Carosella

Registration for Carosella 2017 will be open soon. This three day symposium consists of workshops, lectures, and clinics, in multiple disciplines including spear, bow, sword, and grappling, as well as mounted games, dressage, and horsemanship.

Carosella 2017
Friday 8 - Sunday 11 September
Registrations starts soon!

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.