The days are just a little shorter and cooler, and the horses' coats are have gone from sleek to velvety, but there is still plenty of great riding weather left. Here are the fall riding and swordplay opportunities on offer through the Mounted Combat Program.
Upcoming Courses
To register for courses see the workshops calendar
Beginner Riding & Horsemanship
If you've never been on a horse, or if its been a long time, here's the place to start. When you arrive at the barn at 10am 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!
Sundays 10am - noon
25 September - 30 October 2016
cost: $300 + gst for 6 classes
instructor: Jennifer Landels
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
Sundays 10am - noon
25 September - 30 October 2016
cost: $300 + gst for 6 classes
instructor: Jennifer Landels
Horsemanship Level 3-4
If you have your Level 2 Horsemanship and wish to delve deeper into horse care including topics such as trailering, vet & first aid, bandaging, foot & shoeing and conditioning this class is for you.
Sundays 10:30am - 11:30am
25 September - 30 October 2016
cost: $130 + gst for 6 classes
instructor: Kate Landels
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. Own helmets, boots, and half chaps are recommended, as are safety vests for the occasional cross-country class, weather permitting.
Sundays noon - 1pm
25 September - 30 October 2016
cost: $200 + gst for 6 classes
instructor: Jennifer Landels
Intermediate Mounted Combat
For students who have their Green Spur or higher, this class focusses on longsword drills and sparring from the ground and horseback, as well as mounted games, grappling, and spear.
Sundays 1pm - 3pm
25 September - 30 October 2016
*note: no class 2 October
cost: $160 + gst for 5 classes
instructor: Jennifer Landels
Mounted Combat Fundamentals
This class covers the longsword skills from the ground and falsemount necessary for the first rank of the program, the Green Spur.
Sundays 1:30pm - 3pm
25 September - 30 October 2016
*note: no class 2 October
cost: $120 + gst for 5 classes
instructor: tba
Mounted Combat Playday
Come and put your skills to the test! This is an opportunity to practise your mounted games, archery, and sparring in friendly competition.
Sunday 1pm - 4:00pm
2 October & 4 December
cost: $15 + $15 for use of school horse
prerequisite: Riding Level 1
Register here
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.