Horsemanship Level 4: Mounted Games It is possible to progress through our Riding and Horsemanship curricula without ever taking up mounted combat, and some people do this. However, we think you're missing out on a lot of the fun as well as on the riding skills that mounted games build. So even though we test…
Read More... from Get Your Game On: Incorporating Mounted Games
The weather was perfect, the horses were mellow, and the students all left with smiles on their faces after our day of Horseback Archery with Robert Borsos of Borsos Torzs Horse Archery. The beginners started the day by learning Hungarian archery from foot, before we mounted them up on friendly school horses with handlers for some shooting…
Riding Level 4: Dropping the Reins There are many times dropping the reins is useful or necessary in mounted combat. Historical manuals show pommel strikes, grappling, cross-bow, off-hand, and half-sword plays at walk and canter. And, of course, horseback archery is always done without a hand on the reins. Some images show the reins looped through the…
Read More... from Relinquishing Control? Dropping the Reins at all Paces
We're delighted to welcome back Robert Borsos of Borsos Torsz Horse Archery for another day of workshops on Sunday May 7th! The Beginner workshop is suitable for riders and archers of all levels from those who've never held a bow or sat upon a horse on up. The Intermediate workshop is for those who have…
Read More... from Shooting from the Saddle: Horseback Archery Returns May 7th
It's that time of year again! As the furry coats are shedding out, we shift our class times to take advantage of lingering daylight. This means Riding & Horsemanship classes move to Saturdays from 4pm onward, starting this Saturday, April 22nd. Mounted Combat mastery classes and Mounted Combat Fundamentals remain on Sundays starting at noon. …
A new path to Mastery? Well, and old one really, but one we've renamed it. Weekly Mounted Combat classes are now known as Mounted Combat Mastery, and you can use the same tuition credits you use for Rapier and Longsword Mastery classes. Here are the answers to a few frequently asked questions to get you…
Riding Level 4: Single-handed Reining For Level 3 you were asked to demonstrate single-handed reining at a walk, trot, and canter. For Level 4 we also want to see: 8. Single hand reining. Control & confidence at all paces. Turns, halts. This Level 3 blog post covers the mechanics of single-handed reining. For Level 4 we…
Riding Level 4: Forward Movement pt II Last week, we looked at forward movement. This week we'll look at the remainder of checkbox #7 in your Level 4 riding assessment: the free walk and work on a loose rein. The Free Walk A free walk on a loose rein is a common element of dressage…
Riding Level 4: Forward Movement As we go up in levels, the checkbox summaries on the assessment sheets begin to sound a bit like code. 7. Ability in forward movement. Free walk. Walk, trot on loose rein. In this section, we are looking at your ability to ride the horse with impulsion and some degree…
Yes! We may have been snowed out for our regularly scheduled Playday on February 5th, so we've thumbed our noses at the weather and the schedule alike, and will hold it on March 5th instead. No need to register in advance: just show up. Mounted games and mounted sparring right after Mounted Combat Class. Bring…
Riding Level 4: the Leg Yield Item 6 of the Level 4 checklist seems quite full: 6. Turns, circles. Trot, canter. Knowledge of canter leads. Leg yield at trot. However, you already know your turns, circles and canter leads, which you can review in previous posts. At this level, we will be looking for accurate…
Happy Valentine's Day, from some of our favourite kissable faces. Photos taken at Red Colt Co-op by Double Exposure Photography (aka Is & El). A reminder that there is no swordplay at the barn this weekend due to VISS. However, Riding & Horsemanship classes are on! Upcoming Classes NEW! Ongoing Mounted Combat Skills Beginning…
Riding Level 4: Transitions Before you read this post, review the Level 3 post on the Half Halt. You will want all this information to be second nature by now, as we look at the next Level 4 checklist item: 5. Effectiveness and use of Aids. Transitions. Halt. Salute At this level, we will not…
Read More... from Forward to Halt: Effective Use of the Aids
Riding Level 4: Rhythm and Independent Work Cast your mind back to many years ago on this blog when I first discussed the training pyramid and its base layer, rhythm. In your Level 4 exam we are looking for 4. All paces, feel of rhythm. Independent work. In Level 3 we wanted you to demonstrate…
Riding Level 4: Position & Balance At Riding Level 1 we are only looking for basic control of the horse and don't mark you on your position. At Level 2 we want to see an adequate basic seat position at walk and trot, but don't mark your canter position, and at Level 3 we are…
To acquire the Green Spur, the first rank of the Mounted Combat program, in addition to Horsemanship and Riding Level 1, you will need to be assessed on the Green Spur Mounted Combat skills. These include Swordplay from the Ground, Swordplay Knowledge, and Mounted Combat Knowledge. The knowledge sections are covered in past sections of…
Due to the un-Vancouverish weather we've been having lately, we have decided to delay the start of the next cycle of courses in the Mounted Combat Program. The riding arena is currently in a semi-frozen state that makes it slippery on top and rock-hard underneath, leaving it unsafe for both horses and riders. This change…
I hate New Year's resolutions. They don't stick, and they end up making you feel guilty before you even flip the calendar to February. But I do like goals. Especially goals that are useful and achievable all year round. And whether you like New Year's resolutions or not, January is a great time to peer…