The weather outside is frightful, but that doesn't stop hardy Canadian mares (and girls)! If you have a Mounted Combat Membership and a few days off this week don't let the weather stop you -- come on down and get cuddly with one of our furry beasts. They'll be happy to see you, especially if…
Who doesn’t want a pony for Christmas? Give the next best thing with a six-week course of Riding & Horsemanship at Red Colt Farm, where students learn to care for and ride Academie Duello’s gentle school horses. If the thought of knighthood lights up your loved-one’s eyes, include the Mounted Combat Fundamentals course for only…
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Riding Level 4: Mounting, Dismounting, and Stirrups The second item on the Riding Level 4 assessment is 2. Mount - Dismount. Adjust stirrups mounted. Obviously, by the time you've reached level 4, you already know how to mount and dismount. However, now we expect you to do so smoothly and lightly. Mounting You may use…
Riding Level 4: Turnout Just as we start marking you for your turnout in Horsemanship Level 4, we are expecting a minimum level of grooming and presentation in Riding Level 4 as well. Turn Out. Horse & Rider. AD shirt, boots, breeches, helmet, gloves We're not looking for shadbellies or show jackets, but at this…
Our new Mounted Combat memberships are live starting today, which means members are now able to sign up for practice rides and our new Mounted Combat Practice nights. But, you ask, what exactly happens at a Mounted Combat Practice? Mounted Combat Practice Basically, these Monday evenings are the MC Program equivalent of Open Floor: an…
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Last week we rolled out our new Mounted Combat Membership with a special offer: buy your 2017 membership before the end of October and get November and December benefits for free. So what exactly are those benefits? Here are the details ... Mounted Combat Membership 10% Discount on Mounted Combat Program Courses This includes: Riding…
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Riding Level 4 Overview Now that I've covered all the Level 4 Horsemanship material for the Red Spur rank, I'll be moving on to Riding Level 4. To give you an overview, here's your checklist: Turn Out. Horse & Rider. AD shirt, boots, breeches, helmet, gloves. Mount - Dismount. Adjust stirrups, mounted. Position & Balance.…
Horsemanship Level 4: Saddlery pt III Finally (yes, it's been a couple of months!) the last part of the Horsemanship Level 4 requirements is demonstrating how to correctly put on and remove a horse blanket. First take a look at these two videos, the first of Ali & Noah from Help! My Daughter Loves Horses! and…
No time to write a post this week. Instead, enjoy some Carosella 2016 photos courtesy of Double Exposure Photography. Double Exposure Photography is Eleanor & Isabel Landels. For more of their photos see their Facebook page. There are more Carosella photos that have not yet been sorted. If you'd like pictures of yourself, email me…
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…
What an amazing weekend! The skies were blue, the temperature was perfect, the horses were on their best behaviour, and the participants were incredible at Carosella 2016. On Friday the focus was on Horsemanship, Riding, and Mounted Combat Skills -- ie, the core tracks of our Mounted Combat Program. For Horsemanship we had Diane Prosser…
Online registration closes today for Carosella! As our major event for the year, Carosella is your last (and sometimes only) chance to participate in some workshops and events in 2016, including: Intro to Mounted Combat Horseback Archery Classical Riding Clinics (only 1 space left!) Prix Fiore workshop Bandaging & Equine First Aid Clinics Ballet at the Barn Grooms'…
Carosella 2016, our full three-day symposium of mounted combat, horseback archery, skill-at-arms, and horsemanship, is coming up fast. This once-a-year event is an unparallelled chance to immerse yourself in these ancient arts. Whether you're an experienced rider and martial artist, or completely new to it all, there is plenty to engage you all weekend. If…
More Ephemera from Europe More strange, wonderful, and weird horsey finds from my travels around Europe. Back to regular blogging next week! -- Jen The Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History - Brussels Walking into the this museum in Brussels, you'd think Belgian military history began with Napoleon (Major Wes, this one's…
Ephemera from the Old Countries No formal blog post this week since I'm on holiday, but here are a few horsey things of interest from the UK and Germany. -- Jen The Suffolk Punch Trust Dover Castle British Museum Early European Collection Brabants at the Belgian border Upcoming Classes Riding & Horsemanship Classes Get…
This week I visited the Suffolk Punch Trust in Woodbridge, UK. The Suffolk Punch is the oldest registered horse breed in England, being first recorded as the Suffolk Sorrel in the 16th century. This magnificent animal is a heavy-bodied, medium-height draught horse, bred for farm work and hauling. Its broad chest, steep shoulder, and uphill build…
Registration for Carosella 2016 will be open in a matter of days! This year we have new workshops and demos including Garrocha, Natural Horsemanship, and an all-Canadian Horse Drill Team, as well as Horseback Archery, Mounted Sparring, Classical Riding, Mounted Games, and our exciting Sunday tournament! Now it's time to answer some of those frequently…
Horsemanship Level 4: Saddlery pt II For Level 4 Horsemanship you will need to be able to fit not just your own tack, but other common parts of saddlery as well. This week we'll consider nosebands. Why a noseband? The variety of nosebands used today is a relatively modern invention. Mediaeval and early modern riders…