So you've signed up for a series of four Cavaliere classes, and really all you know is you'll be out at Red Colt for three and a half hours doing something with horses and swords. But how exactly does a Cavaliere Class unfold?

Students in the Cavaliere classes are divided into groups based on their Riding and Horsemanship levels. While one group is riding, another will be grooming and tacking up, and another will be doing a Horsemanship lesson. If you're a beginner, and this is your first class, here's how it's likely to go:

1pm: While the advanced students are having a Riding lesson and the intermediate group is grooming and tacking up their horses, you will be taking part in a Horsemanship lesson that will include:

learning and practising the quick-release knot needed to tie your horse
learning the simple points of the horse, including the near and off side
how to catch and halter your horse
how to safely lead a horse

1:45pm: While the intermediate students are riding and the advanced students are cooling down and untacking their horses, you'll watch and assist your instructors as they groom and tack up horses for your group to ride.

2:30pm: While the intermediate and advanced students are having their Horsemanship lessons you will have your riding lesson. In this first lesson you'll cover:

How to check tack - especially the girth, before mounting.
How to mount and dismount (with assistance if necessary).
How to hold the reins correctly.
How to sit correctly in saddle.
Walk-on and halt (with assistance if necessary).
How to lead your horse correctly.
Practice mounting, dismounting and leading in hand.

Riding lessons are very fluid. If you are progressing well we often move past the curriculum and onto more advanced work. Likewise, if you are struggling with an aspect of the lesson we may take more time to approach it differently, or we may leave it for another day. We always try to end the lessons on a positive note.

3:15pm: At this point everyone helps untack, groom, and clean up the barn in preparation for sword drills.

3:45pm: You'll spend the last 45 minutes of class in the larger group working longsword drills based on the month's curriculum, using either steel or nylon training swords.

The Horsemanship Curriculum

It takes three weeks to work through the Horsemanship Level 1 curriculum, and on the fourth week most people are ready to assess Horsemanship 1. The above description relates to what we'll be teaching this Sunday, October 20th. For the remainder of the series, the topics are:

Sunday October 27th

Grooming
Parts of saddle & bridle
Tacking up
Untacking & cleaning the bit

Sunday November 10th

Basic feeding
Stabling: needs, habits, likes & dislikes of horse
Safety review
Review of the quick-release knot

The Riding Curriculum is 12 weeks long, although some people are ready to assess Level 1 sooner, particularly if they have had prior riding experience.

Sunday November 17th is assessment day. There is a short written quiz for Horsemanship, followed by a one-on-one practical exam. Riding is tested in a group. Not everyone tests on each assessment day, and those that aren't being examined will have regular Horsemanship and Riding lessons.

Upcoming Series

Dates & Times:
Sunday 20 October: 1:00-4:30pmSunday 27 October: 3:00-6:30pm
Sunday 10 November: 1:00 - 4:30pm
Sunday 17 November: 1:00 - 4:30pm

Cost:
$60 per session
$200 for four sessions

Location:
Red Colt Equestrian Farm Co-op
12320 No 2 Road, Richmond

To sign up for Cavaliere Classes contact the front desk at 604 568 9907.

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.