Welcome to Academie Cavallo!

2020 marks ten years since Devon, Adam, and I started the Mounted Combat (Cavaliere) program at Academie Duello.  And now, as of this summer, the program has a life of its own as Academie Cavallo!

Aside from the awesome new logo (thanks to my talented daughter Kate Landels), payment and registration for classes in the program will now go through the Academie Cavallo site. Not all courses are available for online registration yet, so if you don't see the course you want, shoot me an email at info@academiecavallo.ca and I can get you set up manually.

In addition to the hybrid classes introduced last month, there will soon be distance learning courses available through the website.  I expect to have those fully rolled out by August. In the meantime, those of you who aren't able to come to the barn in person can still take the online portions of Horsemanship classes held on Discord and I'm teaching  two online workshops this month (see below).

In-person courses are continuing (see schedule below), and we will continue to honour Academie Duello tuition credits for Mastery Classes. We are still a sister school with close ties to Duello, and you can expect to see plenty of instructor and student crossover.

Saturday 4 July, 3pm PDT
In this by donation online workshop Chris and I will demonstrate Fiore's seven armed mounted grappling plays, and include methods of working through them with or without horses. Find a partner you don't mind sharing space with, and get ready to be up close and personal! If you are by yourself, you can still learn some awesome stuff about fighting from horseback, and plot ahead for the time when grappling partners abound once more.  I'm donating all the proceeds of this workshop.  Half will go towards Academie Duello's #SaveOurSwords GoFundMe campaign, and the other half to WAVAW (Women Against Violence Against Women) Rape Crisis Centre to support survivors of sexual violence.

You can register for the event here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUoduCvrzIjE9JWshqKOb3UO6TNNxtqtEpv

Saturdays 11 July - 8 Aug, noon PDT
This five-week series is part of an incredibly exciting collaboration I'm involved with, University of the Sword.  Over five weeks you can take part in online workshops with Sean Hayes of Northwest Fencing Academy, Greg Mele of Chicago Swordplay Guild, Scott Farrell of Chivalry Today, Devon Boorman from Academie Duello, and me.  My date is July 25th, but I hope you'll take advantage of this free series to get a taster of all five schools.

You can register for all five dates here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIudeiqrz4tGtB3AFRYNKIrxTslocCTslb7

Beginner Riding & Horsemanship
Sundays 11am – 1pm, 5 – 26 July
Online chat: Saturdays 10:30am – 11:30am, 11 & 25 July
cost: $250+gst
Instructor: Eleanor Landels

If you have taken Beginner Riding & Horsemanship, or if you are comfortable at the walk and trot and are able to groom, tack up, and untack a horse on your own, you may be eligible to take Level 2.  Call us at 604 304 0201 or email info@academiecavallo.ca if you’re unsure if this is the right class for you.  Riding work includes walk, trot, and canter on the flat and over poles.  Horsemanship material is similar to Level 1 but more in-depth. Includes access to our online materials, plus two bonus live chat horsemanship discussions over Discord.

Riding & Horsemanship Level 2
Sundays 10am – noon, 5 – 26 July
Online lectures: Saturdays 10:30am – 11:30am, 11 & 25 July
cost: $250+gst
Instructor: Isabel Landels

Riding Level 3

This class is for riders who are comfortable at walk, trot, and canter, and wanting to move on to jumping and/or more advanced dressage.  Riding level three is required for the Blue Spur.

Riding Level 3
Sundays 10am – 11am, 5 – 26 July
cost: $190+gst
or add Horsemanship Level 3 for $60
Prerequisite: Riding Level 2
Instructor: Isabel Landels

This course is taught in four online sessions and two in-person sessions over the course of two months.  Topics include stable & pasture, feeding, trailering, foot & shoeing, cooling out, signs of good health, first aid, and when to call the vet.  Horsemanship Level 4 is a requirement for the Blue Spur, or third level of the Mounted Combat program

Horsemanship Level 4
Sundays noon – 1pm, 19 July & 16 August
Online lectures: Mondays 7pm – 8pm, 13-27 July, 10 Aug
cost: $100+gst
or add to Riding Level 3+ for $60
Instructor: Isabel Landels

Online Only Horsemanship
Take any of the level 1, 2, or 4 Horsemanship sessions for $10 per class, or buy a punch card of 10 for $80.

This three-class series designed to train you in the fundamentals of swordplay for horseback, takes place every second week over five weeks.  No prior experience is required.

Mounted Combat Fundamentals
Sundays 1pm – 3:30pm, 7, 21 June, 5 July
cost: $159+gst or $70 per class
Instructor: Dave Wayne

Designed for sword practitioners at the apprentice (Green Cord or Green Spur) level, this class covers the swordplay skills you’ll need to assess for your Blue Spur, and gives insight into how swordplay alters from the ground to the horse.

Mounted Combat Green Spur Class
1st & 3rd Sunday of the month
cost: $50 per class, or two tuition credits
Instructor: Dave Wayne

If you have your Green Spur or higher, come and join us on horseback to work on swordplay, riding, games, and sparring skills.  Those without Level 1 Riding are welcome to join us on the ground for on-foot versions of the plays and drills.  Limit of 6 participants per class till future notice.

Mounted Combat Mastery
2nd & 4th Sunday of the month
cost: $75 per class, or three tuition credits
Instructor: Jennifer Landels

More details on tuition packages to come. If you have paid Academie Duello tuition for June you are still welcome to use those credits for Academie Cavallo classes.

All classes take place at Cornwall Ridge Farm, 21955 16 Ave in Langley. 

I hope to see you soon, either on-screen or on horseback!