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Tag Archives: equestrian
Flymasking the Un-halterable, Headshy Horse
You remember the story of belling the cat. We were handed a similar scenario…
The challenge: To put a flymask on a horse who is not halter-trained and is known to be headshy.
The solution: Clicker Training to the rescue!
Crockett is an Appy gelding, part of the PMU rescue herd we are currently helping with. His pale face and light skin require protection from sunburn and the torment of flies. A long-nose flymask is a simple solution, but Crockett was headshy and unhalterable. I clipped on my treat bag and began.
The scene unfolded like clockwork. Crockett’s pasturemates, Gypsy and Betty, abandoned us for the comfort and shade of the loafing shed. No worries about other horses mugging us for treats!
Crockett immediately conncted the audible “click” with the treat that followed. We began racing forward one baby step at a time. I held out the mask. After a minute he checked it out with his muzzle. Click! After several successful repetitions I upped the standard. It was no longer enough just to touch the mask. He got a little frustrated and tossed his head-and happened to rub his head from his eyes to his muzzle along the mask. Click!
We continued on in this fashion. Solidify a step. Add another level of trust. Before too long the mask was on- and so ill-fitting! Off came the mask and I tried another one. Baby steps again, and a few minutes later the new mask was on. Sigh-too small. I rummaged around in the barn and found a few more masks to try.
This glitch was not a frustration, but an opportunity for reinforcement. Each successful masking solidified both my newfound communication with Crockett and his victory over being headshy. I found a mask that fit a little better and sent him off into the herd.
When I finished my sessions with Gyspy and Betty, I walked out to visit with the others. Crockett saw me, pricked up his ears, and threaded his way through his pasture mates to join me. I call that a double success!
Posted in clicker training
Tagged advice, Appaloosa, appy, cavaletti, challenge course, crossrail, equestrian, equine, ground drive, horse, horse whisperer, horsemanship, horses, natural, natural horse, natural horse training, natural horse training methods, natural horsemanship, naturally, operant conditioning, pmu, premarin, principle, principles, rescue, tip, tips, trail obstacles, training
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SCA Cavalry Demo- Atlantian Knights
On May 15, 2009, members of the Lance of the Argent Bear and House de Montfort, all denizens of the fair kingdom of Atlantia, created a medieval demo for the fortunate students of Shoal Berry Intermediate School in Duncan, SC.
The riders were competing for the honor of becoming the Queen of Camelot’s champion. About 150 students were divided into groups to cheer for their chosen knight. Who reigned victorious? Watch and find out!
Many thanks to sommerbrendan for posting this footage!
Posted in Event Report, Photos/Video, SCA
Tagged atlantia, cavalty, dark ages, destrier, equestrian, equitation, horse, horsemanship, knight, medieval, pig sticking, queen, reed chop, renaissance, sca, society for creative anachronism, tilt, tilting, tilting at rings, video, war, war horse, warhorse
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Sylvan Glen Equestrian Authorization
Mother nature challenged Sylvan Glen’s equestrians once again on authorization day! Gale force winds howled through spring’s sunshine and deep mud, knocking over equipment and carrying conversations away. Our intrepid equestrians refused to be swayed and gathered on the fields of honor at the Bower farm.
An Imposing Silhouette: Rachel and Pierre Pointelle, Scott and Cassandra, and Lady Banshee
Lord Gunnarr and Lady Banshee traveled down from Endless Hills to conduct authoriztions and direct the merry mayhem. Lady Bathory Rose accompanied them. Participating equestrians were: Scott, Noel, Rachel, Mark and Kirsten. Paticipating equines were: Cassandra, Sioux, Dolly,and Pierre Pointelle. Rosamund ground crewed– thanks Rosamund! The newborn colt studied the grown warhorses from his lookout in the roundpen and impressed us all with his levade (a controlled rear used during mounted warfare as defense against artillery and elephant warriors.)
The authorization process first tests the rider’s control of the horse with the reins carried in one hand, leaving the other hand free for a weapon. Riders performed figure-eights and transitions (changes in gaits) to prove their communication with their mounts. We then took up weapons and demonstrated the games.  In Gunnarr’s words, all riders passed the authorizations “with flying colors.”
Mark and Dolly Behead the Enemy:
 Noel and Sioux Tilt the Rings:
Kirsten and Pierre Pointelle Gallop the Reed Chop:
We put our horses and equipment away and reconvened in the barn. Bathory Rose brought forth examples of her beautiful horse barding and caparisons. The patient Pierre Pointelle (made even more agreeable by Rachel’s endless apple supply) modeled the exquisite equine garb.
Mark, Kirsten and the Endess Hills contingent then joined Margarita, Bera, and Snaebjorn at the fairgrounds to discuss layout and scheduling for the upcoming Siege of Glengary.  The site is perfect and the autocrat is amazing. We equestrians invite you join us in September… and for all the practices leading up to an unforgetably good time!
Click here for the slideshow
Posted in Barding, Event Report, Photos/Video, Sylvan Glen Equestrian
Tagged aethelmearc, authorization, Barding, caparison, costume, equestrian, equitation, garb, joust, jousting, knight, medieval, middle ages, renaissance, sca, Shire, Siege of Glengary, society for creative anachronism, sylvan glen, war horse, warhorse
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Birth Announcement!
Luna the spotted draft mare delivered a spirited, strapping colt in the wee hours of the morning. Both mama and baby are doing great!
The colt’s daddy is Jack Flash, a Gypsy cob stallion imported from the UK. This particular cross gave a 2% chance of producing a chestnut tobiano, yet that describes him! He looks like a miniature war horse with a perfect chanfron-shaped blaze. The foal will be registered as a Gypsy Sport Horse.
We are tossing around name ideas, playing with baby and doting on mama, We look forward to a future full of adventures in trail riding, medieval reenacting, dressage, eventing, and just horsing around. It all begins with a natural horsemanship foundation!
We wish you all a Happy April Foals Day!
Posted in foals, Luna
Tagged baby, dressage, equestrian, equine, eventing, foal, foal picture, fox chasing, fox hunting, gypsy cob, gypsy horse, gypsy sport horse, gypsy vanner, horse, horse rescue, hunter, jack flash, jumper, medieval reenacting, natural horsemanship, photo, photos, picture, pictures, sca, society for creative anachronism, trail riding
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War Horse Foal- Birth Announcement!
We are so excited to announce the birth of our newest war horse! Luna the spotted draft/ Shire mare delivered a spirited, strapping colt to welcome in April Fools Day. Both mama and baby are doing great!
The colt’s sire is Jack Flash, a Gypsy cob stallion imported from the UK. The foal will be registered as a Gypsy Sport Horse. He is a rare chestnut tobiano, and sports a perfect chanfron-shaped blaze! We are not sure what color his eyes will end up.
We are tossing around name ideas, playing with baby and doting on mama, We look forward to a future full of adventures in trail riding, medieval reenacting, dressage, eventing, and just horsing around.
We wish you all a Happy April Foals Day!
Posted in Joust for Fun
Tagged colt, courser, destrier, draft, draft horse, draught, equestrian, foal, gypsy cob, gypsy horse, gypsy sport horse, gypsy vanner, horse, horsemanship, joust, jousting, knight, medieval, medieval destrier, medieval equestrian, medieval equestrian games, medieval equine, medieval horse, medieval horsemanship, medieval joust, medieval jousting, medieval knight, medieval mounted games, medieval tournament, medieval warhorse, middle ages, middle ages destrier, middle ages equestrian, middle ages equestrian games, middle ages equine, middle ages horse, middle ages horsemanship, middle ages joust, middle ages jousting, middle ages knight, middle ages mounted games, middle ages tournament, middle ages warhorse, palfrey, rouncy, sca, sca destrier, sca equestrian, sca equestrian games, sca equine, sca horse, sca horsemanship, sca joust, sca jousting, sca knight, sca mounted games, sca tournament, sca warhorse, Shire, society for creative anachronism, spotted, tournament, war horse, warhorse
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Foal Announcement
Happy April Foals Day! Luna the mystery mare gave birth to a strapping colt in the wee hours of the morning. Mama and baby are hale and hearty.
The colt is a Gypsy Sport Horse by Jack Flash, a registered tri-color stallion inported from the UK. He is a beautiful chestnut tobiano color with a chanfron-shaped blaze (the chanfron is the face armor used by medieval knights on their horses). He already needs to crouch to nurse. He’s gonna be a tank!
We look forward to a fun future of trail riding, medieval reenacting, dressage, eventing, fox chasing and adventuring, based on a natural horsemanship foundation.
Welcome to the world, wee little colt!
Posted in Farm Updates
Tagged baby, dressage, equestrian, equine, eventing, foal, foal picture, fox chasing, fox hunting, gypsy cob, gypsy horse, gypsy sport horse, gypsy vanner, horse, horse rescue, hunter, jumper, medieval reenacting, natural horsemanship, photo, photos, picture, pictures, sca, society for creative anachronism, trail riding
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Welcome!
A warm welcome to our new boarders! Kelly and Claudio, her two-year old Dutch warmblood/ Oldenburg gelding, and Mercedes and Bing, her 3-year old QH/ Dutch warmblood gelding, have joined our farm family. It’s great to have you with us!
Posted in Farm Updates
Tagged board, boarding, dutch warmblood, equestrian, equine, farm, horse, horse boarding, horse boarding in wv, horse care, mid-atlantic, natural horse boarding, natural horsemanship, no va, northern virginia, oldenburg, QH, quarter horse, stable, stables, training, training board, warmblood cross, west virginia, wv
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Equestrian Practice Report
5 riders and their steeds braved the chill winds for our first unofficial equestrian practice of the year. AEthelmearc’s current KEO, Alexander Caithnes, thumbed his knightly nose at the winter storm warnings and joined us for a day of chivalry, learning, and authorizations prep. Alli arrived with her whippets to add to the medieval flair. Mark had squirreled away his camera in his pocket, and snapped these shots perched atop Dolly’s mountainous back:
Armed and elegant! Rachel and Pete
Alexander expounds, Cricket cogitates, and Kirsten tries not to Freeze!
Worldview from a War Horse: Weapons rack through Dolly’s ears
Alexander gave us a generous grant towards procuring insurance for official SCA practices. Mark stepped forth to offer the balance. Many thanks to them for their knightly largesse!
Riders and their mounts:
Scott and Cassandra
Noel and Sioux
Rachel and Pierre Pointille
Mark and Dolly Madison
Kirsten and Red Sonja
Posted in Event Report
Tagged aethelmearc, equestrian, glengary, horse, medieval, reenactment, renaissance, sca, Siege of Glengary, society for creative anachronism, sylvan glen, war horse, warhorse
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Authorizations Scheduling Change
Gunnarr and Banshee will be traveling down from Endless Hills to conduct authorizations for our local equestrians on Saturday, April 4. The bad weather back up date will be April 18.
Posted in Event Announcements
Tagged aethelmearc, equestrian, glengary, horse, medieval, reenactment, renaissance, sca, Siege of Glengary, society for creative anachronism, sylvan glen, war horse, warhorse
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