Had a go at Roman riding :D (pics included)

[garrelt]

I was working on at least 2 complete catafracts.
But sadly we don't have the use of horses at the moment.

[garrelt]

Made all the leather work (tack) myself.
No stirrups used on the saddle.
Only leather and horsehair used.
Seating was good even did small jumps in it.

[Magnus]

Looks like a lot of fun Dave.

[AntonivsMarivsCongianocvs]

Salve Dave,

That looks like awesome fun! I personally have never been riding without stirrups before and I've never fired an arrow while galloping along or landed a death blow on a watermelon... that looks like a great way to spend a day!

Thanks for sharing!

[Salvianus]

I managed to hit the target, which was Matt

I hope you didn't hit him too hard, we need him in the infantry line!

I saw John & Jason this evening & both enjoyed the day - Jason sliced some beet with a spatha, I hear!

[John Conyard]

Good morning Dave,

I'm really glad you enjoyed the day and thought the trip down to sunny Yorkshire was worthwhile. It was great to have six riders in the ring, and such a variety of kit and horses.

You've posted pictures of my two favourite beasts, Murphy, a cob who is really just learning, and Sweet Ears, a failed race horse. Currently I'm riding Murphy as much as possible to get him used to all things Roman. He is a real obnoxious character, kicking other horses through fences, and generally taking every opportunity to misbehave. But he looks the part, and did everything right yesterday. However Sweat Ears has some real spirit. I've come off him three times, and when yesterday he tripped at speed it could have been the fourth! Your picture really shows the difference in size between the two horses. In all honesty neither could match Jason's Argentinian polo pony, nor could we match Jason. So it will have to be more practice, and more practice.

Matt is also a member of RAT and worked really hard as ground crew and the target. Today I feel pleasantly tired, I suspect Matt is feeling completely dead. I hope he enjoyed it as much as I did.

Happy birthday Salvianus. It was a great party last night, in a reconstructed medieval town house in the center of York. Congratulations and thank you for great night. Everybody is still in bed recovering, but I'm toying with the idea of putting in another couple of hours. Must beat Jason, must beat Jason :twisted:

[Et tu brute]

Yes, Jason was certainly a bit ahead of everybody, but thats what you get from playing polo His pony was great aswell. I think SweetEars has to be my favourite horse, but all of them are great really. I didn't realise Matt is a member of RAT, (ryhme not intended) what's his username?

[Salvianus]

Happy birthday Salvianus. It was a great party last night, in a reconstructed medieval town house in the center of York. Congratulations and thank you for great night. Everybody is still in bed recovering, but I'm toying with the idea of putting in another couple of hours. Must beat Jason, must beat Jason :twisted:

Many thanks, John,
we had a great time and you and the gang did us proud. Thank you for the Piazza Armerina style staff - my mate Mark's son tried to use it as a pogo stick, but it survived! My Dad admired the finish, which is always a sign of quality :-) )

[Et tu brute]

Do you have any pictures of the staff? I'm intruiged

[Salvianus]

Do you have any pictures of the staff? I'm intruiged

Not yet - will take & upload some, hopefully before the weekend at Arbeia :-) )

It's similar to the T-shaped staff held by the central figure from the Piazza Armerina Great Hunt mosaic, and particularly like an officer from the Luxor wall painting reconstructed by Graham Sumner fig F1, in 'Roman Military Clothing (2) 200-400 AD.

[Et tu brute]

Ah, thanks it's a bit larger than I expected, judging from the Piazza Armenia Hun mosaic.

[Memmia]

Hi Dave, great pics!

The new recruits are getting younger and younger these days! :lol: :wink:

Laudes to you

[Et tu brute]

hehe, ever ridden yourself, it's great fun, even better in Roman kit Mind you the Hamata I was wearing for a while was a fair wait! It wasn't that bad when I was on the horse, but at the canter and trot the mail started to pull back a bit into my neck so I had to take it off. I think i'll need to use some sort neck scarf next time.

[Marcus Julius]

Man, I've got to give a Roman saddle a try.

BTW:Anyone know if it's possible that some cavalry may have ridden mules? I understand that they were used to pull carts, but were they ridden into combat?

Reason I ask, is that I can ride mules, any day. I don't have access to horses.

[Et tu brute]

No access to horses? I always thought that Montana was big on horses, with trekking holidays etc. I don't have any evidence to back this up, but I doubt mules would have been ridden into battle, mainly because of speed and height.