Interested in Roman Riding?

[John Conyard]

Every year starting riding once again is like starting out from scratch. But I was really pleased to see how well the new saddles fitted, and how nearly everything worked from the word go. I suspect things get easier with time

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

What are the differences between the new saddles and the one I have John?

[jvrjenivs]

Have been in the saddle for over 3,5 hours today. Don't think my legs gonna like it tomorrow, but it was worth it. Had a ride in the forest, archery training and much fun!







More pictures and movies on my photobucket album:
http://s211.photobucket.com/albums/bb2/j...anCavalry/

[John Conyard]

Excellent! It looks muddy though. You look like a member of Comitatus:lol: What did you learn in your session? I like the ponies, very Roman.

I did the best part of two hours in what passes for dry conditions in East Yorkshire. Cookie is getting used to cavalry combat and shields. Next the horse needs to get used to more equipment, and all my armour.

[Virilis]

Excellent pics, Jurjen!

The burgh castle type helmet must be the best reproduction I have ever seen, wow!

[Vindex]

Very glad to see you gaining in confidence so quickly Jurjen - long may it continue!

... I like the ponies, very Roman.

I've thought about commenting on this and don't want to appear TOO picky about these things...but I would like to think you mean "very Roman type ponies"

The reason I say this is because the pony Jurjen is riding is a Nordic (or Fjord) pony and the other one nearest the camera in the picture of three ponies looks very like a Haflinger or Haflinger cross bred (Perhaps Jurjen could find out for us?).

The Noidic pony is unlikely to have been seen by the Romans although the Haflinger ancestors derive from the Tyrolean mountain ponies so could possibly have been used (it is Pannonia after all). The modern Haflinger has been crossed with Arab blood in the 1870s and has changed the breed a little; but it is a strong horse, up to weight and ranges between 13hh and 15hh these days so the Romans may well have known this animal in previous "type".

Both the Nordic and the Haflinger have excellent temperaments (if a little stubborn at times) and can be deceptively sharp - so watch out Jurjen !!

Sorry if I sound pedanctic about this but this is as important to me as having the correct armour, sword, helmet and shield type etc etc etc for the period you wish to depict. (and the horse, after all, is probably the most important bit of "kit" the cavalryman had!!)

[jvrjenivs]

Thanks for the post and kind words. Yes, I know about the temperament of Haflingers. But I like their appearance Anyway, as far as I remember, one of them is a Haflinger cross-bred. But anyway, I'll point Olga in the direction of this topic (the owner, on the rear of the last picture), as she is actually a fellow RAT-member so she can clarify better as I can

[BlackLamb]

@ Vindex


The horse Jurjen is riding is not a Fjord or a Norwegian horse it's a Crossbreed part Haflinger.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fjord_horse
The horse you think is a crossbreed is actually a purebreed Haflinger:roll:

A nordic horse is an ancestor from the shetland and the exmoor pony so nothing like a Fjord.
http://www.stablemade.com/horsecare/hors...nordic.htm
The nordic horses are more than one breed....just like here we have European horses.
http://www.nordicway.com/sweden_horses.ht


So the next time you take your time to read wikipedia......
And please don't call a Fjord a pony, it's a horse.

Ofcourse is Authenticity very important and being picky is always good but please have your facts right..

Ohw and if you can tell me the name of the web shop where they sell real original or replica roman horses please let me know.

[Vindex]

@ Vindex


The horse Jurjen is riding is not a Fjord or a Norwegian horse it's a Crossbreed part Haflinger.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fjord_horse
The horse you think is a crossbreed is actually a purebreed Haflinger:roll:

A nordic horse is an ancestor from the shetland and the exmoor pony so nothing like a Fjord.
http://www.stablemade.com/horsecare/hors...nordic.htm
The nordic horses are more than one breed....just like here we have European horses.
http://www.nordicway.com/sweden_horses.ht


So the next time you take your time to read wikipedia......
And please don't call a Fjord a pony, it's a horse.

Ofcourse is Authenticity very important and being picky is always good but please have your facts right..

Ohw and if you can tell me the name of the web shop where they sell real original or replica roman horses please let me know.

I am not sure that I like the tone of your post and I think you seemed to have assumed that I am critising your horses - I am not. I queried the "Nordic/Fjord" pony, not the Haflinger ( indeed I said full or part bred to AVOID upsetting anyone FGS!). If the HORSE Jurjen is riding is not a Fjord then I apologise...So thank you for clarifying but I think you need to calm down. I asked Jurjen to clarify the Haflinger which you have kindly done.

May I ask what the horse Jurjen is riding is crossed with? When was the Haflinger recognised as a breed?

Surprisingly I don't use wikipedia (and if you are critising me for doing so why do you use their links in your post?) - okay, I said pony instead of horse in reference to the Nordic/Fjord as they WERE smaller than the standard 15hh to count as a horse (bit like polo "ponies" I suppose).

I am sorry if I "insulted" the horse Jurjen is riding as it looked like this to me

http://www.equine-world.co.uk/about_hors..._horse.htm

Unlike arms and armour there is no place to buy authentic horses so people should try and be as authentic as they can - that was my point.

I am quite happy to be corrected - if I am wrong. Perhaps you should change the manner in which you address people. Did I bite heads off when apaloosas and coloured horses were/are used? No; because I have assumed that it is the best horse with the temperament for the purposes of re-enactment where the emphasis is currently on the authenticity of equipment not horses.

[John Conyard]

When I write "Roman ponies" I mean just mean native looking specimens. Something certainly under 15 hands, not a hot blood but stocky and well built. I am not after a specific breed but more a general type.

Cookie was bred for hunting, a Welsh and Irish cob cross. Very native and he can carry all I ask. He is very polite even with Harry, who can test a saint.

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

Whatever breed, the one Jujen is riding is an excellent looking small horse.
I would love one. My cousin had a horse of a breed that looks a lot like these, but larger.
Called a Palamino. He was a great horse to ride, called Buck!8-)

I would be happy with that one Jurjen! Very nice mount.

[Tasia]

My Roman mount was an 18 hand 2250 lbs. Percheron. We did our best to look short though. He outgrew the horse trailer and 'retired' but we had fun. This is a wonderful thread, your horses are beautiful.

[jvrjenivs]

Couldn't resist to share some more pictures of today's training with the Equites Stablesiani Banana will be my 'warhorse' for this season, and I'm pretty happy with that

[LUCIUS ALFENUS AVITIANUS]

AWESOME!!!!

[Virilis]

VERY nice !