Interested in Roman Riding?

[Yurko]

Greetings Jurjen,

I joined this forum only last week to learn more about Roman era horsemanship and it's blossoming re-creation. This, being my initial post as I'm still very deep into the forum's "search" function and waiting for several general research books to arrive in the post.

However, I must comment on your last image of "Hunter/Jumper" training. I must say you have a VERY unorthodox training style and quite frankly I'm happy you landed still on the back of your horse. I don't think I can recall seeing one so vertically upright and one-handed no less, a millisecond from the apex of a jump. Well done and lucky you but I highly advise caution to use BOTH hands on the reins and lean more into your horses neck. May not be so crucial now at 50cm but much higher and it will suddenly become very crucial unless of course you are naturally blessed. I am not.

Certainly not meant as a scathing criticism, I've just thoroughly enjoyed your recent progression and I would really like to see more "healthy" posts by you. All I have is a horse, trained for gunfire and cannon fire but not one iota of Roman/Aux kit. Interest, nevertheless.

Best of continuing luck toward your goal,

[Robert]

Yep, just the point! So learning to have the horse jump a log, low hedgerow or wicker fence with its rider is a very good thing indeed, but should for the sake of accuracy not be taken much further then that, in my opinion. The shield wall charging and even jumping some do does not reflect the way the cavalry was used, so I think that should be excluded from public demo's. OK, I concede, this is only an opinion based on little fact, but it does tie into what cavalry would have had to face at worst. Charging a solid body of men Braveheart style is great for cinema, but most horses are way too smart to do such a thing, unless perhaps half blinded (by a camphron)?

[jvrjenivs]

well, I did stay on horseback today whole day. Of course I totally agree with you, as does my teacher, but well, this was the best action pic we had. I'm not intending to do much jumping, nor do I like the saddle I'm using here. In my Roman saddle it will all be a little difference.

But yeah, it's all about learning and I'm really just at the beginning of it.

[Yurko]

Quintus,

I read this post late last week when I joined. Quite true, Chicago mounted police would not allow you to borrow. However, I own an American Saddlebred gelding one hour NW of Chicago stabled in Marengo, IL.
Is there much interest in Roman era cavalry within the Chicagoland/NE Illinois area? I don't think I would be willing to invest in that kit without sufficient interest. Sucks to be a "one man show".

Sincerely,
B. Yurko Mikels

[John Conyard]

Well public shows should be entertaining and educational. Many people beleive tha cavalry could not charge into infantry, anbd this is sometimes reflected in debates on this forum.

Jurjen is currently thinking about his show and what to put in it. Comitatus generally includes a section where the horses do go through a shield wall, at least one at the gallop. This shows the public it can be done and the infantry formation can be broken easily.

I think we all appreciate this would be a costly way of fighting. Perhaps something a horse would do just once. But it can be done. The question is not "will horses charge into solid objects", but rather "will infantry stand a cavalry charge".

Certainly worth a 4 minutes slot in a 30 show!

[Vindex]

Guys, and girls, I was talking to a collegea an archologist who does horseback riding saddlelees on icelandic ponys. We came to the question did the roman horses use the "tult" ? Which is a confortable way of riding horseback. Just something which crossed my mind because the icelanders are a smaller breed of horses and an old breed to.
So , am I wrong?

Tult (or tolt)...no reason why horses can't do this pace. A flat, low actioned trot which is a lot easier to sit to than a bouncy, standard European trot (or the dreaded sitting trot which can be VERY uncomfortable on some horses). Some breeds are renowned for it and do it naturally as a development of the types of ground they cross.

Certainly keeps you and the horse fit.

Impressed by all the new pictures.

[John Conyard]

Comitatus cavalry are fine tunning to get ready for the early May Bank Holiday. Yesterday we were making sure the scale armour of our heavily armoured horse didn't make too much noise, in case it frightened the new horses.

In fact it makes hardly any sound at all. But it is very bright.

[Robert Vermaat]

Yesterday we were making sure the scale armour of our heavily armoured horse didn't make too much noise, in case it frightened the new horses.

As usual you are setting a new standard. Brilliant!

But it is very bright.

Am I interpreting these words correctly when I think that's seen as a problem? I take it the scales will 'dull' aa bit over time?

[jvrjenivs]

Very nice horse armour. Can't wait till mine is finished. Only over 5000 scales to go... LOL

[John Conyard]

Mark does deserve a massive amount of credit for making this armour, and making it work on his horse. And for training the horse so well. It is a brilliant working combination.

On such a sunny day the reflection from the scales made it hard work to look at the armour. Mark polishes it and doesn't like using it in the rain so it stays bright.

For this weekend I have a big brave well muscled animal to ride, and intend to barge Mark and his armour out of the way at every opportunity. My training spear is a good 9 feet long and very heavy, so I will be modifying his helmet as well. :-) In truth we will have to be careful, since the speed and weight of horse could mean that we really hurt each other. The displays are not competitive at all.....:wink:

[jvrjenivs]

Today I finally was able to try out my Eining chamfron. Also did some horseback archery again. Things are going better and better, but still much to learn.

[Robert]

Hi Jurjen,

Looks good! Next time we meet, bring your bow as I could give you some pointers on barebow archery. The all important anchor being one of them Keep up the great work!

[jvrjenivs]

Hi Jurjen,

Looks good! Next time we meet, bring your bow as I could give you some pointers on barebow archery. The all important anchor being one of them Keep up the great work!

Haha, I know! Have got archery lesson on foot some weeks ago and I know what all is going wrong However, on horseback it's even harder as on food, as I don't give myself the time to do everything nicely (yet).

[John Conyard]

I think it was Maurice who said horse archery was a matter of practice rather than skill, so keep on practicing. When you release the reins to take the shot your heart rate will speed up, but you need to keep calm and relaxed to aim and take the shot. Riding the horse is the most important part, but just for a few seconds you really focus of the target and taking the shot. I am not a fan of a zen-like approach to horse archery, but when it comes together there is no feeling like it. I love it.

We have just done a great event at Wallington. We had a cavalry practice on the Saturday evening, and two cavalry plus two infantry shows on the Sunday and Monday. Over 9,000 people came to see our new horses perform brilliantly. It was a great start to the year.

[jvrjenivs]

My masked cavalryhelmet based on an original from Xanten is almost finished. Olga van Lunsen did a wonderful job on the horsehair decorations. Next helmet in line will be the Nijmegen Kops Plateau helmet where the decorations are even more difficult to do.
Hope you all like it. I'll hopefully try it on horseback in 2 weeks time. The mask has still to be silvered.