Recreating a Greek Cavalryman

[John Conyard]

Really it is great fun.

We took some video of various Comitatus riders trying to leap on Hal. They had to pretend they were trying to leap on his back to escape the Persian hordes. The result is hilarious. I have no idea how we can get it on RAT but the tears roll down my face every time I see it. The Persians would have died laughing.

[Giannis K. Hoplite]

I have to see that. Make a photobucket or flickr account and post it there. Or else,on youtube,if you don't mind it being public.
Great photos!

[Marcus Mummius]

@John: very impressive, well done!

I have a question about the swords. Are both the long and the short Kopis made by Len, or only the long one?

Best regards,

[John Conyard]

Here are some of them. We are not wearing any equipment, and the horse is without any form of saddle. Some of us may have had a drink by this point, and the BBQ was fired up.

http://s749.photobucket.com/albums/xx13 ... 4-1453.flv

http://s749.photobucket.com/albums/xx13 ... 4-1455.flv

http://s749.photobucket.com/albums/xx13 ... 4-1456.flv

http://s749.photobucket.com/albums/xx13 ... 4-1457.flv

Len made the short and long kopis with the birds head handles.

[Ammianus]

We are not wearing any equipment, and the horse is without any form of saddle. Some of us may have had a drink by this point, and the BBQ was fired up.

Now that these videos have been put up I suppose I had better make an appearance. :wink:

It was a very hot day and Hal was very patient with us throwing ourselves rather unceremoniously on to him! I think with a bit of practice it would have gotten eaiser and eaiser, but we weren't wearing any equipment so it would have been a very different story then.

Something to keep trying in the future, I think.

P.S
You will here people talking about me being a North Yorkshire gymnast in the video - that may be true but it still didn't give me much of an advantage where this was concerned! At least I got on eventually... :oops:

[John Conyard]

You were leaping on to the horse easily at the end. It was all a matter of practice. Nobby has done it before and found it easy. But the best videos were the attempts that didn't work. Sadly there is no video of where I almost fell off the other side of the horse

I was pleased to have had the opportunity to try it. And I was very pleased with Hal. A horse that didn't like his own bridle last October and had hardly ever been ridden, sat patiently and let new people jump up and sit on his back. He has come a long way. He is now very fit, but he needs to build up mass and muscle, which will happen over the next few weeks with a new diet. I have no idea how he will respond to crowds or to events, but I suspect he will be OK. We will find out next weekend 8)

[hoplite14gr]

A very ill prepared untrained Thracian horseman.
The horse is a 12 hand (to the soulder Thessalian).

Kind regards

[John Conyard]

Excellent. I'm glad the horse didn't take off with you. More Greek cavalrymen please!

The Thessalonian, noted for "beauty, courage and endurance" back in the early 3rd century. But are such horses from northern Greece now known as the Pindos? My "Boys Bumper Book of Horses" tells me they have poor quarters, tough feet and good stamina. They are known as good workers but stubborn. I would love to try one. I am very jealous.

Most horses we use are Welsh cobs crossed with thoroughbreds to produce a good sound all rounder.

[hoplite14gr]

Well it was a "short" Thessalian. They are usually more than 13 hands.
The "Pindos pony" is rarely 11 hands and its considered "tall for its type" if so, according to the owner of the ranch where we photographed.
There are also the "Skyrian ponies" who are smaller than "Pindos ponies"

"Herakles" was a well behaved horse. The exact opposite of Boukefalas :twisted:
That why the owner let us photos-shoot with him.

We plan to show more cavalry in the future. We might include mercenary Scythians!

Kind regards

[Peter Raftos]

Guys this does make my head spin - infantry, navy and now cavalry! Mmmm that Spartan short sword looks like the one made by Loricatus in the UK [url:38jkxy8k]http://www.loricatus.co.uk/index.php?c=Greek%20Armour[/url].

[John Conyard]

Peter you are right, but I have never come across this company before. I got mine via Len for the same price. I'm doing the bone scabbard fittings for my cavalry kopis and the short sword which should brighten them up a little.

My books show the Pindos coming in at around 13 hands, the Peneia up to 14 hands due to selective breeding and the Skyrian at only 11 hands up to occassionally 12 hands.

Due largely to lack of wooden framed saddles I think it is relatively easy to get Greek cavalry equipment together. However teaching yourself to use it with little to hold you on the horse is more challenging, but more rewarding as well.

It would be great to see other Greek cavalry impressions.

[Astiryu1]

One day I would love to but I need land first so until then I will live vicariously through you guys. :wink:

[John Conyard]

I don't want to let this thread fade away.

I was at a fancy dress party a few weeks ago, which gave me the excuse to dress up as a cavalryman once again.

[attachment=0:1zk3rrpa]<!-- ia0 072.JPG<!-- ia0 [/attachment:1zk3rrpa]

The photo shows the re-worked scabbard.

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

Looking good, Ares! :mrgreen:

[John Conyard]

Thank you Mars!

Camping in that orchard wrapped in Thracian cloak was bloody cold. I did take my boots off, and at least they hadn't fozen when I came to put them back on in the morning. But those Greeks were tough.