Academy da Cavalaria

One of the really fun things about our community is that we all belong to the Society for Creative Anachronism. For us, the SCA is about learning and studying medieval history. It is also about having lots of fun. Hence the Academy da Cavalaria.

Academy da Cavalaria is a way for us to learn about and express medeival horsemanship. We play medeival horse games such as Ring Tilting and Quintain. This is something both we and our horses enjoy very much.

So last Saturday we (we being Willa and I) dragged ourselves out of bed and tried to get ready in the morning so we could hold our "Academy". Well, the hoses were still frozen (to water the arena) and even coffee didn't seem to help us to move any faster. But eventually we got up and dressed and started setting up the games we had planned for the day.

Our "gaming" horses, Autumn, Dillon, Mercedes, Storm, and Scotch all lined up against the fence and watched as we put up the games. They enjoy playing the games very much and were excited to see us preparing for the day. Eventually Michelle showed up and then Danielle and we got the horses out that we would use for the day and got them all decked out and saddled up.

Decked out means that we put the beautiful horse bardings on them that we have made for them. You know, like they did in the middle ages. I made a bridle for Autumn based on a picture of a statue of Justinian on a horse during Byzantium. I tried it out on Mercedes, but she decided she really didn't like it. So back to her trusty english bridle with the full cheek snaffle bit.

Horses can be picky.

Speaking of picky--Danielle rode Storm--who used to be Mouse. She is an "old" ranch quarter horse who started out as a barrel racer. She also started out with the name of Mouse. But we knew she really didn't like that name and so upon the advice of a pet behavioralist we tried her out on Storm. And she really loves that name! So Storm it is. And really, she isn't a Mouse at all, but a truly spirited lovely riding horse. Oftentimes because her trot is so smooth, we put beginner riders on her. And she carries them beautifully.

Back to the Academy. The first thing Yasaamiin and Danielle did was the game of Mounted Crest Combat. With what we call "boffer" swords--that is foam padded swords. Using converted fencing masks with "crests" velcroed on the top--the object of the game is to use horsemanship and swordsmanship skills to be the first one to swipe the crest off the top of the opponent's helm.

It's really quite a fun game!

Yasaamiin usually beats me. But I did get at least one swipe in, which means I'm getting better with practice.

After that we trained for a bit on the Quintain--which is the target training for jousting--so you use a very long lance. I rode Dillon first and then switched over to Mercedes to give her a bit of practice. Yasaamiin rode Hudson and then rode Scotch.

All in all, it was a very fun day!

About Benny

I decided to write this blog about Benny. He's a twenty four year old Thoroughbred (though small). He's a retired polo pony and is one of the gentlest guys we've got. The young kids seem to like him the best and it's easy to see why.

Benny is allowed out of the pasture now and again so he can wander around and graze at will. We've been letting him into the garden (all finished now) to eat up some of the grass and weeds that are still around. Tonight he was wandering on the other side of the "big horses" paddock a goodly distance from his own pasture.

Willa called when it was time for him to get his nightly ration of grain. And pretty soon, here he came. Nice to have a horse that comes when he is called.

We also have Jonas the two year old grandson of Willa and Joseph here with his Mom to visit us while they are on their way to visist her folks in Utah. Joseph's son is currently in Afganistan. Jonas celebrated his two year old birthday this evening (though it's a few days early).

He is so cute! And tonight when Benny was walking toward us, he kept calling, "Come Benny!" Jonas really loves the horses.

And Sam (our Pyrenees dog), was so cute with Jonas this evening. Jonas started to drift away from Willa as they were walking down toward the grain room, and Sam just stepped right in and very gently "herded" Jonas back to Willa's side. Then he gave Jonas a lick, which Jonas really liked! Sam is a natural with young children.

This last summer during one of the summer camps, one of the boys who rode Benny had something going on with his health and consequently was in pain, though he never complained even once. Benny carried that boy with a smoothness and gentleness that I have never seen. Oftentimes, the horses know things we don't and I see them "teaching" the kids by being stubborn (seemingly) or by insisting that the kids focus, or challenging them in other ways. But Benny never challenged this boy--he just made his camp weekend very special. I think Benny is just a very special horse.

Of Porcupines and other things

I went out the other morning to go to work and Rusty walked up to me with a snout full of porcupine quills. Needless to say, I didn't make it to work on time and Rusty got an unscheduled visit to the Vet. Sam, on the other hand, was quill free--except that Tammy found one on his fur later. But we think that came from Rusty. I guess Rusty will stay away from the porcupines from now on. At least, I sure hope so! We didn't even know there are porcupines out here.

On another note--we are ready to harvest our pumpkin patch this Sunday. We have 12 of the most beautiful pumpkins. One we are keeping for the ranch and we have already sold two more. So that leaves nine. I'm going to take some pictures to post on the website when we harvest them. They are for sale. I hope they get eaten and not just carved up for Halloween decorations. To me, that's such a waste. Home baked pumpkin pies or pumpkin soup, or even pumpkin cookies are soooo good!

The fall is the absolute best time for trail riding at the ranch. It's not too windy, the temperatures are not too hot and not too cold (they are just right!), and the sun is shining bright. If you are considering a time to trail ride, this month (October) is really the best time you could pick. I recommend you bring a camera. Even if it gets cold and rainy, it doesn't feel as cold as in the spring. I think it's because we have all that nice summer sun saved up in our bones. But that's not a medical opinion.

And we've turned on the comments, so if you have something to say in reply--go for it!