Playing Polo on Camels

Polo is the sport of kings, with a rich history going back 1000s of years. Today's top level polo horses are graceful, quick, dashing, energetic partners to their top notch, athletic riders. My friend Christine commented that Icelandics don't look much like the long legged, short backed, successful polo ponies--which is true. However I did find a version of polo played with short legged, hairy mounts that may be suitable for Icelandics.

mounted archery on a camel

Today my smart phone slipped into voice dictation mode so I decided to try it out. The phone typed "Blessi and I are going to mate a camel." No we are not going to play chess with a camel but we were going to meet the camel Eli who will be competing in mounted archery.   Unfortunately, we never got to meet Eli the Camel.  But here's a video of mounted archery on the camel Zachir  from Poland.

And since the phone transcription totally mutilated that infinitive, I have decided to stick with typing by hand.

More Icelandics and Mounted Archery

Lasse Reusch posted this great video of more folks having fun with mounted archery on Icelandics.

Period Barding Based on the Visconti-Sforza tarot cards

The Visconti-Sforza tarot cards were painted around 1451 AD.  The cards depict members of the Visconti and Sforza noble families of Milan wearing period outfits and in period settings.  The details, compositions, colors are exquisite.  You can view many of these cards at the following link to the Beinecke Library at Yale:

 http://beinecke.library.yale.edu/collections/highlights/visconti-tarot

I found a stash of leather and suede on sale at Goodwill so I spent the winter making period halters and barding and some fantasy projects--all of which I will share with you.  In preparation for an SCA tournament this year based on the Tournament Rules of King Rene of France, I decided to try and make a copy of the horse barding on one of the Visconti-Sforza tarot cards.








I cut pieces of blue suede and tied and stitched the pieces together as best I could to make strap barding as depicted on the card. You can see the closthespins that I used as temporary holders.  Poor Blessi spent a lot of time this winter with clothes pins attached to various items put on him.  Don't worry he got lots of treats for his patience.




Note that the white, lacy saddle cloth is not period and will be replaced in the final version. (Blessi wore the modified lace curtain in the wedding he was invited to last summer.)  The straps are embellished with gilt studs and metal ornaments (pieces of a belt from Goodwill--gotta love Goodwill).

I have also made a gown, coat, skirt, bodice, and underslip to match this outfit.  The pieces contain historical elements but the entire outfit is not historically accurate.  Altogether Blessi and I should be quite the fashion plate this summer.  I wonder if I can teach Blessi the Spanish Walk so we can make a truly memorable entrance for the judges.

A little historical knowledge can be a dangerous thing--horse barding the wrong way

A few summers ago, I wanted to make full barding for Blessi for equestrian tournaments held by the Society for Creative Anachronism.  Since my persona is that of Norse woman in Iceland around 1000 AD, I thought I would use some Norse-like braiding on the borders to give a Viking feel to the barding.

As you can see I found a great table cloth that was easily converted to barding.   The design is probalby more Greek folk than Nordic or Celtic.   (Poor Blessi, I think he is the only horse in existence that his own set of tailors chalk for projects like this.)

I made a large French buttonholes (gee Mom those tailoring classes post college really did come in handy) to accommodate the girth and tucked in the sides in large gathers so Blessi was less likely to trip over the draping cloth.


Personally I think Blessi looks stunning in the colors and design.  However, the pattern and design are totally incompatible with medieval barding.  Plus the Norse probably did not use this style of barding.

However, I hope to use it at some future SCA event at which the pressure is not so high to be "historically accurate."  I'll try and use the "makes an effort to be historically accurate" concept in SCA thinking to get a bye on this barding.

Identifying Gait in Medieval Art on Falconry

As you watch the above video montage of art on the sport of falconry, observe the horses.  Almost all of them display lateral gaits or amble or tolt (legs on the same side are raised) as opposed to the diagonal gait trot (legs on opposite sides are raised).

Perhaps an Icelandic used in Falconry

I am pretty sure that the above video features an Icelandic horse featured in a display of falconry.

Despite its obvious dangers, “Hunting, falconry and the tournament were major sporting activities claiming much royal and noble leisure time” Hyland (1999, p. 78).  In his survey of the medieval French romances, Faaborg (2006) finds “Les nobles s’occupent quasi exclusivement de leurs chevaux et, dans une moindre mesure, des chiens et des oiseaux de chasse, tandis que les roturiers tirent plus de profit des vaches, des brebis etc.[1] ” (p. 371).  The French romances frequently mention the hunt and specify the types of birds of prey used in this sport.  Historically, many monks and clerics also enjoyed hunting--sometimes to the neglect of their priestly duties.  In 1215, Pope Innocent III tried to prohibit monks from hunting as the Abbot of Cluny did his monks in 1310.  None of these and other attempts were successful. (Hyland, 1999)

---

[1] Translated by the author as “The noble deal almost exclusively with their horses and, to a lesser extent, dogs and birds in the hunt, while the commoners derive more profit from cows, sheep etc.”

Paging through art work and manuscripts created from 1150 to 1650, the author observed that most riders when hawking were mounted on ambling or galloping horses, as shown in below.  However, the author found, from time to time, a rider hunting on a trotting horse. 

Although numerous medieval authors wrote volumes about the art of hunting, the books focused more on selecting and training hounds and hawks than horses.  As Hyland (1999) notes, “The part the horse played in European and English hunting has to be extrapolated from accounts, poems, and contemporary illustrations of hunting and hawking.  In hunting treatises information on the hunting horse is scarce.  No doubt in nobles’ stables certain horses were valued for their performance in the field, but unlike today, where a hunter is a certain stamp of horse which does not exclude other suitable horses, medieval hunting horses were not specially designated.  The usual mount was the courser, swift and not too heavy, and the palfrey, elegant and comfortable” (p. 78).

De Angleria coats of arms in which the riders are mounted on ambling horses, carrying hawks and riding to hounds.  Insignia Neapolitanorum, - BSB Cod.icon. ca Italy, 1550s

Cummins (2003) notes that often the success of the hunt depends on the quality of the horse.  Below, he describes the horses shown in medieval paintings of the hunt and quotes some contemporary experts on their desired characteristics.

Those in the medieval miniatures…usually look smaller than a modern hunter, clean-legged and somewhat broad in the body and chest.  They had to be responsive to the bit, to avoid the dangers of tree branches and rocks, in any form of par force hunting, but in the boar-hunt, where accuracy of aim might be a matter of life and death, the great essential was a serene temperament.  “Hunters must have nothing to do with a nervous horse, for this is one of the worst faults that a hunting-horse can have,…for we would have been ten or a dozen times in danger of death had we been on a nervous horse, and we advise all hunters never to put themselves astride one;” so says John of Portugal.[1] (p.102)

Gace de la Vigne in Le Roman des Déduis describes three typical fourteenth century hunts of the French court.  In the third hunt, he notes that in flying sparrow hawks a hunter needs “a stout, steady-going horse, another in reserve, and four spaniels to quest and retrieve, two in the morning and two in the afternoon” (Cummins, 2003, p. 215).

Considering their temperaments, Icelandic horses should make very good mounts for this sport today.  If you watch the video at the beginning of this posting, I think there is an Icelandic horse featured.

Resources:

Cummins, J.  (2003).  The art of Medieval hunting: The hound and the hawk.  Edison, NJ: Castle Books.

Hyland, A.  (1999).  The horse in the Middle Ages.  Sutton, England: History Press Limited.

Faaborg, J.  (2006).  Animaux domestiques dans la literature narrative française au Moyen Âge, Museum Tusculanum Press, Université de Copenhague.

A Duck Walking Horse

As member of the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) I have the  persona of an Icelandic woman from the 1100s, I am designing a coat of arm for that persona.  No matter that the Vikings pre-dated heraldry, the SCA insists that rules of heraldry must be followed.

Gloppen civic coat of arms

So I want to use a tolting Icelandic horse on my coat of arms.  In English heraldry, the horse can only be shown as courant or galloping, forcéne or rearing, pascuant or grazing, passant or walking, statant or standing still. These positions do not include tolt or passgjenger (Norwegian term for tolting or pacing).  However, tolting horses are frequently depicted in Icelandic and Norse art, tapestries, church carvings, etc. of 800 to 1200 AD.


Appleton Coat of Arms showing a horse
"en guardent" which is a rare exception

I did find this wonderfully designed civic coat of arms from the Norwegian municipality of Gloppen. It features a Fjord horse performing some sort of lateral gait--but not a tolt.   The heraldic description of this coat of arms is "Motivet synar ein gangande hest i sølv på blå botn og heidrar fjordhesten" which roughly translates as "Design synar a duck walking horse in silver on a blue background and honors fjord horse." Which brings up the question what is "a duck-walking horse?"  And is "gangande" an acceptable heraldic attitude for a horse?  Does anybody know of a coat of arms that uses a "tolting" or ambing horse and pre-dates 1650?  If so, please let me know via the comments section.

Horsens Coat of Arms

Here is another  coat of arms for the Horsen family from what looks like an inn or restaurant.  This horse is also tolting.  I need to track this coat of arms down in a pre-1600s roll of arms , sigh.  Some of the SCA rules can be very strict.

Blazon of Helfenstein family

Interestingly, in heraldry other animals are shown as "gangande" or pacing.  For example, llamas, camels, and elephants perform a kind of pace, which is accurately shown in some period coat of arms. 





And check out the web page for the municipality of Gloppen.  Gloppen is located on the shores of a southwestern fjord.  It looks like a fantastic place for a vacation with forests, meadows, mountain lakes, fjords, small farms, and riding tours on Fjord horses.

http://www.nordfjord.info/en/gloppen
 

So You Think You Can Joust

Northwest Jousing Association

"O just and faithful knight of God! Ride on! the prize is near."  Lord Tennyson, “Sir Galahad”

If previous postings have interested you in trying these medieval equestrian sports, there are multiple organizations you can contact.  The following organizations may offer clinics in your area:

• National Jousting Association—VA, MD, PA, WV
• Northwest Jousting Association, WA, OR, ID
• International Jousting Association—covers entire US

The Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA), an affiliation of “kingdoms” of historical re-enactors across the US, usually has equestrian guilds within each barony.   Their web site is http://sca.org.  These guilds schedule monthly practice sessions and stage weekend events based on these tournament games.  In addition, a web search will locate schools of jousting in which you can train for eight hours a day for a week or more. 

Based on Blessi and my experience with The Knights of the Myst, these organizations welcome newcomers interested in their passion.  And you will certainly be able to showcase the wonderful gaits and personalities of your Icelandic horses.  Charge on!!!

Brief History of Jousting

Knights of the Myst joust.  Melinda Leach and Stephanie Printy, on their draft horses Mikie and Bob, thunder down the list.  Photo by Ellie Reutlinger

“So the duke departed, and Sir Gareth stood there alone; and there he saw an armed knight coming toward him. Then Sir Gareth took the duke’s shield, and mounted upon horseback, and so without biding they ran together as it had been the thunder. And there that knight hurt Sir Gareth under the side with his spear. And then they alighted and drew their swords, and gave great strokes that the blood trailed to the ground. And so they fought two hours.” Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte D’Arthur, Book 7, Chapter XXXIII

The first rules of jousting were written by the Frenchman Geoffori de Pruelli in 1066.  Ironically, de Pruelli died in his first tournament.  During the Middle Ages in Europe, jousting became a way to practice the skills required in heavy cavalry attacks and to settle disputes between individuals. 

Armor owned by Northwest Jousting Association

From the 11th to 14th centuries, jousting was a duel between two heavily armored, mounted riders.  They started the competition by charging at each other with lances, usually smashing the lances, and then continuing the fight on foot with sword or mace until one rider yielded or was so hurt (or dead) that the fight could not continue.   Horses were frequently maimed or killed.  Influenced by the tales of chivalry from the 12th century, jousting became more of a knightly tournament sport with rules, tilts to guide the horses, and specialized heavy armor to protect both horse and rider.

In 1559, King Henry II of France died of wounds incurred during a tournament.  His death essentially brought an end to jousting as a noble sport.  In the early 1600s, equine activities at royal courts centered around horse ballets or carousels, which were displays of a large number of elaborately accoutered knights riding in patterns and showing off their equestrian skills.  Ring tilts or ring jousting continued as a sport until the 1700s. (Wikipedia, Jousting)

Surprisingly the horses used in medieval jousting were not draft horses.  Current historical research indicates that the destrier, or war horse of the Middle Ages, used for jousting would have commonly been a 16-hand stallion with short back and powerful hindquarters suitable for springing forward and making quick turns. (Wikipedia, Destrier) 

Blessi and the Knightly Challenge

Photo by Dawn Gilbert

Blessi and I attended a SCA event inspired by the medieval French tract Traictié de la forme et devis d'un tournoy written by René of Anjou around 1460 on how to stage a tournament.  My back was a bit sore (sleeping on a cot in the horse trailer will do that) so we didn't actually compete that day.  However we did participate in the introductions to the fair and noble judges.  We were accompanied by our own musician also.  The herald is carrying my personal banner and introduced us to the judges.   And as you can see by the pictures below, Blessi even begged a carrot from the judge.

Photo by Dawn Gilbert

Personally I am rather pleased with the name that I devised.  Jófríðr hin víðfara Mánadóttir --which in old Norse roughly translates as "Beautiful or beloved, far travelling horse, daughter of the moon." 

My garb was suppose to be more Byzantine  than Norse with the cover story that my father had taken service in the Varangian Guard, the personal bodyguards of the Byzantine emperor.

 

Below is the challenge that the herald read as we entered the lists. 

Photo by Dawn Gilbert

Greetings unto our august judges and other most brave and honorable lords and ladies here at the powerful Madrone Barony.  I, Veigar frá Búðardal--- son of Jarl frá Búðardal son of Kolfinnur frá Kjarnholtum I, son of Hrafn frá Holtsmúla son of Snæfaxi frá Páfastöðum son of Blesi frá Stóru-Gröf ytri----known as Blessi the Brave Steed--have journeyed from Iceland, the Land of the Vikings, to partner with my lady Jófríðr  Far Traveler Mánadóttir on this day of pageantry and panoply. 

I have persuaded Jófríðr to essay the more daring equestrian pursuits of pig sticking, birjas, ring tilt, and quintain.  We shall dazzle not by our speed or force of arms but by our good fellowship and mirth.  We hope to provide much amusement for the ladies fair and other worthy spectators at this the eleventh Emprise of the Black Lion.

Know us by our proposed arms azure an argent horse en tőlt charged on the shoulder with a gules seeblatt and sinister chief argent increscent in base a bar wavy argent.

Let us not forget that the very word Chivalry comes from the French word “cheval” so let us pay proper respect to the noble steeds here.  I, Blessi the Brave and my lady Jódrid, am confident that we can make a showing to you that is worthy of your noble attention.  We look forward to uniting in Chivalry with our brethren from far off lands.  We ride for chivalry and adventure.  Charge on!"

I do have to admit that the Herald begged off from reading Blessi's entire lineage since Old Norse was not her skill set.

A Modern Bayeux Tapestry

During the SCA Autumn Wars this year, I snapped the following photograph.  Riders are beginning to line up to escort the Queen, shown to the right, in the processional into court.  I really think there is slight resemblane to some of the medieval paintings, maybe?

Spamalot with Blessi

“We are no longer the Knights who say Ni. ….We are now the Knights who say …Ekki-Ekki-Ekki-Ekki-Ptang. Zoom-Boing. Z’nourrwringmm.”  Monty Python and the Holy Grail, 1975

 

Blessi and I were accepted into a jousting clinic this summer. I have always wanted to try the equestrian games of the medieval re-enactors. It seemed like a good idea to practice some of the skills involved in the medieval games before showing up for the clinic. Blessi and I started prepping for jousting.

I bought a ten-foot wooden pole to serve as a practice lance. On the ground, I carried the pole as I walked with Blessi--tapped it into things, dragged it on the ground, swung it over Blessi's head, etc. We even charged/trotted down the center of the arena as I was shouting knightly oaths such as "Gadzooks" and "For St. George" and "We are the Knights of Ni" as we pretended we were really jousting against the Black Knight. (Sometimes it is good to be at the stable by yourself.) 

Blessi had no problems with any of this. We stopped frequently for a carrot break. At one point, I put the "lance" on the ground and Blessi tried to pick it up. I think he thought that just walking with me as I was doing crazy things with a pole was not challenging enough to earn carrots so he was trying to figure out he could earn more carrots. He also started spontaneously bowing at times like he was saying "Look how good I am" or, perhaps, he was just trying to increase the carrot distribution rate. 

As we practiced on the ground, it quickly became apparent that handling a ten-foot wooden pole requires some skill and strength--especially in the wrists—which I have not developed. For Blessi's sake, I decided to use a pool noodle when I actually got into the saddle.  

Blessi was a bit leery of the noodle nodding over his head--he raised his head by about three inches and braced a bit but this lasted for about three minutes as he realized that riding with a pool noodle above his head was just another stupid but harmless thing Pam was doing.  

He quickly relaxed and we walked around the arena practicing turns while carrying a pool noodle as I tried to change direction using just my seat and legs (works when I go to the right but not so easy going to the left).  

Note to self don't ask Blessi to turn in the direction of the pool noodle. Second note to self--don't get distracted and bop Blessi on the top of the head with the noodle. He doesn't mind but it is rude. 

So after riding around, I decided to pretend the pool noodle was a lance and try to spear the mounting block that I had moved to the middle of the arena. Once again, we walked down the center line and I shouted warlike cries such as "Tallyho" and "Into the Valley of Death" (OK, I was having a bit of multi-tasking issue-- balancing a pool noodle, avoiding bopping Blessi in the noggin, riding with my seat, watching for people coming to the arena, and thinking of knightly sayings at the same time.)  

Well one of the things about pool noodles is that they don't fly very far but they do slide along the ground for long distances. Thanks goodness Blessi is used to me dropping things from the saddle--he never flinched and continued walking calmly as I launched said pool noodle and it skittered across the arena. When I asked Blessi to stop, he came to a very soft stop and I gave him a big hug for indulging me. When you practice silly things like this in the arena nobody gets to see you make a fool out of yourself but then nobody is there to help you pick up the "lance" for another round or help you if you get tossed off the back of your horse for silliness. So I called it quits for the day.

 

Blessi and the Apple Paddle

This summer, Blessi and I attended a Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) tourney. One of the most challenging obstacles did not involve throwing a lance or chopping a head off a bandit--oh no, Blessi was fine with all that.  The tricky part involved an apple. 

 

One challenge consisted of balancing an apple on a paddle, carrying the apple to an elevated box, and dropping it in. So  Johannes, the equestrian marshall, puts the apple on the paddle that I am carrying. And what does Blessi do? He starts circling to the right to chase the apple. He was convinced that the apple was a treat for him and if we circled enough he could get that apple.

 

 

 

 

After he stopped laughing, Johannes walked in front of us to get Blessi to stop circling. We followed him and successfully dropped the apple into the box.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

We were able to deposit the second apple on our own.  Unfortunately, I don't have any photos of Blessi circling.  Blessi was the only horse that tried this but then he was the only Icelandic in the tourney.

 

Why is there an arrow through my pants

Ok, I am not the most coordinated person on the planet.  So in preparation for the mounted archery clinic, I decided to take a few archery lessons at the local gun club.  Well I managed to put an arrow through my pants. 

How did this happen?  After everybody finishes shooting their arrows at the target, the range master calls a cease fire and those of us who missed the target have the opportunity to gather up the arrows.  Well I was practicing some long distance shooting so I had a rather large area to search.  As I turned around to look for my last missing arrow, I managed to turn into my last, lost arrow stuck in ground and get the fletched side of the arrow stuck through my pants.

The Bad Cowgirls and I have been trying out some medieval games.  The score so far:

• Lora shot her horse Hollyanna in the nose with the toy arrow going backwards Score = 1 (personally I think this should count as 2 since the arrow went backwards so it is worth more)
• Pam got a spear caught between Blessi's legs Score = 1 (although this should probably count as 3 since the spear has a sharp pointed blade on the end)
• Deb shot Blessi with the toy arrow at least two times Score = 2
• Gretchen hasn't tried either spear throwing or mounted archery.  Score = 0   Good job Gretchen!

I highly suggest that we get some archery lessons before we try this with a real bow and arrow.

Preparing your horse for mounted archery

There is a lot of prep work to get your horse ready for mounted archery.  The horse has to be desensitized to the sound of the bow, arrows whizzing by, arrow hitting or missing the target.  Plus since you need both hands to shoot the bow, you need to be able to guide your horse with your seat and legs.

I discovered that working working with Blessi that he enjoyed all of this especially if there were carrots involved.  Here is one of the series of videos put out by Ashmoor Horse Archers about getting your horse ready for mounted shooting.  And remember that you can get a toy bow and arrow for about $6.  (A real Hun or Mongol horse bow costs around $250 and up.)

Resurgence of Mounted Archery

Blessi and I are trying to attend a workshop on Mounted Archery with Katie Sterns.   Katie has represented the US in several international competitions and brought back gold medals.  Here is a video of her competing in Korea.

Mounted archery is very high speed and exciting.  Blessi and I are going to aim at archery at a walk or perhaps a slow tolt.

Blessi and Dannelle canter and shoot

Blessi and I started preparing for our mounted archery clinic (which we haven't attended yet)  in the spring of 2012.  I got a child's toy bow and arrows with suction cups from Walmart. After working with Blessi on the ground and shooting a few arrows from his back, I convinced Dannelle  dressage instructor to try and canter Blessi and shoot.

Here are the results.

What is Mounted Archery

In the previous video of Blessi and mounted shooting, I use the term "take a Parthian shot," which refers to a type of shot made famous by the Parthian tribe (who battled the Romans) in which the bowman shoots over the back of the horse while retreating from the enemy. Today you will hear "take a parting shot" meaning to make one final, cutting remark right before leaving the conversation.

Mounted archery is an age old sport in which a rider shoots from the back of a horse running at full speed.  In the Iron age, warriors from tribes on the Eurasian steppes skirmished with various armies.  Later during Medieval times, Mongols, Huns, and various Turkish tribes went on paths of conquest supported by their quick moving armies of mounted archers.  Japanese, Koreans, and American Indians also had strong traditions of mounted archery.  The use of firearms in warfare brought an end to use of archery.

Usually mounted archers use a composite recurve bow which is shorter and lighter in draw than along bow or cross bow .  Each culture has its own history of how the recurve bow is made, shaped, held, and released.  Today, there is a resurgence in interest in this equestrian activity.

Mounted Archery--If Monty Python tried it

It has been awhile since I posted--but never fear.  Blessi and I spent the summer having adventures so we have lots of new material.  My friend Deb rode Blessi and tried the sport of mounted archery for
the first time. Since this is all new, we are using a toy bow and the arrows have suction cups on the ends.

Blessi had us in stitches. After this ride, another rider, not Deb, dropped the
reins to take her shot. She missed the target entirely. For the second time, Blessi independently
walked her over to the target and put his nose in the hole of the target--as if to say: "Look lady, the arrow goes right there! How hard can it be when I can get my nose in there."