THE KINGDOM OF                             

    Welcome!

The AEthelmearc equestrians are known as the  Company of the White Horse.  Anyone can join, whether you own a horse or not.  Here is a link for the Kingdom game rules and riding regulations.

THINGS WE'LL BE DOING:
                                             Tilting at Rings       Behead the Enemy        Quintain
                                               Spear Toss            Pig Sticking                   Flag Race
                                               Quests                   Cup Carry                    Mounted Archery

            and anything else we can think up.

THINGS WE WON'T BE DOING:

                                             Jousting            Polo        Rodeo
                                             Hunting Live Quarry

           The SCA's insurance company says NOT.

The SCA is currently experimenting with mounted combat.  It uses boffer weapons, and the goal is to knock your opponent's crest from his helmet.  Stay tuned for further details!

COOL STUFF:

    Check out the SCA's equestrian webpage:   http://www.ealdormere.sca.org/equestrian/info.html

        It  has links to the SCA equestrian rules and regulations, as well as pictures and other information.  

    The Kingdom of Atlantia has a page full of equestrian-related links:  http://moas.atlantia.sca.org/topics/eque.htm

    Society Hoofbeats is the new Society-wide newsletter of the Society Deputy Marshal for Equestrian Activities.  It will be published quarterly, and will have how-to and research articles, as well as rules updates.  Subscriptions are $15 (U.S.) for 1 year for the U.S. and Canada, and $20 for 1 year for all other addresses.  Checks should be made out to:  "Society for Creative Anachronism d.b.a. Society Hoofbeats".  Send to:  Society Hoofbeats Chronicler, Deonne Barger, 3932 Conga St. Jacksonville, FL 32217.  Anyone wishing to contribute artwork or articles please contact the Chronicler,  TH Lady Breanna Caitlin MacGrioghair of Renwick (see address above).

CALENDAR OF EVENTS:

Practices:  Contact your local seneschal or equestrian for further information.

Events:  June 10-12.  Tournaments through the Ages.  Stormsport.  See AEstel for more information.

THINGS YOU WILL NEED:

           1) Sturdy shoes or boots with a heel:   Horses weigh around 1,100 to 1,500 lbs., and some weigh even more.  You don't want that stepping on your foot while you're wearing only slippers or sandals.

           2) Garb:  It should allow you to mount and dismount easily.  Avoid flapping garments such as cloaks or long veils which may get tangled, and might frighten the horse you're riding, (After all, he might be new to the SCA).  Wear trousers under skirts and kilts.  Ladies; assume that you'll be riding astride, since sidesaddles are uncommon.  Lords; don't wear a cup!  One poor soul did, and endured the most agonizing hour of his life.

           3) Helmet:  If you're interested in the games, you'll need a Snell or ASTM-approved riding helmet.  You might be able to borrow someone's, but nothing fits better than your own.  Before adding any decoration, check with an equestrian marshal.  Some additions, such as rivets and certain paints and adhesives, might damage the helmet shell and render it useless.  Fencing masks and heavy-weapons helms are NOT allowed.  They don't give the right kind of protection.

RIDING EXPERIENCE:  Some riding experience is necessary to execute the games.  You must be able to turn and stop a horse with one hand on the reins.  The maneuvers involved are as far above trail-riding as scuba-diving is above the dog paddle.  If you are seriously interested in equestrian activities but have little experience, take lessons.  People who have ridden for decades often still take them.  It is unrealistic to expect to learn to ride and compete in a tourney all in the same day.

Bibliography:  For those interested in further research

Davis, R.H.C., The Medieval Warhorse, London, 1989.
Smith, G. Rex, Medieval Muslim Horsemanship, British Library, 1979.
Hyland, Ann, The Medieval Warhorse: from Byzantium to the Crusades, Combined Books, Inc., 1994.
_________,  The Warhorse: 1250 - 1600, Sutton Publishing, 1998.
_________,  The Horse in the Middle Ages, Sutton Publishing, 1999.

A WORD ABOUT TETANUS:    If you are planning to spend much time around horses, getting a tetanus vaccination is a good idea.  Stables are a breeding ground for it, and horses have been known to be carriers.  You only have to get the shot every ten years, so it's well worth it.

1.     Call area stables.  A good place to start is the yellow pages, or ask for recommendations from persons that ride on a regular basis.  This means you have the pleasant task of calling people you may not know.  Some essential questions to ask are: pricing, group and individual rates; time availability; safety requirements (AEthelmearc law states that one must wear an approved riding helmet in tourneys, so you may as well get used to one now … and it’s safe!); whether the riding facilities offer trail rides, riding lessons, or horse rentals.  this will give you an idea of what each place has to offer and if you need a minimum number of people to ride.  Maybe most important of all, ask for a tour.  You can learn a lot by just looking at a place!  If you are uncomfortable about certain aspects of a stable … Don’t ride!!  Remember this is going to be an enjoyable experience for you!!

2.     Go to a lesson, on a trail ride, and get others to go with you.  It would be a good idea to get someone to go with you who knows about riding and horses, this way you have several opinions to work from.

3.     Did you all like the lesson?  Were the beginners made to feel comfortable?  Were the instructions clear?  Were the employees able to help you?  If not, try another place.  You have to be comfortable in the situation you are in to be able to learn.

4.     So, now you have found a place that has good rates, nice instructors, and you and your friends have taken some lessons.  This is all well and good, but it does not get you any closer to practicing for a tourney.  Perhaps the best way to see if you can use the horses for practice is to get the instructor you are working with involved.  Bringing the marshallate handbook and some info might be the way to approach the subject. This way you not only introduce the SCA, but also prove that the welfare of the animals come first, and there are rules and regulations to follow as well.

Getting the rest of your home group involved is beneficial as well.  You may be able to get the stable as a tourney site (and not have to worry about unfamiliar horses) in exchange for a demo.  Check with the officers in your area first.

Have fun, be courteous (even if it hurts), and take care of your horse!!