Cavalry re-enactment

[Parly]

My son is part of "Historia Normannis" which is a 12th century reenactment group that puts on fantastic events and public displays / re-enactments every year.

One of the cell leaders said he took part in several cavalry re-enactments quite a years back and rode draft horses belonging to others but there were obvious health and safety and insurance issues that meant they had to stop.

Has anyone hear ridden in a cavalry re-enactment or allowed someone else to ride their horse in one?

Apparently they are giving thought to the possibility of doing more with horses in the future if owners would be keen or interested in taking part.

Link to clip of Sealed Knot at Chester which should jump straight to horses smack bang in the middle of cannon fire and menfolk.

[video=youtube_share;UUln_FhkDFg]https://youtu.be/UUln_FhkDFg?t=2m29s[/video]

 

[Steerpike]

I used to do re enactment with the English Civil War Society, I was a foot soldier though, the horses used there were cob/hunter types and have to be pretty bomb proof I would imagine as the fighting is really loud with muskets, cannons going off and general clamour of a fight!

 

[conniegirl]

I do ECWS cavalry reenactment. We do not generally use our own horses on the battlefield. They tend to be hired stunt horses.

That said there are exceptions, a few people do use their own horses. Mine gets used for pouncing round whilst I'm in posh ladies kit, occasionally being the kings horse and generally being petted you the public.

 

[Kaybie]

My aunt is a carriage driver with Kynren (https://elevenarches.org/) which is massive theatrical production set over 7 acres with 1,500 actors re-enacting 2,000 years of British history through the eyes of Bishop Auckland, a small town in the north-east. The show includes a cast of 30-40 horses, mainly Lustianos and a few Percherons, doing performances like cavalry, jousting, pulling roman chariots etc.

The horses used in the show are all owned by the Eleven Arches though I think. It's not quite the same as re-enactment, but I know the volunteers have to train with the horses every week all year round in preparation for the show. It's a shame you aren't in that area as this would be the perfect way to take part for the small price of a few hours a week.

 

[starsnrunes]

My family do re-enactments and my sister is in the cavalry.

They have a few different contractors that they get horses off. As Connie girl said a few people do use their own.

We tried to take ours to a local event one year, he's great on living history with the people (he loves a fuss) and kicks ass doing skill at arms displays, he just won't cope with the actual battle. It's not even the guns (he doesn't bat an eye at them...and fell asleep near the cannon when it was going off) it's the large number of people he couldn't cope with.

 

[Parly]

My aunt is a carriage driver with Kynren (https://elevenarches.org/) which is massive theatrical production set over 7 acres with 1,500 actors re-enacting 2,000 years of British history through the eyes of Bishop Auckland, a small town in the north-east. The show includes a cast of 30-40 horses, mainly Lustianos and a few Percherons, doing performances like cavalry, jousting, pulling roman chariots etc.

The horses used in the show are all owned by the Eleven Arches though I think. It's not quite the same as re-enactment, but I know the volunteers have to train with the horses every week all year round in preparation for the show. It's a shame you aren't in that area as this would be the perfect way to take part for the small price of a few hours a week.

Yeah I would imagine most would require horses to be specially trained and fully insured and whatnot. Mark (cell leader) showed me a photo of him in full armour riding a great sodding Shire during one event which he said came from a company that specialised in TV and media but the society found costs were getting increasingly high and it just wasn't feasible to keep it up on a regular basis.

Said they did use a couple of horses from Centre of Horseback Combat which were loaned on a private basis. One of the archery lot was a regular and managed to borrow a couple for a day but obviously there are huge risks and legal issues with just borrowing someone's horse informally so it was a one-off.

I would love to do that though. If they did start to use horses again I'd be first in line to gallop into battle with my son going "Oh for God's sake Mum..."

The horseback combat looks mint

http://www.horsebackcombat.co.uk/

 

[conniegirl]

My family do re-enactments and my sister is in the cavalry.

They have a few different contractors that they get horses off. As Connie girl said a few people do use their own.

We tried to take ours to a local event one year, he's great on living history with the people (he loves a fuss) and kicks ass doing skill at arms displays, he just won't cope with the actual battle. It's not even the guns (he doesn't bat an eye at them...and fell asleep near the cannon when it was going off) it's the large number of people he couldn't cope with.

Mines the same, once he actually lay down and had a snooze when a cannon was going off 50 ft away, not bothered in the slightest. Mine is also fine with the crowds but unfortunately cannot be kept sound for long enough to get him fit enough to do an hours battle.
Poncing round as a ladies horse or being the kings horse occasionally he can do quite well.