The Mounted Combat Program Moves to Langley

Exciting changes are a-hoof in the Mounted Combat Program.  As of August 1st, 2018, the horses and the program will be moving to 21955 16 Ave in Langley.  This beautiful property (formerly Ridge Meadows Farm) near Campbell Valley Park has an indoor arena, heated lounge, two outdoor arenas, and ten acres of pasture for our…

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Springing into Mounted Combat

Snow may have fallen this week, but that didn't keep us from riding and practising mounted combat.  And with spring just around the corner, we have many more course offerings to get you out of the salle and into the saddle. Spring Courses at Red Colt Mounted Combat Mastery February is sword & shield month,…

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Thank you for your Membership

It's been just over a year since we launched our Mounted Combat Membership program.  Here's what some of those fees have paid for: Keeping Jack's tender toes happy with giant shoes Chiropractor visits for Tilly Making horse use and stall rental free of charge at Carosella 2017 Orange-bin rental for our renolition party this summer…

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Autumn Riding and Swordplay at Red Colt

With the evenings getting shorter, its time to switch the hours of our Riding & Horsemanship classes back to Sunday mornings.   This is your last chance to get a series of classes in before our winter break! Autumn Riding, Horsemanship, and Mounted Combat Youth Riding & Horsemanship This course for kids aged 6-13 will introduce…

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Summer Courses with Horses at Red Colt

Summer is here at last!  Don't let the beautiful days slip through your fingers ... get out and on a horse this month!  In addition to our regular classes we have added jumping and cross country clinics this month.  Look for more clinics next month as well ... Summer Courses at Red Colt Jumping Clinic…

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Resolve to Ride in 2017

I hate New Year's resolutions.  They don't stick, and they end up making you feel guilty before you even flip the calendar to February.  But I do like goals.  Especially goals that are useful and achievable all year round.  And whether you like New Year's resolutions or not, January is a great time to peer…

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Tune Up Your Skills with Drop-in Classes

We are all busy – that's a given.  Which often makes it hard to commit to weekly classes or a full series.  We say to ourselves  "no time this month, I'll sign-up next month".  But next month, the same thing is likely to happen. There are good reasons to commit to regular pre-paid classes: The…

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Conformation: Built to Work

Horsemanship Level 4: Conformation & Unsoundness pt II Previously we looked at types of horses, their differing builds and their abilities.  This week we'll examine general conformation, and what to look for when assessing any horse. Over centuries of domestication, selective breeding has created the variety of breeds and types we looked at in the…

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On Horsemanship

The final item on your Blue Spur checklist is: Read and demonstrate an understanding of Xenophon’s On Horsemanship. Written around 300 BCE by Xenophon the Greek, On Horsemanship is the oldest known complete work on the care and training of riding horses.  (There is an older Hittite treatise on conditioning chariot horses, and an incomplete…

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The Cavaliere Program: Many Goals, Many Routes

There are a multitude of reasons people come to the Cavaliere Program: they always wanted to be a knight; they're bored with the show-ring and want a new equine activity; they want to take their swordfighting to a (literally) higher level; they want to learn about horses and riding; they were horse-crazy kids whose parents…

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Hauling your ... horse

Unless you plan to do all your equine activities within a few miles of your stable, you will eventually have to deal with trailering horses. For level 3 we don't expect you to demonstrate hauling, but we do want you to: Describe how to lead in and out of a trailer There are many videos…

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Riding out the Silly Season

In the media summer is the silly season, but in the northern hemisphere of the equine world, March is prime time for goofy, bizarre, and downright alarming horse behaviour.  So this week we'll take a break from swordplay and wrestling to tackle the question of how to ride those spooks. Staying in the Saddle There's…

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Rules of the Road

Horsemanship Level 2: Riding in Groups Much of the last item on the Horsemanship 2 checklist 9. Rules for riding in a group is covered in the Riding 1 post, Safety in Numbers.  At the second level however, you will also be asked about group etiquette and safety when riding outside of the ring and…

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Show Your Saddles You Care

Horsemanship Level 2: Saddlery Care In Dom Duarte's 15th century treatise on riding, horsemanship and mounted combat, Bem Cavalgar, he states: We must take good care of the saddle, the bridle and the stirrups, ensuring that they are strong, that they have the necessary resistance and are of good quality to avoid failure of any…

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Moody Mares and Grumpy Geldings

Horsemanship Level 2: Equine Warning Signs Take a look at this painting by George Stubbs.  Who is the angry looking bay in the middle threatening: the happy bay in front of him, or the oblivious human and palomino behind him? (Answer below)Reading your horse's moods is one of the most important skills you can develop. …

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