As practitioners of mounted combat, it is often useful for us to look to the classical riding instructors of the 16th and 17th centuries such as Antoine de Pluvinel, François Robichon de Guérinière, and William Cavendish, Duke of Newcastle. Fortunately these men all wrote books to which we can refer, and even more fortunately the…
There is plenty happening at the barn this month, and all of it safely out of the November weather, thanks to our beautiful indoor arena! If you haven't been to Cornwall Ridge Farm yet, now is a great time to check it out. Mounted Combat Mastery Mastery classes happen this month on the 11th…
This holiday Monday, October 8th, is you last chance to catch Horseback Archery in 2018! We are lucky enough to have Robert Borsos of Borsos Torz Horse Archery for one more clinic before he heads back overseas on his busy international competition schedule. Don't miss out on this fabulous opportunity to get instruction in a small…
Riding, Horsemanship, and Mounted Combat Fundamentals: Which Course is Right for You? Students in our mounted combat courses come to us with a wide variety of pre-existing skills. Some are expert riders, some have been practising swordplay for years, and some are complete beginners at both. Whatever your skill-set, we have courses for you! Here's…
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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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The ever-popular Beginner and Intermediate Horseback Archery workshops with Robert Borsos are back this Saturday May 5th. These workshops happen rarely, so don't miss out! Sign up here. Beginner Horseback Archery Whether you are an expert rider or archer, or a complete beginner at both, this is your starting point. You will spend about an…
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A heads up to all of you with your Riding Level 3 signed off: we have opened a new Sunday class to help you towards Riding Level 4. Due to complex scheduling this six-class series runs over ten weeks, so there are no classes on April 29th, May 13th, or June 13th. Sign up now…
Mounted Combat Arts Intensive New for 2018, we are planning to offer a full five-day Mounted Combat Arts Intensive from July 2nd to 6th. This 50-hour program offers you the chance to immerse yourself in a full week of mounted combat arts both in and out of the saddle. Throughout the week you will learn the…
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Red Spur Swordplay from the Ground: the True Fight As a scholar or Blue Spur within Academie Duello you should be already familiar with the the qualities of the true fight. That is, you seek control of your opponent's sword, advancing or striking when you have control, retreating and seeking to regain control when you…
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To acquire the first rank of the Mounted Combat program, the Green Spur, you will need to be assessed on the Green Spur Mounted Combat skills. These include Swordplay from the Ground, Swordplay Knowledge, and Mounted Combat Knowledge. The knowledge sections are covered in past sections of this blog, and can be studied on your…
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Due to unseasonably late snow, we have decided to delay starting the Riding Level 3, Jumping and Riding Level 4+, Jumping courses at Red Colt for two weeks. This will give the ring time to recover from its late-season slush and firm up enough for jumping. These courses will now start on Saturday March 17th. Note that all…
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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,…
Red Spur Swordplay from the Ground: Playbuilding When you were earning your Blue Spur, you demonstrated the ability to conduct isolated plays using attacks and defences from all quadrants. Now we want you to show the ability to connect a series of attacks and defences, or in other words: Demonstrate the ability to carry on…
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Red Spur Swordplay from the Ground Last week we looked at the general advantages and disadvantages the combatant on the ground faces when up against a rider. This week I'll get a little more specific and give you some plays you can use. This is a sample only, not an all-encompassing toolbox of tactics, but…
Read More... from Two Feet vs Four: Defeating the Mount Opponent
Red Spur Swordplay from the Ground The first section of the Red Spur Mounted Combat Skills section is Swordplay from the Ground. Your first checkbox is: Demonstrate five plays from the ground against a mounted opponent. Facing the Mounted Opponent from the Ground To a foot soldier, I can imagine very few more frightening sights…
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Happy New Year, everyone! I hope you're all feeling rested and ready to hop back in the saddle again. We have lots of exciting courses coming up for everyone from total beginners to Blue Spurs. Mounted Combat Mastery classes resume January 7th, there is a rare Intro to Mounted Combat course happening Sunday January 14th…
Who doesn’t want a pony for Christmas? Give the next best thing with a six-week course of Riding & Horsemanship at Red Colt Farm, where students learn to care for and ride Academie Duello’s gentle school horses. If the thought of knighthood lights up your loved-one’s eyes, include the Mounted Combat Fundamentals course for only…
Our last Riding, Horsemanship, and Mounted Combat classes for 2017 wrapped up on the weekend, but that doesn't mean activities have stopped for the year. Here are some of the things you can do at Red Colt in December Get a Mounted Combat Membership Get your 2018 Membership now and you can use it in…