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Author
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Topic: Horse Training pt III
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chef de chambre
Admin & Advocatus Diaboli
Member # 4
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posted 07-04-2001 08:06 PM
    
Hi All,Today was a milestone. I rode in harness for the first time on Normandie. I only wore my cuirasse, as I don't want to strain his back too much. Jeff, I hope you will be proud, I wore the armet you made me. I didn't find it too constricting riding, and I even rode visor down for a bit. The primary disadvantage I see with riding in it with a crowd around would be it constricts hearing. Normandie was pretty good about it, but a little dancey - he kept trying to figure out what was up with my pointy toed shoes (wanted to examine them when I was dismounted as well. He wasn't disturbed by the noise, but he probably thought the "fat bastard" on his back was heavier than usual. I wore the pennon which he only saw once before, and although it was windy, it didn't bother him. I found my balance wasn't affected too much (although I imagine when I add the full harness, it will affect balance). I also found it much easier to ride in hose and doublet than in jeans. All in all, it was fun, and I look forward to years of doing this. -------------------- Bob R.
Registered: May 2000 | IP: Logged
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Brenna
Member
Member # 96
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posted 07-04-2001 11:18 PM
Put your harness on the gound in front of him, let him look at it until he's bored and you won't have him trying to examine you will mounted. I quite agree, it is much easier to ride in a doublet and hose. Brenna -------------------- Where in this world can man find nobility without pride, friendship without envy, beauty without vanity? Here, where grace is laced with muscle, and strength by gentleness confined. He serves without servility; he has fought without enmity. There is nothing so powerful, nothing less violent; there is nothing so quick, nothing so patient. England's past has been borne on his back. All our history is his industry: we are his heirs, he is our inheritance. Ladies and gentlemen: The Horse! - Robert Duncan's "Tribute to the Horse"
Registered: Dec 2000 | IP: Logged
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chef de chambre
Admin & Advocatus Diaboli
Member # 4
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posted 07-04-2001 11:55 PM
Hi Brenna,It isn't the harness that is 'fascinating' him. He has been seeing it and playing with it for a year and a half now. Even the sound of mail doesn't bother him. -------------------- Bob R.
Registered: May 2000 | IP: Logged
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chef de chambre
Admin & Advocatus Diaboli
Member # 4
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posted 10-04-2001 06:13 PM
Hi All,The training process continues. I just received my new cabbage whacker (I find my bastard sword to be a little unwieldy for horseback use - due to the spatulate guard, so I got a single hand 15th century arming sword for the purpose) - here is a picture 
So of course I introduced the sword to Mr. N, anything I use near or on him has to pass the 'niff test. What I did was similar to the process I introduced him to armour - those of you who have been following 'project destrier' for the past few years know we spent quite a bit of time allowing him to play with bits of armour before I ever was harnessed up in front of him - never mind before getting onto him with any armour on. This went much faster. I brought it up to him in the pasture, held it out cross first to him, and he proceeded to sniff it (he seems to like the smell of oil, metal, and leather for some bizzare reason). Then I took the sword, and rotated it in my palm, which of course set up all sorts of reflected light, and then I started to swing it back & forth like a pendulum in an arc at the ground. Most of the horses alterneted between fascination, to "what the heck is this - is it dangerous?", but Mr. N remained steady, gentle eyed the whole while. I then stood about where I would sit riding, and swung it up and down past his eye. Within 10 minutes I was able to swing it at speed over the top of his ears, with no reaction from him at all. I ended the session by giving him a back scratch with the edge (unsharpened). To my sad amusement, the only other horse entirely unfrightend (and curious) was a three year old paint, who unfortunatly had her entire face reconstructed due to a pasture accident, plus a previous injured leg. If she wasn't just a big pet due to her injuries, she would probably make a fine cavalry mount, as she has never been frightened by our various experiments, only curious. Phantom did well, but she didn't like the noise when it swung. She didn't freak out though - again, more work with her. Normandie just seems to be a natural with the odd training we put him through. [ 10-04-2001: Message edited by: chef de chambre ] -------------------- Bob R.
Registered: May 2000 | IP: Logged
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Seigneur de Leon
Member
Member # 65
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posted 10-04-2001 06:46 PM
Merlin took to swords quickly enough, and will sidepass into another horse while banging away. He hates shields, though. If you approach him with the shield directly toward the rider and not "at" him, he ignores it. Move toward his face in front, and he takes off.
Get on his back, and it is another matter all together. A couple of our worst train wrecks have occurred when I was wearing a shield. The flapping at a canter or hand gallop seems to spook him. Since I am working on this Norman conroi now, I've been trying to get him used to the kite shield. (And myself as well, it's easy to poke the horse if you're not careful.) If you take it on the left side, he acts nervous, but doesn't do anything. Take it on the right and pass it over his neck, and he really acts up.
I tried hanging a shield in his stall, perpendicular to the wall, so he could swing it. He has totally ignored it. When I cut it down last night he spazzed out when I was holding it. Go figure.
You are lucky you have a calm horse. It takes a lot of control and patience to make a nervous horse useful in a crowd situation.-------------------- VERITAS IN INTIMO
VIRES IN LACERTU
SIMPLICITAS IN EXPRESSO
Registered: Nov 2000 | IP: Logged
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posted 07-05-2001 01:21 AM
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