| Do you hear the sound of thundering hooves? Does the ground tremble with the approach of a mighty host? Are you ready to meet in battle? Then prepare your mount and harness for WAR!!! A horse area has been arranged near the barn and will be made ready for hours of equestrian competition between the riders of the West and those of AnTir. Along with the perennial favorites of Challenge courses and mounted games (Heads, Reeds, Rings, Quintain, etc.), we're planning this year to have a wide variety of activities including a battlefield charge, Mounted Archery, Crest Combat and Heavy Mounted Combat melees (bear pit style, and pick-ups after if you haven't had enough) and if a royal procession to court. Jousting can be added Saturday afternoon if there is sufficient interest. What say you? Will you meet on the tiltyard as well as the battlefield? Those interested in bringing horses to this year's war must contact the Equestrian Marshal in Charge, Viscountess Gwendwyn the Silent (bulotki @ netscape.net or 916-397-9850) as early as possible to reserve a space or to get more logistical information. ACCOMODATIONS There will be a few stalls inside the barn for those who bring horses but can not bring portable stalls. Cost per stall for the entire event is $25. Stalls may be reserved by sending an email with the following information to Gwen: Horse owner modern & SCA names Number of stalls needed Approximate arrival & departure date and time Cell phone number Group you are camping with and location? Any special information about your horse (cannot be next to mares/geldings, allergies, etc.) Those who are high-tying or bringing portable stalls can set them up next to their trailers in the EQ area. Trucks and trailers will be parked in the Equestrian Area rather than main parking. Water will be available for the horses in the EQ area, but people will need to bring their own drinkable water. There is no power in the EQ area, so we will all be roughing it together. My suggestion is that folk drive right to the EQ area when they arrive, get their horses settled in and their trucks and trailers parked, THEN go to gate, pay and sign in. The entrance to the EQ area is near the barn, same side of the road as camping and battlefields. I will be on site by mid day on Wednesday. Anyone planning on coming in with their horses before then, please contact me as soon as possible. RIDING Riding without weapons will be allowed for authorized riders in the EQ area during all daylight hours. Ride off-site at your own risk. Authorizations for general riding and gaming may be scheduled on Thursday or Friday by an authorizing marshal for your kingdom. Volunteers for ground-crew are welcome. For the War this year, formal authorizations are not necessary for ground-crew, just some common sense and horse safety awareness. Practice with weapons and equipment will be possible Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday between 8:30 am and 9:30 am with marshals on duty (the lunch break at 12:30) as long as the area is not being set up for a scheduled activity. Warm-ups may include Mock Stag Hunts, games of tag, or other period style games that do not require weapons. Battlefield Charge is open to those horses and riders that are able to maintain control in the battlefield area. We will have group practice riding in ranks and files as well as walkthroughs on Thursday, Friday and Saturday to get the horses familiar with the sights and sounds of combat. If you are not comfortable riding a fast trot/canter in close proximity of other horses and riders, please sit it out on the sidelines. For the Mock Hunt, one rider drags the quarry while riders attempt to stab it with blunt spears (think 8-10 ft pike or quintain lance). "Hounds" may also follow the quarry, but are not armed. Royal Procession to Grand Court at Their Majesties Pleasure Friday 10:00 AM Games of Skill and Strength (Quintain, javelins, Crack-the-Whip, Tag) 1:00 PM Timed Challenge Course Saturday 10:00 AM Mounted Archery 1:00 PM Mock Hunt/Joust Sunday 10:00 AM Battlefield Charge, followed by Mounted Melees 1:00 PM Palfrey competition |
| West Kingdom Equestrian Champion, Helga |
Competitions and Information
Equestrian Activities
