08-21-2010, 05:30 AM
I'm baaack! Did everyone miss me? Perhaps you should like to know that I did Roman, and Briton, riding for the first time this summer. Which is actually only the third time I've been on an off-trail ride. Though the folks at the stable might have found my requests ludicrous, like asking specificaly for a Welsh mountain pony, a steppe saddle, and rope stirrups, (The latter mentioned a few pages back in a catalouging post written by Ron Andrea) I did manage to get a good four hours of riding in on land that was similar to north Britain at the time, it was forested, with hills, some field, and gravel roads for riding on in a certain direction. Firstly getting into the saddle was a breeze with those primitive stirrups, though I doubt they'd hold me in place if I charged into something, and even with all the armour I wore (I had a coat of leather scale armour over a jerkin over a tunic and I wore a ridge helm) it was still easy to get in. Secondly the horse handled very well, responding quickly to knee pressure and one-handed rein pulls. (I also had a shield, built to the right dimensions, and I held the reins in that hand) Thirdly, even at a gallop holding on with my knees wasn't a chore and there was very little annoying pain from bouncing up and down the whole time. (I practiced with trotting a lot) fourthly the horse responded quickly when I asked it to. I had stopped in a clearing where I looked around a bit, then pretended I saw something, (Saxon warriors, but more likely Picts because of where I imagined I was) and with one tug on the reins and one swift kick I was off at a trot from a standstill and with two more kicks I was racing along. I still have to get to weapons practice, but the rest of you could answer better than I could. Any thoughts?
Nicholas
