Tegan is out of town at the large SCA event in Arizona called Estrella, and probably isn't checking e-mail till she gets back on Monday. So I thought I'd answer quickly in her stead. With the right horse the SCA activities can accommodate intermediate riders without a problem. Our authorization rules for moving beyond the practice phase require that the rider can canter with good control and use the equipment properlly while still maintaining control of the horse. Right now we have a wide range of riding experience and ability in our group.
As far as using horses - at our newly established practice site they have a group of lesson horses. These horses can be available for riders (as a lease) without their own horse, as a private arrangement between the barn and the rider. In general, this means taking some riding lessons on the lesson horses before coming out to an SCA practice. In that way they can match horse and rider, and you can gain some additional skill. The riding instructor will know when it makes sense for you to start riding at practices. We certainly work in small steps with any new riders or new horses - starting by just riding around in the arena while others are practicing the games, then moving on to starting to do some of the games at slower gaits, etc. until both horse and rider are comfortable, then move up at the pace that suits the horse and rider. Safety is of primary concern, and we all try to be helpful to new riders, whatever their experience level. Brand new riders have to take lessons for a while to gain the experience necessary before starting to do the SCA games, as you would suspect.
I encourage you to contact Ginger at Sun Pony Ranch to talk further about riding lessons at their barn. My husband Garin is planning on taking riding lessons during their Spring session (6 weeks of lessons) in order to improve his riding skill. He is also an intermediate rider. And I know that another one of our SCA riders has been taking riding lessons out there. So it could be a lot of fun! Their website is www. sunponyranch. com. There are also other barns with great lesson programs, so feel free to shop around for lessons. I am mentioning Sun Pony Ranch because that is your best shot to both get riding lessons and have the chance to ride one of their horses at equestrian practices! Also, I have found their program to be both relaxed and solid, a nice combination.
We also encourage riders to come out to our first practice without planning to ride to watch what we do, help out in the arena, and talk about the activities.
If you have other questions, feel free to e-mail back to me or to Tegan. Tegan is now the equestrian guild head for Unser Hafen, and she lives at Sun Pony Ranch.
Thanks for your interest! I'm looking forward to meeting you. I was the equestrian guild head before it transferred over to Tegan in December, and she asked me to answer e-mails that came up while she was out at Estrella.
I'd love to come out and see what you do. Do most people own their own horses? I do not have a horse, so I am wondering how I would participate? Also, I am an intermediate rider at best. I am wondering if I could do any of these activities, or if they might be beyond my skill level?
JoAnne
Tegan chan Merlen Haul wrote:
Hi JoAnn,
I'm the head of the equestrian guild for Unser Hafen. Diana is correct we do a lot of activities. Many of them can be categorized as games on horseback, but this year we're hoping to look into the martial arts too_ mounted crest combat, mounted archery, and jousting.
Our practices start on March 28 at Sun Pony Ranch in Berthoud. (my ranch) You should come out and see what we do!
Tegan
--- In CGequestrian@yahoogroups.com, Diana <dianatulips@...> wrote: > > We do many different activities. There is trying to catch rings on lance tip, beheading poles, pig sticking, quintain jousting and as many other activities as we can safely do. It is a great place to learn what these different events include, how to do them and how to be ground crew for them. At the Toys for Tots event last year we even got to ride our horses into a "keep" (very nice gate made for it) > > Anyone else want to chip in on what we do and how? > -DotT > > -"Only those on journeys can see the dim roads that lead home"- > > --- On Tue, 2/10/09, JMS <joanne.stone@...> wrote: > From: JMS <joanne.stone@...> > Subject: Re: Equestrian Guild Questions > To: dianatulips@... > Date: Tuesday, February 10, 2009, 8:06 PM > > > > > > What do you do at your practices? > > > > JoAnne > > > > > > Diana wrote: > > > > > the guild is pretty slow currently because of the > weather. Practices will be happening come spring and more info will be > posted. Sun Pony is where practices are often held and you can contact > them about loaner/renter horses. Lady Anne is our local autherizing > marshall. We also work with Unser Haven (fort collins) a lot. > Welcome. > > -Diana of the Tulips > > > > -"Only those on journeys can see the dim roads that lead home"- > > > > --- On Sun, 2/8/09, JMS <joanne.stone@...> > wrote: > > From: > JMS <joanne.stone@...> > > Subject: Equestrian Guild Questions > > To: CGequestrian-owner@yahoogroups.com > > Date: Sunday, February 8, 2009, 9:49 PM > > > > Where can I get more information on the equestrian > guild? I don't have a > horse, but my daughter and I love horses. Wondering what types of things you do > in the group? > > Thanks, > JoAnne >
We do many different activities. There is trying to catch rings on lance tip, beheading poles, pig sticking, quintain jousting and as many other activities...
Hi JoAnn, I'm the head of the equestrian guild for Unser Hafen. Diana is correct we do a lot of activities. Many of them can be categorized as games on...
Hi Tegan, I'd love to come out and see what you do. Do most people own their own horses? I do not have a horse, so I am wondering how I would participate?...
Hi Tegan, I'd love to come out and see what you do. Do most people own their own horses? I do not have a horse, so I am wondering how I would participate?...
JoAnne, We have riders of all abilities and we welcome those who are interested in trying new things in order to improve their existing skills. Safety is of...
JoAnne, Tegan is out of town at the large SCA event in Arizona called Estrella, and probably isn't checking e-mail till she gets back on Monday. So I thought...
Nesta, Thank you for all the great information. I appreciate you taking the time to answer all of my questions. I think refresher lessons is a great place to...
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