Author Archives: thegrailquest

About thegrailquest

Anastasija Ropa holds a doctoral degree from Bangor University (North Wales), for a study in medieval and modern Arthurian literature. She has published a number of articles on medieval and modern Arthurian literature, focusing on its historical and artistic aspects. She is currently employed as guest lecturer at the Latvian Academy of Sport Education. Anastasija’s most recent research explores medieval equestrianism in English and French literary art and literature, and she is also engaged as part-time volunteer horse-trainer. In a nutshell: Lecturer at the Latvian Academy of Sport Education Graduate of the School of English, University of Wales, Bangor. Graduate of the University of Latvia Passionate about history, particularly the Middle Ages A horse-lover and horse-owner

AI and medieval studies

Posted on May 13, 2024 by thegrailquest

The AI-Generated Middle Ages: The Pitfalls and the Potentials More and more students – and people in all walks of life – use AI to find answers to all sorts of questions. Whereas Wiki used to be the first port … Continue reading →

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Middle Ages in Modern Games 2023 conference proceedings

Posted on April 23, 2024 by thegrailquest

Someone told me once that my only interest is horses. That someone was right… almost.99% of my non-sleeping (“free”) time is horses. Taking care of them, riding them, writing, reading and talking about them, and just watching them.But there is … Continue reading →

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Thinking of medieval horses and their psychology

Posted on April 12, 2024 by thegrailquest

Medieval bestiaries are mini-encyclopedias of animals and other living beings, some real and some imaginary (or we think them imaginary, because a unicorn or a dragon could have been as real to medieval audiences as rhinos and crocs).This is a … Continue reading →

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Musings on medieval horse psychology

Posted on April 12, 2024 by thegrailquest
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The Keplies and others

Posted on April 5, 2024 by thegrailquest

https://tinyurl.com/2y2j7eydMy new post (early access to members, the public will have to wait for 3 days) introduces the common ground between such historical, mythical and cultural characters as Brunhilde and Aleksandre of Macedonia, the four sons of Aymon and St. … Continue reading →

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Basja the Konik and Medieval Dental Care

Posted on March 23, 2024 by thegrailquest

Last week, Basja had her first dental care. As my vet explained, it is textbook practice for horses to have regular dental care twice a year from the age of two and a half onwards. Basja is four, but, due … Continue reading →

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Meet Margery, the species queer goat

Posted on March 14, 2024 by thegrailquest

I came to the farm as a young goat, and I have not seen anything in my life save the stall where I was born, my mother goat, a few of my relatives and some chicken. It thus came as … Continue reading →

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St Hippolytus: the story goes on

Posted on March 10, 2024 by thegrailquest

A little follow-on to my previous post on horse blessing. The earliest evidence of this custom at St Ippolyts Church comes from the end of the sixteenth century. In 1598, the antiquary John Norden wrote of the place in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Historical Sites and Monuments, Medieval animals, Medieval horses | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Horse training in the ancient world: a seminar

Posted on March 6, 2024 by thegrailquest

Want to find out how horses were trained in the ancient world? Maybe get some useful tips for your own training practice?Join the first collaborative seminar hosted by the Equine History Collective and Cheiron: The International Journal of Equine and … Continue reading →

Posted in Academic life, equestrian history, Medieval horses, Practical Equestrianism | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

St Hippolyte and wild horses

Posted on February 29, 2024 by thegrailquest

As part of my new publication project on wild horses in the medieval world, I will be publishing a series of posts about different instances of wild horses making an appearance in medieval sources. I want to make it clear … Continue reading →

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