Category Archives: Medieval horses

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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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 →

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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 →

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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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CFP for the ICMS 2024: Medieval Horse History

Posted on September 10, 2023 by thegrailquest

Call for papers for the International Congress for Medieval Studies at Kalamazoo
Medieval Horsemanship (1): No Animal Is Nobler than a Horse (virtual)
Medieval Horsemanship (2): I Know You by the Horse You Ride (in person)
Continue reading →

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Sundry reflections on horses, chivalry and the money culture

Posted on September 5, 2023 by thegrailquest

“Thou shalt despise pecuniary reward” is allegedly one of the “commandments” of the medieval code of chivalry, as presented in the Song of Roland, a high medieval chanson de geste about the death of one of the best known French … Continue reading →

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Just ride your young horse for a month?

Posted on July 17, 2023 by thegrailquest

And another update on Basja, with some thoughts on why most of the Rufus manuscripts do not mention the possibility of falling off the young horse.https://www.patreon.com/posts/just-ride-your-86212157?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

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