I have been meaning to create a blog page for some time now in an effort to share some of my research which includes a variety of topics. I am a genealogist, a horse trainer, and a modern medievalist (which is just a fancy way of saying I study the arts, sciences, martial pursuits and history of the Middle Ages). The purpose of this blog is to share what I have learned about these various topics---my passions really-- educate others with similar interests, and share the joy of these pursuits.
As a genealogist, with over 15 years experience including researching my own family, teaching others to conduct genealogical research, and helping others with their research, I have found the pursuit of family origins to be rewarding, challenging and thrilling. I recently published a book titled, Signal and Morrisville: A Genealogical and Historical Study of Northern Elkrun Township, Columbiana County, Ohio. This project took nearly seven years to complete and entailed a considerable amount of research in local libraries, court house offices, and interviews with residents. It began as a mission to discover more about the original resident of my house and culminated in an examination of the settlement of the area and the genealogy of its residents. I hope to share some of the things I have learned so that others may more easily discover things about their own roots and origins. And I hope to inspire others to write their own family histories!
As a horse trainer and equestrian, I have a life-time of experience. I started riding as a very young child, riding my ponies bareback with complete youthful abandon. That passion never lessened from those first "horse crazy" years and I went on to teach students to ride and train horses to show and compete in a variety of disciplines. I have ridden nearly every style including English, Western, Dressage, Hunter-Jumper, etc. I taught students for about 35 years. But I believe in the words of a wise old horseman who said "no matter how much you learn about horses, you can never know it all---there is so much to learn, so many different aspects of riding and training horses." I continue to grow and learn, but have found great joy in teaching others and infecting them with the "horse crazy virus!" As a trainer, I follow the classical conditioning training techniques of the old masters. I have been asked if I am a "horse whisperer" to which I reply..."I am a behavioral trainer.....using the study of horse behavior and applying that knowledge to my interaction with horses---some of us old trainers have been doing what people call 'horse whispering' for a long time before it was labeled and became a fad......"
My interest in the Middle Ages started at an early age as I was fascinated by tales of King Arthur, Ivanhoe and the like. My interest was fueled when I discovered the SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism) while in college at Penn State in 1977. This organization is a non-profit, educational organization - a living history group- that recreates the best of the Middle Ages. Members research various aspects of life during the Middle Ages and apply that knowledge into creating a "persona" which is basically like a profile... a person we represent through our involvement in the organization. I have been interested in several cultures, but my primary research culture is Feudal Japan and mid-to-late period Europe. In the last ten years or so, I have fused my passion for horses with my love of medieval history and am very involved in equestrian activities within the SCA. In fact, at this time, my riding students are limited to those pursuing medieval riding skills.
There are plenty of websites to learn about the SCA and the various areas of interest explored by its members. You may ask then---What makes this blog any different in that regard? I hope to share some of the research I have conducted specifically related to horses in the Middle Ages, and the equestrian activities practiced within the SCA. I also want to share some of the other arts and sciences that I am interested in and my experiences in the SCA. What I love most about the SCA, is that, like with horses, there is always something to learn. I have branched out to learning about other arts such as embroidery, weaving, painting scrolls, and brewing.
I hope that you enjoy reading the posts and together, we will all learn something new!
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