Equestrian Research Sources

I have often been asked at the classes that I have taught on equestrian arts in the SCA and the medieval period for a list of sources for further research on these topics.  What follows is certainly not a complete list of all the available sources, but  should satisfy the researcher in getting a good start on their pursuit of knowledge of the equestrian arts. 

There are various websites for the Equestrian programs of Kingdoms of the Known World.   These sites include the programs’ specific rules and requirements, as well as information regarding the participants and their steeds.  Many also include articles of interest to equestrians seeking to research or explore the historical use of the horse during the medieval period as well as a variety of other topics.  The pages are not hyper-linked due to the number of sites.  To go to the page, cut and paste into your browser.

SCA EQ site, <http://www.sca.org/officers/equestrian/welcome.html>.
Æthelmearc Equestrian Website, <http://frontpage.velocity.net/duane/ae eqindex.htm>.
AnTir Kingdom, Equestrian Page, <http://www.antir.sca.org/Offices/Marshallate/Equestrian/index.php
Ansteorra Equestrian Website, <http://marshal.ansteorra.org/equestrian/>.
Artemisa Kingdom Equestrian website, <http://www.artemisia.sca.org/stables/stblHome.htm>.
Atlantian  Kingdom Equestrian website  <http://equestrian.atlantia.sca.org/>.
Caid Kingdom Equestrian website, <http://www.geocities.com/equestrianarts/>.
East Kingdom Equestrian website, < http://www.eastkingdom.org/equestrian/>.
Inter-Kingdom Equestrian Competition website, <http://www.scaikeqc.org/>.
MidRealm Equestrian page, <http://www.midrealm.org/equestrian/index.html>.
Northshield Kingdom Equestrian website,
      <http://www.scamarshal.org/dotnetnuke/Equestrian/tabid/58/Default.aspx>.
Trimaris  Kingdom Equestrian website,  <http://www.trimaris.org/index.php?q=equestrians>.
West  Kingdom Equestrian website, http://www.westkingdom.org/wk_equestrian.htm.

There are various Yahoo groups, some associated with the Kingdom programs, others with groups involved in a specific area of interest related to equestrians.  These provide an excellent resource for those seeking additional information regarding equestrian activities as practiced in the SCA.    In most cases, you do not have to be a member of a specific  Kingdom to join a Kingdom list, as networking is encouraged.  

Æthelmearc Equestrian Yahoo group, <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aethelmearcequestrians/>.
Ansteorra Equestrian Yahoo group, <http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/Ansteorra Equestrian/>.
An Tir Equestrian Yahoo group, <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AnTir Horse/?yguid=169476910>.
Atlantian Kingdom Equestrian Yahoo Group, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AnTir Horse/?yguid=169476910.

Caid Equestrian yahoo group, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Caid Equestrian/.
Gleann Abhann Equestrian Yahoo group,            http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/GleannAbhannEquestrian/.
Merides Kingdom Equestrian yahoo group, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MeridianCavalry/.
MidRealm Equestrian Forum, Legio - On Stride,  http://www.legiodraconis.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=phpBB_14&file=index&action=viewforum&forum=45.
Trimaris Yahoo group, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TriEquus/.
West Kingdom Equestrian yahoo group, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WestKingdomEQ/?yguid=214524149.

There are numerous Facebook pages which cover medieval equestrian topics and interests.  (This article was originally written before the popularity of Facebook, hence these sites were not originally added to the list.)  A few of the sites include:
The Æthelmearc Equestrians page -https://www.facebook.com/groups/401133756648460/
The SCA Equestrians page -https://www.facebook.com/groups/SCAEquestrian/
Ecole Pluvinel - (a page for pre-17th Century equestrian riding research - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1556597977895427/

There are several excellent websites of a general  or specific interest that have articles and information relative to equestrian arts in the medieval period and the SCA.  These include:

Article on the Origins of Equestrian Activities in the SCA, http://madrone.equestrianguild.org/Articles/history_of_the_origins_of_equest.htm.
Hunt Guild Yahoo group, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HUNT_GUILD/.
Lance of St Anne website, http://www.lanceofstanne.com/Emprise_SCA.html   This site has good source information of running Emprises.
Madrone Equestrian Guild, with various links, http://madrone.equestrianguild.org/dynamic/MEG/MEG.
Madrone links page, http://madrone.equestrianguild.org/dynamic/MEG/Resources.
Donwenna's Equestrian Information Center, http://donwenna.homestead.com/index_1.html
Select Bibliography on Medieval Tournaments, Jousts and Formal Deeds of Arms by Steve Muhlberger, Nipissing University, http://www.nipissingu.ca/department/history/muhlberger/tourbib.htm.
Website Barding article, same author,  http://ilaria.veltri.tripod.com/overviewbards.html.
Website: Costume of the Military Horse by Viscountess Kassandra Tenebrosa , http://www.havenonline.com/moas/northstar/vol1no1/HorseCostume.htm.
Website Detailing making a Medieval Helm Crest by Randy Asplund, http://www.randyasplund.com/browse/medieval/crest.html.
Website of Horse Armor Links, http://www.horse101.com/topics/History/horse_armour_html.
Website, Overview of Tack, by Madonna Contessa Ilaria Veltri degli Ansari, http://ilaria.veltri.tripod.com/tack.html.
Website: Tales from Froissart, edited by Steve Muhlberger, Nipissing University, http://www.nipissingu.ca/department/history/muhlberger/froissart/deeds.htm.

 

In addition, I recommend the following sources for further research into the equestrian arts:

Ayton,  Andrew. Knights and Warhorses: Military Service and the English Aristocracy under Edward III. Woodbridge: The Boydell Press, 1994.
Barber , Richard & Juliet Barker.  Tournaments: Jousts, Chivalry and Pageants in the Middle Ages, Woodbridge: The Boydell Press,2000.
Clark,  John ed. The Medieval Horse and its Equipment, c. 1150 c.1450. NY:Woodbridge: Museum of London, 1995.
Clephan,  R Coltman. The Medieval Tournament. NY: Dover Publications, Inc, 1995.
Davis, R.H.C.  The Medieval Warhorse: Origin, Development and Redevelopment.  NY: Thames and Hudson,1989.
Dent,  Anthony Austen. The Horse Through Fifty Centuries of Civilization. NY: Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 1974.
Devries, Doughtery, Dickie, Jestice and Jorgensen.  Battles of the Medieval World, 1000 1500.  NY: Amber Books, Ltd, 2006.
DiMarco, Louis A.  War Horse, A History of the Military Horse and Rider.  Yardley: Westholme Publishing, LLC, 2008.

Duarte, King of Portugal.  (Translated by Antionio Fanco and Luis Preto, editied by Steven Muhlberger)  The Royal Book of Jousting, Horsemanship and Knightly Combat: A Translation into English of King Dom Duarte’s 1438 Treastise, Livro Da Ensinanca De Bem Cavalgar Toda Sela, “The Art of Riding on Every Saddle.”  Highland Village, TX: Chivalry Bookshelf, 2005.

Hopkins, Andrea.  A Chronicle History of Knights. NY: Barnes and Nobles Books, 2004.
Hyland,  Ann. The Medieval Warhorse: From Byzantium to the Crusades. London: Grange Books, 1994.
Hyland, Ann.  The Warhorse: 1250-1600.  Gloucestershire: Sutton Publishing Ltd, 1998.
Illuminated Manuscripts, Medieval Hunting Scenes ("The Hunting Book" by Gaston Phoebus), trans. J Peter Tallon. Barcelona: Printer Industria Grafica, 1978.
LaCroix,  Paul and Walter Clifford Meller. The Medieval Warrior. NY: CL Press/Book Creation, LLC, 2002.
Muhlberger, Steven. Jousts and Tournaments: Charny and The Rules for Chivalric Sport in Fourteenth Century France. Union City, CA: The Chivalry Bookshelf, 2002.
Oakeshott, Ewart. A Knight and His Horse. Chester Springs, PA: Dufour,  Inc, 1962.
Pyhrr, LaRocca, and Breiding.  The Armored Horse in Europe, 1480 1620.  NY: The Met. Museum of Art, 2005.
Wagner, Drobna, and Durdik.  Medieval Costume, Armor and Weapons. Mineola, NY: Dover Publications, Inc, 2000.

I also suggest that the reader refer to the many Illuminated Manuscripts which include depictions of horses, their equipment, mounted warriors and the use of the horse in period. I suggest the serious researcher seek out these period sources :

"Forme et Devis d'un Tournoy" by Renee of Anjou
"Book of the Pas de Sammur" by Renee of Anjou
"Traictié de la forme et devis d'ung tournoy" by Renee of Anjou
"de Arte de la Cavalleria" by Juan Quixada de Reayo
"Turnierbuch" by Hans Burgkmair
"Exercitorum atque artis militaris collectanea" by Pietro Monte
"Turnierbuch and Familienchronik" by Marx Walther
"De Arte Athletica" by Paul Hector Mair
'The Art of Warfare on Horseback' by Johann Jacob van Wallhausen

This is an ever-developing list and certainly not complete.  I invite the reader to add their favorite sources or links in the comments.

Note: In 2014, at the Pennsic War, I taught a class about this subject.