The cost of re-creating a war with horses and riders
An historical re-enactment enthusiast rides his horse to the military camp.
This horse and rider re-enactment (wiki) business can be expensive.
In her article, The cost of … re-enacting a war,” Tamar Fleishman writes, “Taking part in historical re-enactments has become a fast-growing pastime. Although the battles are now make-believe, the competition at the higher levels of the hobby can be real, as re-enactment groups try to out-authentic their peers. That means more research, better reproduction gear―and more modern dollars spent chasing the look of the past.”
I attended a Civil War re-enactment at Rancho de Los Golondrinas in New Mexico several years ago. The reproduction gear of the cavalry men (and women) was extremely detailed and authentic―right down to the same type of underwear that would have been worn by a Civil War cavalryman! And you can't imagine how much I wished to be down there in the field with the re-enactors and their horses.
A history enthusiast practises his horse-riding skills near the Slavkov (Austerlitz) battlefield.
Ms. Fleishmans comments about cavalry re-enactors in particular. “Men wishing to re-enact a cavalry soldier pay a particularly high price. All horses on the battlefield have to be attired with appropriate equipment. In addition to the expense of saddles, saddle bags, blankets, and bridles, the owner also has to keep the horse shod as well as owning a large truck and trailer for hauling. Cavalry re-enactors often drive their horses all across the United States to be a part a particular re-enactment. “
An historical re-enactment enthusiast dressed as a soldier rides his horse to the military camp .
My eight-year-old boy, C., a medieval history enthusiast, has recently decided that he'd like to join the Society for Creative Anachronism (or SCA for short), a not-for-profit educational organization devoted to studying and re-creating the Middle Ages and Renaissance. The SCA is easily described as a Middle Ages Arts Revival Recreation Organization. (wiki)
I can imagine us dressing up our Percheron Tobias and Andalusian Caprichosa and galloping about the northern New Mexico countryside in full medieval regalia! What would the neighbors think?
I’d love to hear your comments about any experiences you’ve had with equestrian re-enactments.
Sources: The cost of … re-enacting a war; Photo 1; Photo 2; Photo 3
