Surprising Facts About Horses and Horsemanship

1. Before modern times, breeds were not used

In the past, horses were bred for specific traits by humans, but not for the breeds that we know today. They were instead siloed into categories, depending on the horsemanship service they provided. There were horses used for war, which were fast and agile; horses for travel, which had a smooth ride and endurance; and horses used for work, which were large and strong.

2. Historically, war horses were small

Watching movies, it has become a popular misconception that the best horses in history for war were massive beasts, tall, stout, and intimidating. Instead, agility was the favored trait in a war horse. While they did need to be strong, in order to handle riders in armor, horses for war were rarely used for travel and almost never used as a beast of burden. They only needed to be fast and perform well in combat.

3. Horse whispering is a real training technique

Although it is considered a new field by some, natural horsemanship (or horse whispering) is real. It relies on developing trust with the animal in order to train them. It has gained popularity in the past twenty years, but aspects of the modern method have been around for centuries as a humane way to train. It still requires skill on the part of the trainer, but can be a great way to avoid stress in the animal.

4. There are three categories of modern horse breeds

The 300 plus breeds of horse today are grouped into three different categories. Cold bloods are work horses, strong and able to perform heavy labor. Hot bloods are those horses with endurance a speed, used for racing. Warm bloods are horses bred between the two groups that are great for riding and horsemanship skills.

5. The only true wild horse is the Asian Wild Horse

Also called Przewalski’s wild horse, after the Russian geographer who wrote about them, the Asian Wild Horse is the only breed of horse that has never been domesticated. The Brumbies of Australia and Mustangs of America are simply domesticated breeds that are feral. An endangered species, Asian Wild Horses are native to the steppes of central Asia.

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5 Reasons Why The Middle Ages Are Just So Cool

1. Tournaments

A great tradition throughout Europe during the Middle Ages was tournaments. Knights, skilled warriors, and nobility were invited to compete in military operation style games. People would come from all around the area to watch and the festivities would last for days. It was a great test of athleticism and skill and a great opportunity for the community to come together.

2. Chivalry

The romantic ideas of chivalry are only associated with the later period of the Middle Ages, but they are still responsible for the codes of honor that we still look to today. They included justice, courage, courtesy, and helping those that can’t help themselves. It is in stark contrast to the brutal methods previously used, which focused on might equals right.

3. Horsemanship

In the Middle Ages, horses were more than just for show. They were used for moving goods, working farms, by the military, and for going anywhere over a long distance. For this reason, many excelled in horsemanship. It is almost a lost art, since our modern society rarely relies on the noble horse. However, in the right hands, horses of the Middle Ages were adept and skilled creatures and things of beauty.

4. Storytelling

The tradition of storytelling dates back to the beginning of man’s ability to speak, but in the Middle Ages, storytellers were a celebrated and respected part of society. Called bards or troubadours at that time, they would travel through the continent, stopping at court, in villages, and in country estates to share their talents with the community, usually being paid handsomely. They were the major entertainers of their time, before printing presses made stories readily available in books.

5. Higher learning

Most people think of the period between the collapse of the Roman Empire and the Renaissance as a time of ignorance and darkness. In fact, there was much collaboration and intellectual advancement in this period. The world’s oldest universities were chartered in the Middle Ages. They fostered much learning and scientific advancements. The next time you cheer for your favorite mascot, you can thank those in the Middle Ages.

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Live Entertainment, Themed Evenings and Other Ideas for Date Nights

Date nights are important to keep couples connected and communicating. Whether you do a fancy night on the town with live entertainment and the works, or pick a simple picnic in a local park, it is important to make time for each other. Juggling work and life schedules can sometimes leave little time for planning, so here are a few great ideas for date night.

Live entertainment

Live entertainment is a crowd pleaser. Whether you are looking for theatre, animal performances, competitions, or music, watching a live show always sets you up for date night success. Look to community staples and traveling shows for the options. The best ones are places that also include dinner, so you don’t miss the start of the show.

Romance in nature

A twilight dinner and moonlit stroll through an area park can also be romantic. Most areas not only have neighborhood and municipal parks, but if you look, you can probably also find state parks or natural preserves. Pack a picnic of your favorite high-end treats and a bottle of something nice. Nothing says romance like an evening stroll among the stars and the twinkling live entertainment of lightning bugs.

Take a class together

Couples that learn together stay together. Couples with less time can take a one-time class about a shared hobby, like gardening, welding, pottery, or painting. Those with more flexibility can enroll in a continuing education class together, like a language class or history class for a recurring date night.

Game Night

Game night is a great way to unwind and connect with your significant other. Pick your favorite board games from childhood, or learn a new card game together. Get physical and play tennis, go to a driving range, or batting cage. Remember that games also include video game competitions and table games, like ping pong, foosball, shuffleboard, and air hockey. With game night, you become the live entertainment!

Themed evenings

For creative and adventurous couples, make a themed date night. The sea could inspire a boat rental, the old west could lead to a day at the rodeo, and chivalrous knights and ladies of yore could lead to a themed evening at a jousting competition. Whatever you pick, find something that you can both get into. You can even dress up, if you like!

If you would like to learn more about live entertainment in Toronto, click here.

5 Not-So-Ordinary Ideas for Family Fun Activities

1. Go to a dinner theatre

One of the best family fun activities is going to a dinner theatre. Kids of all ages love stories. These stories are acted out in front of them, complete with fantastic costumes, music, and props. Sometimes animals are even part of the show. They will love the interaction as they cheer, jeer, and clap along.

2. Rent paddleboats

Most every local body of water will have paddleboat or canoe rentals. The whole family can have fun getting out into nature on a beautiful day. Take a few moments before you leave to show them a few local flora and fauna that you might come across. They can keep their eyes open for various birds, fish, dragon flies, and frogs.

3. Live entertainment

If your family fun activities have become boring, spice things up with some live entertainment. Local comedians, animal shows, musical talent, and plays are all great live entertainment options. Some make things even easier by having dinner included. If not, make sure to plan enough time to see the show and have a meal.

4. Have a table tennis competition

If you are a little short on cash, but want something high on fun, create a family game competition. Table tennis is an easy one, but you could also do foosball, badminton, and volleyball. Keep score and make a silly awards ceremony with silly trophies, paper crowns, or fun things like pardons from nightly chores.

5. Find an unusual sporting event

No one will argue that going to a major league football, basketball, baseball, or hockey game is fun. However, there are lots of kinds of sports out there that can be enjoyable to watch and are often less of a hassle and more fun to learn. Indoor soccer, jousting, martial arts, and lacrosse are all fun family activities to watch.

If you would like to learn more about family fun activities in Toronto, visit Medieval Times.

5 Great Ideas for Blended Family Fun Activities

Here, Mr. and Mrs. Parent, is your dilemma: Your blended family consists of a playground-loving toddler and a teen who is partial to the shopping mall. Go make both of them happy. Hint: You actually can accomplish that feat in five easy steps …

1. A day at the museum

Visiting a museum – the science variety – is one of the best family fun activities, because everyone wins. The young ones enjoy pushing buttons and creating things, while older children learn something that might come in handy during a forthcoming science test. And you have happy kids.

2. Swim, swam, swum

A trip to the local pool is also high on the family fun activities list. Most facilities offer water-iffic options for each child, plus you get an added bonus: Everyone sleeps better after a day of splish splashing.

3. Travel back in time   

Want a family fun night? Visit a family fun knight. Venues that harken the Middle Ages – the exciting stuff such as jousting, scrumptious turkey legs and lively entertainment – are great for helping everyone bond. But please note: Don’t do jousting in the living room when you return home.

4. The recipe for success   

A family that cooks together has a good time together. It says that early on in the “Family Fun Activities Manual.” OK, it will when we finish writing it. In any case, cooking together gives preschoolers the opportunity to cover themselves in flour without a fuss from Mom and Dad. Meanwhile, the teens can create a meal from ingredients purchased at the grocery store and discover the wonders of cooking.

5. Two words: Family Night

Every family, especially a blended one, will benefit from time spent together on purpose, so make one night a week “Family Night,” full of the family fun activities of your choosing.

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Is My Child Old Enough to Watch Live Entertainment

If you have young children, you’ve had a conversation of this ilk: “Mom, I think you’re pretty … worms aren’t, though … worms are gross … except worms that turn into butterflies … I’m hungry.” It’s a fact that a kiddo’s attention span isn’t the stuff of Guinness Book records. So, you might wonder, when is a child old enough to watch live entertainment? Here are two activities you can do that will help with the answer – plus a bonus “kid proof” solution.

1. Watch and learn

To gauge whether children are ready for live entertainment, start watching their attention span at home. When they view a favorite television show, they should be able to sit most of the way through it and be engaged in the story. The less fidgeting they do, the more ready they are for live entertainment.

2. Enlist the help of an older child

A child’s attention span typically grows at around four years, but studies show younger kids with older siblings sometimes mature in that regard even earlier. If an older brother/sister plays with the younger child regularly, the youngster often stays tuned in to the activity better. When the younger child has someone to look up to, he/she can take behavioral cues from bubba or sis. Plus, at a live entertainment event, the youngster has another lap in which to sit contently.

3. Take action   

Realize beforehand that the content of the live entertainment goes a long way toward ensuring a contented kiddo. At shows with a lot of action and color, children can become mesmerized by the costumes, music, and activity. Shows that engage them physically also keep them interested. Another solid bet for a contented child: shows that involve animals of any kind. Kids love animals.

If you would like to learn more about live entertainment in Myrtle Beach, visit Medieval Times.  

5 Things to Do This Weekend Besides Go to the Movies

1. Go to a dinner theatre

Live entertainment is always best. The more sophisticated and more fun older brother of the dinner-and-movie tradition is going to a dinner theatre. For hundreds of years, people have entertained themselves with live-action portrayals of drama, romance, and humor.

2. Fly a kite

While you might end up with a popular children’s movie song in your head, it can be fun for all ages to go fly a kite. The internet is full of schematics to build your own, or simply buy one from the local dollar store or home supplies store. Find a park or open field with few trees, and let the fun begin.

3. Throw a backyard tournament of games

Invite friends and family over for a potluck or no-fuss barbecue and have a made up tournament games. Pool noodle sword fighting, tug-of-war, bag races, and even glow stick bowling can be a live entertainment blast for everyone.

4. Go to the library

When was the last time that you spent a day at the library? As children, it was something that most of us couldn't wait to do. Libraries also have stepped up their game. Most of them have a great schedule of events, with local authors, celebrities, and community events. Not to mention, you could discover your next favorite book.

5. Find an animal show

Nothing is more entertaining than watching animals perform. Some options are amusing, like monkeys, birds, or other animals performing tricks. Others are serious, like horse performances or dog shows. Do a quick internet search for live entertainment with animals, and have more fun that if you went to the movies.

If you would like to learn more about live entertainment in Chicago, visit Medieval Times.

5 Reasons to Check Out A Live Tournament Game

1. Learn something new

Often, busy work and personal lives leave little time to learn about other cultures, historical times, and new things in general. A great way to incorporate learning something new with daily living is to go to a few tournament games. It can be a lot of fun learning about the Medieval times sword fighting, the Spanish Jai-Alai tradition, or the origin of Rugby.

2. Mix up the typical date outing

When the date lineup has gotten in a rut of movies, dinner, repeat, it’s time to shake things up a bit. Going to tournament games can be exciting. You can learn about the sports being played together, research the competitors, and then cheer for your favorites. Food is always included in the festivities, so it is a great all-inclusive outing option.

3. Passionate athletes performing

No one can deny that watching elite athletes is entertaining. They also appreciate that someone cares about the sport they have dedicated so much of their time towards. No matter what the sport, it can be fun to watch professionals. Bull riding, AAA baseball, and even jousting are a blast to watch.

4. Just plain fun

Live tournament games are just plain fun. There is a certain energy around them that can’t be denied. People training hard for this moment to prove themselves, judges working hard to be fair, and fans excited to see their favorites in action are all reasons to join the fun.

5. Why not?

When you are bored and not sure what to do, it can be hard to think of something new or interesting. Keep tournament games in mind. Look online for local options. Some are seasonal and some are offered year-round. Find something of interest and put it on the calendar. It could be the excitement that your schedule needs.

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5 Fun Things To Do With Hard-To-Please Kids

Sometimes, it can seem hard to find fun things to do with kids, especially if some of the children in the bunch come across as hard to please. The truth is that most children just need a positive challenge. The key is to find a good mix of physical activity and mental stimulation.

1. Build a fort

Whether it is with blankets and sofa cushions in the living room, a series of camping tents at the local state park, or a homemade scrap-wood and cardboard project in the backyard, kids always love forts. It’s one of those fun things to do with kids that even adults love to talk about. Get creative and make it look like a Medieval castle, a steampunk hideout, or a traditional clubhouse.

2. Get crafty

All children love crafts. Fine age appropriate options, like coloring, gluing, and needlepoint for young kids and models, sewing, and rockets for older ones. No kid has ever turned down an opportunity to play with clay, plaster of Paris, or paper mache. Even painting rocks to look like animals, people, or letters is actually fun, once you start.

3. Go to a dinner theatre

Sometimes, when everyone is bored and you are looking for fun things to do with kids, it is best to pack everyone in the car and head to a dinner theatre. This form of entertainment has been around for years. Kids of all ages can get excited and involved with the show, and dinner is taken care of for the night. Everyone in the family is happy.

4. Imagine

Sometimes, the best things to do with kids involve lots of imagination. Make costumes together and then pretend you are back in time as princesses and knights. Tell a chain story together, with each person picking up where the last left off. Even watching clouds or a game of I-spy can be a fun way for kids to pass the afternoon with their imaginations.

5. Learn a new sport

Sports are a great way to help kids work out their energy in a positive way. Learning a new one could be a lot of fun for the whole family. Start at home by teach sword fighting basics with pool noodles, or breaking out your old hacky sack.  Or join a local club and teach them tennis, racquetball, or swimming.

If you would like to learn more about fun things to do with kids in Buena Park, visit Medieval Times.

How to Explain Horsemanship to Kids

Kids love horses, and learning good horsemanship is a big part of teaching them responsibility. The details of equestrian sport techniques are complicated and can take years for both the rider and the animal to learn. However, the basic logic behind the activity is common with many other life lessons. While working with any animal, especially one as large and intelligent as a horse, it is good to always be strong, but respectful.

Good horsemanship starts with respect and trust. Equestrian sports are just as much about good character and trust between a horse and its rider as it is about the particular skills they are performing together. The first step in learning to ride is getting to know the animal and gaining trust with them. Show children that the horse is responsible for their welfare, as they are responsible for the horses’ while riding. It is important to know that they are the leader, but that they have respect for the animal under their care. It is always wise to pay attention to personality. Some children are high spirited and others are quiet. The same is for horses.

Patience is another facet of good horsemanship. Horse and rider need patience with each other while they learn things together. Taking on new challenges can be frustrating, but children can be taught the invaluable tool of being patient and trying again until the skill is mastered. Patience with themselves and with their animal can help build a long and strong bond.

Of course, no horse competition is complete without skill. While it takes years to properly learn many of the tricks and performances, the hard work is always worth the effort. Some people and animals have natural talent, while others have to work a little harder. Either way, skill can be mastered in time, with patience and trust between horse and rider.

If you would like to learn more about horsemanship in Buena Park, CA, visit Medieval Times.