Golden Age of Horsemanship
Find out how a series of incredible horsemanship events at English Heritage properties showcases skills that have been passed down over 500 years.
Modern-Day Knight
Preparations are well under way for the programme of events taking place at English Heritage properties this summer.
One of those who has been practising all winter is 21st-century knight Dominic Sewell, who is gearing up to transport visitors at Bolsover Castle back to the 16th and 17th centuries with his thrilling displays of horsemanship at the historic Riding House.
It’s a tremendous sight seeing Dominic and his horse striding across the floor of the Riding House, but what’s more impressive is that the intricate, well-rehearsed moves being pulled off have been handed down from the riders who established a golden age of horsemanship 500 years ago.
VIDEO: Behind the Scenes
Find out how Dominic spends his day training his horses to take part in historical events, ranging from the Roman period through to Norman times, all the way up to the academic art of horsemanship stemming from the riding manuals of the 16th and 17th centuries.
Hear about how he creates a bond with the horses, and why putting on displays in the Riding House at Bolsover Castle is such an honour.
Back to the Golden Age
‘The Renaissance gave the nobility of Europe access to many printed works but those of horsemanship captured their hearts,’ says Dominic.
‘Its practice spread like wildfire in Elizabethan England. I want to recreate that excitement for the modern world.’
Dominic’s company, Historic Equitation, trains horses and riders in authentic historic styles, from the Roman period to the 17th century. It’s the later periods that are his passion.
‘It is the golden age of horsemanship,’ he says. ‘Although the heavy cavalry charge had been swept away by the use of gunpowder, the horse still carried commanders and knights. The horse became a symbol of power and social status.’
Video: Interview with Dominic Sewell
Learn more about the heritage of horsemanship in England in this interview with historical rider Dominic Sewell. He reveals how the golden age of horsemanship stems from the High Renaissance and how he’s preserving those skills today.
See footage of horses in training at the Riding House at Bolsover Castle, which was built in the 1630s, and watch as the practice of historic horsemanship is recreated in the modern world.
Olympic Traditions
Rather than being a relic of the past, the same skills that Dominic and his team display will be present at this year’s Olympic Games in Rio. ‘Even now you can see the traditions of the 16th century in modern dressage,’ says Dominic.
‘When you watch the Olympics this summer, look out for the half-pass, a movement from one corner of the Riding House to another, where the horse moves diagonally, with a slight bend through its whole body.’
The half-pass is just one of the traditions of Federico Grisone, whose Rules of Riding was published in 1550. As Dominic explains, ‘You will also still see changes of lead – where a horse changes from left to right, or right to left leads – which are all inspired by a book written nearly 500 years ago.’
Gallery
Get involved
As well as Dominic, the modern team includes Atkinson Action Horses, which trains horses for film and television, and international dressage trainer Peter Maddison-Greenwell.
Visitors to Bolsover are invited to meet the team and their horses to learn more about the art of horsemanship.
‘I think what we do at Bolsover and elsewhere helps people make the connection between the remaining architecture and what used to happen there,’ says Peter. ‘It helps them understand the space that they are standing in.’
