Conroi FitzOsbern is an 11th Century Norman Living History Group located in the SouthEast. We had a get together/drill a couple of weekends back. In attendance were Jesse, Glen, Ken, Andy and Andrew. Here are some pictures:

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All pictures are here:
http://mountedknights.com/conroi/11052005Drill.htm

The Conroi's website is here:

http://bellsouthpwp.net/G/l/Glyndower/ConroiFitzOsbern/index.htm

For those movie buffs out there - the saddle on the mule is one of the original saddles used in the movie "The Warlord" with Charlton Heston. The saddle is currently owned by Jesse Bailey.
Enjoy!
Andy

Thanks for sharing these great pictures! Where are y'all located?

So very sweet.

I live in the wrong part of the country. :(

Neat!

Looking great guys!

Great looking group, what is the story about those saddles ? I don't know much about horses and saddles but I'm sure that a few people here who do will be curious about where you got them or made them.

Like that very large bladed spear any info about that one. :cool:

And welcome to this site.

( Edited: Oh, I didn't notice before what you wrote about the saddle being in the " Warlord " movie. :cool: )

I have to say that I've spent a lot of time looking at Conroi FitzOsbern's Web site. You have a lot of good information in you links section. This is exactly the kind of living history group I'd like to be involved in and I admire what you've done so far.

Man, I need a horse!

A number of us are located in and around the Atlanta area. A few more are located up towards Virginia.
Aside from the "Warlord" saddle, the saddle trees were designed by Jesse Bailey here in Atlanta. He had a saddle tree maker here in North Georgia build the tree's for us.
I know we are looking at trying to put an event together for this spring. I think Jesse and Glen will get out some more info on that. Glad y'all enjoyed the pics and thanks for the feedback.
Andy

jesse's saddles rule. he even had an armourer make all the fittings for the harness and sturrips so they would be correct and not off the shelf. makes me proud to be in the lesser northern company ;) (WV,MD,VA,DC area)

Hi guys thanks for the response, some had questions about the saddles there are two different types Andy one has one of the first types the narrow one Ken and I have the later types both are seen in period illustrations. as for some of the kit (mail hauberks Forth armoury) (swords by Albion and Paul binns) (shields shoes and some of the helmets by Sam haywood) (clothing by Wendy bailey and Historic enterprises) (sword scabbards Jesse bailey) (spurs, bits stirrups by Patrick thaden) feel free to ask any questions. Thanks Jesse

Andrew;

VERY cool stuff! Thanks for the pictures! Good to see other folks out there doing real Cavalry stuff (even if it's five hundred years too early, LOL!) But it's great to see you fellows out there practicing and making it happen. More of us need to do that to spread the gospel of Mounted Reenacting.

Nice Jennifer saddle in the background, too.... :D

Cheers!

Gordon

Considering the fact that The Warlord is on my list of top ten movies, as well as being my hands-down favorite 'period' movie, I'm quite envious of Jesse having possesion of a 'holy grail' of movie memorabilia. :D

Jesse,

How did you come into possesion of that saddle, and did you use it as a pattern for the others? What was the general cost on putting one of those saddles together? (I shouldn't even be going down this road).

What kind of differences do you see in this saddle and a more modern design? Does it lock you into place more securely than a modern saddle, etc.?

Have you done any alterations on your hauberks other then the ventails?

The stylistic dragon on Ken's shield is also very nice.

Hi Patrick it is indeed one of the saddles used in the movie and believe it or not I found it on ebay. I had typed in (saddle and movie prop) and that is what showed up. only someone who has seen the movie 100 times and makes saddles might have known what it was. All that the guy who sold it knew was that it was a movie prop. It turns out that it was a 1904 McClellan saddle modified for the movie. As for the saddles we are riding they are made from scratch using beech and white oak lumber and made to period spec,s. and then painted with milk paint or you could use them with just a lin seed oil finish. It rides good and keeps you in the seat. I would charge around 800 to 1000 depending on what kind of stirrups some one wanted. The hauberks are for the most part( Forth armoury) mine was a long sleeve without coif ,I cut the sleeves to half ,added the coif and made a square ventail that buckles up instead of being tied as this is shone in the Baueux tapestry. Hope this helps Jesse

Thanks Jesse that is helpfull. If I'm ever able to mount up I know who to contact.

How difficult was attaching the coif to your hauberk?

As a matter of fact I did not put the coif on myself but had Steve sheldon at Forth armoury to do it. I think he did a great job and think this is the best representation I have seen or worn. Jesse

Thanks Andrew that is helpful.

I still don't know if I want to go that route but it is tempting.

When my bought my hauberk one of the first things I did was go through and replace any rings that were missing rivets or had rivets that weren't properly set. I didn't find that many which was a surprise. However, I do agree that manipulating the entire garment when trying to replace one ring is a pain.

The easy way out is of course to put on your coif before you put on the hauberk.
There is at least one account in the sagas where a guy pulls someones coif up from his hauberk and stabs him in the neck, so there's historical evidence that at least some people would do it that way...

ya im having a hard time with this spot too. to attach or to wear under the hauberk ug. the other thing that is killing me is the fact that true early period mail was more round or ovalish than my flat stuff. so if i wanted the hauberk for early viking or sutton hoo i would be wrong AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH to much research is gonna kill me heheheh.

patrick, take a pic next time with your coif's mantle under your hauberk.