[Angus Trim]

Hi Peter

I take it you haven't spent a lifetime training with a sword on horseback?

Then, to facilitate keeping the sword in hand should something get sticky, and to help the control of the blade so the horse doesn't get whacked, I'd suggest something with a compound hilt, or something with either a finger ring or thumb ring. Something to where once grasped the chance of losing the sword, and either being disarmed, or possibly harming the horse, is reduced........

A&A is looking like a better solution all the time.......

[Peter Bosman]

Thank you Angus for the suggestion.
Whacking the horse is no issue, possibly dropping the sword may be.
A ring is an idea that crossed my mind as has a wrist loop or a sword knot. I ride with a 90 cm. long stick and my riding is ambidextrous. I prefer not to use a loop or such as I change hands continuously but have dropped the stick only once in countless hous of rough riding.
A ring may definitely be an alternative option that does give better grip without hindering change of hand.

It seems rather over the top to me realy as the feral dogs are not THAT much of a problem.As I explained it is like wearing a helmet sometimes and an agressive dog is rather agile and usualy manouvering to stay out of reach switching sides at the rear of the horse. My horses are trained to be agile but it is not at all easy to take the initiative and then the dog is at the side it is at so I move my stick to that side.

I have three slightly different riding sticks and only one, an antique, has a leather loop. This loop is a bit.... contradictory: when quitely riding/working I have the loop around my wrist but the chance of dropping the stick is nil.
Riding rough means changing hands so I do not use the loop.... Anyway, I only dropped it ONCE.

I wrapped two of the sticks with spongy rubber tape. The third is uncovered wood and is realy is unnecessary as I only 'touch the skin' and that rarely. Accidental contact has not occured.
I play with spears a bit and accidentally scratching the horse has been easy to avoid. I have started making a cover for the head and I hope that will not have a contraproductive effect in the line with the relativysafety-theory: making me less instinctively carefull.

Saludos,

peter

[Peter Bosman]

Btw, I find it curious how this topic keeps going off topic

To get a bit of an idea one can find some films on youtube under 'pablo hermosa de mendoza' and his rejoneo. It is not what I do but the style is and also it shows that hurting the horse by accident with a sword is not an issue.

In general I have found that the less cluttered on object is the easier it is to handle and the more secure the reflexive control of it. On horseback a ' clean' object is less likely to snag with something too.
In general less is more.

Back op topic I think it will be hard to find an original with a finger ring. It is only one source but lehussard.fr gives a pretty good idea of what is avialeable as is the history file of auction house hessink.nl . The latter has exquisite catalogues that read like an illustrarion to Oakeshott et al.

peter

[Robin Palmer]

Dear peter I may be a bit late with this but here goes I have very limited experience riding but weapons i can do.
Ignoring any legal problems which are yours to settle we have only one question which type of sword you use and this is a matter of practicality and suitability.

I would discount older antiques as to expensive plus unless you are very sure of their history you cannot be sure of their fitness for purpose. Finding out some one has used you antique blade as a chicken spit and cleaned it up for sale years ago in the middle of a situation involving feral dogs is not a good move. For what it is worth I would recommend a blade with a simple knuckle bow or guard beyond making it easyier to keep hold of in a fight it can be used as a brass knuckle. Further I would suggest the blade have a good edge as well as point. You dislike sabres which rules out the British 1797 light cavalry sabre which is one of the best ever made I would avoid extremes like the 1908 which is all point and no edge. I hope this has been of some value and wish you continued enjoyment in your riding.

[Peter Bosman]

Buenas Robin, thank you for the input.

As I wrote change is a certainty and meanwhile a 16th c. renaissance sword by Barta came up for sale right here which I have provisionally bought.

peter

[Robin Palmer]

Glad to be of some help further my comments I have given it some more thought and if the deal falls through might i suggest looking for a hanger or cutlass both are good cut and thrust weapons not over long simple and robust. Either would do the job well.

[Peter Bosman]

I have no doubt they would.

If by bad chance the deal falls through I intend to place a custom order with A&A.

I have decided that as one cannot have it all and most certainly not in one single sword I will look for a specialist tool for taichi form excersizing. By the time I will benefit from something realy well balanced no doubt an answer or solution will again have presented itself. Noooooooooooooo haste with that

peter