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The Long Riders Guild Academic Foundation |
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Equestrian Wisdom & History Books
Website designed by Basha O'Reilly
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Thanks to exclusive research material provided by The Long Riders' Guild Academic Foundation, the world's leading equestrian investigative journalist, Tom Moates, has written a stunning exposé, "Vatican versus the Vikings," describing how the American cultural taboo against eating horse-meat is based on a forgotten edict issued by Pope Gregory III in the year 732. When the Catholic Church found itself locked in religious combat with the Pagan Vikings, who ate horse-meat during their religious ceremonies, the Vatican created a dietary prohibition which not only affected Christian history but is unwittingly still being obeyed by Americans today. It is a horse story that has charmed generations, how hardy horses brought to North America by Spanish conquistadors went on to become the forebears of a plethora of equines commonly known today via a bewildering number of names including Spanish Mustangs, Colonial Spanish Horses, Spanish Barbs etc. Yet what has not been previously included in this debate is the “lost” study which concludes that the vast majority of all Spanish horses died soon after arriving. “Did the First Spanish Horses in Florida and Carolina leave Progeny?” was written in 1940 by Thornton Chard, a celebrated equestrian scholar, who undertook this careful research for the American Anthropological Association. Depending on who you talk to, Colonel George Armstrong Custer was either a military genius or a glory-hungry madman. The debate began in 1876, soon after the American cavalry officer led the Seventh Cavalry into the fatal “Battle of the Little Big Horn.” Yet while films and books have often depicted Custer as a dashing but doomed hero, these popular accounts failed to study the officer’s equestrian decisions. Thanks to the academic assistance of Brigadier General Doctor Thomas Murnane, the LRGAF is able to present the most extensive equestrian study ever undertaken into “Custer’s Last Stand.” The enlightening document entitled, "Marching with Custer" was published in 1941 by Colonel Elwood Nye. Nye, who spent years studying Custer and excavating at the battle site, concluded that Hollywood got it all wrong when it came to the horses. Most people don’t usually think of Bulgaria when they think of horses. But that didn’t stop the noted archaeologist, Veselin Ignatov, from uncovering two fantastic chariots, and the steeds that drew them. The exciting discoveries, as well as a plea to help protect the equestrian treasures from looters, is explained in the article, “Ancient Secrets.” Thanks to the incredible generosity of the American Quartermaster Museum, the LRGAF has launched the American Cavalry Blueprint Library. This extraordinary collection of more than 250 military blueprints reveals details of the legendary McClellan riding saddle and the famous Phillips pack saddle, as well as all of the items once used on a daily basis by mounted troopers, including bridles, saddlebags, hobbles, stirrups, picket pins, farrier tools and hundreds of other cavalry paraphernalia. When the Council of Nicea met in 325 AD, its task was to compose an orthodox definition of Christianity. Though they had many documents to choose from, the leaders of the faith established a canon which dictated what should, and should not be included in the New Testament. One of the documents which was rejected was known as The Gospel of the Holy Twelve. Yet this Gnostic book enshrined the legend known as “Christ of the Fallen Horse,” which explained how the beloved leader came to the aid of a horse who was being cruelly misused. In terms of physical size, the late Joseph Allen was a diminutive man. He was, however, a giant in the book world. Owner of London’s famous “The Horseman’s Bookshop” and publisher of J.A. Allen equestrian books, Allen quietly influenced the English speaking equestrian world for much of the 20th century. Then, almost overnight, the tiny man with the big heart, as well as legendary bookshop, were gone without a trace. Here, in a moving story entitled, “Portal to the Horse World,” Allen’s wit, his wisdom and his magnificent literary legacy are described by a close friend who knew him well. It was 1947 the nation of China was busy looking at what appeared to be a rosy future. Japan had been defeated and America was a grateful ally. That’s why a delegation of high-ranking Chinese military officers came to the United States. They were determined to purchase the finest horses money could buy for a new Chinese remount program. Many of America’s finest Morgan stallions were picked, then shipped to the Orient. That’s when history took a nasty turn. The Communists conquered China and all trace of the magnificent Morgans disappeared. Though a rumour arose that an American POW had seen a Chinese Communist officer riding one of the missing Morgans during the Korean conflict, all evidence of the horses was lost – until "The Mystery of the China Morgans" was solved by an LRGAF researcher. Though he was a wealthy, sophisticated author and philanthropist, Edward Tinker was also a passionate horseman. In 1954 he delivered a moving speech wherein he explained that despite their country of origin, he believed Horsemen are Brothers. Apparently no one ever told Cath Dennis that some things are “impossible.” Perhaps that’s why the inspired young English Inventor created an extraordinary, lightweight harness which allows one person to load a reluctant horse into a trailer without assistance. When the news was announced in 1938 that the US Army was putting its horses out to pasture in favour of mechanization, a determined cavalry officer reacted by announcing that he would lead the last official cavalry expedition across the Great Plains. "Twilight of the Cavalry,” describes how that courageous officer led 600 troopers nearly a thousand miles on that historic mounted mission.
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