Furusiya - Traditional Skills of Horsemanship
Handling weapons on horseback
Courses | Instructors | Facilities | Prices | Contact
‘Furusiya’ is taken from the Arabic meaning the noble arts, and refers to the traditional skills of handling weapons on horseback. The primary weapons were the bow, sword and the spear / lance, all of which are incorporated in the training offered at this training facility / school.
Location
Lying at the foot of the Preseli Mountains in Pembrokeshire, West Wales, the training venue is located in an area of sweeping landscapes and unspoilt natural beauty, with the dramatic coastline of West Wales only half an hour from the training school.
The Preseli Mountains is a National Park area with miles of walking and bridle-paths through a landscape little changed since the last Ice Age. The area also offers a lot to lovers of history, from the early ages of man to the middle ages – the famous ‘blue granite’ stones of the inner circle at Stonehenge having been prised out of the mother rock of these mountains. According to Welsh folklore, the area around the training school was once a favourite hunting ground for the legendary Arthur and his men.
The training area covers approximately 8 acres of fields on the land of ‘Pentre Glas Isaf’ farm, within a patchwork of hill farms and smallholdings. Fields are laid out and set up for different training levels and skills, providing sufficient space for focussed and ‘safe’ training.
Access via the M4 and the dual carriageways is straightforward; with the actual training venue being roughly a 40-minute drive away from Carmarthen/West Wales en route to Cardigan.
Courses
The course structure is designed to take students with little or no knowledge of riding, archery and the other skills to a level of competence which enables individuals to engage and participate in the exciting and exhilarating challenge posed by mounted archery and mounted weapons' skills; experiencing a different level of relationship between horse and rider.
Courses are held over the weekend, with arrival on Friday evening and close on Sunday afternoon. Training times are 09:00 to 12:00 and 12:30 to 16:00 approx, on Saturday and Sunday.
The school is planning to run a minimum of four courses per annum, starting with two courses for beginners, one for students of an intermediate level and one for advanced level students – depending on demand for the latter, additional courses will be offered and details announced here well in advance and circulated to ‘regular’ students.
The syllabus for all beginners consists of basic archery and riding skills, and basic handling of weapons on horseback. The archery and weapon handling will initially be learned and carried out on foot, until riding ability gained will enable a combination of skills.
Group size for all courses is a minimum of 6 students, with a maximum group size of 25 to allow for sufficient individual training time and input by the three instructors.
Instructors
Chief instructor for horse and rider is Faris Collins, BHSI and a trainer in classical & natural horsemanship. He has run several training schools in the past three decades, teaching dressage and riding skills on an international level. He currently is training riders in the use of natural horsemanship methods to improve the performance of their own horses. His students have included international dressage riders, actors and stuntmen.
Iftikhar Ahmed is a specialist in Saracen archery and a natural horse trainer. Having trained various groups in the last few years in the skills, he has the ability to develop individual weaknesses into strengths. Always feeling most ‘at home’ on the back of a horse shooting, fencing or using a spear, he is a good example of the fully trained student at the highest level of skill. He also has trained in various martial arts and eastern weapons.
The third instructor Dirk Neumann is a GNAS archery instructor and runs a training group dedicated to historically accurate sword and weapons' skills. Again most comfortable on the back of a horse, he loves all the skills to a level where they are continuously studied and practiced.
Equipment
Equipment such as training weapons, saddle, riding hats and of course horse(s) will be provided. Students are required to bring suitable riding/training clothes, including appropriate footwear, with them – if in doubt about the precise nature of clothing, please contact one of the instructors on the contact details below prior to attending.
On request, students can bring their own horse; stabling exists for up to 3 horses. Instructors reserve the right to assess the animal for suitability prior to training.
Facilities
A sleeping hall with sufficient floor space for up to 25 people is on site; alternatively ample room exists for camping in a small wood or field area. There are male/female toilets and washrooms on site, there is fresh water on tap and mains electricity is present in the buildings.
We are hoping to offer further accommodation in purpose made nomad tents, called ‘yurts’ or ‘ger’, later on this year, suitable as a sleeping area for up to 6 individuals.
Meals are included in the price and consist of basic breakfast, lunch and evening meal. The food is basic but good; please indicate any special dietary requirements on the booking form.
A selection of small shops, a pharmacy, post office and a petrol station are all within a 2-mile radius of the training location.
Prices
The price for the standard course is £195.00 per person, including meals and use of equipment. If students wish to bring their own horse, a small additional charge will be made for feed and stabling.
Courses can also be designed for a specific training purpose/focus on one particular aspect of the syllabus and the venue itself can be used for activities other than described above, eg workshops, outward-bound courses etc.
Please contact any of the organisers for a discussion on the addresses below.
Instructors
Iftikhar Ahmed, Tel: 01994 419 827
Dirk Neumann, Tel: 01792 865 777
Faris Collins, Mobile: 07748 533 832
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