Renaissance Shires

In the freezing Georgia weather, thoughts meander to the celebration of warmer days of past summers spent in the forests of Maryland and Pennsylvania. I miss going to Renaissance Faires.

We would watch jousting Knights on their Shires and Clydesdales, all the while enjoying late Elizabethan period costumes, soaking in all the sights with a smoked turkey drummer in hand, attending plays, witnessing fencing duels, all while sampling Meade. We would also knock out half our Christmas shopping obtaining very cool and unusual gifts from the talented artists on hand selling their wares.

The feeling you have when you set foot in the enchanted forest, seeing properly attired Lords and Ladies, Earls, Sir Priests among Sirrahs, Knights in shining armor, and their magnificent horses -- (oh those horses!), your imagination takes you right back to the day you believed in fairy tales with no worries.

First Draught Farm's friend, Judy, gives FDF 's blog and its followers several photographs of fellow west coast Shire owners celebrating A Day of Medieval California in a wildlife refuge in Norco, California. These gals are a part of the troupe called The Shire Riders who ride together to promote the Shire Draft Horse. They participate in numerous parades, including the Tournament of Roses (where you might have recently seen them) and expos such as Equestfest.

This post should warm your winter hearts . . . and hopefully spark some fondness for the beautiful Shire Horse. One of our purposes here at First Draught Farm is to cultivate interest and exposure to the Shire Horse, whose population numbers remain in the Critical Level in the U.S. (American Livestock Breeds Conservancy), and At Risk in the U.K. (Rare Breeds Survival Trust).

Meet Barb & Kameo

And Marsha on April . . .

And Jena on John.

In the spirit of the moment, I quote Geoffrey Chaucer (c.1343 - 1400)
From Canterbury Tales:

"And what is better than wisedoom (wisdom)? Woman.
And what is better than a good woman? Nothing."

Another reason to revel in the Renaissance Era . . . .