Kryal Castle’s Baroque Horse Festival 14-15 February

THE power and style from one of history’s most notable eras will be on display on horseback at the weekend.

Kryal Castle will host its ninth Baroque Horse Festival on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 February, showcasing the dressage and warfare these horses and riders were capable of during this historic period.

Phillip Leitch, the castle’s operations manager, said the horses celebrated as part of this festival were suited to jousting.

He said his wife Lisa had the idea to host an event highlighting these breeds.

Horses from Andalusian to Lusitano, Friesian and Lipizzaner will be on display.

“You might see them on TV, or magazines and that, but not many people actually get to see them up close and personal,” he said.

Mr Leitch said the type of horses had been bred over hundred of years for dressage and warfare.

There will be jousting, along with a display of Rossfechten, which is a German word for mounted fighting.

“So people get an understanding of how these warhorses weren’t simply big cart horses that would charge into the enemy,” he said.

“They were fast, agile, moving horses that could run behind people and were very effective in combat.”

There will also be “beautiful displays where horses are going to be doing their dressage movements to music”, Mr Leitch said.

He said it was an event that celebrated the horses as well as the breeding community.

“One of my favourite parts of the day is at the end,” he said. “We have the last ride of the day, where we simply play music over the speakers and all the riders and horses come out at once.

“They play around and they go up to members of the public so they can pat the horses and ask questions and the like.”

The festival will feature a baroque feast on Saturday night, where there will be costumes, historic dancing and live music.

Archery, knights school and potion making will also be held throughout the weekend.

Bookings can be made and more information on the festival found at kryalcastle.com.au