| Topics for Projects and Classroom Activity Suggestions The Adventures of Barrett: The Racehorse with Magic Shoes offers many project topics and activity suggestions related to Medieval, and Celtic history topics including the Norman Conquest, the War of the Roses, the Renaissance period, heraldry, famous Kings, the Queen of England, genealogy, Coat of Arms, the birth of the Thoroughbred horse and racing, the Jockey Club, and Thoroughbred pedigrees You can use your imagination and transport yourself back to the battlefield of Bosworth in 1485 as one of the knights fighting alongside King Henry VII. A student can follow the pedigree of the first horse on record imported by King Henry VII and his daughter, Elizabeth I, and find famous racehorses dating back to that same horse. Other projects could include the way of life of the people of Wales and Ireland and their family names. Test your limits and create your own medieval music. This Web site has links used as references but the Web has unlimited resources. |
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| Reports, Topics, and Ideas |
| For Teachers |
| 1. Read about Thoroughbred racing in the 15th Century and then compare it to Thoroughbred racing today. As a class, form racing stables. Name the stables, choose colors, hire trainers, tryout jockeys, and buy horses. Next organize a Racing Commission and form races. Then race the horses against other stables. Have a Triple Crown of your own. 2. Compare horses in history. Read about Seabiscuit, Hidalgo, Black Beauty, the Black Stallion, and Smarty Jones. Even though Barrett, the Brave, Son of Pendyne, is a fiction character, how are the horses similar? What would be considered a hero? Compare each horse to a famous person. What are the differences or similarities. 3. Prepare battles, battle tactics, and armory for Richard III and King Henry VII. Create your own Clan, Coat of Arms, flags, and calvary. 4. Review or create a timeline for the history of the Thoroughbred. Visit the Kentucky Horse Park and Museum in Lexington Kentucky. 5. Review or create a timeline for the War of the Roses, famous people, and the relevant events, creations, and inventions that evolved from it. 6. Using synthesizing software or musical instruments create a medieval song of your own. 7. Make a presentation for a typical day at a racing stable or how show jumpers are prepared for a show. 8. Compare the type of horse tack (saddles, bridles, bits, blankets) from the medieval era to today’s racehorse or show jumper. Compare the different types of equipment used for a racehorse, a show jumper, and the knight’s horses. 9. Look up farrier (horse shoeing) in the medieval days and compare it to today’s horse shoeing. Compare different techniques used for different types of horses (racehorse, show jumper, western horse, or a gaited horse). 10. Compare different types or levels of show jumping events and the history behind them, such as: Grand Prix, Prix Des Nations, World Cup, International, CSI. 11. Learn what it takes to be a member of the U.S. Equestrian Olympic Team. Contact the United States Equestrian Team office and get an interview with an Olympic Team member. 12. Learn what it takes to be a jockey. Try to get a tour of a racing stable and maybe a ride on a racehorse. Talk to the jockeys about racing. 13. Prepare a presentation for the different types of horses used in Ireland, Wales, and England during the medieval era, how they were used, and how they evolved today. 14. Prepare a presentation on horseracing. Compare it to the royal racing stables from the medieval times to todays. 15. Prepare a presentation for foundation Thoroughbred bloodlines that sired famous racehorses in history. Compare different types of uses for a Thoroughbred. 16. Discuss the horse industry in the United States and why it is the leading mult-billion dollar industry in existance. Discuss how it effects commerce in the United States and compare it to the horse industry in Europe. Discuss the top leadng horse industry states such as: Kentucky, Virginia, Texas, North Carolina, and Maryland. |
| Classroom Projects and Presentations |
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| History History of the House of Tudor History of Wales, Ireland, and England Norman Conquest The War of the Roses The Renaissance Period The Throne of England Famous People Richard III King Henry VII Elizabeth I and the Throne of England Prince Charles I of Wales Clans and Warriors Famous Irish, English, and Welsh Families The Thoroughbred Horse The Thoroughbred Throughout History Thoroughbred Racing Thoroughbred Pedigrees The Godolphin Arabian and other Famous Horses Medieval Topics Music Heraldry Battle Armor Coat of Arms Medieval Battle Tactics Castles Genealogy Inventions of the Renaissance Music Clothing Importance of Colors in History Flags and Banners Show Jumping History of Show Jumping Fox Hunting Training Racehorses Training and Riding Show Jumpers The U.S. Equestrian Olympic Team Pony Clubs of the Americas and England U.S.E.F. and the U.S.E.T. Famous Riders in the Equestrian Sport and Their Horses The Grand Prix and Olympic Equestrian Events |
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