MEET OUR HORSES
The Jousting Horses
Diego
Gelding
Mystery breed
Liver chestnut with flaxen mane and tail
Born in 2004
Diego came to STALC at age 3 and grew to become Captain Radar’s go-to jousting horse. Fast, strong and usually brave - Diego is popular with both jousters and fans. Although, he has been known to occasionally become scared of decorative plastic flowers (especially when they rustle in a gentle breeze). It’s always an adventure with Diego.
TV appearance(s): Heartland Season 9 Episode 7
Loves: FOOD
Hates: Decorative plastic flowers
Rowan
Mare
Percheron/Quarter Horse Cross
Black
Born in 2005
Rowan is a high octane speed freak and natural jousting horse. A fearless competitor and all business in the tiltyard. She was originally a trail horse before being purchased by STALC from Birds Hill Park Ranch in Winnipeg. During the off season she tolerates such activities as being the medic horse for the Calgary Hunt Club and training actors (but really she’d rather be jousting).
TV appearance(s): Starred as “Abby” on Heartland Season 9 Episode 7
Loves: Speed
Hates: Waiting
Mare
Quarter Horse Cross
Buckskin
This highly opinionated mare joined STALC in 2014. While she has jousted before, Anne is currently undergoing refresher training as sometimes her impressive abundance of sass gets in the way of remembering her manners.
Princess Anne
Calypso
Mare
Percheron/Belgian/Quarter Horse cross
Black
Born in 2008
This mighty mare is built like a tank and full of sass. The product of two jousting horses - dam Juliet of STALC and sire Deathstar owned by Greg Boxma, Stettler, AB. She was born on Freehold Farm and has been competing in the joust since 2014.
TV appearance(s): Heartland Season 9 Episode 7
Loves: Mayhem and destruction
Hates: Ropes
Cassio
Gelding
Cassio is part escape artist and part male model. He came to STALC in 2012, previously being in John Scott’s movie string. While being a film star hasn’t panned out, jousting has been going well (especially when his favourite guest knight, Jessy Dufresne, visits). Nevertheless, on slightly windy days, Cassio is typically to be found majestically trotting around the fields rehearsing for his big break in a shampoo commercial.
Skill at Arms Horses
Duchess
Mare
Canadian
Born 2007
Owned by Brook Bohning
Brook purchased Duchess in 2010 as a young unbroke rescue horse to train. Don’t let her humble beginning fool you, Duchess is a hard working, stubborn and bossy queen and we wouldn’t have her any other way. When she isn't ruling over her herd at home she can be found doing many things. As a multi talented mount she has a long resume including gymkhana, drill team, parades, jumping, ranch horse, mountain trail riding, polocrosse, trick trained, fire trained, mounted archery and a skill at arms mount she excels at almost anything. However, her passion is the medieval games and here is where she truly shines, showing off her bravery, speed and agility. Duchess has a strong personality and work ethic but doesn’t work for free. She can be found smiling for cookies, robbing pockets and tasting many props incase they are edible.
Likes: going as fast a possible, cookies
Dislikes: waiting her turn.
Maverick
Gelding
Morgan
Born 2007
Owned by Lori Smith
What can’t this powerhouse of a little horse do? He has done parades, demonstrations, performances and horse shows. Jumping, trails and cattle work. Dress him up or dress him down he’s game for it all… best when Duchess is near by but he’s just dramatic that way. Kids horse, hunt club, pony club, tricks, polocrosse he does his best for his rider. Perhaps don’t harness him or make him drag things though, that’s shifty.
Loves: going fast especially if there’s jumps
Hates: being left behind
BA Rebels Hummer (Rebel)
Gelding
American Paint Horse
Born May 20, 2012
Owned by Courtney Isbister
Rebel started with the STALC crew in 2022, and is used for Skill at Arms. Rebel came to Courtney at 3 years old and has now done a little bit of everything. He’s a great mountain horse, pony club mount, hunt horse, kids pony, team and breakaway roping, you name it Rebel is up for it.
Loves: his cousin Sky (see horse below)
Hates: being left at home
BA Painted Fuella (Sky)
American Paint Horse
Born May 18, 2014
Owned by Courtney Isbister
Sky is new to the STALC crew, and is used for Skill at Arms. Sky was purchased as a weanling by Courtney who loved her sassy attitude and nothing much has changed. Sky loves to work and is great on the trails, moving cows, roping and is super competitive at everything she does.
Loves: having a job
Hates: fly spray
Horses in Training
Diamond
Gelding
Purebred Quarter Horse
Black with Star
Born in 2010
Owned by Ashe Cutler
Diamond came to the Freehold Farm back in 2013 at three years old, and was privately boarded on the farm until August 2021, when squire Ashe Cutler purchased him. In his life before the farm, Diamond was in training to become a cow horse, but didn't quite make the cut and ended up in auction. Now, the gentle gelding, is in training with his squire companion to be brought up as a Skill at Arms horse. He is incredibly kind natured and is one of the littlest warriors in the group.
Loves: Nibbling Toes and snow
Hates: Inflatable Plastic Dinosaurs and wind
Merlin
Gelding
Clydesdale Cross
Black roan
Born May 2015
Owned by Deez Lees
In his previous jobs, Merlin worked in logging and then attempted the ranch horse lifestyle for a bit. These pursuits didn't quite work out, and his loving owner decided to try find a home that would be a better fit for him. He was purchased in 2021 by Deez to train as a medieval games mount, and eventually, for jousting. Merlin found himself at the farm facing his new training as a medieval war horse. He took to his new life immediately and excelled at everything he was shown (cookies helped) and has great potential. Merlin has a curious and sweet nature. He loves to see everything and be involved in all the action at the farm. He's always one of the first horses to greet you at the gate, even if he gets chased away by Mercury.
Polaris
Gelding
Percheron
Black
Born in 2008
This son of Deathstar and Beauty (both winning jousting horses) came to Freehold Farm in 2012 via Greg Boxma. In spite of his pedigree, Polaris is having a little setback in his own journey to jousting history, but you will be hard pressed to find a sweeter horse in any herd.
Shabraque Grandeé Zhari
Mare
Canadian
Dark Bay
Born in 2012
Zhari was bred at Shabraque Canadian Horses by Bonnie’s family. As with all Shabraque horses, Zhari’s name reflects the family’s military service history. Trained in a multitude of disciplines, Zhari is an active mare who definitely needs a job. As such, she often moonlights as a Therapy Horse for Can Praxis. Together with Bonnie, Zhari is learning the ways of the Joust and other skills!
Loves: COOKIES
Hates: Waiting for people
Retired Jousting Horses
Circa. 2007
Freya
Mare
Belgian/Quarter Horse Cross
Bay
Born in 1989
This ancient being was STALC’s very first jousting horse. Always a fierce competitor, she excelled in the list, competing extensively throughout Canada and the US. Throughout the years, Freya had the thankless task of training many of STALC’s jousters. Her no nonsense attitude and stern training methods have stuck fear into the hearts of many of the greats. She retired from jousting in 2014 and starred in the Alberta Ballet Company’s production of Don Quixote.
Loves: Ballet
Hates: Tomfoolery and shenanigans (looking at you, Echo)
Willow
Mare
Mystery breed - feedlot rescue
Paint
Born in 2003
Willow’s jousting debut was in 2014 and went on to compete throughout western Canada. She retired in 2019 and now dedicates her full attention to being the herd boss at the STALC training facility.
Galahad
Gelding
Mystery breed - feedlot rescue
Bay
Born in 2003
An absolute mammoth of a horse, Galahad, would make an excellent substitute for a war elephant. He jousted across North America before deciding to retire in 2014. He is very sociable and loves to do things with people. Lately, he’s been doing trail rides and working with intermediate-level riders.
Loves: FOOD and anything that looks like it might be food
Hates: Inflatable plastic dinosaurs and being lonely
Druid
Gelding
Druid was lovingly rescued by Dale Gienow. Druid had a storied career in Eastern Canada before heading West with Dale in 2014. Due to his size and colouring, Druid is definitely a guy that stands out in the crowd. While he may appear docile and a 70’s child when out in the field, he is strictly all business in the list and has the distinction of coming in 1st and 2nd place at Brooks Medieval Faire in 2015.
Oddballs and Hangers-On
Arthur "Artie"
Gelding
Arab/Standardbred Cross
Owned by Radar Goddard
Artie came to STALC in 2003 and has been the brains behind much mischief ever since. Too small for jousting, he occasionally acted as a Marshall's horse. Although lately, as a senior horse, he's been enjoying retirement.
Loves: Stretching & Yoga
Mini-Go & Scout
Mares
Literal ponies
Owned by Radar Goddard
Didn’t meet the height requirements for jousting. Currently work as landscapers. They keep a tidy lawn, but their gardening leaves something to be desired.
Hobbies include: burglary
The Kid's Stable
Tano
Mare
Belgian/Paint Cross
Bay
Owned by Deez Lees
Born May 17, 2020
Tano was born on the Setzer farm in Niton Junction, Alberta. The Setzer's bred APHA riding horses, and Belgian draft pulling horses. It's from this combination that Tano gets her excellent breeding. She came to Freehold Farm at just 3 weeks old with her mum, so this has been her home for most of her life. Tano has shown she has the determination, and sass, to make it with the big horses. She still has some growing to do, even if she thinks she's big enough now.
Ivanhoe
Colt
Canadian/Belgian cross
Born in July of 2021
Owned by Radar Goddard
Ivanhoe was born at the STALC training facility. He has a long way to go, but is considered future jousting stock.
Hatfield Fergus
Gelding
Clydesdale
Born June 26, 2021
Owned by Courtney Isbister
Fergus is the baby of Courtney’s crew. He’s loves hanging out with his people and learning new things. He’s a very brave young man, having participated in demos at several large exhibitions and parades before his first birthday. One day when he is big he would like to joust.
Fergus likes all the snacks. He’s a growing boy after all.
Echo
Mare
Dark bay
Owned by Radar Goddard
Bio coming soon