The Knighthood is from origin a collective name for the organizations for the war- and school stallions trainers. The knowledge that was shared within these organisations was state secret as to create the biggest advantage on the battefield. This is one of the reasons that so much knowledge of this time is lost.

In 1997 Bent Branderup founded the Knighthood of the Academic Art of Riding to keep the art alive. The members of this new Knighthood spread the old knowledge, experiment with  and keep on searching for new knowledge. The Knighthood of the Academic Art of Riding protects the European cultural inheritance combined with the modern ethical values for the interaction between horse and rider. The historical Knighthood’s level of skill of acceptance was equal to the level of piaffe, passage, pirouette plus an air above the ground. It was necessary to lower the level of skill of acceptance, so that the Knighthood could again accept Members. That is why the level is now equal to that of a working rider, a squire,  creating a basic for the Art of Riding.

The knighthood is a community of passionated horse people who share its fundamental ideals and have proven a basic level of skills. It is an international academy with the main tasks of research and education, always aware of ethical aspects that concern the human-equine relationship.

The members of the knighthood  carry on an old European cultural heritage, investigating in and trying to restore what got lost over the centuries, mainly relying on the old Masters Xenophon, Pluvinel, Newcastle, Guérinière, Steinbrecht, Weyrother and Holleuffer. But any old or new knowledge about the art of riding shall be seen with interest and incorporated where it is appropiate. The members see themselves as members of a brain pool where they in exchange information and help each other to develop. In this way the Knighthood of the Academic Art of Riding is always developing new skills and insights.

Fortunately, horses are no longer used in warfare. Our goal in being with horses is to spend time well.

Pluvinel