"Florida Cracker Horse" on TV

 Calderon's Company Cavalry Contingent (How's that for alliteration?) Bill Boston and his mount Dixie are featured in the latest episode of  RFD TV's the Horse Show www.thehorseshow.com

Episode 392 of The Horse Show with Rick Lamb "Florida Cracker Horse"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=rvGQkGwS3xk#t=0s

Typecast!

In July of 1999 I took part in a film for De Soto National Memorial's Visitor's Center, entitled Hernando de Soto in America.

A little under thirteen years later, I find myself back at it again, which is why I wasn't at Drake's Raid yesterday.  Looking over my credits list I've done about fifteen conquistador related film/video projects, and portrayed Hernando de Soto four times before and been "buried" in the "Mississippi River" three.  This projects working title is De Soto and the Chickasaw and produced by Chickasaw Multimedia. 

 

I'm ready for my close up.

I

The Chickasaw are the Chicasa mentioned in the various De Soto accounts and were located in Mississippi when Soto's post Mabila  entrada made its winter 1540-41 winter camp in their territory. Chicasa spent the winter harassing Soto's army eventually setting fire to the village that they had taken over.  

 Chickasaw Multimedia sent a large crew from Ada, Oklahoma to Florida to shoot the scenes from the early part of the Spanish expedition to La Florida.  Having done this a few times before, they were a great crew to work with, though like most productions most of you time is spent waiting cameras and lighting to get set up.

I've worked with horses and dogs on set before this was the first time I've seen pigs used.  Soto is noted for bringing a drove of swine to use as a mobile self foraging and replicating food source and is generally credited with introducing the wild pig into North America where it has become a nuisance species in many parts of the U.S.
 

 

Who needs wardogs, those pigs were scary.  I swear it looked and sounded like Jurassic Park when they were off in the woods.  I can see why pig herding was a punishment duty.  

I've need to take another Advil, a day in armor at 50 years old does take its toll, and I've got a truck of assorted  sixteenth century armor weapons and camp accoutrements to unpack.

In the News: Drake returns to raid city

A brief news story with a couple of accompanying photos on yesterday's Drake's Raid event can be found in the St. Augustine Record: 

Drake returns to raid city

Quote of the Day:

“Is this ridiculous?” one woman asked. “Yes. Do I like it? Yes!”

 

 I wasn't there as you'll see in my next post, but do concur with her sentiment.

Happenings at St. Augustine's Fountain of Youth

It appears that the Boat House/Chulupa project at the Fountain of Youth is coming along.  

Chalupa project brings history to life at the Fountain of Youth
Examiner.com
On a typical May morning that can't make up its mind whether to be one of those cloudless, sunny days “La Florida” is so famous for - or surprise tourists while they examine the newly-marked outlines of founder Juan Pedro Menendez's first camp and fort ...

The Boat dedication is scheduled for May 31, 2012 (Providentially, the tropical storm came through a week early) followed by the annual Drake's Raid reenactment.

Drake's Raid (1586), St. Augustine Florida

www.drakesraid.com/

Drake's Raid, St. Augustine 1586. Saturday, June 2nd, 2012. Being the 26th reenactment of Sir Francis Drake's 1586 raid on St. Augustine. 

In the News: Re-enactors lead celebration for anniversary of Ribault's arrival

Looks like the French have arrived.


Re-enactors lead celebration for anniversary of Ribault's arrival
Florida Times-Union
The men were members of the Historic Florida Militia, a volunteer group of costumed re-enactors who recreate scenes from history that took place between ...

In the News: De Soto Landing Re-enactment

With a photo from last year's landing - much better weather:

See a re-enactment of De Soto's landing | HeraldTribune.com
A re-enactment of the landing will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at De Soto National Memorial, 8300 De Soto Memorial Highway, the north end of 75th ...

Yes, I am somebody!!!
 
 DeSoto claims Florida for Spain - again
Bradenton Herald
He has depicted the Spanish conquistador for about 20 years as part of the annual DeSoto landing reenactment. The landing brings to life a significant ...

Reenactment of historical DeSoto landing | Staff Photos | Bradenton ...
Reenactors of Hernando DeSoto's historic landing on "La Florida" at the DeSoto National Monument. A group of about 15 re-created the 1539 landing of ...


Reenactment of DeSoto landing | FISH's Blog space
Reenactors of Hernando DeSoto's historic landing on “La Florida” make their way to the beach in the cove at the DeSoto National Monument.