Progress Business Company

One of our aims is to conduct research and reconstruction. We must carry out intensive research to create our clothing, equipment and tack. The reconstructions we use have either been made for us by specialist crafts people, or by members of the group. Everybody is encouraged to explore historical riding in their own way and
at their own pace, to create a suitable "impression".

Our reconstructions are based on archaeological finds, period writings and iconography. But of the three sources cold hard archaeology is often the most reliable. Ancient writers often leave out what they assume their readers would instinctively understand, while artists are often influenced by a classical past and influences we find it hard to understand. This means that often our reconstructions can be viewed as innately conservative, but this is far better than our equipment being considered fanciful. But while a reconstructed artefact can fire the imagination and promote interest in a period of history, it is often useful to find out how it works, it's limitations and capabilities. Rather than rely on the musings of academics, we can obtain hard data by exploring the past in a visceral way. And few reconstructions can provide the excitement of a recreated saddle, or the skills of ancient cavalrymen.

This part of the website is devoted to some of our reconstructions, in articles and discussions. Click on the articles in the list below.
They are stored as either Internet pages or PDF files.

History of Riding

• A Short Canter Through Early Historical Riding Styles | January 2012
  A journey through early period riding styles.


• Greek Soldiers On Campaign | December 2011
  An in-depth look at Greek soldiers on campaign, split into ten sections.

Recreating Riding Styles

• Mounting The Horse | January 2012
  Exploring different historical methods of mounting horses.



Reconstruction of kit & equipment

• A new Tube and Yoke Cuirass | September 2011
  Recreating a Greek Tube and Yoke Cuirass, construction and issues encountered.


• A new Tube and Yoke Cuirass - an Addendum | October 2011
  Part 2 of recreating a Greek Tube and Yoke Cuirass.


• The Petasos and Boeotian helmet | September 2011
  Discussion and history, and then recreation of each item.


• Greek and Hellenistic Cavalry - Which helmets are appropriate? | September 2011
  Discussion and history of Greek cavalry helmets.



Weapon use

• Types of long weapon and their use | September 2011
  A classification of each type of long cavalry weapon.


• Seleucid cataphracts | September 2011
  A debate of the use of thrusting spears and shields, or the kontos?


• Greek offensive weapons | September 2011
  A look at different Greek cavalry swords.