Equestrian:Equestrian authorizations - special

Special authorizations - Mounted archery, mounted combat, Rossfechten, and foam lance jousting

The procedures for each authorization type are examples. Kingdoms may replace with their own procedures, provided they meet the requirements.

Mounted archery

You can authorize for mounted archery. This includes mounted target archery and mounted combat archery activities.

Requirements

For you be authorized for mounted archery, you must demonstrate to the authorizing marshal the following:

1. You meet the general riding and weapons and games authorization requirements at a walk and trot (or equivalent gait).
2. The ability to safely handle and use, a bow and arrows.
3. Familiarity with range procedures and commands.
4. The ability to safely control your horse while engaging in SCA mounted archery.
5. The ability to safely secure your bow and arrows when not in the lane, or in the event of a "hold!" being called.

Mounted archery authorization procedure

1. The marshal will have a conversation with you to:
   1. Determine your familiarity with the additional rules and requirements of mounted archery. You should be able to explain the risks inherent to shooting arrows from horse and how to reduce those risks.
   2. Examine your understanding of your current skill level with regards to mounted archery and the horse you are riding that day.
2. You must demonstrate the ability to shoot safely from the ground, before proceeding to shooting while riding.
3. You must demonstrate adequate control over your horse and your equipment, showing that you have the ability to:
   1. Safely nock, draw and loose an arrow while in motion.
   2. Safely recover the reins/control of your horse after loosing the arrow and before exiting the lane.
   3. Ride down the lane with no hands on the reins at your chosen gait and safely regain control at the end.
   4. Safely un-nock an arrow, in response to "hold!" being called or before leaving the lane.
   5. Follow range procedures and commands.

Mounted combat

The mounted combat program is designed to represent combat as done from horseback. Because incidental strikes to horses will occasionally happen, it is important mounted combatants understand that the force levels and associated armor standards are kept intentionally low.

Armor for SCA ground combat may or may not be suitable for mounted combat or jousting. Any armor intended for equestrian use must be evaluated for its suitability in equestrian martial activities.

Requirements

For you be authorized for mounted combat, you must demonstrate to the authorizing marshal the following:

1. You meet the general riding and weapons and games authorization requirements at a walk and trot (or equivalent gait).
2. The ability to ride in the required armor.
3. The ability to engage and strike an opponent while riding, to control your weapon and force levels, and an awareness of your horse and other horses during movement and strikes.
4. The ability to control your reaction to a stressful environment.
5. An awareness of your horse's reactions and its ability to participate.

Note: Excessive jerking on the reins while fighting, consistently becoming unbalanced, or striking a horse are a few examples of violation of safety while performing mounted combat.

Mounted combat authorization procedure

1. The marshal will have a conversation with you to:
   1. Determine your familiarity with the additional rules, requirements and conventions of mounted combat.
   2. Examine your understanding of your current skill level with regards to mounted combat, armor, weapons, and the horse you are riding that day.
   3. Examine your understanding of the suitability of your horse for this activity, and to recognize when a horse is not reacting well with others and could become a safety issue.
2. You must demonstrate adequate control over your horse and your equipment, showing that you have the ability to:
   1. Safely control your horse while in motion (i.e. ride around another rider, changing directions while wielding a sword).
   2. Safely use a sword/baton to strike another rider from the front, from behind, and from the side.
   3. Demonstrate reasonable targeting accuracy. (i.e. safely strike at another rider without hitting the horse).
3. You must demonstrate your understanding of conventions (target areas, calibration, calling blows). This should include both striking and being struck, while standing still and in motion.

Rossfechten

This is a Society-kingdom-managed activity, with a focus in specific historical mounted combat techniques. The Deputy Society Marshal for Rossfechten provides oversight in coordination with kingdom marshals to ensure consistency of training and conventions.

Requirements

For you be authorized for mounted combat, you must demonstrate to the authorizing marshal the following:

1. You meet the general riding and weapons and games authorization requirements at the walk, trot, and canter (or equivalent gaits).
2. The ability to ride in the required armor.
3. The ability to engage and strike an opponent with historical techniques while riding, to control your weapon and force levels, and an awareness of your horse and other horses during movement and strikes.
4. The ability to control your reaction to a stressful environment.
5. An awareness of your horse's reactions and its ability to participate.

Note: Excessive jerking on the reins while fighting, consistently becoming unbalanced, or striking a horse are a few examples of violation of safety while performing Rossfechten.

Rossfechten authorization procedure

1. The marshal will have a conversation with you to:
   1. Determine your familiarity with the additional rules, requirements and conventions of Rossfechten.
   2. Examine your understanding of your current skill level with regards to Rossfechten, armor, weapons, historical techniques, and the horse you are riding that day.
   3. Examine your understanding of the suitability of your horse for this activity, and to recognize when a horse is not reacting well with others and could become a safety issue.
2. You must demonstrate control over your horse and your equipment, showing that you have the ability to:
   1. Safely control your horse while in motion (i.e. ride around another rider, changing directions while wielding a sword).
   2. Safely use a sword to strike another rider from the front, from behind, and from the side.
   3. Demonstrate reasonable targeting accuracy. (i.e. safely strike at another rider without hitting the horse).
3. You must demonstrate:
   1. Proper handling of the sword (using historical techniques).
   2. Proper calibration at a walk, trot, and canter.
   3. Application of the conventions (target areas and calling blows), at a walk, trot, and canter.
   4. How to soften or break a thrust.
   5. That your horse can participate in a quiet and comfortable demeanor.

Jousting - Foam lance

Armor for SCA ground combat may or may not be suitable for mounted combat or jousting. Any armor intended for equestrian use must be evaluated for its suitability in equestrian martial activities.

During the authorization, your ability to safely control your horse and lance are of primary importance. You will be required to demonstrate horse control, safe lance handling and jousting techniques. Testing may be stopped at any time and the rider not allowed to continue until they can demonstrate the ability to consistently handle their lance and horse in a safe manner.

Requirements

1. You meet the general riding and weapons and games requirements at a walk, trot, and canter.
2. You must demonstrate to the authorizing marshal:
   1. Familiarity with the rules, conventions, armor, lance and equipment requirements of foam lance jousting.
   2. The ability to ride in armor.
   3. The ability to present a proper target (avoiding barricades, avoiding tabling, denying access to the target, blocking the target with their lance, etc.).
   4. Safe lance control
      1. the ability to receive a lance, execute a proper levee, recover and handoff to the ground crew.
      2. the ability to perform a measuring pass and a mercy pass.

Foam lance jousting authorization procedure

Theory portion

1. The marshal will have a conversation with you to:
   1. Determine your familiarity with the additional rules, requirements and conventions of foam lance jousting.
   2. Examine your understanding of your current skill level with regards to foam lance jousting, armor, equipment, and the horse you are riding that day.
   3. Examine your understanding of the suitability of your horse for this activity, and to recognize when a horse is not reacting well and could become a safety issue.
2. Demonstrate wearing the armor you anticipate wearing for jousting to ensure its suitability.

Horsemanship

1. This portion of the test may be done in armor or unarmored.
2. This should be done with the reins in your left hand or with dropped reins.
3. You will need to demonstrate the ability to:
   1. Walk/trot/canter (alone) while maintaining gait and control of your horse along the entire length of the tilt.
   2. walk/trot/canter against another rider and horse while maintaining gait and control of your horse along the entire length of the tilt.
   3. Use the proper arm signals to indicate the gait you are about to perform.

Lance handling

1. This portion of the test needs to be done in full armor, with the intended shield/target/ecranche.
   1. The marshal may require this to be done unarmored first, and then armored.
2. You will need to demonstrate ability to maintain control of your horse during these skills tests.
3. You will need to demonstrate the ability to safely:
   1. Take control of your lance from the ground crew at the starting end of the tilt.
   2. Stop at the end of the tilt and hand off your lance to the ground crew.
   3. Properly receive your lance from the ground crew, ride at a canter and successfully strike a quintain with a proper levee and recovery, and hand-off to the ground crew.
   4. Properly receive your lance from the ground crew, make a pass in the safety position against another rider while maintaining gait along the entire length of the tilt, and hand-off to the ground crew.
   5. Execute a measuring pass and a mercy pass against another rider.

Jousting: Fully armored

1. You will need to demonstrate ability to safety do passes, while maintaining safe control of your horse and lance.
2. The number of passes listed in this portion of the test is a minimum guideline. Marshals may request additional passes if they feel they are needed.
3. Make at least 2 passes at the canter where you are struck by an experienced opponent.
   1. In the first exchange, you do not carry a lance.
   2. In the second exchange, you carry a lance and demonstrate the ability to properly receive your lance from the ground crew, execute a proper measuring pass, recovery and hand-off to the ground crew (i.e. you do not attempt to hit your opponent).
4. Make at least 2 passes at the canter at an armored and experienced opponent where you strike your opponent.
   1. In both exchanges, you are required to properly receive your lance from the ground crew, execute a proper levee, successfully strike your opponent's target/shield, and demonstrate recovery and hand-off to the ground crew.
   2. In the first exchange, your opponent does not carry a lance.
   3. In the second exchange, your opponent carries a lance and executes a measuring pass.
5. Make passes at the canter where you are both fully engaged and striking each other. You must successfully give and receive 2 hits to the target area.