Equestrian:Equestrian authorizations - special - Foam lance jousting

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.