Equestrian:Equestrian authorizations - special - Rossfechten

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.