Equestrian:Expected behavior and responsibilities

Expected behavior and responsibilities

General

1. You are responsible for, and must have control over your behavior, actions, and techniques at all times.
2. You must follow the rules in this handbook, and the instructions and decisions of the marshals. If you do not, you can be removed from the field, excluded from the activity, or face further actions. (See Managing misconduct.)
3. If you have a disagreement with the marshals, leave the field or wait until after the activity, then use the appeals process described in this handbook. (See Managing misconduct.) Do not let your disagreement get in the way of the activity continuing.
4. You are expected to behave in a courteous and chivalrous manner to everyone else.
5. You must not take deliberate unfair advantage during an activity, including:
   1. taking advantage of an opponent's chivalry or safety-consciousness
   2. breaking or misusing rules to gain advantage
   3. ignoring well-struck blows
   4. calling "Hold!" when you are at a disadvantage
   5. engaging in other forms of cheating.
6. You must not take part in any Society martial activity with intent to harm a person or deliberately damage equipment.
7. Since fighting with real weapons is forbidden at Society events, threatening the use of such weapons is also expressly forbidden.
8. If you do something that leads to actual injury of another participant, it must be reported to the marshals, and you could face further action.

Equestrian specific responsibilities

General

1. You must take reasonable care to ensure the wellbeing of any horse you have control over.
2. Make sure the horse you are paired with is within your capabilities, and the tack and the equipment you intend to use are in good working order and suited to the task.
3. Stay within your capabilities and in control of your horse. An out-of-control horse/rider/driver is unsafe to themselves and others.
4. If a horse is showing signs of aggression or distress, it is the rider/driver's responsibility to modify their involvement in the activity until those signs are relieved. In a competitive scenario, this may mean withdrawing from the activity even if that results in forfeiting a match.
5. Pay attention to what's going on around you, so you do not put yourself, your horse, or others in an unsafe situation.
6. Be aware of the impacts your and your horse's actions are having on the horses around you and adjust accordingly.
7. In combat and group game scenarios, deliberately striking your opponent's horse with weapons or equipment is not allowed. Incidental contact is expected.
8. Make an attempt at presenting a pre-17th century appearance for both you and the horse. While fancy horse trappings or barding are appreciated, even a simple square of cloth covering the modern saddle pad goes a long way towards helping to preserve the medieval atmosphere of the event.
9. Bringing a horse to an event:
   1. You must provide a safe and secure method for restraining or containing the horse when it's not being used.
   2. You must provide food, water and care for the horse according to generally accepted horse-keeping, training and veterinary practices.
   3. You must arrange for care for your horse in the event that you cannot care for them. (e.g. someone on site, an emergency contact sign, providing the equestrian marshal-in-charge with emergency contact information)
   4. You must provide whatever modern paperwork is required by the site where the event is hosted. This could include proof of negative Coggins and certificate of veterinary inspection.

Common horse etiquette

An understanding of horse behavior is fundamental to promoting safe use of horses. SCA equestrian pulls from many other equine disciplines, each with their own core culture. This section identifies common cultural points to minimize misunderstandings.

1. Horses that tend to bite or kick should be marked with a red ribbon (mane for biters, tails for kickers). Give extra space to marked horses, otherwise you may have an increased risk of being bitten or kicked.
2. You should not give food or water to a horse without permission. They may have allergies or other dietary restrictions.
3. For multiple riders in the arena or designated equestrian area:
   1. When possible, ride in a similar direction.
   2. When traveling in the same direction, it is courteous to announce if you are passing on inside or the outside.
   3. When traveling in opposite directions, it is common to pass left side to left side.
4. Be aware of other horses and riders.
   1. Do not cross skill-at-arms patterns while a rider is running it.
   2. Call out and ensure the skill-at-arms pattern is clear before proceeding.
   3. Give extra space to a rider having an issue with or training their horse.

Horse welfare

1. Each owner/participant is responsible for assuring that their horse is, at all times, treated humanely, and with dignity, respect, and compassion. The standard by which conduct or treatment will be measured is that which a reasonable person, informed and experienced in generally accepted horse training or veterinary procedures would determine to be cruel, abusive, or inhumane.
2. Horses must be serviceably sound to participate in equestrian activities.
3. Horses must be provided water, food, proper handling, health care, and an environment appropriate to their care and use, with thoughtful consideration for their species-typical biology and behavior.
4. If valid concerns about horse welfare arise:
   1. When possible, the equestrian marshal should point out the concern and ask the participant to correct it.
   2. An equestrian marshal may remove a horse from an activity if they judge safety or the welfare standard is being violated.
   3. The equestrian marshal-in-charge may require a horse be removed from the event due to safety or welfare concerns.
5. Nothing in this handbook may be used to limit official animal abuse reporters from carrying out their required responsibilities.