Equestrian:Equestrian authorization - wooden lance jousting

Special authorizations - Wooden lance jousting (Society level program)

Society level program / Historical focus

Historical focus

Wooden lance jousting is one of the activities in the SCA that emphasizes period techniques and equipment, and includes additional requirements for participation.

Administration

1. The Wooden Lance Jousting program is administered at the Society level, and not by the kingdoms. As such, the Deputy Society Marshal for Wooden Lance Jousting is in charge of the program.
2. A wooden lance jousting marshal, warranted by the Deputy Society Marshal for Wooden Lance Jousting, must be present for any wooden lance jousting that occurs at an SCA practice, event or demo.
3. Only a testing marshal for wooden lance jousting is allowed to conduct an authorization test.
4. The Deputy Society Marshal for Wooden Lance Jousting makes the final authorization decision for all participants.

Introduction

Several risks associated with jousting with a wooden lance are higher than jousting with a foam tipped lance. Higher levels of skill and protection are required by the rider and their horse in order to participate. The stricter equipment standards account for the challenges specific to wooden lance jousting and are closely aligned with the requirements of the International Competitive Jousting community.

During the wooden lance jousting test, the rider is required to demonstrate strong skills in mount control, lance handling and jousting technique while under the simulated pressures of a competition. This will first include a demonstration of specific skills while unarmored. If the rider shows sufficient skill, it can then be followed by the fully armored test.

Once the marshal and rider decide to continue to the armored portion of the test, the rider must provide appropriate jousting armor, helmet and target appropriate for their kit made to at least the minimum requirements of Wooden lance jousting armor.

The rider is required to have excellent all around riding abilities including the ability to ride any well-schooled mount, have a basic knowledge of horse care as well as the ability to assess the condition of the mount including any external injuries or ailments before, during and after riding. During these tests, the rider's ability to safely control their mount is of primary importance. If the mount is not properly conditioned, both physically and mentally, for this activity it will be very difficult for the rider and the mount to continue the tests. Before testing, the rider and the mount should be accustomed to all the equipment and conditions required in jousting, i.e. the armor, the lances, the tilt, the counter tilts, etc. These tests should not be the first time the rider and the mount are exposed to these stimuli. It is highly recommended that the rider vary the end of the tilt at which they start their run throughout the test to help the mount adapt to different approaches.

Lance control is of equal importance to riding ability. Safe, correct, and consistent technique must be demonstrated. These tests are specifically designed to induce the potential type of fatigue encountered in a typical tournament scenario where lance carriage, presentation, and disengagement must be consistently executed no matter the condition of the rider. A lance tip that dips below the target must be avoided and is a reason for the testing to be stopped and the rider not allowed to continue until they can demonstrate the ability to consistently handle the lance and the mount in a safe manner.

Three lance techniques to understand before starting the test are the levee, the measuring pass and the mercy pass.

In addition to lance techniques, the testing rider must demonstrate the ability to comfortably ride in armor, present a proper target (avoiding tabling, denying access to the target, blocking the target with their lance, etc.) and control their reaction to a stressful environment. Any losses of ability to control the mount, the lance, the target and the receiving and/or recovery of the lance are grounds for halting the test.

The number of passes listed in this test are a minimum guideline. Testing marshals may request additional passes if they feel they are needed.

Requirements

1. You must 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 wooden 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. Lance control - safe, correct, and consistent technique.
      1. The ability to safely 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.
3. You are required to have excellent all-round riding abilities, including the ability to ride any well-schooled horse at a walk/trot/canter.
4. You are required to have basic knowledge of horse care as well as the ability to assess the condition of the horse including any external injuries or ailments before, during and after riding.
5. You are required to demonstrate strong skills in horse control, lance handling and jousting technique while under the simulated pressures of a competition.

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 wooden lance jousting.
   2. examine your understanding of your current skill level with regards to wooden lance jousting, 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 and could become a safety issue.
2. Demonstrate wearing the armor you anticipate wearing for jousting to ensure its suitability.

Horsemanship: Unarmored

1. Armor is not required for these skills tests.
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: Unarmored

1. Armor is not required for these skills tests.
2. You will need to demonstrate ability to:
   1. Safely take control of your lance from the ground crew at the starting end of the tilt while maintaining control of your horse.
   2. Control your horse and stop while in possession of a lance, at all 3 gaits (or the gaited equivalent), at the end of the tilt and safely hand off your lance to the ground crew.
   3. Properly receive your lance from the ground crew, make 3 passes in the safety position, one each at the walk/trot/canter (or the gaited equivalent), against another rider while maintaining control of your horse and gait along the entire length of the tilt with hand-off to the ground crew.
   4. Properly receive your lance from the ground crew, canter against another rider while maintaining control of your horse and gait and execute a measuring pass, recovery and hand-off to the ground crew.
   5. Properly receive your lance from the ground crew, ride 3 passes at a canter and successfully strike a spinning quintain, while demonstrating a proper levee, recovery and hand-off to the ground crew.
   6. Properly receive your lance from the ground crew, ride a single pass at the canter and perform a 'mercy pass while riding against the quintain, with recovery and hand-off to the ground crew.
   7. Properly receive your lance from the ground crew, ride a single pass at the canter, perform a safe disposal of your lance at any point during the run and stop safely while maintaining control of your horse during the entire run.

Lance handling: Fully armored

1. This portion of the test needs to be done in full armor, wearing a suitable target/ecranche, with helmet on and visor down.
2. You will need to demonstrate ability to:
   1. Take control of your lance from the ground crew at the starting end of the tilt while maintaining control of your horse.
   2. Control your horse and stop while in possession of a lance in the safety position, at all 3 gaits (or the gaited equivalent), at the end of the tilt and safely hand off your lance to the ground crew.
   3. Properly receive your lance from the ground crew, ride 3 passes at a canter and successfully strike a spinning quintain, while demonstrating a proper levee, recovery and hand-off to the ground crew.

Jousting: Fully armored

You will need to demonstrate ability to:

1. Properly receive your lance from the ground crew, make 3 measuring passes, one each at the walk/trot/canter (or gaited equivalent) against an opponent while maintaining gait and control of your horse and while demonstrating a proper levee, recovery and hand-off to the ground crew
2. Make 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).
3. Make 2 passes at the canter at an armored and experienced opponent while demonstrating the correct lance usage and accuracy.
   1. In both exchanges, you are required to properly receive your lance from the ground crew, execute a proper levee, successfully strike your opponent in the upper right corner of their target, 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.
4. Make 3 passes at the canter where you are both fully engaged and striking each other.
   1. You must successfully give and receive 2 hits to the target area.
   2. These exchanges must be made while demonstrating a proper levee, recovery and hand-off to the ground crew.
5. A single mercy pass at the canter and demonstrate proper recovery and hand-off to the ground crew.

Evaluating the test

Failing the test

Test failure can occur, but is not limited, by the following:

1. Consistent inability to safely handle your horse.
2. Consistent inability to safely handle your lance.
3. Consistent inability to manage your own and your horse's stress.
4. Consistent inability to ride safely in the necessary armor.
5. Consistent inability to safely load your horse into the tilt.
6. Consistent inability to safely stop your horse at the end of the tilt.
7. Consistently dropping gait.
8. Consistently barricading the lance, i.e.:
   1. where the lance tip skips far enough to the left of your opponent which causes the lances to bind with one another.
   2. where the levee is executed too soon and/or your lance crosses over the plane of the tilt before the tip passes the opponent's tip which causes your lance to cover your target.
9. Consistently missing the designated target.
10. Consistently striking off-target.
11. Hitting the target/ecranche low.
12. Consistently losing control of your lance during the hit.
13. Bouncing your lance off your horse's head.
14. Tossing your lance to the ground crew.
15. Consistently denying a proper target (i.e. "folding" your target or presenting your lance in front of your target).
16. Endangering anyone on the list field.
17. Striking a horse with your lance.
18. Injuring a horse due to improper armor, tack, riding ability or lance handling.

Passing the test

If you successfully pass these tests then:

1. the testing marshal may make a recommendation for your authorization to the Deputy Society Marshal for Wooden Lance Jousting.
2. If a test is successfully completed at an SCA event, the wooden lance jousting testing marshal can provisionally approve you, and you will be allowed to participate in the jousting at the event. Your performance under pressure can further inform (and may change) the authorizing marshal's recommendation.
3. The Deputy Society Marshal for Wooden Lance Jousting will make the final authorization decision.

Skills maintenance and improvement

The testing process for jousting in the SCA is only a starting point. It is expected that you look to further hone your skills in the joust in the following ways:

1. Improve your riding skills.
2. Improve your jousting and lance handling skills both armored and unarmored.
3. Improve your horse's physical and mental abilities.
4. Develop horse management and riding abilities on a variety of different horses.
5. Develop a higher than minimum standard kit with armor, horse tack and equipment.
6. Develop an understanding of the many different types of historical tournament jousting.
7. Develop an understanding of the various types of historical armor used for the joust.
8. Seek out jousting opportunities and competitions both as ground crew and as a rider.