Equestrian:Equipment standards - Armor

Equipment standards - Armor

General

1. All armor and weapons equipment must be inspected by a warranted marshal prior to engaging in equestrian activities.
2. Armor for SCA ground combat may or may not be suitable for mounted combat or jousting. Any armor intended for equestrian use should be evaluated for its suitability in equestrian martial activities.
3. Different activities have different armor requirements. The required armor for the activity must meet the standards below.

Armor requirements chart (quick guide)

Required armor

Required armor	Crest combat	Mounted combat	Rossfechten	Foam lance jousting	Wooden lance jousting
Head	Helm (all standards) 12 kg fencing mask	Helm (open grill, closed, perforated)	Helm (perforated, mesh) 12 kg fencing mask with back of the head protection	Helm (open grill, closed, perforated)	See requirements
Neck	Required	Required	Required	Required	See requirements
Body	Not required	Recommended	Required - abrasion resistant material	Required	See requirements
Groin	Not required	Not required	Not required	Protected by sufficient means (saddle and/or armor)	See requirements
Legs and arms	Not required	Not required. Elbows recommended.	Not required. Elbows recommended.	Not required. Elbows recommended.	See requirements
Hands	Leather gloves	Leather gloves. Recommended padded/stiff back of hand protection, basket hilt, or full gauntlet on sword hand	Leather gloves. Recommended padded/stiff back of hand protection.	Leather gloves Recommended demi/full gauntlets, vamplate, recessed grip, padding	See requirements
Shield		Allowed	Allowed	Encranche recommended	Encranche or grand guard
Horse eye protection	Full	Full	Full	Full or partial	Full or partial

Head protection

There are several standards for required head protection, depending on the activity:

• Commercial 12kg fencing mask
• Helm (face guard: open bar grill or closed)
• Helm (face guard: perforated or mesh)

Fencing masks

1. The interior of your fencing mask must have at least 1/4 inch (6 mm) open-cell foam or equivalent resilient padding to create separation between the mask and your face. Modern fencing masks (e.g. FIE and USFA type masks) in good working order meet this requirement without additional padding.
2. Your mask must be secured by a combination of the tongue/spring and the elastic back strap in good repair, or by the tongue/spring and other means such as a tie strap.

Helm

1. The helm, including the face guard, needs to have sufficient coverage to protect the bones of the skull and face.
2. Helms must be constructed of rigid materials. Cold-rolled steel no less than 0.0478 inch (1.2 mm) thickness (18 gauge), or equivalent material.
3. There must be no major projections on the inside of the helm. There can be minor projections because of necessary structural components, but they must be padded.
4. All parts of your helm that might come into contact with your head must be padded with a minimum of 1/2 inch (12.7 mm) of resilient material, or suspended in such a way as to prevent it from injuring you.
5. All helms must be equipped with a chin strap or equivalent means to preventing the helm from being dislodged or metal contacting the wearer's face during combat or jousting. An equivalent might be, for example, a strap from the helm to breast plate, a bevor, or a chin cup suspension system. A "snug fit" is not an equivalent. If your helm has a chin strap, it must be at least 1/2 inch (12.7 mm) in width and must not be placed in a way that could strangle you.

Face guards

1. The face guard must extend at least 1 inch (25.4 mm) below the bottom of the chin and jaw line when the head is held erect.
2. Face guard bars or mesh should not attach to the interior of your helm, unless of structurally superior design and workmanship.
3. If you have a movable visor, it must be attached and secured in such a way that there is minimal chance that it will become detached or come open in normal combat or jousting use.
4. Faceguards have four standards:
   1. Open bar grill: must prevent a 1-inch (25.4 mm) diameter dowel from entering into any of the face guard openings.
   2. Closed (with ocular openings): must prevent a 1-inch (25.4 mm) diameter dowel from entering into any of the face guard openings.
   3. Perforated: Perforated rigid metal face protection must not have holes larger than 1/4 inch (6 mm) in diameter, with a minimum offset of 3/16 inch (5 mm).
   4. Mesh: Wire mesh face protection equivalent to a standard 12 kg fencing mask.

Neck

1. The neck, including the larynx, cervical vertebrae, and first thoracic vertebra must be covered by one or a combination of the following and must stay covered during typical combat situations, including turning the head, lifting the chin, etc.:
   1. the helm.
   2. a gorget of rigid material or heavy leather, lined with 1/4 inch (6 mm) of closed cell foam or equivalent padding.
   3. a camail or aventail of mail or heavy leather, lined with 1/4 inch (6 mm) of closed cell foam or equivalent padding.
2. The first thoracic vertebra does not need to be covered for foam jousting.

Body

There are two types of body armor:

1. Padded: a padded gambeson or equivalent.
2. Rigid: Rigid material covering chest and torso, or equivalent. Standard equestrian riding vests and chain mail over a padded gambeson are deemed equivalent.

Groin

The groin area must be protected from impact by sufficient means, including saddle or armor.

Hands

1. Leather gloves.
2. Padding or stiffened protection for the back of the hand is recommended.
3. Recommended for foam jousting – demi or full gauntlets, vamplate, recessed grip on lance base, padding, or other combination to minimize possible strike to the hand and reduce impact to jouster's hand.

Horse eye protection

There are two types of eye protection:

Full eye protection

1. Used for mounted combat, Rossfechten, crest combat, jousting and some games.
2. Must protect the eyes from a sword, spear, lance or missile strike.
3. Acceptable eye protection should cover the entire eye, stand clear from the eye in all directions by a minimum of 3/4 inch (19 mm) and not collapse upon typical strikes. Take care to make opening large enough, pad well, and secure to minimize movement when struck.
   1. For mounted combat and foam jousting, it must prevent a 1-inch (25.4 mm) diameter dowel from penetrating.
   2. For Rossfechten, it must prevent a 1/4 (6 mm) inch diameter dowel from penetrating.
4. Examples include:
   1. A chamfron or other approved eye protection which incorporates pierced metal cups, heavy wire mesh or grillwork.
   2. Blinker style, such as the heavy wire mesh/lexan/acrylic eye protection used by jockeys and trainers at the racetrack. (Example: a Pelling pacifier). Eye protection of this sort may be incorporated into a period horse garment providing the garment ensures proper placement of the eyecups at all times.

Partial eye protection

1. Used for jousting only.
2. Should deflect and protect the eye from a lance strike and be secured to minimize movement when struck. Examples include a chamfron with reinforcing ridges around the eye.

Crest combat: Armor requirements

Rider

1. Head: Required
   1. Helm (all standards)
   2. Alternative: Fencing masks (12kg) are acceptable
2. Neck: Required
3. Body: Not required.
   1. A padded gambeson is recommended.
4. Legs, arms, legs: Not required
5. Hands: Leather gloves required.
   1. To mitigate risk from incidental strikes, padding or stiffened protection for the back of the hand is recommended.

Horse

1. Eye protection: Required (full)

Mounted combat: Armor requirements

Rider

1. Head: Required
   1. Helm (open bar grill, closed, or perforated)
2. Neck: Required
3. Body protection: Required - padded gambeson.
   1. Rigid material covering chest and torso is recommended.
4. Legs, arms, legs: Armor recommended, but not required.
   1. Rigid elbow protection is strongly recommended.
5. Hand protection: Required - leather gloves.
   1. Padding or stiffened protection for the back of the hand is recommended.
   2. A full gauntlet of rigid material or a basket hilt is recommended for your sword hand.

Horse

1. Eye protection: Required (full)

Rossfechten: Armor requirements

Rider

1. Head: Required
   1. A standard fencing mask (12 kg) is sufficient for face protection.
   2. Hardened leather, quilted cloth, closed cell foam, or additional protection on the back of the head is required.
   3. Alternative: Helm (perforated or mesh)
2. Neck protection: The neck, including the front, sides, and back of the neck, must be covered by rigid material. The entire front 180 degrees of the neck, as well as at least 5 inches (125 mm) centered on the cervical vertebrae.
3. Body protection: Must be covered by abrasion resistant material.
4. Legs, arms, legs protection: Not required.
   1. Abrasion resistant material and elbow protection is recommended.
5. Hand protection: Leather glove required for sword hand.
   1. Padded or reinforced gloves are highly recommended for both hands.

Horse

1. Eye protection: Required (full)

Foam lance jousting: Armor requirements

Rider

1. Head protection: Required.
   1. Helm (open bar grill, closed or perforated)
2. Neck protection: Required.
   1. The first thoracic vertebra does not need to be covered for foam jousting.
3. Body protection: Required - rigid
4. Groin protection: Groin area must be protected by sufficient means, including saddle or armor
5. Legs, arms, legs protection: Not required.
   1. Some form of rigid armor protection is recommended.
6. Hand protection: Leather gloves required.
   1. Recommended: demi or full gauntlets, vamplate, recessed grip on lance base, padding, or other combination to minimize possible strike to the hand and reduce impact to jouster's hand.
7. Shield: Recommended (Ecranche)

Horse

1. Eye protection: Required (full or partial)

Wooden lance jousting: Armor requirements

1. The following armor guidelines are based on recognized standards for jousting as currently practiced in the United States and internationally.
2. Participants must determine for themselves what armor is necessary to provide a level of safety that is acceptable to them.
3. When determining the suitability of armor to be used for jousting, it must be recognized that fit and finish are as important as materials used to provide the protection that armor affords.
4. In addition to the following individual specifications, the armor must constitute a recognizable harness as the components work together to provide the protection. It is hard to emphasize enough that the pieces of armor must work together as a system. There are hundreds of sets of armor where the individual pieces are each fine, but don't work well with the other pieces so as to leave gaps in coverage.

Helm

1. Helms must be of 14 gauge (1.9 mm) mild steel or equivalent.
2. The eye aperture must present no more than 3/8 inch (9.5 mm) width to an oncoming lance.
3. The face guard must extend at least 1 inch (25.4 mm) below the bottom of the chin and jaw line when the head is held erect.
4. All visors must be attached and secured closed by use of hooks or other means during jousting. This requirement is a compromise to enhance safety, even if not historically accurate for the helmet.
5. There must be no major internal projections; minor projections of necessary structural components must be padded.
6. All metal must be free of sharp edges.
7. Face guard bars or mesh should not attach to the interior of the helm, unless of structurally superior design and workmanship.
8. All parts of the helm that might come into contact with the wearer's head must be well padded with a minimum of 1/2 inch (12.7 mm) of padding to provide a comfortable and secure fit.
9. All helms must be equipped with a sturdy chinstrap or equivalent means to prevent the helm from being dislodged or metal contacting the wearer's face during use. A "snug fit" is NOT an equivalent.

Neck armor

1. The neck must be covered by one or a combination of the following during a typical jousting pass.
   1. The helm
   2. A gorget of rigid material or heavy leather, lined with 3/8 inch (10 mm) of padding.
   3. Mail coif either separate or integral with the hauberk (with the same link specifications as the hauberk) covering the entire head (except for the face), neck and extending down to cover the upper chest to the top of the sternum worn over a padded coif (with a minimum of 3/8 inch (10 mm) of padding. The front of the neck including the throat must also be covered by at least 3/8 inch (10 mm) of padding.
   4. A camail or aventail of mail extending down to cover the upper chest to the top of the sternum.

Body

1. Underlying padded aketon/gambeson, with a minimum of 3/8 inch (10 mm) of padding over the torso and 1/4 inch (6 mm) over the entire arms to the wrist. Butted spring steel or a riveted mild steel hauberk extending to at least mid-thigh and covering the arms to the wrist. The maximum internal link diameter should be no more than 3/8 inch (10 mm) and the gauge of the wire no less than 16 gauge (1.4 mm), or
2. Rigid defense for the chest. This can take a variety of historical forms including a rudimentary breastplate or a reinforced surcoat. If it is leather based, it should be made from at least 10 ounce (4 mm) thick hardened leather and if it is made from metal, at least 16 gauge (1.5 mm) mild steel or equivalent.

Arms

1. Mail over padding to the standards required for the body.
2. Rigid defense for the arms. At least 16 gauge (1.5 mm) mild steel or equivalent.

Legs

1. Pair of padded cuisses, with a minimum of 3/8 inch (10 mm) padding, covering the upper leg with an attached poleyn to protect the front of the knee made to the same specifications as the chest protection.
2. Rigid defense for the legs. At least 16 gauge (1.5 mm) mild steel or equivalent.

Hands

1. Heavy leather gauntlets, backed with mail, or,
2. Rigid defense for the hands of at least 18 gauge (1.2 mm) mild steel or equivalent

Equivalency

1. Steel plate or other authentic materials may be used in lieu of, or in addition to, the above specified materials, so long as the protection against impact is equal or greater than that provided by mail over padding.

Shields (ecranche, targe, etc.) for jousting

1. The shield is the primary target for jousting, and is required for wood jousting.
2. Must be made using similar material to period examples. This is typically wood. A grand guard is an acceptable alternative.
3. Must fit in a secure way and not have any sharp edges or protrusions.
4. Must be fashioned in such a manner that will not harm the horse or rider in the event of a fall.
5. Must cover the rider's torso from the top line of the rider's shoulder to the natural waist when seated on the horse.

Horse

1. Eye protection: Recommended (full or partial)