Equestrian:Equipment standards - Armor - Wooden lance jousting

Wooden lance jousting

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)