Equestrian:Activity - Mounted combat - General

General

Mounted combat and mêlée represent armored mounted combat, using tourney batons or padded rattan swords in one-on-one tournaments, teams, or battles. The history of mounted combat can be traced at least as far back as the ancient Assyrians in 750 BC. It continued through the Eastern horse cultures of the Scythians, Sarmatians, Magyars, and Avars.

While light cavalry was used in warfare for many centuries, the medieval era saw the rise of heavy cavalry, particularly the European knight. Tournaments and hastiludes began in the 11th century as both a sport and to provide training for battle. This included the mêlée, where participants used the horses, armor and weapons of war.

Combat may take the form of:

• Tournament single combat
• Tournament mêlée combat
• Battles

Requirements

• Mounted combat - authorization
• Mounted combat - weapons
• Mounted combat - rider armor
• Mounted combat - horse armor