The Armour Archive

The basic "style" of our jousting involves riding average sized horses while fully armoured in plate harness, with the object to break one's lance on the opponent's shield or "ecranche". We train students to do this in a controlled, safe and stylish manner, while promoting an atmosphere and mindset of chivalry, grace and honour throughout.

All of our instruction is centered on competitive historical jousting of the late Middle Ages, that is, the techniques commonly seen during the 14th through late 15th centuries. We choose the late Medieval period as our focus because we believe that by the mid-15th century the sport of jousting was fully developed, and the techniques of this period are a good foundation for other historical equestrian pursuits. Learning to joust using late Medieval techniques also provides the competitor a gateway to many international competitions.

We hold competitive tournaments usually twice each year (see WorldJoust.com), and direct our students with a mind toward eventually competing in tournaments of this type. Our goal is to assist dedicated historical equestrians on their way to becoming world class competitors. We provide a foundation knowledge for beginning students, and at the same time work with experienced riders on refining and expanding their techniques from an historical grounding.

Novices riders with no jousting experience and non-riders will learn-

Basics of being around horses
Grooming and care
Basic tack use and care
Fundamentals of the tournament
Support for horse and rider during a tournament

Riders will learn and practice-

Excercises to prepare your horse for jousting
Introducing your horse to jousting
Riding in armour
Balance with and without a lance
Focus
Coordination for both horse and rider
Lance handling techniques

Experienced riders/jousters will practice:

Historical technique, based on works of Duarte, Monte, Quixada and Wallhausen
Proper set up of horse and rider for a pass
Running the pass
Recovering from the strike
Completing the pass in a controlled and measured manner
Special techniques to improve lance targeting and presentation goals
Exhibiting style and grace as detailed in historical sources

Schedule for the remainder of 2010-

August 28, 10am to 12pm & 3pm to 5pm (4th Saturday)
September 11, 10am to 12pm & 3pm to 5pm (2nd Saturday)
October 2, 10am to 12pm & 3pm to 5pm
November 6, 10am to 12pm & 2pm to 4pm
December 4 , 10am to 12pm & 2pm to 4pm

Knight School

What is the minimum age to participate? Any advice for non-equestrian parents who want to expose their children to equestrian culture? Can you recommend any feeder riding schools in the bay area?

I would also prefer to take classes with my sons, or to act as their "covering sargent" for safety purposes. What are your school policies on such matters?

Regards

Avery

Hi Avery-

What is the minimum age to participate?
10 has been our youngest participant to date. For us, a kid's ability is more important than age. If a kid has grown up around horses and has been riding from an early age, we would probably allow 6 or 8 year olds to attend. Due to their size they would probably be limited in what they could actually *do*, so 10 to 12 is probably a better age to handle weaponry and participate actively.

Any advice for non-equestrian parents who want to expose their children to equestrian culture?
Find a stable in your area and start with the occasional trail ride. Most stables offer livery horses who will carry even the most inexperienced rider. Sometimes the experience will bring an interest into focus. It can also tell you if your child just really isn't into horses.

If your child has an interest you wish to support, begin with lessons. If you can't afford lessons, find out if the barn has a Pony Club or other activities the child could participate in to be around horses. Once kids become competent barn help (mucking stalls, changing water, cleaning tack, etc.) they can usually begin bartering their help for lessons.

Can you recommend any feeder riding schools in the bay area?
I can't but I might be able to direct you to someone who can. Let me ask around.

I would also prefer to take classes with my sons, or to act as their "covering sargent" for safety purposes. What are your school policies on such matters?
Parents are welcome to attend with their children. If the child is actually taking the lesson and the parent is there for support, encouragement and to take photos, there is no charge. If the parent takes the clinic with their child and is riding or actively participating, then both parent and child pay the clinic fees.

To illustrate some of the points above. In May of 2009, Fred O. booked a private session of Knight School for his hunt club (Santa Ynez Valley Hounds). He thought it would be a cool male bonding horsey thing to do with his friends. He brought his grandson Nick along. Although Fred hoped Nick would someday join him in equestrian pursuits Nick had avoided riding up to this point. Even though Fred had offered lessons and the purchase of a horse if Nick wanted, Nick wasn't interested....until Knight School.

Nick watched his grandfather and his friends spearing rings, hitting the quintain with a lance and cutting cabbages, and he was utterly captivated. Jeff worked with him on some swordwork, and we taught Nick to hand up lances and help with the horses. He left determined to 'someday be a knight'.


Nick indicated he wanted to learn to ride on the trip home in 2009, and Fred started him with lessons the following week. Nick took lessons every week, and went on rides with Fred in between. On the anniversary of his first Knight School, Grandpa Fred brought Nick back. He came back to us in 2010 able to handle a horse on his own, and he participated with the adults.

Nick begins his training for the cut and trust by trying to knock a foam ball off a post with a foam bat. This exercise helps him learn the necessary coordination and timing with no risk of injury to him or the horse.




Once he got the hang of knocking the ball off the post with the foam bat, he moved up to hitting a cabbage with a wooden waster-


The day ended with a free for all 'melee' of Nick, Jeff and Knight School regular JP. The adults take it easy on him, but he is allowed to participate equally-


This is a great exercise for learning to do several things at once. He needs to ride the horse, attack and defend all at the same time. Jeff and JP sandwich Nick, and their gentle taps are a fun way to remind him to 'save yourself and your horse - keep riding!'


He becomes much more confident in handling the horse and keeping his balance-


By the end of the session he was chasing Jeff and JP aggressively!


See all the photos taken during this Knight School here:

Knight School, June 5, 2010

Gwen

Wow. That's my childhood dream come true

100% awesome.

When will John McFarlin be ready to participate in his first tourney?

That's entirely up to him. The armour he has right now is good enough to compete in the Sports division at an Open Tournament. He just need to work on his riding skills and practice.

Gwen

God I wish I lived in California sometimes.....

Dude, I'm glad you don't live in California. I'm counting on you to help spread the wealth by having an event in Michigan..... we need events on the East Coast, Texas-ish, Michigan-ish and the West (north and south) so jousting is within reach of everyone who wants to do it.

But if you ever want to practice, just get your butt out here- we have 4 horses and 2 jousters ready to go any time you are.

Black Swan Designs wrote:Dude, I'm glad you don't live in California. I'm counting on you to help spread the wealth by having an event in Michigan..... we need events on the East Coast, Texas-ish, Michigan-ish and the West (north and south) so jousting is within reach of everyone who wants to do it.

But if you ever want to practice, just get your butt out here- we have 4 horses and 2 jousters ready to go any time you are.

Well, our usual family vacation to South Carolina has officially been scrapped by my wife's family for the foreseeable future due to the spreading of her relatives out of Ohio (sad since it's been a yearly thing since like the late 1960's). So....seems like next year she will have an additional weeks vacation!

I hate that I don't live near either of you guys. Want to do this so bad!

Vitus von Atzinger wrote:100% awesome.

When will John McFarlin be ready to participate in his first tourney?

As Gwen said, that's mostly up to him-- his armour is not an impediment to participating in a 14th c or open tournament. That said, he's not yet received nor given a blow with a lance, so he has a ways to go still. He could progress quickly, or it could be slow. It's not the sort of thing I like guessing. Just too many variables.

John is planning to attend September 11 KnightSchool though, so he will have an opportunity to move forward.

He likes to feel prepared.

Nothing wrong with that when someone is riding at you at 30 mph with an 11 foot lance pointed at your chest...