Equestrian

Equestrian
Equestrian Marshal badge
Also known as
Atlantia Cavalry
Focus
Weaponry
Hardness
Varies
Related arts
Archery,
Associated awards
The Order of the Quintain The Order of the Golden Lance of Atlantia
Website
[1]

Equestrian Activities

Equestrians practice and research all activities involving the partnership of a rider and equine in the period. Equestrian activities include both martial activities and Arts & Science activities.

All are welcome to participate, even if you don’t have a horse/equid.

The administrative website for Atlantian Equestrian can be found at Atlantian Cavalry - Kingdom of Atlantia, SCA Inc

The website for SCA equestrian can be found at Society for Creative Anachronism - Equestrian Activities (sca.org)

What do equestrians do?

At some SCA events you will see colorfully-attired riders and horses charging at one another with lances, and taking part in games of skill which squires and other mounted warriors practiced in the medieval period. SCA equestrian activities include mounted combat, jousting with opponents using foam or wooden lances, and games such as jousting at rings, hitting the quintain, obstacle courses, and archery from horseback. Equestrian activities enhance the medieval pageantry at our events!

While most activities are practiced mounted, we have a small but enthusiastic community of drivers.

Equestrians practice martial arts including the following:

Non-Contact Martial activities

The following activities require one or more martial authorizations and are therefore included as non-contact martial activities. Mounted archery (mounted and driving) Equestrian games - While commonly used to train the skills required for martial combat, they also serve as a training ground for both horse and rider. Equestrian games include a wide variety of exercises that improve the balance, coordination and cooperation of both partners. (mounted and driving)

• Quintain
• Heads
• Reeds
• Spear
• Garrocha
• Rings
• Pas de Deux While technically a martial activity since a riding authorization is required, but anyone viewing or participating would readily acknowledge that this is an artistic activity. Two riders work to create a pattern in symmetry. Requires very strong control of the horse and awareness of/ability to mirror the other rider.

Contact martial activities

These activities are performed more rarely in Atlantia, but there is keen interest in expanding the community further to include:

• Jousting
• Mounted Combat
• Crest combat
• Rossfechten
• Ground to Mounted combat

Arts & Sciences

• The Elegant Equine / Garbing Your Horse with Style - Taught at Holiday Faire (11/18/23)

• Equestrians in the SCA -- Participating and Planning - Taught at University of Atlantia (2/5/22) • Making a Caparison for your Horse (Mule, Pony, etc.) – Taught at University of Atlantia (6/12/21)

• The Magnificent Mule - Taught at University of Atlantia (6/13/20)

• Silk banner painting - Taught at Barony of Highland Foorde (5/21/23)

• Class: Psycho Horses! A case study of the British Library’s Psychomachia Epy Pengully
• Class: The Medieval Horse THL Epy Pengully
• Class: Equestrians in the SCA-- Participating and Planning Epy Pengully
• Class: Path to Pas de Deux Success: Tips and Tricks for Pattern and Partner Planning Epy Pengully
• Newcomers and Novices: What are they doing with those horses? Epy Pengully

Equipment

The primary equipment used in SCA equestrian include:

• Lances
• Swords
• Spears
• Bows/arrows/targets
• Garrocha poles
• Ground equipment for equestrian games

There are almost always loaner gear available at practices. Please come participate even if you don’t have the equipment.

Field

The actual range for Equestrian will usually be a rectangular area off to the side of an event. The safety zone needs to have a fence or other physical boundary present.

For safety reasons, please do not enter the Equestrian field unless you are warranted as ground crew. Ground crew authorization is quite simple, and will help us to ensure that equestrian activities are safe for both horses and riders.

Warrants

There are a variety of individual Equestrian warrants:

• Ground crew - required to enter the equestrian field and to help with ground activities. At most equestrian events, a Ground Crew 101 course will be taught first thing in the morning, and participants can become authorized at the conclusion of the course.
• Rider - required to ride an equine in processions, Pas de Deux, Trail rides, or other activities that do not involve weapons handling. ^{is it possible to pas de deux with a rider warrant?}
• Lancer - required for games activities that require weapons use.
• Driver: Required for driving an equine connected to a wheeled vehicle.
• Mounted Archery: Required for participating in mounted archery.
• Special Authorizations: Required for Jousting, Crest Combat, and Mounted Combat.

Mounted archery is in a grey area; please consult with both equestrian and archery marshalls. The rules are less than completely clear. ^{discuss offline}

External Links

Equestrian Martial’s handbook Atlantia Book of the Horse

Marshals Equestrian Marshals