 Graphic by Patti Lacourse-Friend |
Manikin heads are placed on four stands spaced evenly 21 to 30 feet apart and standing 5 feet from the ground and their is a entrance and exit stand that do not have heads, and serve as outer markers.
A mace or sword is used to knock off the heads as the rider weaves back and forth between the head stands.
The run is usually time timed, beginning as the rider passes the entrance marker and ending as the rider races straight back to the start after completing the weaving of the full course.
Time is added for each head not knocked off, each weave missed and if the horse or rider knock over any of the stands with anything but the force of a blow.
"Lance and Rings"
This element is usually not timed.
Three "T" stands are set up in a line, each with 2 rings on each side of the "T". These rings vary in size from 1" to 6".
The rider makes one pass down each side, attempting to take one ring from each stand on both sides, with the tip of the lance. The smaller the ring, the higher the score.
Faster gaits add to your score, so walking scores lower then trotting, which in turn scores lower than cantering/galloping.
Lances may be held either "Norman" style; lance across the horses neck, or "Saracen" style; lance held along the same side as the target.
Variations on the layout are often crated to make this activity even more challenging.
Mounted Crest Combat
Each rider wears a helmet with a crest measuring at least 5" tall, mounted to the top with velcro or some other easily detachable mounting.
The object is to knock the crest from your foes helmet with a foam weapon without having yours knocked off first.
As a rule, attacks are made at no faster than the trot and target the crest ONLY, though with mutual agreement, fast gates may be used for maneuvering into position. Striking a rider accidentally will get you a warning. Striking a horse accidentally gets you disqualified. Striking either intentionally will get you asked to leave and not return.
This is not a activity for everyone. Not all horses will take kindly to it, so special qualification is required to take part.
Pig Sticking
A simulated hunt.
The rider makes a run and attempts to spear the quarry target. If the target is hit, the rider swings the lance upward over their head and rides back to the start.
There are several tricks involved here; scoring the hit with the lance AND getting back to the start with the quarry still on your lance tip AND without falling off your horse.
Not as easy at it sounds. ;>
Quintain
A pivoting target with a counter weight is struck with a heavier lance.
The force of the strike is judged by the number of time the quintain spins.
Speed Quintain
A pair of pivoting targets is set for a pair of riders to make a run at with a lance.
Two riders at opposite ends of the Tilt, equidistance from the quintain, race to their target and try to score a solid hit before their opponent.
Shock Quintain
A heavy, stationary quintain that the rider strikes with a heavy lance in an attempt to knock it over.
This is a method of testing the skills required to actually hit a knight in armor at a charge.
Javelin Throw
Small spears are thrown at a target as the riders passes down one side. Sometimes this throw is "on side", sometime it is "off side" across the body of the horse.
Mounted Archery
Arrows are shot at a target or targets as the riders passes. A wide variety of target forms and layout can be set up for this activity.
Reed Chop
Poles with pre-cut sticks of varying lengths attacked to the top are set up in two staggered lines.
The distance between the lines can be set as close as 4', allowing the run to be made in a simple straight, not weaving path, as the rider attempts to "cut the reed tops" by cleanly knocking off the tops with a wooden sword, first one side, then the other, alternating as they go down the middle. Difficult enough.
Alternatively, the two lines may be space well apart with the rider being asked to weave back at forth to the outside. Done at the canter, this encourages a lead change at each pass. Even more challenging
Challenge Course
Consist of various configurations of the standard elements arranged around the riding area in interesting layouts.