Equestrian Draft:Foam Jousting

Description

1. Two riders charge at each other on opposite sides of a barrier, using break-away lances, and try to score points by breaking their lance on the opponent's shield.

Scoring

1. Riders make three separate runs at their opponent down the tilt rail. This makes up a match.
2. A line marshal or judge is positioned at each end of the tilt rail to score the rider travelling away from them.
3. The points earned are either three points for the lance breaking on the opponent's shield, two points for breaking the lance on the opponent's body or one point for the lance breaking tip to tip or a point of safety.
4. If a rider fails to present their shield during the run, the points they may have earned are negated. The Marshal-in-charge of the joust will make the final call.

Authorisation requirements

1. You must be authorised to take part in foam jousting at an event or practice. The only exceptions are:
   1. if you are training to authorise for foam jousting under the supervision of an Equestrian Marshal
   2. if you are authorising under the supervision of a Authorising Equestrian Marshal.
2. You must hold current authorisations in general riding and mounted games to be able to authorise for foam jousting, and to hold a foam jousting authorisation.
   1. Your foam jousting authorisation will be suspended if either of your general riding or mounted games authorisations expire, but will be valid again if you renew.
3. Your foam jousting authorisation will last for a maximum of 4 years before it must be retested and renewed.
4. You must be at least the age of majority (18 years old) to participate in foam jousting activities. Minors may not partipate or train in foam jousting.

Equipment standards

1. All armour and weapons equipment must be inspected for use prior to engaging in equestrian activities.

Armour

Helm

1. You must wear a helm when taking part in foam jousting.
2. Helms must be constructed of rigid materials (18-gauge mild steel or equivalent).
3. Face guards must prevent a 25.4mm (1 inch) diameter dowel from entering into any of the face guard openings.
4. The face guard must extend at least 25.4mm (1 inch) below the bottom of the chin and jaw line when the head is held erect.
5. All movable visors must be attached and secured in such a way that there is minimal chance that they will become detached or come open during jousting.
6. There must be NO major internal projections; minor projections of necessary structural components must be padded. All metal mst be free of sharp edges. Face guard bars or mesh should not attach to the interior of the helm, unless of structurally superior design and workmanship.
7. All parts of your helm that might come into injurious contact with your head must be padded with a minimum of 12.7mm (1/2 inch) of closed-cell foam or equivalent padding, or be suspended in such a way as to prevent injurious contact during combat.
8. Your helm must be equipped with a chinstrap or equivalent means to prevent the helm from being dislodged or metal contacting your face during combat. An equivalent might be, for example, a bevor or a chin-cup suspension system. A "snug fit" is NOT an equivalent. The chinstrap must be at a minimum a 12.7mm (1/2 inch) in width and must not be placed in the helm in a manner that could strangle you.

Neck Armour

1. The neck, including the larynx, and cervical vertebrae, must be covered by one or a combination of the following and must stay covered during typical combat situations, including turning the head, lifting the chin, etc.:
   1. The helm.
   2. A gorget of rigid material or heavy leather, lined with 6mm (1/4 inch) of closed cell foam or equivalent padding.
   3. A camail or aventail of mail or heavy leather, lined with 6mm (1/4 inch) of closed cell foam or equivalent padding.

Body

1. You must wear body armour for foam jousting.
2. Rigid material covering chest and torso. Standard equestrian riding vests and chain mail over a padded gambeson are deemed equivalent.

Groin

1. You must wear groin protection for foam jousting.
2. The groin area must be protected by sufficient means including saddle or armour.

Hands

1. The minimum hand protection required for foam jousting is leather gloves.
2. Demi or full gauntlets, vamplate, recessed grip on lance base, padding, or other combination to minimise possible strike to the hand and reduce impact to your hand are recommended.

Leg, arm, and shoulder protection

1. Leg, arm, and shoulder protection is recommended for foam jousting, but not required.

Shields

1. Shields must be constructed of rigid, non-brittle, materials. Recommended is 12mm (1/2 inch) plywood. The edges should be blunt and corners rounded.
2. Shield sizes vary but generally an area of at least 1050 square cm (~30 x 35cm) is recommended.

Equine eye protection

1. Your equine must wear eye protection for foam jousting.
2. Eye protection must deflect and protect the eye from a lance strike, and be secured to minimize movement when struck. Examples include:
   1. A chamfron or other approved eye protection which incorporates pierced metal cups, heavy wire mesh or grillwork, or with reinforcing ridges around the eye
   2. Blinker style heavy wire mesh/lexan/acrylic eye protection used by jockeys and trainers at the racetrack. (Example: a Pelling pacifier) Eye protection of this sort may be incorporated into a period horse garment providing the garment ensures proper placement of the eyecups at all times.

Lances

1. Lances must be 2.4 - 3 m (8 - 10 feet) long as measured from the top (forward edge) of the rider's hand to the tip of the foam.
2. The lance must be constructed in three sections including the tip, middle, and base. The tip and the base will socket into the middle section.
3. Lances must use a foam tip, 60 cm - 1.2 m (2 - 4 feet) in length, extending at least 55 cm (22 inches) beyond the middle section. Approved foams are expanded polystyrene foam (Styrofoam) or Extruded Insulation Foam, of 5 cm (2 inch) diameter and approximately 32 kg/cubic metre (2 lb./ cu ft) density.
4. The middle section consists of a cardboard tube with a 5 cm (2 inch) interior diameter and a maximum of a 3 mm (1/8 inch) side wall, and a minimum length of 1.2 m (4 feet).
5. The base section may be made of any non-brittle material with a maximum of 76 cm (2.5 feet) forward of the hand (as measured from the top of the hand to the forward end that is inside the cardboard tube). It is recommended the base section be carved from wood, and that at least 15 cm (6 inches) extends into the middle section.
6. A recommended lance construction would be a base with 45 cm (1.5 feet) in front of the hand, of which 15 cm (6 inches) is the 5 cm (2 inch) diameter extension into the tube, a 1.5 m (5 foot) or 1.8 m (6 foot) tube, and 60 cm (24 inches) foam.

Tack

1. You must use tack sufficient to allow you to maintain control of your equine. Such tack traditionally includes use of a bridle and saddle, however other combinations of tack may be allowed upon demonstration of control of the equine to the satisfaction of the Equestrian Marshal-in-Charge.
2. The marshallate is not responsible for the inspection of tack.

Set-up

1. The tilt rail is positioned in the center of a 60 m x 30 m arena.