Equestrian:Equipment Standards

Armor and Weapon Inspections

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

1. Weapons constructed other than as set out below may be approved on a kingdom level basis for use in Crest Combat or Mounted Combat. Construction methods for these weapons vary; therefore only weapons equivalent to the weapons described below shall be used. If there is a question regarding equivalency, the Kingdom Equestrian Officer shall make the determination.
2. Mounted Games: Riders may use hand held weapons made of non-brittle materials.

Armor requirements

Helm

Required for Mounted Combat, Crest Combat, Foam Jousting.

1. Helms must be of rigid materials (18-gauge mild steel or equivalent). Fencing masks (12kg) are acceptable for mounted crest combat use only.
2. Face guards shall prevent a 1-inch (25.4mm) diameter dowel from entering into any of the face guard openings.
3. The face guard shall extend at least 1-inch (25.4mm) below the bottom of the chin and jaw line when the head is held erect.
4. All movable visors shall be attached and secured in such a way that there is minimal chance that they will become detached or come open in normal mounted combat or jousting use.
5. There shall be NO major internal projections; minor projections of necessary structural components shall be padded. All metal shall 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.
6. All parts of the helm that might come into injurious contact with the wearer's head shall be padded with a minimum of ½-inch (12.7mm) of closed-cell foam or equivalent padding, or shall be suspended in such a way as to prevent injurious contact with the wearer during combat. Additional padding is not required for fencing masks that are used for crest combat only.
7. All helms shall be equipped with a chinstrap or equivalent means to prevent the helm from being dislodged or metal contacting the wearer's 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 shall be at a minimum a ½-inch (12.7mm) in width and shall not be placed in the helm in a manner that could strangle the wearer.

Crests for crest combat

1. Crests shall be at least 5-inches in height.
2. The crest must be constructed so as not to present an undue hazard if a rider should land on it, or a horse step on it.
3. The crest must be attached in such a way so as to be easily dislodged by a minimal force blow. Velcro or similar methods are recommended.

Neck Armor

Required for Mounted Combat, Crest Combat, Foam Jousting.

1. The neck, including the larynx, cervical vertebrae, and first thoracic vertebra 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.
2. The helm.
3. A gorget of rigid material or heavy leather, lined with ¼-inch (6mm) of closed cell foam or equivalent padding.
4. A camail or aventail of mail or heavy leather, lined with ¼-inch (6mm) of closed cell foam or equivalent padding.
5. The first thoracic vertebra need not be covered for foam jousting.

Body

Required for Foam Jousting. Recommended for Mounted Combat.

1. Rigid material covering chest and torso. Standard equestrian riding vests and chain mail over a padded gambeson are deemed equivalent.

Groin

Required for Foam Jousting.

1. Groin area must be protected by sufficient means including saddle or armor.

Hands

Required for Mounted Combat, Crest Combat, Foam Jousting

1. Leather gloves.
2. Recommended for Foam Jousting – demi or full gauntlets, vamplate, recessed grip on lance base, padding, or other combination to minimize possible strike to the hand and reduce impact to jouster's hand.

Leg, arm, and shoulder protection

Armor recommended for Mounted Combat, Crest Combat, and Foam Jousting, but not required.

Shields

Recommended for Foam Jousting, but not required.

1. Shields must be constructed of rigid, non-brittle, materials. Recommended is ½-inch plywood. The edges should be blunt and corners rounded.
2. For jousting, shield sizes vary but generally an area of at least 168 sq-inches (~12”x14”) is recommended.

Equine Eye Protection

Required for Mounted Combat and Foam Jousting

1. Mounted Combat – shall protect the eyes from a sword or spear strike. Acceptable eye protection should cover the entire eye, stand clear from the eye in all directions by a minimum of 3/4 of an inch, prevent a 1” round dowel from penetrating, and does not collapse upon typical strikes. Take care to make opening large enough, pad well, and secure 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.
   2. Blinker style. The 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.
2. Foam Jousting – should deflect and protect the eye from a lance strike, and be secured to minimize movement when struck. Examples include:
   1. Eye protection meeting the Mounted Combat Standard
   2. A chamfron with reinforcing ridges around the eye

Weapon requirements

Single Handed weapons

1. Crest Combat. "Boffer" weapons are to be used in this activity.
   1. Base material shall be schedule 40 ½-inch PEX (cross-linked HDPE (high density polyethylene)) pipe, ¾-inch PEX pipe, or 1” rattan. When using PEX pipe as the core, both ends must be capped.
   2. Minimum ½-inch closed cell foam padding over all striking surfaces.
   3. Minimum diameter of 1 ¼-inch.
   4. If quillons are used they should not extend more than 1 inch beyond the hand when held.
   5. Thrusting tips are not allowed in crest combat.
2. Mounted Combat.
   1. Sturdier 'Boffer' style weapons are used in this activity.
      1. Boffer. Same as Crest Combat, but base material may be 1 inch diameter rattan or schedule 40 ¾-inch PEX pipe.
      2. Tourney baton (behourd) - 1" rattan core covered with 17lb-density urethane foam.
   2. Swords shall have a hand guard, such as a basket hilt, quillions, or equivalent.
   3. Maximum weight should not exceed 4-pounds.
   4. Thrusting is not allowed in mounted combat.

Lances, spears and javelins

1. Foam Jousting Lances.
   1. Shall be 8-10ft as measured from the top (forward edge) of the rider's hand to the tip of the foam.
   2. The lance shall 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, 2-4 ft in length, extending at least 22-inches beyond the middle section. Approved foams are expanded polystyrene foam (Styrofoam) or Extruded Insulation Foam, of 2-inch diameter and approximately 2-lb./ft³ density.
   4. The middle section consists of a cardboard tube with a 2-inch interior diameter and a maximum of a 1/8-inch side wall, and a minimum length of 4 ft.
   5. The base section may be made of any non-brittle material with a maximum of 2.5 ft 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 6 inches extends into the middle section.
   6. A recommended lance construction would be a base with 1.5 ft in front of the hand, of which 6 inches is the 2”diameter extension into the tube, a 5ft or 6ft tube, and 24” foam.
2. Spears and javelins
   1. Spears and javelins may be equipped with metal tips.

Archery

1. All archery equipment should be consistent with pre-17th century archery in looks and function. Modifications for safety are excepted.
2. Fiberglass bows and Armored Combat arrows meeting Society standards and construction are allowed.
3. All arrows should be inspected by the user prior to each use.
4. The use, carry or handling of crossbows while mounted is prohibited.
5. Range
   1. There shall be a clearly defined marked safety zone behind and to the sides of the shooting lane and targets. It shall be of reasonable size to prevent injury to bystanders, and be free of traffic, campsites, list fields, parking areas or other hazards. The distance behind the targets may be reduced if there is a hill, permanent backstop, archery netting, etc., that will stop stray arrows.
   2. Suggested size: Behind: 40 yards from the farthest target, or for half the distance from the line to the farthest target, whichever is greater. Sides: extend outward at a 30- to 45-degree angle from both ends of the shooting lane to a line even with the furthest target, and continue straight back from there to the required distance.

Thrown Weapons

1. Knives, axes, and spears that meet the specific weapon standards in the Society's Thrown Weapons Marshal's handbook may be used in a mounted thrown weapons program. The only exception is axes having a head that slides up a tapered handle and pressure-fits on. These axes with sliding heads are not allowed from horseback.
2. Mounted thrown weapons are not required to be blunted.

Tack

Riders are required to use tack sufficient to allow them to maintain control of their 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. The marshallate is not responsible for the inspection of tack.

Glossary

Rigid material

1. Steel of no less than 18 gauge, or aluminum of no less than 0.075 inch (1.9mm)
2. Other metals of sufficient thickness to give similar rigidity to those listed above to include treated steel or aluminum
3. High-impact-resistant plastics such as ABS or polyethylene of sufficient thickness to give similar rigidity to those listed above
4. Heavy leather (as defined above) that has been hardened in hot wax, soaked in polyester resin (properly catalyzed), or treated in such a manner as to permanently harden the leather
5. Two layers of untreated heavy leather
6. Other materials equivalent to those items listed above (Any armor of unusual construction or material must meet the approval of the Kingdom Earl Marshal or their designated deputy.)

Non-brittle

Shall refer to material that will not break or shatter upon being subjected to a stiff strike.