Equestrian Draft:Foam Jousting

Description

1. Foam jousting is not yet an approved programme within Lochac.
2. 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.

Equipment standards

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

Armour

Helm

1. A helm must be worn during 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 the helm that might come into injurious contact with the wearer's 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 with the wearer during combat. Additional padding is not required for fencing masks that are used for crest combat only.
8. All helms must 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 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 the wearer.

Neck Armor

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. Body armour is required 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. Groin protection is required for foam jousting.
2. The groin area must be protected by sufficient means including saddle or armor.

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 jouster's hand are recommended.

Leg, arm, and shoulder protection

Leg, arm, and shoulder protection is recommended 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. Equine eye protection is required 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) 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. 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.
2. The marshallate is not responsible for the inspection of tack.

Glossary

Heavy Leather

Stiff, oak-tanned leather nominally 11/64 inch (4.4mm) thick. Often referred to as 11oz. leather.

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

Material that will not break or shatter upon being subjected to a stiff strike.

Set-up

1. The tilt rail is positioned in the center of the area (60 m x 30 m).