Equestrian Draft:Games Quintain

The quintain, as a martial training exercise, is documented to approximately the late 13th century. It is a contest of lance work against a simulated opponent.

Though it can be seen in various forms, the most common is a shield attached to a horizontal arm that rotates on an upright post, with a counterweight on the opposite arm.

Upon being struck, the shield begins to rotate around the upright. In period, if the quintain was improperly struck or the rider insufficiently quick, the counterweight would swing around and strike on the head or back of the rider. This was to teach good follow-through after the initial impact with an opponent.

Often the score is based on the number of rotations made by the shield around the post. Quarter, half or full revolutions can be recorded depending on the marshal's choice for a particular event.