SCA Equestrian flyer

The following is from a flyer I made to use at demonstrations and to assist in recruitment into the SCA in general, and specifically, for the equestrian program.  On a flyer, the content is printed out in booklet form.

Equestrian Activities in the SCA

“The Society for Creative Anachronism [SCA] is an international organization dedicated to researching and re-creating the arts and skills of pre-17th-century Europe. Our “Known World” consists of 20 kingdoms, with over 30,000 members residing in countries around the world. Members, dressed in clothing of the Middle Ages and Renaissance, attend events which feature tournaments, royal courts, feasts, dancing, various classes & work-shops, and more." (http://www.sca.org/)



In the SCA we practice a variety of activities with horses. The games we play are based on historical activities - most were either used in medieval tournaments or were used to train the horse and rider for the tournament or the battlefield. These activities are fun and re-warding. Partnership between rider and horse is essential in many of our activities, thus training and participation in these activities serves to enhance the level of communication between the rider and horse.

This activity is open to people over the age of 5 and any type of equine is permitted. In order to participate, the rider must complete an "authorization" process which is a safety test that determines the rider ‘s understanding of the rules, ability to control their horse in a variety of situations, and maintain safety. Minors are required to wear ASTM approved helmets, and adults are encouraged to do so. Following SCA guidelines, participants are encouraged to make an attempt at pre– 17th Century attire. We also enjoy “dressing up” our horses in a manner similar to what was done during the medieval period

This section explains some of the activities that we do with horses in the SCA. All these games can be played at the walk, trot, canter and gallop.

Rings, or Ring Tilting —-This is a game of skill requiring the rider to control the tip of the lance in order to spear rings from a pole or standard. This is a historical game that was practiced in the medieval period as training and for the Tournament. The rings vary in size and the smaller rings are worth more points. The rider makes a pass down and back, spearing rings on both sides of the standard.

Heads, or Be-Heading the Enemy — This is a game of skill requiring the rider to steer the horse through a series of poles, similar to pole bending. As the horse passes each pole, the rider strikes a “head” or target off the top of the pole. Once they get to the end, the rider guides the horse straight back to the start. This is a timed event and simulates combat on the battlefield.

Other similar games include the Reeds Course which requires the rider to guide the horse down a lane, striking the top targets of a series of poles on the sides. A second game is the Birja, which involves throwing a spear through a mounted ring and catching the spear on the other side. Both these games are historical Persian games. Other games simulate the practice of hunting during the medieval period. These include throwing javelins at targets and spearing targets from the ground. Scoring is based on the size of the target and the precise placement of the spear.

Mistress Rannveigr throwing the birja spear.

We also practice mounted archery which is a very old equestrian sport. Archery was used in combat as well as in the hunt.


We Joust in the SCA and this takes several forms. One type of jousting is to Joust to the Quintain. This was a period practice that was used to train the mounted warrior for the Tournament and the battlefield. In battle, the mounted warrior used his lance to knock other warriors from their horses. In the SCA it is Joust the Quintain. The object is to strike a target with the lance and requires good tip control. The other type of Jousting we do in the SCA is against another person. It takes extra training and equipment to practice this form of Jousting . This form has safety regulations to ensure the safety of the rider and the horse. The object is not to knock the rider from the horse, but to score a good hit on their shield. Special lances are used for this activity to minimize the danger.

We also practice a martial art form on horseback. There are two types: Crest fighting and Mounted
Combat.

Mounted Combat at Gulf Wars

Crest fighting

In Crest fighting, the armor required is minimal and the object is to strike a crest from the opponents helmet. In mounted combat, a heavier sword and more armor is used and the combatants attempt to hit their opponent with a “scoring hit.” This is deter-mined by the force and angle of the strike. And is judged on an honor system by the fighters. Steel swords are not used for this activity; instead we use specially constructed swords to maintain safety. This is similar to SCA rattan fighting but the strike zone is limited to above the solar plexus to reduce hits to the horse, and the sword is padded to protect the horse from accidental strikes. The horse also wears some armor for this activity.

Author mounted on the WarHorse Tristen at an event near Erie, PA

In addition to these activities, we also participate in quests and challenges. These are similar to scavenger hunts and obstacle courses in the modern world. We also trail ride in garb (pre-17th C. clothing) and have Royal Processions where the riders escort mounted Royalty into court. As noted, we enjoy outfitting our horses in caparisons, or the cloth coverings of the medieval period. These are often marked by the heraldic arms of the rider.

If you want to get involved in these exciting equestrian activities, you can find out more information through the following sources:
For general information on the SCA: http://welcome.sca.org/
For the local chapter of the SCA: http://www.aethelmearc.org/
For the local equestrian group in the SCA, check out our websites: https://www.facebook.com/groups/401133756648460/ and
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aethelmearcequestrians/

To speak with someone from the local Equestrian program within the SCA, please feel free to contact: Gozen (Lynda Weiner)