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Jousting
Thorsteinn:
--- Quote from: MDJouster on 2016-06-12, 15:55:33 ---One thing to consider. If you are looking for the "true historic perspective". Riding was a significant part of a knights training and is good exercise. There is value in the training beyond just becoming a good, fit rider. I understand it is expensive and time consuming but there are a lot of benefits.
--- End quote ---
I do ride, with gear, and it is expensive. Why my Vulcan 750 is a persnickety gnarly beast that likes to go it straight lines very very fast, hates corners & cornering, and has practically no real usable range. Would you believe a radiator is $400?! Just for the radiator!
Oh, you meant horses? Yeah I can ride those too. My first MTBI with PCS was from a horse that bucked (cow kicked?) me off when I was 8. Took me 20 years to work up the courage to get back in the saddle. Beyond my issues there is the problem that, at least around here, to truly get good with a horse means having your own land. And that means 10's to 100's of thousands of dollars. For myself I could have learned more, my mom's has had horses again for the last 14 years (she used to be a trainer in the Cuyahoga Valley) & I have a few friends in Cali that have them and they all to SCA Equestrian activities too, but I don't "get" it, so I don't spend the time & energy to get better in the saddle. Heck I don't even get the attraction of riding a motorcycle all the time and I DO ride a motorcycle all the time as my main transportation (even in winter).
I think what jousters do is cool, and am full willing to watch and support you, but it's not something I will ever love enough to spend the $100,000+ to even start to get good enough.
I do have something to bring though for I am an excellent cook & baker. Surly Jousting is hungry work?
MDJouster:
I hope I don't come off as arrogant I just wanted to point out there is a lot to be learned from mounted activity.
Sir Rodney:
--- Quote from: MDJouster on 2016-06-13, 21:50:44 ---I hope I don't come off as arrogant I just wanted to point out there is a lot to be learned from mounted activity.
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A: You didn't. You spoke from experience which is valuable to those of us less experienced.
B: You're right. My wife grew up on horses and she fondly recalls the personal connection. She also speaks about the stubborn streaks and naughty nature of some her horses. ;)
Lady Jouster:
--- Quote from: Sir Rodney on 2016-06-14, 04:50:21 ---
B: You're right. My wife grew up on horses and she fondly recalls the personal connection. She also speaks about the stubborn streaks and naughty nature of some her horses. ;)
--- End quote ---
LOL! Yes, some can be *quite* naughty. But then there are those, like my Loki, who will quite literally go out of their way to save you from a fall. On several occasions, I have taken a mighty hit in the lanes and been tilted to the right beyond my ability to recover. And that horse, at a full gallop, has stepped to the side and *pushed* me back onto his back. At one point I was borderline heat stroking at VARF and several folks told me I was a fool to ride, let alone joust. I got in Loki's saddle, took a deep breath, and immediately felt centered and calm. We did the entire joust with him fully aware of my compromised state. My riding instructor happened to be there that day watching. At the end of the joust she came up to me, "You know you only made it through that because he was going side to side to keep you on his back, right?" Yep, I do!
My dad thinks horses are crazy beasts and I'm a nutcase for riding them. But to be on a horse that you have developed a connection with, a horse that you have trained from a youngster and you know each other like you know yourselves... There is a freedom there that I just can't find anywhere else. I think and he acts. I climb on the back of an 1,800 pound prey animal that is wired to run from danger. And he trusts me to keep him safe while another (usually dominant) horse is charging at him carrying another human with a weapon. All while he keeps me safe as well. There's nothing like it.
Lady Jouster:
I'm sure we could arrange either a one day event or a weekend of camping at our place and do some jousty talks and demos. And for anyone interested, we do have a horse or two that I've given lessons on. I would just require that anyone who wanted to ride wears hard toed boots and a riding helmet.
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