Main > The Courtyard

Jousting

<< < (4/6) > >>

Sir Rodney:

--- Quote from: Lady Jouster on 2016-06-17, 20:33:42 ---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.

--- End quote ---

Any chance you guys will be hitting the Minnesota renaissance festival soon?    ;)

I'm the Knight the Order sent to guard our northern border.  So far the Canadians seem very friendly...

Sir Dimitry:
I am a Theatrical Jouster and while I do not go to the extremes of trying to knock my opponent into the dirt, the connection and the dedication to that "bond" is the same. My Boy, Oz, is a true brat, but he's my brat and we make a damned good team...  :D

Also, at 47, when I do hit the ground, I don't bounce anymore, I break... LOL!

Jon Blair:

--- Quote from: Sir Rodney on 2016-06-18, 05:17:25 ---
--- Quote from: Lady Jouster on 2016-06-17, 20:33:42 ---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.

--- End quote ---

Any chance you guys will be hitting the Minnesota renaissance festival soon?    ;)

I'm the Knight the Order sent to guard our northern border.  So far the Canadians seem very friendly...

--- End quote ---
That's just what those Canadians want you to think. If Alan Alda ever becomes president, you'll see their true colors.

Lady Jouster:
Sir Rodney, jousting is our second job. Since we both have "real" full-time jobs here in MD, we can't travel that far :(

Sir Dimitry, we aren't trying to knock each other into the dirt either, though we have had the occasional jouster hit the dirt anyway. We use 3' balsa tips, but they still hit pretty hard and sometimes the tip blows apart and we take a hit from the socket. I agree, from the horse's point of view, it's no different, that trust has to be there. After all, it's a bit hard to explain the difference between solid historical lances, 3' balsa, SCA style "popcorn" lances, etc to a horse, lol! Who do you joust with? We love meeting other jousters :)

Sir Brian:

--- Quote from: Lady Jouster on 2016-06-17, 20:31:19 ---
--- 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.
--- End quote ---

I'm loving this thread more and more and both you and Mike really deliver the goods sharing your experiences! :)

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page

[*] Previous page

Go to full version