Hastilude at the Hollow V

Challenge Course Design, Building, and Judging:	This class will provide tips and suggestions on how to design and run a safe, challenging, fair and entertaining, SCA martial equestrian course. It will including advice on scoring advice and examples of how to build the gaming elements commonly used. We will cover: How courses should be ridden, and planning for that Discussion of Various Course Elements Sample Course Layouts Back to the Schedule
Introduction to Classical Riding & Riding in the "Bridle Hand"	This is a mounted, unarmored classe with no weapons required; lasting one hour. This class will focus on the very real differences between classical military training and riding, and what the more modern forms of riding done today. While bearing many similarities to Competitive Dressage of today, classical riding focuses on achieving a balanced, collected, agile and willing mount, that can be ridden in "the bridle hand" (left hand only). This form of riding is more about control and partnership than it is about speed or flash. Back to the Schedule
Lance Work (It Is Not All Jousting)	This an unarmored, mounted class, lasting about one hour. The focus will be on lance use out side the western European tradition of the lance "couched" across the neck of the horse. In this class you will receive instruction in using a lighter lance than the ones used in jousting, deploying it by across the horse's neck and along side (there is even a technique for using it under the horse's neck reaching across). Additional techniques include shortening the grip for thrusting at close quarters, attacking targets on the ground and even shifting from thrusting grip to a throwing one in mid stride. There will even be a demonstration of maneuvering the horse while holding the lance. Back to the Schedule
Preparing the Horse for Mounted Combat and Mounted to Ground	This an unarmored, mounted class that will require at least 4 riders and the assistance of as many volunteers afoot to happen; lasting about two hours. The focus will be on training the horse, with a goal of preparing your horse mentally to accept close interaction with other horses and with foot soldiers. The process is done very carefully, using a method called "troop training", wherein the horses derive confidence and self-assuredness from the presence of the other horses and riders in the troop. By slowly acclimating the to moving forward into other horses and into people on foot in front of them and having the other horses and those on foot give way to the approaching horses, first at a great distance but later over the course of training, the horses learn their strength as a herd and the riders are able to apply that strength to safely maneuver their horses very close to others. (Note: This is not about teaching horses to run over people on the ground.) Back to the Schedule
Rossfechten - Mounted Combat from Period Manuals	This is a mounted class with armor requirements (see below); lasting about an hour and a half. Get a chance to explore historic mounted combat manuals with the experimental Rossfechten (mounted sword fighting) program, which allows the use of synthetic and steel swords. The class will cover the basics of the program in the SCA, and then move to sequences from the 15th century Fiore and Ringeck manuscripts. We’ll try to have loaner gear, but if you have a fencing mask with back of head protection or a helmet, elbow protection, gorget and gloves, please bring them. Padded chest and arm protection is not required but recommended. Back to the Schedule
Daiku:	This is a Japanese medieval team game played with balls and long "rackets" that is similar to polocrosse. Rackets, balls, and rules will be provided before the game. Back to the Schedule
Cirit (Jereed):	This is a medieval Turkish team game played with javelins. Javelins and rules will be provided before the game. Back to the Schedule

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