Yes! You will be attending a professional jousting school for the day and you'll learn how to joust. By the end of the course, you should be good enough to take part in your own mini joust tournament.
Do I need to know how to ride a horse to joust?
No. These jousting sessions have been designed to appeal to those with little or no horse riding experience. If you go on to do further jousting training, the minimum level of horse riding required is that you are able to canter on a horse.
Do I need to be fit for these Medieval and jousting experiences?
A certain level of fitness is needed to be able to get on the horse, stay on it and hold that Knight's lance at the same time!
What is trick riding?
Trick riding is performing vaults, tricks and stands the back of a horse using the famous Cossack trick riding saddles.
Will I get to vault a horse?
Yes! After training sessions using a wooden vault, you'll progress to trick skills on a real horse, including vaulting onto the horse.
Do I need to be a competent horse rider for the tricks experiences?
No. No previous horse riding skills are necessary. However, you will need to be fairly fit for these experiences, as you will be performing tricks on horseback.
Can you really ride and fire arrows at the same time?
Yep! Horseback archery is an actual thing. Back in the days of olde, as well as battling it out in the jousting arena, knights were also expected to be fine marksmen, even whilst in the saddle. Our experiences teach you how to ride and fire arrows. A bit like patting your head and rubbing your tummy at the same time, it's all about coordination.
Are jousting games popular?
Jousting games for fun are really, really popular and are now a staple feature in the summer entertainment programme at many an English castle and Medieval fayre around the country. It's always an exhilarating show that's pretty spectacular to watch, as Knights battle it out to honour and protect their coat of arms.
What sort of horses are used?
Horses with the right temperament are chosen to be trained as stunt and film horses and your mount for jousting, archery and trick riding will be highly experienced, calm, stable and placid, as well as being strong. They are pretty amazing horses and you're bound to create a bit of a bond during your Knight training!
Will I actually get to use a lance?
Yes. Once you've got the techniques for jousting sussed, you'll be in the saddle, lance in your hand as you ride. It'll feel like a scene from 'A Knight's Tale'!
