Warhorse Disciplines

Compiled here is a list of potential disciplines or events in which your horse might compete or be trained.

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Warhorse Disciplines
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Jousting (Re-enactment)

This type of jousting ranges from theatrical to competitive or tournament style and is the type of jousting seen as renaissance festivals. Reenactment jousting typically features riders in plate armor on costumed or armored horses. This is the discipline in which draft breeds are most likely to compete. Armor and decoration may be fanciful but are encouraged and in some cases required to adhere to a historical basis. This sport is tightly regulated and is considered extremely dangerous. Example: Competitive Jousting, International Jousting Association, Knights of Mayhem, Full Metal Jousting


Jousting (Non-contact)

Also known as modern jousting or ring jousting. In this type of jousting, riders target rings and other targets rather than another mounted opponent. Because this is a non contact sport, riders and horses typically do not wear armor or other costumes. Horses, typically small to mid-sized, are ridden at a gallop towards suspended rings. Scores are assessed by accuracy and difficulty (size of the rings). A variant of this is quintain jousting, in which the target is a shield or other object mounted to a pole, simulating a mounted opponent. Example: Quintain Jousting, National Jousting Association


Tent-pegging

This cavalry sport is widely practiced. The term tent-pegging can also include other single-participant war spots such as ring-tilt, quintain jousting, and mounted archery. In the narrow usage of the term, tent-pegging refers to a rider using a sword or a spear to pick up small objects like a tent peg. Speed and accuracy are both important for this class. Exact specifications of the event (targets, weapons, etc) will depend on the host of the show. Example:Tent-Pegging, British Tentpegging Association


Dzhigitovka

This central Asian sport is related to tent-pegging and trick riding. It involves doing tricks on horseback, picking items up from the ground, using various weapons from horseback and doing other acrobatic feats. This sport requires a great deal of trust between the horse and the rider, as well as a great deal of athleticism and bravery from both. Example: Dzhigit


Mounted Swordfighting

Mounted swordfighting involves two mounted parties with swords fighting until one rider yields or is unhorsed. This involves all of the difficulties and dangers of swordplay compounded by the addition of two moving horses. Modern mounted swordplay takes great pains to insure the safety of the riders an animals by using blunted swords and proper padding and head protection, but this is still a dangerous sport. Riders may also use lances, spears, or a combination of weapons in addition to or instead of swords under the broader term mounted combat. This sport is frequently practiced by the same people and groups who enjoy jousting. Example: 15th Century Illustrated Manual of Sword Fighting


Mounted Melee

There are many versions of this event. A group of riders are assigned to teams or all fight individually. Using blunted melee weapons such as but not limited to swords or lances, they fight until they are disqualified or an end condition is met. Victory conditions may include last man still on his horse, last man with his banner in tact, or simply last man still fighting after all his opponents have withdrawn.


Mounted Shooting

In this Western event, a rider must run a course and shoot balloons or other targets with a pistol (infrequently a rifle or shotgun) in the shortest time with penalties for missing targets. For safety, this event is  performed with blanks for the safety of onlookers and participants, and it is the heat of the powder discharge rather than a bullet which pops the balloons. This event requires a horse that is fast but steady and not startled by gunshots in close proximity. Example: Mounted Shooting, Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association


Mounted Archery

Mounted archery has been a powerful wartime strategy in many cultures across the American, Europe, and Asia. In competition, the host will determine the types of bows allowed and whether costuming is required.  Typically the event, running past a series of targets while shooting at them, is scored by the fastest time minus penalties for inaccuracy. Mounted Archery, World Horseback Archery Federation, The Mounted Archery Association of the Americas


Mounted Javelin Throw

Less common and not typically practiced as a modern sport, the mounted javelin throw is very similar to mounted archery. The horse runs past a target and the rider attempts to hit the target with the highest possible level of accuracy. This was most commonly practiced by the ancient Greeks. Javelin Throwing


Chariot Racing

Chariots are typically pulled by pony breeds in a 1, 2, or 4 horse abreast formation in a two-wheeled, backless cart. Historically this discipline was quite dangerous as a broken wheel or accident can cause significant injury to the driver or the horses who can't escape the horse or cart they are harnessed to. This developed from the ancient practice of using chariots in warfare, typically with the chariot holding archers or spearmen.

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Related Disciplines and Events
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Haute Ecole

While the classical dressage movements of haute ecole were probably not used on the battlefield, they have historically been used in military cavalry training to develop the strength, agility and control needed by a horse on the battlefield. Most famously practiced by Lippizans, Andalusians, and Iberian breeds. Example: Haute Ecole


Bloodless Bullfighting

Note: TIWHA only condones bloodless bullfighting and not classic bullfighting. In bloodless bullfighting the spears are specially designed and aimed at a velco patch tied to the bull's shoulders, but the danger of the bull towards the horse and bullfighter are still very real. A horse in this event must be calm and comfortable with bulls, and have the speed and agility to get away if necessary. The horse must also display the courage to face down an angry bull! A variant of this is bull-less bullfighting, in which the bull is replaced with a wheel-barrow-like wooden bull that is operated by a human participant. Examples: Bloodless Bullfighting


Bombproofing challenge

A horse is considered "Bomb proof" if they don't panic when confronted with a surprising stimulus such as a popping balloon or a plastic bag blowing on the wind. Bomb proofing is essential for war horses, as they will be in situations that are not only potentially startling, but dangerous as well! Bombproofing challenges involve leading your horse through or past a series of obstacles that a horse might find unnerving. A sample course might include walking over a crinkly tarp, having a paper bag rustled near their head, and walking through an archway with streamers suspended from it. Example: Bomb Proofing


Quests

This one is entirely up to the show host! A horse and rider attempt to meet some criteria such as finding a hidden object or acheiving some specified goal, typically competing against a pack of riders with the same goal. There are really no limits here except as the show host imposes.


Trekking

A warhorse would be required to cover a great deal of varied terrain without tiring as a part of a cavalry, much as a horse is required to do while trekking. A good warhorse should be able to safely navigate hills, rocks, water features and any number of other features it might encounter on the march.



Suggestions of other events and links are welcome!