August 2022 Issue

Page 6 August 2022 EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN Maryland Residents Sweep International Tilting and Jousting Tournament Tell our advertisers you found them in East Coast Equestrian! was Eagle Flick. He took to it immediately.” In Scotland, both Stacey and Mikayla rode borrowed horses. Both appreciated the practice session they were allotted. “We practiced in the ring at Elvingston Stud,” Stacey said. “It was breezy, and the rings were moving. Ours are on metal hang- ers, but theirs are hung on a string. It was something we had to get used to. Then, on competition day, we were indoors at Rockrose for tilting and outdoors for the three- ring jousting. Instead of a metal hanger they used a chain covered in rubber, so it still moved. It was a fantastic setup and an absolutely stunning property.” Stacey – who has been induct- ed into the National Jousting Hall of Fame - took second in rings be- hind Makayla. “I missed one ring. Mikayla is young and fearless and a fantastic rider. I am older now, but I got to rideAnastasia -nicknamed Anna, and that was the same horse I had ridden the first time,” she said. “She is a beautiful little paint. The weather was amazing, and they were so accommodating.” Mikayla recalled that her bor- rowed horse was a quick study. “This year, Jan [Simpson] let me use her horse. They had one that hadn’t been ridden much and I just schooled her some and rode her in the competition. Everyone over there is incredibly nice and so helpful to all of us.” Stacey agreed. “Their generosity alone is one of the most amazing parts of going over there, and the friendships we have developed,” she said. Rodgerson said his club was delighted to finally get Mikayla and Stacey back to the competition, af- ter it had been cancelled for Covid. “All our members were so happy to catch up with them and we did lots of other activities through the week,” he said. “It was our biggest competition yet and we must be getting better as the scores were much closer.’ Mikayla and Stacey said the friendly atmosphere is part of what drew them both into the sport of jousting. “One reason I love jousting is that it is so family oriented,” said Stacey. “Also, it’s not an opinion-based sport. It is about you, your horse, and the ring. You are competing against no one except yourself. You either get the rings or you don’t, and there is no separation between kids and adults or horses and ponies. Ev- eryone is welcome in this sport.” Barbara Miller believes the sport has been good for her daughter. “I like that a rider can partic- ipate no matter their age, riding level, or type of horse. There’s no special equipment, except the lance - which can be handmade or bor- rowed. There are no special outfits to be purchased and no special type of saddle used. It is not subjective to a judge. The rider either gets the rings or they don’t. Everyone is welcoming and ready to help other riders. They don’t think twice about lending a piece of equip- ment or giving suggestions when asked. There are whole families of jousters competing together. MJTA wants to encourage others to bring their horses and participate.” To view more photos of the tournament or learn more about MJTA, visit marylandjousting. com. To learn more about the National Jousting Hall of Fame, visit nationaljousting.com/fame. htm. (Continued from page 1)