November 2020 Issue

Page 8 November 2020 EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN by Lois Szymanski Knights and fair ladies and horses galore… Even though crisp, October 4th blossomed into a beautiful fall day in Knoxville, MD - perfect weather for jousting. The 80-yard track had been raked and rings were hung. Three 10-foot- tall arches, 30 yards apart, awaited riders, with the flag of Maryland fluttering in the breeze above each arch. Spectators cheered for a colorful parade of competitors, knights and fair maids, some in medieval costume. Grand Mar- shall, Ron Vogel, president of the Maryland Jousting Tournament Association (MJTA), read the rules aloud. Then the competi- tion began. Jousting is one of the world’s oldest equestrian sports. When called upon to charge, each knight or fair maiden gallops his/her horse down a dirt track beneath three arches. Suspended from each arch is a metal harness holding a ring wrapped with white cord. He or she must lift the rings from the arch with a lance. The rings vary in size from 1 3/4" to 1/4 of an inch in diame- ter, with the smallest looking like a lifesaver candy. It is a true test of skill. According to Vogel, riders qualify for the state competition in one of three ways; by win- ning a joust at a show; winning second, third or fourth place Maryland Crowns Champions in the Family Sport of Jousting three times; or they are grandfa- thered in as a previous champi- on. But this year, because Covid limited the number of jousts held, all pro riders automatical- ly qualified. In jousting, each compet- itor takes on a fictitious name that begins with “Sir Knight” or “Fair Maid”. Many use their farm name, a favorite character or color, but there are creative and humorous names too, like Vogel’s wife’s name. She calls herself, “Fair Maid of Visa.” “When they say, ‘Charge, Fair Maid of Visa,’ I always have to laugh,” he said, and then he did laugh out loud. “She never had any trouble whipping out her Visa!” Formed in 1950 Vogel said the MJTA was formed in 1950 by brother and sister, George and Mary Lou Bartram. “Prior to that time there really wasn’t a standard set of rules,” he said. “You would go to a challenge and the rules for the day would be laid out then. When they formed the MJTA it was strictly so there would be a standard set of rules, and to avoid date conflicts.” Vogel said the horses cannot be easily distracted. “Imagine standing up in your stirrups, putting a little bend in your knee, carrying a long lance and galloping be- tween three arches with specta- tors in cars and trailers on both sides and a lot of other things going on. There is no quiet sign being held up. Things are evolv- ing and changing on both sides of the track. You have to have to- tal trust in your horse to not only go straight but to maintain exact- ly the gait that you have trained him to maintain. You are up out of the saddle, so your lower body can absorb the movement, but from waist up you are trying not to move, only to concentrate on those three rings.” Rider, Randall McGill agreed. “The horse has to have a mind and be well-trained to not be distracted,” he said. “One little eye movement away from one side of the track can throw you off. Inches matter.” McGill - who took second place in the semi pro division on this day with his 24-year-old Arab gelding Savra Taz - shared other traits he thinks make a good jousting horse. “Shorter is better, in my opinion. It’s easier when trying to get the rings. Most ride like jockeys, up off the horse. At that point, you get your best shock ab- sorption. The idea is to look like you are on glass rails going down that track. A consistent pace is important too. There are three points of contact, the stirrups, the saddle and I also use a neck strap.” McGill said the neck strap has become his gas pedal. “If I grab hold of it, he knows to take off down the track. It also gives me a safety net, be- cause if he trips or places a foot wrong, all I have to do is let go of the neck strap and my weight is back.” In jousting, speed is import- ant. Lead line and novice are not timed, but semi-pro and pro are timed. “It’s nine seconds or less on the western shore of Maryland and eight seconds or less on the eastern shore. Virginia is eight seconds,” Vogel said. “Since MJTA is the sponsoring club here, they must gallop down the track and get three rings in nine seconds or less. You are allowed one time fault per class. The second time fault will give you zero rings.” As riders raced down the track, lances held steady to catch their rings, horses stood on the sidelines with riders atop, watch- ing the competition. Occasionally, (Continued on page 23) Nicole Solomon, Maid of Peace, Love and Happiness waits for her turn at the Maryland Jousting Tournament Association joust in Knoxville, MD in October. The Maryland state and national champi- ons were crowned at the event. Photo by Lois Szymanski