That's not a bascinet, it's a metal target taken out of a skip and propped up to hit clangingly. Also my boots are inauthentic - wrong sort of zip for most of the Celtic period. They had a different shaped zip toggle I believe, especially in the later periods, and historical scholars differ on the t...

For those who may be interested, and who perhaps aren't on F*cebook, I thougth I'd post this picture of early training with my Robert Hurford built Celtic war chariot. Not much to see re ponies or my kit yet, but the Chariot looks good.

You can joust in 55m, but it's nasty and too tight and for those not on collected horses, unpleasant difficult and unfair on horses having to stop so soon. FYI I can go from a fast canter to dead stop in about two horse lengths, from a collected canter to a stop immediately on a horse suitably train...

Some answers, couched in the 'as far as I have found out' and 'my opinion', and 'for further consideration'. Straight legs happen automatically in a medieval saddle, they're very different, much more secure and more comfortable than modern ones (really!), but they need to be made for both the horse ...

Thalion, what do you want to know re horses? I look after, train and breed them so might be able to help with some answers.

I reckon that the ground crew have the best view of a joust, even better then the riders themselves.

I've often had to have the outcome of a spectacular pass explained to me by a grinning ground-crew member! I knew something big had happened but not what exactly.

The weirdest break was a solid lance tip to tip (coronel to coronel) break with everyone wondering what had just happened as the impact was a good couple of beats before it 'should have been' if you see what I mean. The second weirdest was a coronel strike on Philippe's right inside thigh about 1 in...

If you're doing it at decent speed there is simply not enough time to drop it as it's couched. What happens is that it tracks past your left as the target moves past you (assuming you've struck across the horse), then is wrenched out from under your right arm and into your face/head , up and over, s...

When riding out for a long time in frosty winter conditions, a cloak over the top of it all does make one hell of a difference to the warmth. Not sure about cloak hooks, but i tied it to the breastplate strap so it would stay in place. It's hard to feel a cloak slipping off in full harness.

Past Tents do a large range of top-quality tents, and can be reached on 01280 850386 if you want to chat through your specific needs.

Non-rowel spurs were much in use in earlier periods, and i Imagaine were still used in the 15thC, after all spurs of almost medieval design are in current use today, with the exeption of fitting them to a heeled boot. Some things just work.

This is an interesting issue. Riding positions and riding style as far as we can tell was very different to the style typically taught today. (The 15th Cnetury jousting treatise mention two forms of riding, so we're in a transitional period as far as styles is concerned at this time.) The leg positi...

The quietpress ones are lovely but soft and bendy metal repros (I have a pair). Great for walking about, but they don't work on a horse at all.

No, not seen anything about a new Spanish saddle. Sounds interesting, how would I find out about it?

A saddle's the last thing you want to get. Riding skills first, then armour, then finally saddle and ultimately horse. If you have the riding skills you can borrow or hire the horse and saddle. The other way round is generally frowned upon...

Yup, though 'lively' is an understatement on occasions.

Her contact details are on www.tournamentstud.com FYI

Ellie, Thanks for your considered reply, I pretty much agree with most of what you say, though I'd happily let you try to take a couple of my lovely beasts down the tilt. One simply hates other horses coming at him head on. I'd never heard of anyone using scaff poles to joust! Presumably they are al...

Ellie, Im afraid I'd have to, respectfully, question the idea that 'any horse can joust', especially when using authentic armour and with proper contact. It takes a long time to train a horse to joust 'properly' and I have tried many and more than a few simply aren't up to it, or at least don't want...

Destrier can help get you up and running and are open to new memberships currently. Group training sessions take place over the winter, usually once a month and range from the pro jousters right down to complete beginners at riding. (Obviously not all mixed into one session!) http://www.destrier.org...

Nice work. Will be interesting to see how the bit performs especially with the linked lower shafts. On the illustration it looks like the shafts/cheek pieces are square sectioned, rather than round, (not that it makes much functional difference I would have thought). Brilliant turn around time from ...

Updated link with licensed music now so it's not silent.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLR9TkhNnNA&fmt=18

Lovely stuff Izabela, as usual. Did you get to see the Griffmeister on a horse at all?

Some footage mostly of me at the Easter Team Tournament at the Royal Armoures tilt yard. We tried out a new camera with a slo-mo function, which works really well (IMHO) and is great for analysing techniques that happen so quickly. There's a lot more, but it's taking ages to edit down. http://www.yo...

Chris, not to criticise you directly re sabaton length etc., but to add to the conversation, when I loose my stirrups, which does happen on rare occasions, it's pretty simple and quick to regain them, or to ride without for a while, even when in full plate and in a joust. My personal and unresearche...

Rod, Thanks for the info on lances. Have fun!

Great stuff. What diameter and type of wood are you planning on using, and what design of coronels? The Tudor solids we use give a right big thump when used, but I've noticed that the way they handle and break varies a lot with the weather - they shatter much more briskly and more cleanly in dry wea...

I though there might be some interest in this little video of Philippe and I hitting each other quite hard with solid lances and steel tips.

We're planning several improvements and modifications this year to make it better. Comments appreciated.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaqamIULKqQ

I think you'll find that's Nikolai Dante of 2000 AD fame.

The photographer posted a new one - just before impact...

http://www.ephotozine.com/photo/903981

look at image no 2 in the lower right portion of the screen!

Thanks Andreas. Using solids has been an education. The whole event takes much more physical and mental energy than I was expecting. Being hit by someone when you don't have a lance is much worse than when you are just concentrating on hitting him and leaning into the impact. Having said that Philli...