A Knight cannot shine in war if he has not prepared for it in
tournaments...
Full contact jousting
In our beginning...
Bearing in mind that the sport with all of its experts and their experience had passed on some
400 years earlier, we began with only a few horses paired with a strong desire to engage in an
ancient and time-honored tradition. It was time that the spectacle of full contact jousting was
reborn.
Reviving jousting from scratch left a great deal to experimentation. This process was an
evolutionary one, as none of the original participants were still around to ask for advice or
assistance. All that remained were some texts left by those who scribed for the sport. Practical
experience really needed to be gained, and there is only one way to get that...
Since our inception, and in the more than two decades of our existence, The New Riders of the
Golden Age has been established as the premier jousting troupe in the country. Each year we
perform from coast to coast for millions of people at Renaissance faires, state and county fairs,
and special events.
As performers in a show, we follow a script. The nature of the situation and its variables
requires that we be open to improvisation. This allows us to keep the show fresh and alive for the
audience as well as ourselves. The script sets the pace and gives a foundation to the excitement
already existing from our energy.
The lance passes are real. This is the culmination of our training and the training of the
horses. It is the true test of our skill and focus and it is most certainly what keeps us coming
back for more. Our lances are made of genuine solid pine right from the lumber yard. We make
neither cuts nor scores on the wood to assist their breaking. So at 10 feet long with steeds at
a full run, when the lances meet their target and splinter into pieces and/or one of the knights
finds himself flying off the tail-end of the horse, that is when we and the audience truly find
out what it means to be a knight. We do not stage "blow-outs"; they are as real as our
lances.
From leather and chain mail to full plate steel armor, from riding lessons to winning blue
ribbons in reining shows, we continue to hone our skills in all aspects of our profession. Not
only as performers but as horsemen as well.
Based in Sarasota Florida, War Horse Farm has been the training center for our knights and
horses alike. Under the direction of Kelly Bailey, assisted by horse trainer Art Grunig, our
riders are schooled in horsemanship following the discipline of western reining . Both riding and
show rehearsals are held from 4 to 6 days a week. Training ourselves and our horses on this steady
schedule is what keeps rider and horse alike at our peak preparation. This will allow us to
perform consistently at the highest level.
War Horse Farm is also home to our armory and workshop, where we make and maintain our
"hard-wear". All swords, shields, horse armor, costumes and any other equipment we use
are also kept and maintained right here.
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