How to Train Your Horse for Jousting Clubs

Start by making sure your horse has a firm training foundation. Before you can start training your horse for jousting tournaments and jousting clubs, you will need to make sure he is able to walk, trot and canter on a loose rein with little interaction from his rider. Keep in mind you will be carrying a large lance once you join the jousting club, so it is important your horse respond to leg cues and voice commands alone.

Practice riding your horse in a straight line without using the reins. In order to be successful on the jousting field, you will need to guide your horse with just your leg cues, so practicing at home can help a lot. Start out riding along the fence line, keeping your horse in a straight line as you walk, trot, canter and finally gallop. After you have mastered that test, move out to an open area and make sure you can keep your horse tracking on a perfectly straight line. Then practice moving your horse from side to side using only your leg cues.

Get your horse used to the lance by riding with a long longe whip in your hand. Mount your horse with the whip in one hand, and as you ride, casually move the whip around, passing it over your head and along the side of your horse. Be careful as you do this and be prepared in the event your horse spooks or tries to bolt. It can take some time to get a horse accustomed to having objects such as whips (and jousting lances) moved about when he is under saddle.

Set up your own jousting arena at home by using homemade plastic rings and a whip for a lance. You can hang those rings from a tree or place them along the fence line. Practice riding your horse at all three gaits, using your whip to grab the rings as you go. Keep practicing until you can ride your homemade tournament field at a gallop and capture every ring with your homemade lance.