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Jeff will be participating in the jousts at Leeds in August. We have an idea of what he should bring, but any specific suggestions would be welcome. This will be his first time, and we figure there's probably tricks you pick up as you go and things you learn to bring, especially when you're travelling out of the country!

We would be grateful if either of you have suggestions of kit items that should not be forgotten. Please do not say duct tape!!!

Thanks!

Mark Lindsay, formally a jouster at the armouries has moved to Australia and is jousting with us. He has many an interesting story about the Armouries.

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Do you bring your saddle? Toby is lending Jeff one of his and the RA are providing lances so we're OK in that department. Do you take clean shirts and whatnot for each joust or each day? Extra clothing? How many caparisons? Any sort of "tools" or maintenance equipt?

This is a whole new world!!!

A trap to look out for is the discount international airfares that you buy on-line or through discount travel shops. They only allow a maximum of 20 kgs of baggage no matter how large the aircraft or where you are going. This caught out the English jousters who came here last January.

So I always go through a travel agent who as Rod says can really help with getting the extra baggage allowance and advise you of any customs issues that may affect bringing armour and weapons to that country.

Another area you may wish to look at is using a travel agent from a modern country with a weak currency. Internet makes this really easy. For example the travel agent I use here in New Zealand for my domestic and international travel is also arranging air travel for the Norwegian and UK jousters coming here next January. He can offer them a much cheaper price than had they used an agent in their own country as they are paying in $NZ.

As far as what to take, I take soft kit, harness and a repair kit with spare buckles, rivets, tools, etc. I try to cover every thing that could go wrong with my harness as you can be certain that if you don't cover something (no matter how minor) it will go wrong.

What happened about bringing over a Leed's intructor to California Jeff? I'm still interested in coming over for that.

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URL=http://www.jousting.co.nz

Yes I will be at the Armouries again in August. Probably mostly dead by then as it is at the end of a rather gruelling Month of jousting and long distance traveling for English Heritage, but wouldnt miss it for the world.
As for traveling there, I cant add much as far as taking armour on plains to what Rod and Callum have said.

However, as Im sure you probably already do, take some spare rivets and buckles of the sizes used on your armour as the armouries workshop tends to be low on those sorts of items.
Also a selection of spurs is useful, so you can find the right combination for you, horse and horses owner.
Dont forget soft kit for the hunting Games on Thursday and for the presentation of the knights in the morning (this can aslo be done in armour).
I personally tend to just use one caparison, and air it after each use.
Otherwise the Armouries is fairly relaxed and you can usually borrow anything you might suddenly realise you need.

Hope that helps, and looking forward to seeing you guys there again.

Cheers
Joram

[ 06-25-2003: Message edited by: Joram van Essen ]

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quote:

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Originally posted by Rodric:
More importantly Joram, why did you pull out of the WCJA tournament in Canada in 3 weeks time. I'll be there.

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Hi Rod

Unfortunatly July is a busy month for me, with events every weekend and just getting a contract for making armour for a film being shot here in Holland. Still negotiating on getting a contract for doing the equestrain stunts for them.

Working on some 1460's jousting armour with frog mouth to try out this winter using fully solid heavy lances and arret, if that works (we dont end up breaking ourselves) I might try to get to Canada next year with that armour.

Have fun over there, hopefully we will be able to get you guys over to the real land of jousting "Burgundy" soon

Cheers
Joram

[ 06-25-2003: Message edited by: Joram van Essen ]

[ 06-25-2003: Message edited by: Joram van Essen ]

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Callum, thanks for the heads-up on the flights. We were just about to book a cheap flight thru Travelocity, and Jeff would have been killed by the weight restrictions, spring steel harness or not! Would your agent be able to help us as well? If so, how would we go about contacting him/her?

The suggestion of an assortment of spurs is brilliant, we -never- would have thought of that. Then again, that's why I'm here with my hat in my hand.

How about stuff like saddle pads and whatnot? Since Jeff will be using Toby's saddle, maybe I should just ask him?

Jeff's almost finished with a new arming coat (thank goodness!), and I need to make him a short coat for the games. I'm going for silk for the caparison next week- Jeff is insisting on one of brocade as well, so I think I have 2 to make before he leaves.

Joram, I would love to see you and the guys again, and I have some hatmaking materials for the exquisite Jocelyn. Unfortunately, we finish up a big trader show the weekend before, so Jeff will be flying out directly to the UK while I head back to California to sort out the business. I'm so bummed!!!!! But we're planning to come back in the Spring, and I'll get to see you then. Toby has something up his sleeve, so I expect Jeff will be participating then as well.

A shame you can not make it as well, Im sure Jeff will have a great time though.

You could ask Toby if he has spare saddle pads as well, as they are a bit bulky to want to bring your own from the US.
However most of the horse owners will check the fit of any saddle that is being used on their horses, and should have a supply of their own saddle pads if needed. Same goes for the rest of the horse tack.
A suggestion for When making the Caparisons try to make it as adjustable as possible across the breast so that it is easily fitted to different sized horses.

Cheers
Joram

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Good idea about the saddle pads- we're not sure where the horse he'll be riding will be coming from.

Thankfully, I've made a number of caparisons for films so I have a general idea of where to go with it. Of course the ones for film were Hollywood specials made of gold lame' and velvet closed with Velco, and that won't do at all!!

Although I did look at your caparison, I don't recall the front closure- do you folks generally tie them across the breast? Straps and D-rings? Buckles? Is there a "preferred" method? I tend to like buckles myself as it's harder for them to come undone accidentally.

I looked over all the horses being used at Leeds in April and the Irish drafts look to be about the same size and shape as our Halflinger/Belgian cross, so I'm fortunate to have a horse model to work on!

Thanks again for the advice!!!