Mounted Combat Training Methods

Sword: Using Fiore dei Liberi as a primary source of study we are begining to develope our skills with the sword from horseback.  Sword strikes are first practiced on a stationary target using wasters and then steel swords.  We have also begun to practice sword attacks against another mounted combatant, which also helps teach the various defensive actions.  This type of training is so far done with wood swords (wasters), mostly for the safety of our horses.

Spear and Lance: For the most part these weapons are used in a similar fashion.  The spear has the advantage of being lighter and therefore can be throw like a javilin, while the lance has the advantage of its range and the powerful blow that it can deliver.

Spear throwing is practiced using 6' spears thrown from various distances at stationart targets.  There is also a number of "spear" posta's which we practice.  These are mostly used to counter lance and sword attacks. Currently the majority of our lance training is still done on the quintan, using what we have come to call a "light lance".  These lances are between 8 - 10' in lenght and appear similar in size to those depicted in the Liberi manuscript.