Sand's Point Faire 2007
Photos by Jim Robertson.
Since college, I 've been an on-and-off member of MSR (Medieval Scenarios and Recreations), a not-for-profit medieval reenactment group—specifically, the jousting team. Every year,MSR puts on a medieval fair to benefit Sand's Point Preserve, a Nassau County landmark and treasure of historic architecture. After several years of being too cool for school (i.e., living the hipster lifestyle in Manhattan), I decided I couldn't live without dressing up in medieval clothes and riding horses as a regular part of my life, and got involved with the jousting team and the fair again. (I also started taking lessons in classical French dressage again: Just as I recommend a background in traditional fencing, particularly Italian sabre and grand canne, to anyone interested in understanding medieval fencing, I highly recommend the classical riding disciplines to anyone who's interested in jousting.)
Last year, I just rode Siegfried, our 18-hand Percheron, to and from the field.
This year, I got to ride in the show and do the games of skill - tilting at the quintain, throwing spears, and lacing rings! This is me starting a run at the rings on Gunther, a massive (16-hand, 1-ton) and somewhat clumsy, but very sweet and willing, Belgian draft horse we rescued from the Amish.
The setting is gorgeous—the "back yard" of an early twentieth-century reproduction Norman castle overlooking Long Island Sound.
Me looking all badass in armor. (Here's a photo essay on the armor. This time, I had the time to sew the voiders on properly and the doublet didn't gap.) Riding in armor definitely takes some getting used to, but it can really work for you, too—it keeps you in the proper posture to ensure a good seat. Jeff Wasson's reproduction "Henry V" saddles help, too. You have to work to fall out of them (or even dismount!). Makes you realize why vaulting was an important knightly skill.
I rode in the first show, in the second I got to hang out in civilian garb—specifically, this gorgeous cotehardie from Gwen at Historic Enterprises. Unfortunately, wearing a hood as a chaperone in the wind makes me look like some sort of beagle...
Me and the beauteous Lady Rowena...
...maybe next year the joust?
