Skill-at-Arms involves using weapons from horseback in a number of exercises designed to test both the rider's horsemanship and weapons handling skills. Mastery of these skills is a pre-requisite to progress to jousting but many IJA riders just specialise in skill-at-arms developing their horse handling and weapon handling skills to the highest degree.

There is no element of direct competition with another rider such as occurs in jousting so skill-at-arms is an ideal activity for people who do not want to joust or engage in physical competition with another person. 

We practice a wide range of skill-at-arms exercises using metal weapons.  While the modern format of these may or may not be period, they allow us to demonstrate the other mounted combat skills required by a medieval knight.

Some of the more common skill-at-arms events include:

Rings

This is probably the most important exercise for people learning to joust as it develops accuracy and control with the long spear. Rings can be set up either sing or in multiples, at varying heights and to the rider's left or right. The rings can be captured with dagger, sword or spear so the possible combinations are almost endless. 

Q uintain

The quintain was a medieval training device that consisted of a target (usually a shield) fixed to a revolving beam that pivoted on top of a centre post. Often a bag of sand was attached to the opposite end of the beam.

The objective was to hit the target cleanly and at speed. If the rider didn't do this then he received a painful clout on the head from the bag of sand.

We use the quintain to teach accuracy and timing when placing a lance strike and in competitions the points are awarded for the number of times the target rotates after being struck.

Tent Pegging

This exercise involves picking a small target off the ground at the gallop with a weapon.  Usually this involves picking a small wooden peg off the ground with a spear.

Moor's Head

This exercise involves striking a head sized target set at head height on a pole and simulates an attack on a dismounted opponent. The objective is to sever or stab the target cleanly with a sword, axe or other hand weapon.  The target is usually a melon or pumpkin.

Spear Throwing

This involves throwing a light spear or javelin at a target at least 5 meters away. This simulates an attack on a footman or a body of footmen.

Mounted Archery

While mounted archers were uncommon in medieval European armies, firing a bow from horseback was not unheard of, and probably quite common when hunting game.  

Flag Races

This is a straight out race between two riders who gallop to opposite ends of a designated course to pick up a flag.

These are the common skill-at-arms exercise the IJA engages in. There are others.

Our skill-at-arms competition involves a course of some or all of these exercises and we can make the course harder by adding jumps and other obstacles to make it harder.