Equestrian Equipment

Atlantia A&S Criteria

This category includes all items utilized in the practice of equestrian activities. This includes, but is not limited to, saddles and accessories, bits, reins, bridles and hackamores, headstalls, cruppers, breast collars and martingales, caparisons, horse harness (including strap barding), carriages and chariots. Armor (shields, chamfrons, protective barding, etc.) must be entered in Armor. Weapons (lances, javelins, spears, swords, etc.) must be entered in Weaponry.

Information also available as PDF.

DOCUMENTATION (0-30 points. SCORE 0-10 then MULTIPLY BY 3):

Must have at least “EZ Doc” information. More is acceptable, although one or two pages (not counting visuals and bibliography) should be more than enough. If your documentation is more than three pages for exceptionally detailed and in-depth work, you should provide an executive summary. The best documentation will cover what they did in period, what the creator did in the project, and why the difference (if any). It will explain any conscious compromises made, and provide footnotes, illustrations, and references, as well as any original research or experimentation as it applies to the project. Give score based on the following considerations:

  • A minimum of: what it is, where is it from, when is it from, and references;
  • Identification/description/use of entry. Date and place/country of origin entry is modeled on;
  • Materials used in the project (type of board, type of covering material, type of paper or parchment, type of sewing support);
  • Techniques and tools used during the process (ex. blind tooling);
  • Research (country, period of origin, typical characteristics, etc.);
  • Description of style characteristics or discussion of logic applied to design of entry.

AUTHENTICITY (0-20 points) [SCORE 0-10 and then DOUBLE THE SCORE]:

  • 0: Totally out of period and/or clearly modern;
  • 1-2: Entry is appropriate to time/place stated in documentation;
  • 3-4: Generally period with some obvious modern elements or mixture of elements from different cultures or periods (e.g., modern process producing results equivalent to period process);
  • 5-6: Overall period style and execution with minor inconsistencies, period materials or give period effect;
  • 7-8: Period methods, design and execution with no inconsistencies; period materials or reasonable equivalents;
  • 9-10: Special effort to achieve completely period product by use of period design, materials, tools, techniques, etc. (e.g., all hand-done with period techniques); special effort to make entirely authentic and appropriate, process without modern shortcuts.

COMPLEXITY (1-10 points):

Rank the ambition of the entry, not the workmanship, scale of 1-10 considering the following:

  • Complexity of the medium(s) being worked in (difficulties of materials used);
  • Overall composition and layout;
  • Intricacy of creating an object in the size/scale utilized in the entry (Remember that all sizes are difficult because in small scale it is difficult to get details and in large scale, any minor flaw shows noticeably.);
  • Number and variety of design elements;
  • Difficulty and variety of techniques attempted;
  • Amount of time involved including research and material preparation.

WORKMANSHIP (3-30 points. SCORE 1-10 then MULTIPLY BY 3):

Rank the quality of execution and success of the entry on a scale 1-10, considering the following:

  • Choice of materials/design combinations;
  • Ability of entry to serve intended function;
  • Attention to details, neatness and finishing touches;
  • Appropriate application of period designs or SCA Knowne World designs and personal embellishment;
  • Effective use of materials and designs;
  • Mastery of period style and technique;
  • Durability of the item.

OVERALL IMPRESSION (1-10 points):

Evaluate the work as a whole, rating the complete effect and appeal beyond the mere technical proficiency. Consider how you react to the entry (intuitive response) and other items not previously addressed.