JOUSTING is a dangerous sport and one that probably needs insurance more than most. But, Australian jousters are out of luck when it comes to protecting themselves and the public financially.
Novice jouster Ben Poole, who took up the sport just over a year ago because he wanted something more exciting to do with horses, is no longer able to continue in the unusual sport as the Australian Equine Alliance (AEA), which used to insure jousting - and just about everything you can do on horses - folded in December last year.
Mr Poole was invited to attend a
jousting competition in New Zealand after coming forth in a recent Medieval Fair at Musgrave Park in Brisbane. Now he won't be able to attend without insurance.
“It's a shame - I couldn't get insurance,” he said.
He said there was too much liability, and insurance was needed before he could continue the sport, which he hopes will be in the near future.
“Because (of the lack of insurance) the jousting community is breaking apart,” he said.
“Even training alone, no one wants to take the risk of damage.
“It's a dangerous sport even though there is armour.”
Professional jouster and Full Tilt business co-owner Michele Walker said the AEA folded as Equine Influenza meant less people renewed their policies and the economic downturn left it impossible to keep running.
She said it was very hard to get insurance for jousting, unless you ran your own business as there was so much involved with putting together a proposal to an insurance company.
She and her husband, who holds world titles in jousting, were responsible for getting the sport onto AEA's policy in the first instance and said they had been appealing to other companies in Australia to insure it over the last six months without luck.
Full Tilt present professional shows all over Australia and the world and are one of three professional jousting companies in Australia to have insurance.
