Gothic Knightly Set of Surcoat, Horse Caparison and Heraldic Banner

Gothic Knightly Set of Surcoat, Horse Caparison and Heraldic Banner

Resplendent Representation on Medieval Tournament Grounds

This magnificent equestrian and knightly set finds its historical roots in the High Middle Ages, specifically the 13th to 14th centuries. During this golden age of chivalric culture and grand tournaments, it was absolutely vital for a warrior and his mount to be clearly identifiable from a distance. The motif of the striped lion on a blue field is heavily inspired by classical European heraldry (such as the coat of arms of the Landgraves of Thuringia or Hesse), symbolising power, courage, and sovereignty.

The horse caparison and the knightly surcoat served purposes beyond mere aesthetics. The surcoat protected the knight's iron armour from the direct heat of the sun, which would otherwise make the metal unbearably hot, and from rain, which caused rust. The caparison provided similar protection for the horse, dampening minor scratches and keeping dust and insects away during intense charges.

Assembly and Guidelines for Correct Use on the Horse

The entire set is engineered to sit securely even during dynamic riding, forming a perfect historical silhouette:

• Knightly Surcoat: Worn directly over the armour (chainmail or plate). It is completely sleeveless, ensuring a full range of arm movement when controlling the horse or handling a lance and sword. It is cinched at the waist using your own leather belt.
• Horse Caparison: Consists of two halves that tie together securely along the center of the horse's back. The front piece is slipped over the horse's head and then laced tightly across the chest, ensuring the blanket stays firmly in place without restricting the animal's stride.
• Banner: The double-sided banner features a sleeve or ties for easy attachment to a tournament lance or a banner pole.

Detailed Technical Parameters

Important Note: The live horse, chainmail armour (coif, hauberk), plate pauldrons, leather saddle, bridle, riding boots, gloves, and tournament lance shown in the photographs are for display purposes only and are not included in the delivery.

Maintenance and Proper Fabric Care

Because this set combines a rich, deep blue fabric with contrasting white sections, it requires specialized care to prevent dye bleeding:

• We strongly recommend sending all parts of this set exclusively to a professional dry cleaner. White fabric naturally tends to absorb loose pigments from adjacent wet coloured textiles.
• The heavy twill cloth responds exceptionally well to dry cleaning solvents, allowing for the safe and thorough removal of stubborn battlefield grime, sweat, and caked-on horse manure.
• If you choose to wash these components in a domestic washing machine (even at 30°C / 86°F), you do so entirely at your own risk, and any warranty regarding colour fastness will be voided.
• Iron on a medium setting (cotton program) using a slightly damp pressing cloth to protect the seams and heraldic applications.

Safety Guidelines and Warnings

Before mounting your horse with the caparison attached, always verify that all laces and knots are fully tightened and that no loose ends hang down, which could entangle the horse's hooves. The garments and the horse blanket are not treated with fire-retardant chemicals. Never ride near open campfires, pyrotechnic displays, or the spark discharge of black powder weapons commonly used in reenactments. While the thick cotton reduces friction chafing, it does not provide protective armour against weapon impacts.

Recommended Accessories

To complement this tournament set, we recommend purchasing a full set of Gothic chainmail armour (hauberk and coif) and a robust leather belt with brass fittings, both materially and stylistically matching the knightly fashion of the 14th century.

The horse blanket is made to measure according to the following picture, the surcoat is made after the this measurement chart. The horse tapper/blanket consists of two halves laced together in the middle and over the horse′s chest. The head piece pulls on over the horse′s head.

The Horse trapper, knight surcoat and a banner can be made in various colors according to these sample cards. Please note the requested color(s) into your order, in the field for your comment. Please specify always (1) the number of the sample card, (2) letter of the color, and (3) description of the colour (Example: 04-F-blue). If you choose a fabric with different composition, the price may change. Possible price change will be consulted with you before processing the order.