Jousting was one of the most popular forms of entertainment during Medieval times. Many people watched and cheered as two knights competed against each other. Rich people would participate - they were the only ones who could afford the training and equipment. So it was mainly knights, lords, and kings. The main goal in this contest was training for war and for entertainment. Knights also liked to bring fame and glory to themselves or their manor. If a knight was good at jousting, he impressed his Lord.
Two knights would ride a horse toward each other, separated by a short fence. They carried a large wooden lance and were protected by heavy metal armor. This lance was not sharp and was not like a sword. It had a blunt end. The jousters tried to hit each other in the chest. The winner had to knock his opponent off his horse to win. It could be bloody and dangerous. Being good on a horse was super important. In fact, many jousters trained for years with a favorite horse.