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Welcome to the British Tentpegging Association website

What is tentpegging?

 

In layman's terms tentpegging is a high octane sport using lances, swords and guns on horseback. We are the only horse sport in the UK to use guns on horseback!

Tentpegging is collective name for mounted skill at arms, primarily based on the cavalry sport of removing wooden "tent pegs" from the back of a horse using a sword or lance at the gallop.

The sport is around 2,500 years old where Asian armies relied on their skill with the lance.

Disciplines (all performed at the gallop!)

Tentpegging
Performed with either lance or sword at a flat out gallop, pegs start at 7.5cm and go down to 2.5cm in competition run offs.
For displays we can also set fire to the pegs for increased effect!

Rings and Peg
With lance or sword, two rings are speared from gallows that are set at enemy throat height and then a peg taken from the ground

Lemons and Peg
Fruit is hung from the gallows and riders use swords to slice the fruit and then take a peg
Depending on the season oranges and apples are also used!

Sword, Lance, Revolver (SLR)
The ultimate competition that brings all the skills together, riders use swords to attack dummies between jumps, then use a revolver firing .38 (9mm) blanks to burst balloons in mid air over jumps and on the ground, the lance is then used on the final element of rings and peg. For juniors, young horses and where firearms are impractical the revolver can be replaced with a pricker.

Dummy Thrusting
The rider engages a series of dummies, both left and right and at different heights with the sword, whilst completing a series of jumps, simulating the engagement of multiple enemies across country

Medieval focused skill at arms

Turks Head
Vegetables, most often cabbages placed on a pole and cut at the gallop

Spear throwing
Use of spears thrown over arm at a target with a bullseye for maximum marks

Quintain
Shield on a pivoting arm struck with a lance across the body (a larger blunter lance used)

 

Where to see tentpegging

There are various competitions and displays held throughout the UK, some of which are free to attend.
For 2013 some of the larger events are:

  • Royal Windsor Horse Show
  • Hartpury College Open Day
  • Bicester & Finmere Show
  • Frampton Country Fair

There are also camping opportunities and chance to see the sport close up for our elite ground crew

If you have an event and you would like a display of tentpegging or host a competition please use the contacts page

 

RWHS Admin Notice

Fresh from the RWHS organisers these are the confirmed timings for the Tentpeggign at RWHS on Fri 10 May. Note also the change in procedure for declarations, ie it's now on the dya before only..don't get caught out!

 

2.30pm – 3.30pm               Land Rover Tent Pegging (Prelim) - BHS Arena

 

4.20pm – 4.40pm               Land Rover Tent Pegging (Final) – Castle Arena

 

4.40pm – 5.10pm               Land Rover Skill at Arms – Castle Arena

 

Riders are reminded that:

 

•        They must declare in person or by telephone to the Secretary on 01753 208360 between 1500-1800hrs on Thu 9 May.

•        Dress, Service/Police, No 1 Dress with hard hat. Civilians, Hunting Dress, Black Coat with White Hunting Tie (Stock),hard hat.

•        Saddlery – Service rider’s horses may wear service pattern or plain saddle and headkit, Civilian rider’s horses are to wear plain saddles and any pattern bridle in accordance with BTA Rules. The overall appearance of horse and rider should be smart and workmanlike.

•        Conduct- riders are to be aware of other riders, groundcrew and officials at all times when in the collecting ring and arena. In particular we will be sharing the collecting arena with other classes and riders should check with the Tentpegging Judges for clearance before conducting any practice runs.

•        Format- riders should be aware that we may be required to change format slightly in order to address any scheduling issues within the main RWHS plan. Riders should remain alert to instructions from Judges and RWHS officials at all times. When lining up for individual and team runs in the BHS Arena riders are to remain in the correct order of march ( running order) and ensure that they do not block the walkways to other areas of the show.

•        Prizegings. Prizegiving will be Mounted without Lances.

 
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