They're Off!

Copyright © 2006 Jennifer Marshall

  

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Sitting calm and steady in the saddle, with their sword over their shoulder and one hand on the reins , the light horsemen give the signal that their excited horses have been impatiently waiting for and they’re off...at a flat gallop down past the pegs. This is a section (a section comprises 4 riders and horses) of the Mudgeeraba 14th Light Horse Troop tent-pegging team that competed, and won, at the Monto Australian Light Horse re-enactment and reunion in 2005. I was particularly fascinated by the excitement and self control of the horses - their ears back listening as they wait for their rider's signal to gallop, trying to stand still while almost jumping out of their skins with excitement at the anticipated gallop they knew was about to come.

Tent-pegging requires thehorse to stand steady and then break into a gallop from astanding start, togallop in a straight line while hisrider with either a longlance or a sword, leans down and with his sharp weaponpick up from the ground a “tent -peg” andcarry it to the finish line where the horse must come to arapid stop andstand still. It is highly skillful and demanding of both horse and rider.

Tent-pegging was one of the sporting activities that, during military training, Australian Light Horsemen practised to develop their skills in horsemanship and good hand - eye coordination. It originated from the Pakistani and Indian armies who invented the sport we now call tent-peggingto break the boredom of deployed troops on the borders of their country.



A Family Affair - Pine RiversTroop Tentpegging at Mudgeeraba 2007

Australian Light Horse Association: http://www.lighthorse.org.au/resources/the-association-cup:
The Australian Tentpegging Association: http://www.tentpeggingaustralia.org/
The International EquestrianTentpegging Association: http://www.ieta.co.za/