Tent Pegging on Marwari horses is a daring display of equestrian skill.
Much more than a sport, tent pegging is an ancient cavalry tactic and a magnificent articulation of trust between horse and rider. Itโs a thrilling feat of speed, accuracy and courage.
Tent Pegging on Marwari horses at Dundlod Fort
I had never heard of tent pegging until arriving at Dundlod Fort, where we were treated to a tent pegging display on Marwari horses.
Brightly turbaned riders of Dundlodโs Risala (cavalry) mounted highly excited Marwari horses and galloped down the sandy stretch of field with lances held high, eyes trained the target. Reaching down and low out of their saddles, for a fraction of a second they hung almost horizontal on the horses side. Without breaking the gallop, they speared the fictional tent peg, before raising the lance up with a backwards loop of their arms and galloped off. It was over in seconds, but that was all it took and I was entranced.
You could see the Marwari horses delighted in tent pegging, and couldnโt wait to get going. Once they realise that tent pegging was on the agenda, they were prancing on the spot, filled with anticipation. They galloped with purpose, never veering from their definite straight line towards the target. Even when the lance was lowered past their faces they galloped on without flinching, staying firm when the rider leaned a lot of their weight to the right to spear the peg. It was remarkable to watch.
The origins of Tent Pegging
Tent Pegging started in India, including what is now Pakistan, in the middle ages when it was used as a battleground tactic. There are two theories behind how tent pegging was used in battle action.
Firstly, we must remember that this was an age where both horses and elephants were the backbone of warfare. Elephants were trained to hold and fight with knives in their trunks, slicing through the opposition. The horses were specially trained to swerve and duck these sabre wielding elephants and to rear up on command so that the rider could reach those perched high on the elephant. Cavalries were known to dress their horses up in elephant costumes to confuse the elephants into thinking they were their own young and save them from being attacked.
Northern India is a frontier desert land, which saw almost continuous battles from having to defend the territory from invasions from further north. Cavalries of Marwari horses were trained into supreme athletes of stamina and bravery.
In the darkest hour just before dawn, the cavalry would stealthily and silently, possible in these sandy desert lands, ride up to the enemies camp. Lances raised high with horses pulling at the bit, they would charge in at a heart pounding gallop as the sunrise began to lift itโs hazy glow, just enough to see by. As they galloped through the enemy camp lines, they speared the tent pegs, causing the canvas to fall onto the opposition. Trapped and frantic under their own shelters, there was no way of escape for the enemy.
Another explanation, but which doesnโt explain why itโs called tent pegging, is that the cavalry lancers would deliberately spear the skin under the elephants toenails, causing extreme pain and resulting in the rider being thrown off and easier to target.
Tent Pegging Today
The game was picked up by the British whilst in India and adopted into their military games to enhance the skills of their horsemen. The governing body is the International Tent Pegging Federation based in Muscat, Oman. Tent pegging competitions and international championships are held, and participating countries have included Australia, Britain and South Africa. In Pakistan and India, tent pegging is often called Neza Bazi.
Trying Tent Pegging
Bonnie Dundlod and Dileep the head groom of Dundlod gave me a lesson on tent pegging. I practiced on the little mare Hierny who is given to children to ride, or less confident riders. This was good as it enabled me to concentrate mainly on the tent pegging technique as opposed to controlling an excited horse. The main thing that worried me was that I would hit the horse in the eye or face, as you have to lower the lance right past their head. Secondly, the lance is actually quite heavy so you do need some upper body strength.
Once I trusted in the fact that I wasnโt going to spear the horse in the eye, and had the technique sort of in hand, I really enjoyed my few tent pegging experiences and graduated to Sukhi, a faster more experienced tent pegging horse.
Having a target to aim for and hit really gives you focus, and you enter a sort of timeless zone when youโre galloping towards the peg, lowering the lance, and with razor like focus you spear it and life the lance back up in a backward circular motion, you never lift it back up in front of you.
I canโt wait to try it again, and improve!
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