Mounted Games is a thrilling sport, much appreciated by spectators worldwide. Competitors take part in a series of very fast races that require a high degree of athletic aptitude, good riding skills, hand-to-eye coordination, general determination to see things through to the end no matter what and a competitive spirit which nevertheless requires an ability to work together with other riders and to help one another.
Mounted Games started in India, where they were known as gymkhana and were a popular pastime for the British Army, who still use tent pegging in their mounted demonstrations. The next stage of development was through the Pony Club and the Prince Philip Cup, a major competition started in 1957 involving riders under the age of 15 battling it out over a series of heats to win a place at the Horse of the Year Show. The sport evolved with the establishment of the Mounted Games Association in 1984 enabling riders to specialise in the sport and compete at international level.
The first World Championships were held in Canada in 1987 and since then the standard of competition has risen each year,

Games ponies are renowned for their agility and speed! The ponies are as fit as some of the top event horses. It takes years of training to reach the top as ponies have to be taught to turn in tight circles at the gallop, get used to the strange equipment and learn to wait as other ponies come straight towards them at speed to make a handover of equipment.

The ponies are ridden with the reins in one hand so the rider has can pick up and place down equipment. When mounting during a race riders vault on whilst the pony is moving. This can be very difficult to master but saves precious time in a race!
Equipment is passed from rider to rider at high speed – watching two riders pass a ball or sword as they gallop flat out past each other is something few people will forget.
Games are in three formats: teams, pairs or individual. Team competitions are most usual and each team consists of five riders and ponies, four of whom take part in any particular game. There is a large repertoire of games which may be played, including:

Games were once thought of as the poor relations of the equestrian world but now with the levels of skill that as been achieved they are are admired by many of the worlds current and past international equestrian stars from all disciplines . Many of whom were themselves former games riders. A games rider needs the control and grace of a dressage rider , the eye of a show jumper , the courage and conviction of an eventer or jump jockey, the agility of a vaulter or polo player , the will to win and guile of a flat jockey. Mounted Games the world of extreme equestrianism.

Some of the Games

 

Sword Lancers, a favourite with the crowds, as riders gallop past a line of poles collecting 4” metal rings on the end of a sword. The more rings collected, the heavier and noisier the sword becomes. In a similar race called "joust", the rider has to knock down 4“ targets with a 5ft long lance.

 

 

Mug Races are fast races where the rider moves mugs from pole to pole as they gallop past them or collect a mug from a bin. This involves accuracy, as the pony has to be steered whilst the mugs need careful placing.

 

 

Bottle Shuttle where the rider puts a bottle upright on an upturned bin, then collects another on the way back to give to the next rider who does the same.

 

 

Litter Race involves collecting empty washing up bottles with the tops removed. The litter is picked upon a 4ft cane and put in a bin at the other end of the arena. The top riders make it look simple as they turn the pony and pick the litter up without stopping.

 

 

 

 

Socks and Buckets - the riders throw an old rolled up sock into a bucket as they gallop up the arena to collect another from the ground before vaulting back on their pony as they gallop back to pass it to the next rider.

Tyre race where the riders race up the ring, leap off, scramble through a motorbike tyre before vaulting back on before the finish.