Tent pegging, as the name suggests, is a sport of the cavaliers. It is an equestrian sport of removing wooden ‘tent pegs’ positioned in the ground from the back of a galloping horse using a sword or lance. Since the inception of the sport, the greatest challenge of a horseman hinges on the horseman’s arm movement matching the movement of the horse. Therefore, success in this sport is based on the rider’s agility, aptness and intensity of the hit. A slight paucity of coordination would make the horseman loose the target and the cycle of removal of pegs in the ground to end.
In Pakistan, the art of tent pegging having its roots in our history, is considered the most popular equestrian sport in the in the rural areas of Punjab. Sadly, over the years, sports like cricket, football and hockey have witnessed immense fan engagement and increased revenues that have initiated a loss of patronage with tent pegging.
Tent pegging in Pakistan is largely managed by the local community of horse riders and is contemplated as a male-oriented sport – due to the fact that in the last few decades it has been mostly played by men in the cultural festivals of the villages. It is most vital to mention here that the Equestrian Federation of Pakistan, created in 1983 is still in place to promote and develop the equestrian sports like tent pegging, show jumping, dressage and endurance riding in Pakistan.
The management of the Equestrian Federation of Pakistan, charged with organising and promoting the sport, introduced a very invigorating policy wherein the national trials for the Pakistan Tent Pegging Women’s Team were conducted for the creation of the Pakistan Tent Pegging Women Team and to emphasise that tent pegging in Pakistan was no longer a male dominated sport.
After the successful conduct of trials, the Equestrian Federation finalised a three-member team out of numerous participants from across the country as the first ever Pakistan Tent Pegging Women’s Team. Soon after their selection, the three-member national equestrian team was tasked to represent the national colours of Pakistan at the Grand Prix Championship in the historic city of Petra, Jordan. The Pakistani women asserted their skill and confirmed that they lack nothing in talent, technique and precision when they defeated 11 teams from across the globe to win the bronze medal in their first ever international competition.
The Equestrian Federation of Pakistan, despite these promising and encouraging gender-equal policies for purposely promoting and diversifying tent pegging in Pakistan in the last few months, has witnessed a drastic shift away from the purposes and goals for which it was created. In fact, the sport is being envisioned by the Federation as a hobby – and not a sport per se. This change in approach has resulted in a lack of participation of the men’s and women’s equestrian national teams in international and local competitions, inconsistencies in their practicing schedules, substandard provisions of facilities, reduced media coverage and financial insecurities. This digression of the Federation’s approach will eventually result in the decreased participation in the prestigious cavalry sports. Moreover, the present members of the national team will be further compelled to give up this sport and focus on their employment opportunities – or even play from other countries to follow their passion and love for tent pegging. For instance, ironically, the Canadian and Norwegian tent pegging teams consist of players and coaching staff that once represented Pakistan in International and National Competitions.
The tent pegging teams across the globe are not only being provided facilities and financial security, but are also being prepared to participate in Olympics and other international tournaments - and win medals for their countries through extensive training. However, the Equestrian Federation in Pakistan expects the national players to win with far fewer resources against highly trained counterparts. Most importantly, if the Federation does not provide special consideration or empowers the greatly gifted, resilient and capable women’s equestrian team, their motivation for the sport will diminish and soon it will revert to being a men-only sport.
Undoubtedly the present national equestrian teams have the capacity to compete on international and national fronts, but overhauling the approach of the Equestrian Federation is pivotal. During these years of development, the Federation should strive to provide state-of-the-art facilities to the potential tent pegging horse riders and extend financial support as is being provided to sports like cricket.
Furthermore, the Equestrian Federation, by making use of the multiple media platforms widely accessible to the public, should highlight the immense potential in this ancient sport, so that tent pegging can achieve the same status that other sports enjoy in today’s Pakistani society.
Tent pegging is – and should continue to be – valued as a cultural tradition and the Equestrian Federation should not leave any stone unturned to cherish and promote it.
In Pakistan, the art of tent pegging having its roots in our history, is considered the most popular equestrian sport in the in the rural areas of Punjab. Sadly, over the years, sports like cricket, football and hockey have witnessed immense fan engagement and increased revenues that have initiated a loss of patronage with tent pegging.
Tent pegging in Pakistan is largely managed by the local community of horse riders and is contemplated as a male-oriented sport – due to the fact that in the last few decades it has been mostly played by men in the cultural festivals of the villages. It is most vital to mention here that the Equestrian Federation of Pakistan, created in 1983 is still in place to promote and develop the equestrian sports like tent pegging, show jumping, dressage and endurance riding in Pakistan.
The management of the Equestrian Federation of Pakistan, charged with organising and promoting the sport, introduced a very invigorating policy wherein the national trials for the Pakistan Tent Pegging Women’s Team were conducted for the creation of the Pakistan Tent Pegging Women Team and to emphasise that tent pegging in Pakistan was no longer a male dominated sport.
After the successful conduct of trials, the Equestrian Federation finalised a three-member team out of numerous participants from across the country as the first ever Pakistan Tent Pegging Women’s Team. Soon after their selection, the three-member national equestrian team was tasked to represent the national colours of Pakistan at the Grand Prix Championship in the historic city of Petra, Jordan. The Pakistani women asserted their skill and confirmed that they lack nothing in talent, technique and precision when they defeated 11 teams from across the globe to win the bronze medal in their first ever international competition.
The Equestrian Federation of Pakistan, despite these promising and encouraging gender-equal policies for purposely promoting and diversifying tent pegging in Pakistan in the last few months, has witnessed a drastic shift away from the purposes and goals for which it was created. In fact, the sport is being envisioned by the Federation as a hobby – and not a sport per se. This change in approach has resulted in a lack of participation of the men’s and women’s equestrian national teams in international and local competitions, inconsistencies in their practicing schedules, substandard provisions of facilities, reduced media coverage and financial insecurities. This digression of the Federation’s approach will eventually result in the decreased participation in the prestigious cavalry sports. Moreover, the present members of the national team will be further compelled to give up this sport and focus on their employment opportunities – or even play from other countries to follow their passion and love for tent pegging. For instance, ironically, the Canadian and Norwegian tent pegging teams consist of players and coaching staff that once represented Pakistan in International and National Competitions.
The tent pegging teams across the globe are not only being provided facilities and financial security, but are also being prepared to participate in Olympics and other international tournaments - and win medals for their countries through extensive training. However, the Equestrian Federation in Pakistan expects the national players to win with far fewer resources against highly trained counterparts. Most importantly, if the Federation does not provide special consideration or empowers the greatly gifted, resilient and capable women’s equestrian team, their motivation for the sport will diminish and soon it will revert to being a men-only sport.
Undoubtedly the present national equestrian teams have the capacity to compete on international and national fronts, but overhauling the approach of the Equestrian Federation is pivotal. During these years of development, the Federation should strive to provide state-of-the-art facilities to the potential tent pegging horse riders and extend financial support as is being provided to sports like cricket.
Furthermore, the Equestrian Federation, by making use of the multiple media platforms widely accessible to the public, should highlight the immense potential in this ancient sport, so that tent pegging can achieve the same status that other sports enjoy in today’s Pakistani society.
Tent pegging is – and should continue to be – valued as a cultural tradition and the Equestrian Federation should not leave any stone unturned to cherish and promote it.