Horses, thrills, spills at fun tent pegging championships

Around 18,000 people hot-footed it to the national Saddat Tent Pegging Championships and fun day held at The Farmhouse in Erdington Road, in Aldridge, over the weekend.

The event on Saturday and Sunday included the ancient mounted sport of tent pegging which sees horse and riders compete in skilled cavalry games in which competitors remove wooden 'tent pegs' from the ground while on horseback and using a sword or lance at the gallop.

The host team Farmhouse were the winners on the day.

Disciplines are performed at the gallop as individuals, in pairs and team sections of three or four. Tent pegging is a test of horsemanship, requiring determination, excellent hand-eye coordination and a fearless love of fast riding. Pegs range from three-1ins in diameter. The majority of horses and ponies can be taught to peg.

The sport is around 2,500 years old and was developed by Asian armies who relied on their skill with the lance to defeat enemies. The sport is governed by the British Tent Pegging Association.