About Mounted Games
Mounted Games are a series of very fast races, exciting for participants and spectators alike, performed by young people on ponies.
They require a high degree of athletic ability, 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 be willing to help one another.
The Mounted Games community is a large family! As such, there is healthy good-natured rivalry on the field of play, but great cooperation between players off the field regarding matters of the games as well as those of personal relationships and logistics.
Mounted Games were the inspiration of H.R.H. Prince Philip. When Col. Sir Mike Ansell was Director of the Horse of the Year Show, Prince Philip asked if he could devise a competition for children who could not afford an expensive, well-bred pony, and in 1957 the Horse of the Year Show, then at Harringay Arena, staged the first Mounted Games Championship for the Prince Philip Cup - it was an immediate box office success.
The Mounted Games Association of Great Britain was founded by Norman Patrick on January 21st 1984 (his birthday) and since that time the sport of Mounted Games has gone from strength to strength. Thanks to his drive and enthusiasm, and financial support, International Mounted Games now has members all over the world.
Types of Competition
The original format of Mounted Games was Team Competitions , but the games are now also played by Pairs of riders, and Individuals.
- Team Competitions - A team consists of five riders and ponies. In each game four out of the five take part, leaving the team trainer the flexibility to select the four best for any particular game.
- Pairs Competitions - In pairs the responsibility is shared between only two riders, and it is often easier for two friends to train and compete together, instead of assembling a team of five.
- Individual Competitions - Obviously, in an individual competition, the rider is competing without any shared responsibility, and if any mistakes are made the fault is clearly identified (the rider, not the pony - he's only following orders !)
Whichever format is chosen, the same general rules apply : no whips, no spurs, no bad or un-sporting behaviour.
Some Examples of Games
Each format of competition has its own repertory of about 20 different games, with some being common to all formats.
The Five Flag Race - with flags being put into and retrieved from witches hats, at high speed, five flags is another very popular game.
The Stepping Stone Dash Race - wherein the rider dismounts, runs nimbly across a set of upturned buckets (stepping stones), and vaults back into the saddle to complete the race, is another game of exquisite skill and control.
The Riders
Riders range in age from youngsters of only 3 years to the die-hards in their 20's. Until recently there was an upper age limit of 21 years but this has been progressively relaxed until it is now effectively removed, and now there are also “veterans�? classes.
At different levels the sport can be enjoyed by competitors of all age groups and all levels of ability. The only limits are those imposed by competition organisers to ensure that each event has participants of roughly equal abilities.
It remains, however, a sport for young people because of the athletic ability and agility required.
The Ponies
As with all sports, Mounted Games can and are played at many levels of ability, and although top players and teams now prefer particular types of ponies, any child or youngster with any pony, whatever its breeding, can get started and have a lot of fun doing so.
A highly-priced aristocratic pony is not necessary to learn the games. That can come later if the rider chooses to persevere to a higher level.
Any pony will learn the tricks of the trade quite quickly, and many really good Mounted Games ponies are “rejects" from other branches of equestrian sport. In order for these ponies to succeed, however, the rider must be an experienced games rider and be able to teach the pony exactly what is required.
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