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What Is Mounted Games? A Beginner's Guide
If you have ever stood at the rail of a county show and watched four ponies tear down a line of poles, riders snatching batons and flags at a full gallop, then you have already seen mounted games. It is one of the most exciting things you can do on a pony, and one of the few equestrian sports built entirely around teams rather than individuals.
The idea is simple. Teams of riders and ponies race against each other in a series of short relay races. Each race has its own knack: picking something up off the floor at speed, weaving in and out of bending poles, handing a baton cleanly to a team-mate, or vaulting back on board without breaking stride. Get it right and you fly. Drop the baton or knock a pole and you are scrambling to recover. That mix of speed and precision is what makes it so good to ride and so good to watch.
Who can play?
Almost anyone, which is part of the appeal. Children start young, often around eight or nine, on small ponies in beginner classes. From there you can keep going right through your teens and into adult sections. You do not have to be a brilliant rider to begin. You do need to be reasonably confident in trot and canter and happy to fall off occasionally, because everyone does.
Because it runs in teams of four or five, it suits sociable children who like being part of a group. Quiet riders find their feet quickly when they realise the team needs them, and there is none of the pressure of standing alone in a dressage arena.
What about the pony?
This is the bit that surprises people. You do not need an expensive, smartly bred animal. A sensible, willing pony under about 15 hands that listens to the leg and stops when you ask will do nicely. Speed helps, of course, but a fast pony that ignores its rider is no use over a line of bending poles. We have written a full guide to choosing a mounted games pony if you are weighing up what to look for.
The races themselves
There are dozens of races in the rulebook and the selection changes through the season to keep things fresh. Some are straight gallops, some are fiddly, and the best ones are a bit of both. The most popular mounted games races include bending, the flag race, the sock race and the various baton and mug shuffles. Each rewards a slightly different skill, which is why a strong team needs riders who are good at different things.
What you need to start
Less than you might think. A pony, an up-to-date riding hat and a body protector are the essentials. Most of the props you can copy at home from a bucket, a few canes and some old socks. There is a longer list in our guide to essential kit and equipment for mounted games, but nobody should be put off by cost. The whole sport was set up to be affordable.
Giving it a go in Northern Ireland
The Mounted Games Association of Northern Ireland runs training and competitions through the spring and summer, with most of our gathering happening at Silverwood Arena near Lurgan. Newcomers are welcome at training days, where coaches will pair you up, walk you through the races slowly and let you build up speed in your own time. If you fancy it, the simplest next step is to read how to join MGA NI and come along to watch a session. Most people are hooked within an afternoon.