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Tent Pegging by Umair Ghani

Tent Pegging is a popular equestrian sport in Pakistan. It is a warrior game which is believed to have its origins since 4th century BC in Asia.

A rider carrying a lance on a galloping horse attempts to pull out a grounded wooden peg. If he successfully carries that peg beyond a 10 feet line from the point of strike, he gets 4 points and moves to the round of finalists. If the peg drops before crossing 10 feet line, the tent pegger gets 2 points and another chance to strike. But if he fails to pull out the peg, he drops from the game.

In Pakistan, tent pegging is more of an exhibition than a game. Well bred horses are brought to the playground with a profound sense of pride. Tent peggers wear colorful turbans. Their arrival in the arena is marked with great pomp and show. Drums, trumpets and flutes are palyed when they enter the field.

Group competitions also take place. Sections of four and sometimes eight tent peggers attempt to pull the pegs simaltaneously.

 

Some variations of  Tent pegging in Pakistan are a part of various education institution and folk sports competition. Most popular are lemon Cut, where a rider on a galloping horse cuts a lemon, hanging by a chord, with a sword.

 

 

Complete article published in Tourism Scenario International [Pakistan's leading tourism magazine] April 2007 issue.

for details and updates visit my  Blog at  http://www.paktentpeggers.blogspot.com/
COMMENTS
Noe said at 3:53 a.m. on Mar 31, 2007:
Great tabblo!
Spilly0901 said at 10:51 a.m. on Mar 31, 2007:
Very interesting. The horses are beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
Jerii said at 10:56 a.m. on Mar 31, 2007:
These pictures are wonderful - the color, the action. The one with the 4 men in orange turbans is my favorite. And I learned about something I'd never heard of before!
Umair said at 1:05 p.m. on Mar 31, 2007:
Thanx for the instant feedback guys. Regards!
Liliana said at 2:23 p.m. on Mar 31, 2007:
Very interesting photos and text!!! Here, in Argentina, we have two similar sports, in horse: "polo" and "pato" (without the sticks, with an special ball).
Umair said at 2:48 p.m. on Mar 31, 2007:
Pakistani Polo players and Tent Peggers have great respect for Argentineans for their love of horses and equestrian sports. We have lot of Argentinean mares in Lahore Polo Club. regards!
OscarDaniel said at 5:19 p.m. on Mar 31, 2007:
great action shots Umair!! amazing colours good job! wellcome to Tabblo
Karsten said at 9:32 p.m. on Mar 31, 2007:
this is an awsome tabblo Umair! Superp fotos and very educative!!! Love it a lot!!!You just opened a new world for me!!!
Thebeautifullife said at 9:44 p.m. on Mar 31, 2007:
This is awesome! I never heard of it: so, educational/historically interesting (love the explanation) and the photos are beautiful! :) Thanks for this.
Thebeautifullife said at 9:45 p.m. on Mar 31, 2007:
PS: and OMG (oh my gosh!!!) on that last paragraph!!!! LOL I don't think I could bear to watch the man with legs opened...no way...LOL...but that lemon--that would be a thrill!!!
Siagian said at 12:33 a.m. on Apr 1, 2007:
wow! excellent action photography. VERY nice.
Maqboolakhtar said at 1:13 a.m. on Apr 1, 2007:
horse was the tank in medieval warfare, a symbol of potency and a part of universal unconscious. now bereft of all these historical meanings it is man's companion in many sports. you have captured the beauty of the man and the beast---and the team. what superb photography! and what a site this tabblo is.
Memotions said at 10:22 a.m. on Apr 1, 2007:
Was just blown away by the third photo. The colour, the action.....the unbelievable sharpness!!!! I really look forward to seeing more from you. Bravo!
Love2laugh said at 3:48 p.m. on Apr 1, 2007:
WOW .. Umair. This looks like something from a movie. (Lawrence of Arabia... or something) Great shots... and SOOOO COLORFUL !!! Your giving us some insight to a part of the world I know very little about ...!! Thanks so much for sharing this.
Love2laugh said at 3:50 p.m. on Apr 1, 2007:
By the way Umair ... welcome to TABBLO. It's going to be fun seeing what you show us, as I can see from this ... you have some spectacular work. Keep them coming.
Setu said at 4:55 p.m. on Apr 1, 2007:
Thank you so much for sharing this, and information ! I wonder how you captured this wonderful live shots ! great job !
DVP said at 7:13 p.m. on Apr 1, 2007:
Welcome to Tabblo. These are images with a fantastic quality to them. I look forward to seeing more!
Umair said at 12:07 a.m. on Apr 2, 2007:
thanx for the encouragement guys. i shoot for magazines and postcard companies. i also write for tourism magazines. these sports and cultural activities are very special and thrilling. regards!
Tl_dang74 said at 8:08 p.m. on Apr 3, 2007:
Wow! This is the kind of pictures I wish I had made.
To1n3tt3 said at 11:35 p.m. on Apr 3, 2007:
I make this my favorite!
Tigercub said at 1:33 a.m. on Apr 4, 2007:
great combination of images, story and layout. the top right image looks like a painting from old times.
Umair said at 2:23 a.m. on Apr 4, 2007:
thanx guys! some of these pics got me the recognition in the world. top right pic won 2nd prize in Digital Camera Magazine photographer of the Year 2006, UK. the last pic down left won Asahi Shimbun gold medal 2004, Asia's biggest photo contest. some of these pics got awards from Pakistan's biggest exhibitions and from Prime Minister of Pakistan as well. regards!
Love2laugh said at 5:51 a.m. on Apr 4, 2007:
Well I can certainly see why you got those awards. They are truly amazing. Congratulations !!!
Pkeener said at 1:31 a.m. on Apr 5, 2007:
Thank you for sharing this! the 3rd photo is just an amazing capture. this reminds me of the stories of the Arabian Nights. the horses are so beautiful, also. Congratulations on your awards.
Yuhezhang said at 10:57 a.m. on Apr 30, 2007:
Hi Umar, you are really good! The zoom lens you used should be very powerful, too.
Yuhezhang said at 11:04 a.m. on Apr 30, 2007:
No wonder you won so many prizes. Photos of such quality were seldom seen. But they seem so modest for being so small in your Tabblo... I think the full size ones should be really thrilling!
Umair said at 12:12 p.m. on Apr 30, 2007:
i agree with your concern about photo size. this is just to share with the world. just to let people know about the power of culture. i'll post some individual shots later with better resolution indeed. regards!
Skersell said at 6:37 p.m. on May 1, 2007:
Umair... thank you for introducing me to Tabblos. Your work is beautiful and should be published in magazines. Do you currently sell any of your work? Anyway, this is a great way to post and share your work. So far, I've created a couple of tabblos and as you know most of my work is child photography. I love it though... and have turned a couple others on to it!
JoanW said at 5:04 p.m. on May 4, 2007:
Very exciting and interesting action photos. I love the atmophere here, we can almost smell the dry dustiness of the scene with all those horses galloping around on the dry ground. Excelent tabblo.
Love2laugh said at 1:58 p.m. on May 12, 2007:
Umair - I agree with my sister ... I LOVE THE BIGGER PHOTOS. You can see better the sand being kicked up and expressions better. I love it...!!
Whya said at 3:34 p.m. on May 12, 2007:
awesome photos, Umair!
Alisande21 said at 11:54 p.m. on Jun 4, 2007:
These pictures are unreal. What an amazing talent you have. I can feel the speed and the strength of the horses and the intensity of the riders! Fantastic job. You are really talented.
TopOfTheStretch said at 12:11 p.m. on Jun 8, 2007:
BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
JuDeck said at 1:31 p.m. on Jul 6, 2007:
wow Umair, I just found your tabblo through someone else's favorite...what a find! Absolutly beautiful pictures and I love learning about other country's cultures.
Josem5 said at 5:42 p.m. on Jul 20, 2007:
muy buenas fotos UMAIR,GRACIAS JOSEM5 BARCELONA
Emmafairfax said at 5:39 a.m. on Aug 29, 2007:
Yeah these are amazing photos. I put a link to them on lonely planet thorntree forum where someone was asking about polo. This looks much more interesting to me than polo. Can you say where/when people can go see it in Pakistan? I would like to hang posters of these on my walls here in ISB but more than 16" wide so they are proportional. Are they available?
Engelgrafik said at 6:23 p.m. on Sep 17, 2007:
One of the best tabblos I've ever seen... we need more of this!!!
Ebucar said at 10:34 a.m. on Jan 23, 2008:
A tabblo fool of life and energy. GREAT shots. Amazing tabblo.
Umair said at 2:52 a.m. on Feb 24, 2008:
dear Emmafairfax, you asked for when and where these events take palce: well, I write and arrange trips to this magnificent sport. these events do happen between february and April in Punjaba nd then a fter a long gap in September to November. if somebody is willing, i can arrange a 3 day visit it will include transport [car/van], lunch and dinner/ and watching the game. it someone is interested in having interviews with tent peggers/ special photographic sessions/ visits to their residential areas and personal life/ horse sheds ect...that can also be arranged. for details please contact:
Umair Ghani
75-F, Gulberg II,
Lahore 54660,
Pakistan.
umair.photoarts@gmail.com
Harpreetpant said at 3:18 a.m. on Feb 24, 2008:
very nicely captured..... Art Photography ....although photography itself is an art... Good work
Andre. said at 9:08 a.m. on Mar 13, 2008:
Great shots!
Artsy said at 4:08 a.m. on Apr 4, 2008:
What I wouldn't give to see this in person! So fascinating and sporty. Awesome shots!
Sirnicolay said at 9:24 a.m. on May 13, 2008:
I learned a lot on this tabblo. It's great to see other cultures being shared here in tabblo. Thanks, Umair! :)
Umauma said at 8:49 p.m. on May 18, 2009:
Brilliant Umair!
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