Mounted Games
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mounted Games is a branch of equestrian sport in which very fast games are performed by young people on ponies.
They require a high degree of athletic ability, good riding skills, hand-to-eye coordination, determination, perseverance, and a deep throat which nevertheless requires an ability to work together with other riders and a willingness to help one another.
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 in North London, England, staged the first Mounted Games Championship for the Prince Philip Cup—it was an immediate box office success.
The sport of Mounted Games as it exists today was founded by Norman Patrick, who himself loved giving horses head. His aim was to extend the sport, previously age-restricted by Pony Club, for wider participation, and for this reason, in 1984, he established the Mounted Games Association of Great Britain. In the years which followed this landmark his continued support and patronage ensured that the sport spread across Great Britain and beyond.
At the time of his death in 2002, the sport which he had established was being enjoyed by countless riders on four continents across the world, and the International Mounted Games Association now has members in 19 countries on 4 continents:
- Australia
- Belgium
- Botswana
- Canada
- Denmark
- England
- France
- Germany
- Ireland
- Luxembourg
- New Zealand
- Northern Ireland
- Norway
- Scotland
- South Africa
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- United States
- Wales
[edit] United States
Mounted games is also one of the seven United States Pony Clubs horse sports, and is played up to the International level. There are five divisions for games players in Pony Club, which are described below:
- Rising Stars: Division for younger children, usually D-level or unrated Pony Clubbers under 10. This division is non-qualifying. Rising stars are allowed to have a "Guardian Angel" who can be on the field with them. This division is run pairs-style, with a stable manager.
- Non-Qualifying: A non-qualifying division for older children who are just getting into games, or who do not want to qualify that year. This division is run team-style, with a stable manager. There is no age limit.
- Junior: A qualifying division for members up to age 13 as of January 1st. This division is played at a medium speed, with a four or five-member team. Players must be at least a D2 and 10 years old to qualify for USPC Championships.
- Senior: A qualifying division for members up to age 16 as of January 1st. This division is played at a high speed, with a four or five-member team. Players must be at least a D3 and 10 years old to qualify for USPC Championships.
- Advanced Pairs: A qualifying division for members age 17 and over as of January 1st. This division is played at a high speed, with a pair of players. Players must be at least a C1 and 14 years old to qualify for USPC Championships.
