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ISLAMABAD: As ground is being prepared for a three-day tent-pegging competition, horses and the riders are sharpening their hoofs and spears for the event being held in the capital after about eight years.
During a visit to some parts in the rural areas of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Gujar Khan, Taxila, Attock etc., one can see young and old riding horses in various fashions on softened grounds with their servants keeping a vigil on the horses.The competition is being organised by Capital Development Authority (CDA) in F-9 Park from March 16.
"This is a very serious event and a large tract has to be cleared of stones and pebbles, besides the spectators' area has to be managed properly in view of safety requirements," said an official of the CDA parks department.
"If the sitting arrangements are too far then people will not get good view of it and if it is too near the chances of any accident or even distraction to the horses increases."
Despite vast grounds and a strong tradition of horsemanship in the region, not a single equestrian event is organised in Islamabad regularly. The last tent pegging competition organised by the CDA was in 2004 though private groups and departments have held tent pegging events at small scales that too not on a regular basis.
"We are excited about the decision; at least there is some event in our region, we want to be host too as pegging events are held almost everywhere in Punjab except the federal capital," said Zubair Farooq Khan, whose family has been living in Golra for centuries and who is a senior member of the Pindi Ghazi Club, one of around 10 tent-pegging teams in the twin cities. The number reaches between 25 and 30 for the Potohar region.
The expected participants are not only busy sharpening their skills but also practicing show march. A young member of Pindi Ghazi Club was seen mounted four hours after school at the training ground in Golra area.
"Pegging is no doubt a difficult game, a lot of skill and precision in picking wood through the lance needs serious concentration," Mr Khan said. "But show marching is more difficult as these horses have a different mindset, they get aggressive and on the dash very soon."
The organisers expect participation by around 80 teams mainly belonging to whole of Punjab."We have approached various clubs and event organisers and 60 teams have already confirmed their participation," said the CDA official.
The event will include three sessions: one for the individual rider, the second for pair riders and the third will showcase four horses on the dash for pegging.The CDA has also decided to make it an annual event and set up a tourism division in its environment wing to regularly manage the affairs of tent pegging through liaison with clubs and event holders at national level.
Tent pegging is basically an age-old military skill which gained extraordinary popularity in the subcontinent, mainly among the Muslim invaders from Central Asia, as they faced a gigantic task of countering the warrior elephants belonging to the local armies.
"The elephants were like tanks in those days covered with armour all over, so the invaders decided to hit the softest parts of the animals - toes - which were not covered with armour," said Aziz Khan, who belongs to a prominent family of Sargodha and breeds up to half a dozen horses for pegging and other sports.
Among the equestrian events, polo and tent pegging are mainly famous in the country, not only among the army and police but also among a large number of private citizens.
