Majuba Tentpegging Club riders groomed for success
Six young members of the Majuba Tentpegging Club have discipline and diligence in spades, and are excelling in the sport as a result.
LYNDENBURG – Competing on horseback takes discipline and diligence and six young members of the Majuba Tentpegging Club have these characteristics in spades.
These young riders of the Majuba Tentpegging Club are excelling in the sport as a result.
All six were invited to an event in Lydenburg in June.
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They also competed at an event in the Free State town of Lindley more recently, and are building up experience in sight of larger competitions.
Given the team’s youth, its discipline is impressive.
Club secretary, Jaanie Graham said the youngest team member was just seven years old, and the eldest was a tender 13.
This relative inexperience has not daunted the team in the slightest.
In fact, club captain, Bianca Louw achieved good results in the KwaZulu-Natal under-14 trials and will compete in the South African championships soon.
Graham said the team trained with little prompting from coaches.
“They have to be responsible; they are up early grooming the horses and they ride every day. They are definitely dedicated and that’s part of what tentpegging teaches.”
Yet the girls also have a great time of it.
Majuba member, Laanique Graham and Danica Scnhuir from the Normandien club, both agreed tentpegging was fun and rewarding.
“We would suggest it to others because it involves hard work and learning from your mistakes.”
With the emphasis on development, the Majuba Tentpegging Club is on the lookout for any business sponsors to assist the team.
Prospective members are also invited to try out for the team.
“We want to grow the sport with the help of the community.”
What is tentpegging?
Tentpegging is formerly known as gymkhana, a discipline where a horseback rider attempts to strike a target with a sword or lance, at full gallop.
Emphasis is placed on the bond between horse and rider.
To successfully hit a suspended or partially buried object at speed, calls for the rider to be focused and without distraction from their horse.
Just as the rider must be disciplined, so must the horse.
Tentpegging thus requires a well-schooled horse which responds to the commands of its rider and has no fear of noise or sudden movement.
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